But if you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
[That verse is an uncanny declaration.
Absolutely unbelievable. Except, Christ said it—“ask what you desire.”
And after all, He didn’t sacrifice one iota of His own integrity by making that promise, because it is predicated on a significant premise: abiding in Him. That isn’t some mystical position or some hard-to-arrive-at pattern of conduct. It isn’t a religious accomplishment or a pious performance. It’s just honest-to-God saying, “I want Your will.”
Rend Collective is currently one of my favorite bands. I was very pleased to see that they wrote YouVersion reading plan. Below I am sharing a portion from Rend Collective's The Art Of Celebration plan that goes hand in hand with their recently released album by the same name.
We love quick results don't we? We are constantly fine-tuning every aspect of our lives to eliminate that despicable enemy known as "waiting."
So when we first meet Jesus, hopes are high. This is the God who crafted everything, from elephants to supernovas, cilantro to Everest in just seven days: surely he's going to transform us in an instant... like Ramen noodles of righteousness.
He could, but he often chooses not to.
He turned Paul's life around while on the Damascus road, right? Sure, but that was just the beginning. The refining process was still going on in that jail cell in Acts.
He gave the shepherd kid, David, mastery over a giant. But years later, as a man he failed to master his lust problem, giving in to adultery and worse, a murderous cover-up.
It's in the middle of this mess that he wrote Psalm 51.
"Create in me a clean heart"
I'm sure he was desperate for an immediate transformation of character. But that isn't what he got. The Lord is patient. David's heart was renewed by traveling the painful, winding roads of confession, accountability and repentance, in the company of the Holy Spirit. The Lord didn't shortcut the work of cleansing David's heart.
We may be frustrated with patterns of sin that repeat in our lives, our niggling character flaws and lack of discipline. We may want "one-click" holiness. But Jesus doesn't wave a magic wand of saintly character over us.
Happy Thursday! I'm a week late in sharing this post but not really because God's word is relevant ALWAYS! This past Friday I received a text from a friend in Nashville, TN. She faithfully sends me a verse a day and I do the same. At exactly an hour later, another friend in Miami, FL shoots me a text with a verse carrying the same promise and truth. I was overwhelmed with much needed peace and joy. The Lord is perfect in His reaching out to us... always timely! I pray that they are perfect in reaching you.
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:5, 7
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit: to put in trust or charge;
entrust; to put into place to be kept safe or be disposed of.
The blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not for the sake of mere enjoyment. It is rejoicing, to be sure! But at the core of a life of growing discipleship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is what’s most important.
It is the Spirit who keeps the Word alive.
It is the Spirit who infuses prayer and praise with passion.
It is the Spirit who teaches and instructs.
It is the Spirit who brings gifts and giftedness for power-ministry.
It is the Spirit who will bring love, graciousness, and a spirit of unity to our hearts.
God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. Acts 2:32-33
I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:25, 28
Praying that you may be revived, strengthened, encouraged today to be real with God as David was in Psalm 119. If you need revival, tell Him and ask Him to revive you. If you need strength, tell Him and ask Him to strengthen you. Whatever it may be that you need, tell Him of your need and ask Him for it. He is a wonderful God who promises to never despise a broken and contrite spirit.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions. 154 Argue my case; take my side! Protect my life as you promised. 155 The wicked are far from rescue, for they do not bother with your decrees. 156 Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations. 157 Many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws. 158 Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart, because they care nothing for your word. 159 See how I love your commandments, Lord. Give back my life because of your unfailing love. 160 The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. Psalm 119:153-160
Today's post and song is on that is sure to encourage just about anyone. Below are a few of the verses that have sustained me through rough waters, wanderings and through seasons of stillness and silence. When I have felt alone and abandoned, God has proved me wrong. I have never been alone, not for a moment. He has never forgotten me, not for a moment. He will never forsake me, not for a moment. He is constant. He is good. He is sovereign. And, He is for you! You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You have not been forsaken. May the promises of God and the lyrics of this song encourage you in a great and mighty way.
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And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 - You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. Psalm 18:28 - Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Psalm 107:13-14 - Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. Psalm 112:4 - Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10 - Not For a Moment, Meredith Andrews
- You were reaching through the storm walking on the water even when I could not see in the middle of it all when I thought You were a thousand miles away not for a moment did You forsake me not for a moment did You forsake me
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after all You are constant after all You are only good after all You are sovereign not for a moment will You forsake me not for a moment will You forsake me
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You were singing in the dark whispering Your promise even when I could not hear I was held in Your arms carried for a thousand miles to show Not for a moment did You forsake me -and every step every breath you are there every tear every cry every prayer in my heart at my worst when my world falls down not for a moment will You forsake me even in the dark even when it's hard you will never leave me after all
Happy Friday dearest friends.
Today's post is a two video-gig. The first is the behind the lyrics and boy, it is so good! Then below is the song and lyrics. May you be encouraged and faith-filled after hearing and meditating on these words.
God bless YOU!
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Buried in the Grave, All Sons & Daughters
- There was a day we held our breath And felt the sting of bitter death When all our hopes were buried in the grave Our eyes awake our hearts were torn Between our faith and what we knew Before our king was buried in the grave -0 And grace was in the tension Of everything we've lost Standing empty handed Shattered by the cross - Chorus: All we have All we had Was a promise like a thread Holding us keeping us Oh from fraying at the edge All we knew All we knew Was you said you'd come again You'd rise up from the dead - There was a day we looked for proof That you had risen from the tomb And all our doubts began to roll away We touched the scars upon your hands You kept your word Oh son of man You buried death by taking on the grave - You came here to save us Cuz everything was lost No longer empty handed Clinging to the cross - It is is well It is done - All we have all we had Is the promise like a thread Holding us keeping us Oh from fraying at the edge All we know All we know Is you said you'd come again You rose up from the dead
Hi dear friends. Happy Friday. Our song for this week comes from one of my favorite Christian bands: Third Day. Today's song is a very special one to me. I don't know about you but when I ponder and truly meditate on God's love for me, I can't grasp it. His love is infinite, He is limitless and divine... My love is conditional, I am limited and rubbish. But God does not see junk when He sees us. In Christ, God sees us as we will be, not as we are! He has done everything to be with me. He has done everything to be with you.
My prayer is that these lyrics will echo to you His love for days, years and eternity to come. "May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:18
“You asked for a loving God: you have one. The great spirit you so lightly invoked, the ‘lord of terrible aspect,’ is present: not a senile benevolence that drowsily wishes you to be happy in your own way, not the cold philanthropy of a conscientious magistrate, nor the care of a host who feels responsible for the comfort of his guest...s, but the consuming fire Himself, the Love that made the worlds, persistent as the artist’s love for his work and despotic as a man’s love for a dog, provident and venerable as a father’s love for a child, jealous, inexorable, exacting as love between sexes.” - C. S. Lewis
Love Song, Thrid Day
I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves.
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain,
But I walked the hill of Calvary.
Just to be with you, I will do anything
There's no price I would not pay no
Just to be with you, I would give everything
I would give my life away.
I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
All of those dreams are an empty motion.
It can never be done.
I've never swam the deepest ocean,
But I walked upon the raging sea.
I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love.
How I died upon the cross for your sins.
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I give you
But I promise, I would do it all again.
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