You Know Me

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalms 139:1-6, NIV).


To realize that I am known so greatly and so deeply goes beyond my limited human understanding! I open up my heart to you, God, and my soul yearns for you to continually search me. I thirst for you, my living God, with an unquenchable thirst. You are the living God! I cannot move without you knowing it! Every step that I plan may be formed in my mind, but your Spirit directs my steps. My thoughts are not as high as your thoughts, but you know and understand them because you became human for me. You understand me, your creation, because you became one with me in your suffering for my sake. You know when I am at ease and when I am distraught. You know when I have the faith to move mountains, and when I need rest to be revived. You are familiar with every part of me. Before I even speak, you know what I am going to say. Because you know my heart, you know if it is pained or if it rejoices. You know if I will speak life because of great joy or if I might possibly speak death because of great despair.


Why do I ever become downcast? I can again hope in you. Because you know me and created me, I am yours, and you are mine. Lord, today, I pray for my words to only speak your life. I pray right now before a word is ever spoken, that my words are directed by you, Holy Spirit. I long to have a joyful heart that speaks life. You discipline me, Lord, and guide me in the right direction. You chastise me when I fail, and you encourage me when I succeed. You have placed your hand upon my life, and I always aware of your steady pressure. Your love and call is too much at times for me to even fathom. It is too incredible to even understand why you have loved and chosen me.

I give you my limited life today, because that is what I only have....a limited life waiting to be fulfilled. Take it, and complete it with your purpose. Take it and make it your own. Take it, and never let me claim it again.

Dear Friend

I thank you for your heart which listened to me tonight. I thank you for your time which you gave so completely. I thank you for your love which always looks beyond my fault and sees my potential. I thank you for your forgiveness which you give unconditionally. I thank you, Lord Jesus, my friend, because you are the friend who listened to my prayer tonight when I was distraught. You are the friend who lifted me from my lowest state, and gave me hope to believe in your promise of joy and peace. You are the friend who reached into my heart, and removed all the hurt and pain. You are the friend who has always known my failure but encouraged my best. You are the friend that knows the things of which I cannot even speak. You are the friend who knows me so intimately that, when I am ready to speak, you know my words before they are even uttered. You are the friend who sticks closer than anyone in my life. I can't thank you enough for never giving up on me. I can't praise you enough for your sacrifice and absolute forgiveness that makes my life new. I can't give you enough for all you have given me. Thank you for giving your life just for me, and saving me from the selfishness of my own heart. Lord, there are just not enough words to thank you for your friendship that lasts forever.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV).

God's Love in Me

“Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7b-8, NIV).

There is no way I can understand God's love unless I seek Him. I can't understand His love until I know Him intimately. His love for me more than fulfilled the law. It changes my heart so I can understand the reason for it. His sacrifice offers the greatest love so that His word becomes the height and breath my soul can reach. The one who loves is born of God, because he is born into a new life in Christ who is the greatest love. It is my choice to live in that love. And as I live in His love, He prepares my heart and mind to receive the truth of His message. That message softens the hardest of hearts, causes indifference to flee, and opens my heart to desire all of His best in my life. The love of God makes everything crystal clear. If I live in His love, God lives in me.

“We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16, NIV).

Come Near for Completion

“Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8a, NIV).

This is an incredible promise! But it is more than that. It is a requirement to live a spiritual life in Him. I must seek Him before I am even aware of His presence. In every moment or problem or trial or circumstance I must immediately and unconsciously turn to Him. It can be praise or it can the silent cry of a tired heart. He hears all.

Nothing is needed but that silent cry. There is no need for me to say anything. There is no need for me to plead desperately. There is no need to make vain promises for Him to hear. He is there always listening to the cry of my heart. If I draw close to Him, He always comes near to me. Help comes in answer to my heart's need. But it is not only help that comes, but the sweet joy of His presence.

Drawing near to God makes me more aware of His perfection and my lack of it. When I open myself to His presence, I invite His character into my life. As He comes nearer His presence shines the light of His holiness into every area of my life, and reveals what is wrong and what is right–not only in action but in thought and desire. My heart breaks to know how I have disappointed Him. To remain in the sweetness of His presence, I seek His forgiveness, and it is immediate. My heart rejoices in its freedom with Him. He then reveals things in my life that bring Him pleasure, and I am in awe of His passion for me. Drawing near to God means I am refined by His beauty.

If I draw close to Him, I am encompassed by all that He is–His love–His perfection–His protection–His faithfulness–His promise–His mercy–His grace–His power! I lack in nothing, and I am completed in Him. This is a time of sweet closeness of His spirit with mine which always brings peace no matter what might come.

The Promise at the Summit

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4, NIV).

It's another Monday. You now face the work week, or other duties that beckon. Your day may sing with promise, but most likely little problems and irritations will arise. It's life. It's inevitable. Don't dwell on the problems that come up each day. Recognize each struggle for what it is: a lesson to carry you further to the goal. When you climb a mountain and concentrate on the hardship of each step, you never see the beautiful reward waiting for you at the summit.

Don't dwell on the emotional pain that hits you when problems overwhelm your heart. That is where you will be defeated. Guard your heart. Regard each problem that arises as a springboard to reach the top. Keep your eyes on your goal, and then as you climb, each step will become another solid foundation of growth. If you consider each step as a means to carry you to the promise at the peak, your climb will not bring despair, but great hope.

What is the promise at the summit? The fruit of the Spirit, active and alive in your life. Your life will radiate the love of God. His joy will reign no matter what you face. His peace will calm your heart through hard times. Patience with circumstances and with others will pervade your mind and spirit. Kindness will be the first thing extended to all in your life. God's goodness will overflow from your heart, and faithfulness will be your promise that is fulfilled to others. Gentleness shall be the power of Holy Spirit under control in your life, guiding you wisely and carefully in your relationships. Self-control will define your life in all areas. You will have surrendered your life completely to the control of the Holy Spirit.

