Sue O’Donnell. 29.03.21
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31 v 8 NLT)
For the Lord God, has set you free.
What does being set free really mean?
Release from the world’s philosophy.
Escape from society’s psychology
Dictating ‘Serve yourself, you’re worth it’.
Letting go of this self obsessed way
Of wishing, planning, deciding, acting.
But we are ever in need of a replacement
By something or better still somebody.
That Person is the Son of the Almighty,
The One we call ‘Jesus’
Because ultimately, He sets us free from much.
The lure of satan, the demand of self willed intention,
The clamour of the world’s glamour
And its disastrous, false, erroneous message.
That which states if it is all right for You,
Then it is fine, whatever disaster, distress,
Mess or calamity does ensue for others.
“Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous.” (Proverbs 2 v 20
NLT)
Self serving is the basis of all sinfulness.
It is this we urgently need to escape from.
The only way to do so is to get to know
The One who is a Brother, yet Saviour.
The Man called ‘Christ Jesus’ who coming to us,
Directly, specifically at the will of God.
We need too, the Spirit who being holy,
Is well able and always wanting to help,
In setting us free from all that is worldly.
We live of course, our feet firmly planted here,
But with Christ and His Spirit here for us.
We can prayerfully offer anything, better still everything,
Up to our Father for blessing, through the Son,
By means of the new life giving Holy Spirit,
Asking and expecting healing and wholeness to develop us.
All that is worthy in life is made ours in Christ Jesus,
For He presents by the Spirit, our Father’s purpose to us.
In our own strength we are lost spiritually.
But together with the Trinity who sets us free.
We have every opportunity for life to become
Energetically fruitful in the Master’s loving, reverent service.
“I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116 v 1, 2 NLT)
“You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from Your commands are cursed...Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.” (Psalm 119 v 21, 26 NLT)
O Lord, what help, reassurance, comfort, consolation, guidance, help and support, Your sacred words of Scripture gift us, spelling out as Your love and friendship offered in mercy. Thank You.
That love which sets us free is such a grace and blessing, thank You. To know the friendship of the Lord Jesus is totally life changing, uplifting, changing much despair to hope.
“No other religion, no other promises, new bodies, hearts and minds. Only in the gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope.” (Joni Eareckson Tada)
It is as a people of hope we move into Holy Week, this final week of Lent. Please send Your purifying Spirit to show us all we do which spoils this hope of holiness, that which is necessary if we are to come alongside You. “Make me walk along the path of Your commands, for that is where my happiness is
found. “ (Psalm 119 v 35 NLT)
I am sorry that I stray. I disobey unthinkingly, carelessly very often, but sometimes knowingly, and of that I must be ashamed. “Give me life through Your word,” (v 37) that I do not lose hope in the difference knowing the Lord Jesus makes.
To think that my sins caused Him to die the agonising death of a †, is a heavy burden, calling for repentance and the firm resolve to do better in the future to regulate my life correctly.
“Help me to abandon my shameful ways, for Your regulations are good. I long to obey Your commandments! Renew my life with Your goodness’.” (v 39, 40) I must be in the world but not of it.
I ask that the Holy Spirit draws me closer and closer to the Lord Jesus, and to His mother, to be my help and inspiration, something the world does not teach, for it cannot. The world looks in at self, self, self. Faith looks outwards at others and upwards at the Trinity.
To realise that we are the sons and daughters of Your choice dearest Father, is hope indeed. To know that whenever we spoil or ruin this esteemed privilege, we can fly to the Saviour’s side and pray for forgiveness, this is our encouragement, an uplift of hope, a comfort and a reassurance.
“LORD, give Me Your unfailing love, the salvation that You promised me...Do not snatch Your word of truth from me” (v 41, 42) as satan continually tries to do, taunting and reminding us of our failings,” “Your regulations are my only hope.” (Cont)
I can see how the Lord Jesus manifests Your principles. Living as Your Word of wisdom and truth, He puts all of Your precepts into action, and this is so helpful, thank You.
