Sue O’Donnell. 05.11.20
'Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!” (Psalm 119 v 1)
Becoming united with the Lord Jesus,
What will this mean to us?
We will experience the fullest happiness,
And the peace the world cannot give,
Because when we live to live in Jesus we share in His holiness.
Holiness is the Lord God’s plan for us.
This is why holiness equates with happiness.
Spend a lifetime together with our Saviour,
And this is preparatory to heavenly glory.
You are living within our Father’s perfect plan for man.
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart!” (Psalm 119 v 2)
To know Jesus, in warmest, highest friendship,
Is to learn of our Father’s will for us now,
How we give of our best to help each other.
It is by true love we discover holiness and the link with happiness.
We cannot accomplish this without the friendship of Jesus.
Jesus is God with us in planned holy purpose,
Gifting life meaning in the everyday and eventually eternally.
We belong to the heavenly family,
Only by heeding the Spirit of Jesus, who is holy,
Who will always ensure our life changing friendship with Jesus.
“They also do no iniquity. They walk in His ways.” (Psalm 119 v 3)
The Holy Spirit, zealous for His godly purpose,
Is always about the business of revealing Jesus,
Who He is and why He lives and dies for us,
Plus of course, the miracle of His most marvellous,
Truly wondrous, utterly glorious resurrection.
We are being given a living hope in Christ Jesus,
All according to the mercy of God’s forgiveness at the †.
Now we begin to understand the command of love,
A love which gives everything, totally of self,
To learn how to do this, we need the Lord Jesus and His Spirit.
“You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.” (Psalm 119 v 4)
And we need too, the daily input of the anointing Spirit,
Appointing us to develop a better likeness
To the way in which our holy Brother lives to give of self.
Learn to do this and life is transformed
By being reformed through the influence of God’s Son.
The perfectly holy One is our highest ideal,
A real delight to spend time with and learn from.
By the Spirit, Jesus shares our prayer life,
So together we can delight and honour our Father.
Reverence and obedience mark us in the service of Jesus.
“Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statues.” (Psalm 119 v 5)
And we must seek to be of the same ilk as Jesus.
Life is given the richest purpose in Christian service.
All that we seek to say and do, must be done through
Asking and allowing the Spirit to immerse us in the love of Jesus.
Our incomplete love, often with a hidden agenda, can be self-serving,
So we have to learn to love like our Saviour.
This, His particular expression of love which is perfect.
Progress is made by praying, asking for help,
Whilst repenting of the errors of all selfish ways,
We have to pray to want to obey fully.
“I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.” (Psalm 119 v 7)
We pray also, to understand more fully how to appreciate others,
With their countless needs, wants and demands put upon us.
The Lord Jesus never shied away from this,
Neither then, should we, if we are in His service.
We must pray to strengthen our vocation lived out in holiness.
No time is to be wasted, for the call to holiness is imperative.
The world needs the love of Jesus’ selflessness,
His goodness, His genius in teaching us,
His command over situations whether happy or sad,
And His undeniable love and supreme compassion.
“I will keep Your statutes, oh, do not forsake me utterly!” (Psalm 119 v 9)
If this world is to be the place where we refashion life,
This has to be done by us living in the Lord Jesus.
He is the Messiah, the King over world order.
No one else can save us from satan and sin.
We have to begin anew through the impact of all,
The Spirit of love, the Spirit of Jesus, means to us.
Life which is godly is a life which is happy.
Please pray for this to happen today.
The responsibility lies with each of us who belong to Jesus.
How else can our world be saved from the terrifying grip of evil.
As we slip further and further away from God’s purpose,
We destroy our own means of happiness when we forfeit holiness.
“But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice ...” (Psalm 3 v 3, 4)
“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the weary of lying and grant me Your law graciously.” (Psalm 119 v 28, 29)
We deceive ourselves if we pretend all is well within society, when very clearly there is an abundance of discontent and unhappiness, often spilling over in anger and resentment.
Please help us to pray to find the answer. All who are disciples of the Lord Jesus, know what we must do “I have chosen the way of truth.” (Psalm 119 v 30) I will follow You, my Saviour Brother.
“Your judgments I have laid before me” for here I find holy wisdom and truth to live by. “I cling to Your testimonies! O LORD do not put me to shame!” (v 31)
For I call upon Your Spirit, who will purify and sanctify any godly undertaking, making all the difference in the world. “I will run the course of Your commandments” (v 32) when the Holy Spirit helps me to commit to You Lord Jesus, daily.
“For You shall enlarge my heart”, (Cont) my capacity to love, honour and serve through Your invaluable friendship, Lord Jesus.
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,” (v 33) so vital to our holiness and happiness, and please ask the Holy Spirit to deal graciously with me, with all Your followers, helping us to overcome our pattern of
faults and failings.
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law. Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” (v 34)
Have You thought of praying by making the words of sacred Scripture your own? There is a goldmine of helpful support when not knowing what to pray.
Lord, “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments” (v 35) for Your directive is holy and I want to honour this.
Please “Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You,” (v 38) to all who seek to live by faith and offer their service.
“Turn away my reproach which I dread.” (v 39) the reproach due to all of us sadly. “Your judgments are good.” (Cont) Behold, I long for Your precepts, revive me in Your righteousness. (v 40)
Lord Jesus, please revive all of us so we can turn the world of today back to Your kingdom of hope, of peace, of joy because it is the place where holy love rules supreme. Please continue to help us to pray, seeking and
finding holiness and happiness. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
LIFE
UNIFIED