Does this sound unattainable? It is attainable, or He would have not revealed the promised fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. Each problem you overcome and each step up the mountain will bring great reward. Persevere and never give up. Face each step head on, and overcome each obstacle.  “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4, NIV).  Peter put in like this. “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8, NIV). I don’t know about you, but I will keep on climbing the mountain!

Given with Integrity

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent” (1 Chronicles 29:17a, NIV).

Do I ever look at the gifts of my heart, and ask if they are given with integrity? Whatever I give–whether love, friendship, compassion, time, a listening ear, advice–must be given willingly. They must be given with honest intent. There is no hidden agenda. There is no subterfuge. There is no mask. They are given because of His love and His work in my own heart. What I give away should not be given to make me feel better about myself. I should give because of His love in me... a love that sees that the need in someone else is greater than my own could ever be.

This life in Jesus is not about me. Whatever I give or do in His name should come from what He creates within my life, and never from my any fabrication. He will constantly test my heart to see if it is filled with integrity and honesty. If I draw close to Him, He will draw close to me (James 4:8a), and His presence will reveal the intentions of my heart. I will be stripped before Him. Nothing will be hidden. In that moment, I will know if He is pleased with me or not.

I know, my God, that you always test my heart. I know that you always yearn for what I do or give in your name to be born of honesty and integrity. Lord God, I want what I give to come from a heart that has been purified by you. Forgive me for anything I have ever given that has come from other motives than what you desire. Always create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew your steadfast spirit within me. Then I will be refined by your love. I will be made new.... and what I give away will come from a heart that is honest and true.

His Good WIll

 

Do you want to know God's good, pleasing, and perfect will for your life? Become a living sacrifice.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

If you are transformed “within”, you will understand what to do “without”! Be renewed in the spirit of your mind and you will know His will!

Receive Him and Receive Freedom

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV).

“To know Christ and the power of His resurrection” takes on a powerful meaning when you battle something in your life over which you have no control. In other words, your stronghold. If you study His Word and continually seek Him in prayer, you will enter a deeper intimate relationship with the Lord. As you grow in understanding of His love for you, you will also grow to understand His amazing sacrifice that made such a great love possible. “To participate in His sufferings” means that you surrender to whatever is necessary in your life to mold you into His creation. “You become like Him in death” when you die to your own self–to your own sinful desires. You are resurrected into new life when you continually receive His life. Then you will discover His power that sets you free.

Christ longs for you to experience healing, and to be free from that which binds your heart, mind, and spirit. You do not have to be bound in fear that your stronghold is everlasting. It isn't. He is everlasting, and His promise of deliverance is true. He love is incredibly powerful, and He promises that you will have a sound mind and spirit (2 Timothy 1:7). Persevere in seeking Him, and knowing His Word, and you will receive deliverance. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36). Don't ever give up. You will receive His promise. He is faithful.

Daily confess your stronghold to the Lord. Ask for Christ’s forgiveness. Study the Word and grow in knowledge of His truth. Apply faith to what you have learned from the Word in order to overcome your stronghold. Maintain an intimate and vital relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer. Share with others what Christ has done for you. This reinforces your faith, and reminds you daily of God's power.

Your path to freedom from your stronghold resembles a fingerprint. It is not exactly like mine or that of anyone else. Yet the truth found in God’s Word is the same for each Christian. It accomplishes exactly what God sends it to achieve (Isaiah 55:11). Complete deliverance waits when you are ready to begin your own personal journey. You shall experience the love that sets you free, when you seek the heart that died for you.

Walk with Him

Never worry over things you can't figure out. The answer may not be for now. It may not even be for this life. Trust the Savior who gave His life for you. If He cared enough to die for you, He certainly cares enough to carry you through trials of life that are beyond your understanding.

This life is a journey with Him. Many things He will allow you to understand, but many He will not. “There is so much more I want to tell you,” He has said, “ but you can’t bear it now” (John 16:12, NLT). He knows what you can handle and what you can't. Quite your mind, and its constant need to know the reason... to analyze why. You can't understand the infinite with your finite mind. You can only understand what He allows. Step by step this life is a journey which is meant to carry you to greater heights of faith.

He suffered, and you shall also suffer in this life. But there is a great joy that comes to those who walk this life with Him. This joy is never the result of suffering. Suffering drives you to Him. In this close intimacy of Savior and friend, peace prevails, and joy arises. Such joy only comes from a deep personal relationship with Him.

Walk your life's journey closely with Him, and on that last day, you will know and understand. But then it will not matter because you will be in the presence of the only answer you ever needed. Him.

 

Perfect for Me

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5). 

 

My Savior will never leave me or forsake me. He is constant and unchanging. He upholds me with His unfailing love, and never-ending strength. So why do I fear when I face another trial or another change? His love will never leave me. His understanding will provide the best for me. His strength will carry me through the deepest waters safely to sure harbor. He is perfect for me.

If He is perfect love, then I can forever be sure of that love to take care of me. If He is perfect strength, then, in whatever trial I face, I can be confident that His strength will protect me. If He is perfectly patient, then He never tires as I struggle to learn His lesson. If He is perfect understanding, then I know I will always be understood.

Not only is He perfect for me. He wants to “perfect” me for His purpose. Peter shared this “perfecting” in my life in this way. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). This is a great promise! If I allow Him to mold me, crush me, raise me, turn me inside out, teach me, guide me, chastise me, encourage me... if I allow Him to add these qualities in my life, then I will become more like Him. I will not be ineffective or unproductive in my knowledge Him. I will find myself on the greatest journey of being perfected in Him.