The Saviour is our Master, teaching us by Word and example to live for the benefit of all we can influence, hoping they will recognise the Lord Jesus as being alive and active within us.
This can certainly change despair as to mankind’s fallen state, into a hoe for a better, brighter, holier future. We can look at the lives of the saints and be inspired, knowing we are all called to be saints.
A saint is a sinner transformed by the power of holy love. They must have said to themselves “I will keep on obeying Your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments.” (v 44, 45)
Please help me to strive after holiness with greater zeal, a much firmer intention, a daily inclination. I have to do so, if I am to love and honour each Person of the Holy Trinity as I am called to do.
Unless I can accomplish this reverence of obedience, my life counts as for nothing, and that is disastrous. Please safeguard me so I am not lost to Your favour. Thank You that “Your promise revives me” (v 50) always.
Followers of the Lord Jesus should always be a people of hope, enjoying life day by day in Your company. Do not let me be dragged down by the world. As I am a work in progress, I have to prove this!
The Lord Jesus, Your living Word, Father God, He is my hope. I am grateful for this counsel and support given by the Holy Spirit, thank You. May my conscience be more keenly alerted to the traps I can fall into, those thoughts which cause me to stumble.
“O LORD, You unfailing love fills the earth; teach me Your decrees” (v 64) and please help me to abide by them. I do not want to offend, nor dismay, nor disappoint You at all. Thank You for any progress I have made, but there is a long way still to go.
Making Jesus my Lord and King, I must serve Hm by means of the guiding, safeguarding Spirit, so as to love and honour You, Eternal Father. For this is why I have been gifted life.
“I used to wander off, until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your Word.” (v 67) although not closely enough. I am ashamed of my weak will. Good intentions on their own are insufficient. Action is required. Please help me.
“Since You did not spare even Your own Son but gave Him up...” (based on Romans 8 v 32) to gain our forgiveness that we can seek after holiness, “Won’t You also give us everything else” (Cont) necessary to become holy. I am sure You will.
This is Your grace, Your favour, Your full love for us, holy Father. You do not want even one of us to be lost to Your heavenly Company. That is why You sent Your Son to be One like us in all things but sin.
He will show us how life is meant to be led, reverently, selflessly, lovingly, prayerfully. As the Lord Jesus accomplished this by being filled by the Holy Spirit, may we be filled similarly.
The first disciples were told by the Lord to “ ‘Stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills You with power from heaven’.” (Luke 24 v 49 NLT) May we daily share in that power to do good, to live an honourable life.
I ask in the Saviour’s name because Jesus says “ ‘I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name.” (John 16 v 23 NLT) What a wonderful name, the name above all names.
Dearest Father, I ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us, for the Lord Jesus promised to send us One like Himself, another Helper to lead us into all holiness. We need this. Please help us to gain the grace and peace You long to gift us.
Let us work and pray to be filled by the Spirit, that in all truth it can be said of us “Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 7 NLT) “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns” (v 8)
“God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and You have invited us into partnership with Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (based on v 9) enabling this to happen through the Holy Spirit’s appointing.
“Come and show me Your mercy, as You do for all who love Your name. Guide my steps by Your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.” (Psalm 119 v 133 NLT) Lord, I ask this not just for myself.
I pray too for my family and friends. “Ransom us from the oppression of evil people, then we can obey Your commandments” (based on v 134) without satan’s interference. For we are a people of hope belonging to the Saviour.
Please, please, please “Listen to my prayer; rescue me” and all of us “as You promised. Let praise flow from my lips, for You have taught me Your decrees,” (v 10, 171) and the necessity of obedience.
I delight to belong to my Brother who is the world’s Saviour. I rejoice to be in touch daily with the Holy Spirit. “Let my tongue sing about Your word,” merciful Father, seeing that the “all Your commands are right.” (v 171, 172) By these You gift us a new life sharing in the holiness of the Lord Jesus.
You rescue us and continue to instruct us, merciful Father. “Let me live so I can praise You, and may Your regulations help me.” (v 175) as I belong to Christ Jesus and His and Your Spirit make me a person of hope. Truly I thank and praise You. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
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