A CONTRITE HEART~ by C D Swanson

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17 KJV)

When we hold onto things the Lord wants us to release, He may hold off on His blessings. Those things, superficial in nature, can be hindrances to our spiritual growth. When we harvest things of insufficient and insignificant pleasures, ultimately, we’re stagnating under His watchful eye. It’s our Father’s will that we should be aware in order to progress to a higher realm to grow closer to God. “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8 KJV)

God wants us to follow His will, not ours. When we do things without consulting, or listening to Him, we’re saying—and demonstrating through our actions—we don’t trust Him enough to surrender to His will.  When we forego the discipline to begin each day with meditation of His word, and prayer…we may be inviting the “world” to crash into our spirituality.  We should keep the scripture of 1 John 4:4 in our hearts, “…greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

When we undergo periods of brokenness—which invariably life will throw at us—it’s up to us as children of a great sovereign God, to bow before Him in humility, reverence, praise, and thanksgiving. He surely will bring forth blessings so numerous, our cup will runneth over. With each experience, there will be growth, and refinery.

When we trust Him and journal our lives through prayers, and a keen awareness of outside forces (the world) humility (contrite heart) and compassion…God’s light will not only shine upon us but through us.

Unrelenting Faith

by CD SWANSON

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31-32 KJV)

Have there been times in your life where you’ve experienced something almost unbearable to endure?  Then, years later when looking back, you’ve realized that our fiery trials in fact, prepared us for things to come?

Throughout the Bible, scriptures will often refer to the Lord preparing us for greater things, and to be of service to our mighty God. That sometimes, He will allow us to be “sifted” to strengthen us, and to purify us thereby transforming us. When this happens we can testify and give Him the all the glory and victory, as we become witnesses for His awesome power.

When we go through our trials…prayer, consistency in His word, and an unrelenting faith and trust in God is essential to the outcome of our paths.  Jesus explains to Peter in the above passages, that He allowed Satan to “sift” him, but Jesus prayed Peter’s faith not fail when it occurred. Peter needed to keep his trust in God, thereby dispelling evil with weapons of faith through God’s awesome power.

“Lord, help us maintain the process of growth by demonstrating our faith on a daily basis, as we become engrafted in Your word and Your Spirit, and become witness to your glory through each trial and blessing, In Jesus name, Amen.”

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:16 KJV)

God and His promises are all around us if we take the time to look and absorb.  Every time I see a rainbow I feel God’s breathing and living love caressing my very being. I feel His love when I feel rain coursing down against my face, or hear waves crashing against the rocks in the ocean.   I feel His presence through every single miraculous birth…including His beautiful creatures in this world.

God is all around and in this troubled world preempted with evil happenings, we need to gird ourselves with His truth and have our weapons of defense handy.  Our helmets of salvation, and the gospel armour.  Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual…for we battle daily and encounter adversity in heaping portions throughout the day.

God is a loving Father who gives us peace in the midst of turmoil…our boat stays afloat in His harbor of tranquility. We can feel Him and hear His voice if we take the time to pursue Him and get our mind-set as the mind of Christ.  We will encounter issues but will be able to withstand the heat when we are in His word and learn to trust Him fully and completely.  When we lean on Him with all of our heart and not on our own understanding, and fully acknowledge Him in all we do…and He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The voice of reason and the straight path of righteousness…He is all around.  We can see Him in everything if we take the time to realize and appreciate Him and love Him.. Our cup will overflow to portions of which we will not be able to believe when we accept Him fully and surrender to His will.

We know who He is and we love Him for who He is.  He is the great I AM, our Sovereign and loving Father, merciful and forgiving.  Thank you Lord…for all You are and all You do…Amen.

And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14 KJV)

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.(Proverbs 3:5-6)