Greetings sisters!
I hope you are pressing on in the strength of the Lord! He is worthy!
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
I was looking up that word 'forbearing's' definition...
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.1 Peter 4:8
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.James 5:19-20
More psalm readings here...
That was really edifying and refreshing reading those! Perfect timing too with what I am sharing here and what I am pondering on! God is good.
And I read some scriptures on 'quick' (ie living)...
I was pondering on the subject of bearing false witness/accusation/slander against others. It's a good study subject for you sisters to go do. There is very much against it in the Word. Also along with right judgements too. The depth of truth is amazing what the Lord wants from us His sisters! There are commands for women not to be doing this too. In this culture, it seems it's easy for people to say things against others or about what happened or a situation that they cannot fully prove or know for sure. We are just fellow humans not like God. The media is full of it. Social media is full of it. The world's talk is full of it. The false churches are full of it. But let that not be once named among us, sisters. Oh yes we may make mistakes as limited humans but when we do we repent and apologize. God's ways are high not of this world. Truth matters! Always. Let us be God's daughters...valiant for the truth!
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.Exodus 20:16
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.Psalm 35:11
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.Proverbs 10:18-19
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.1 Timothy 3:11
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:Matthew 15:18-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.Proverbs 6:16-19
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.Proverbs 14:5
Let us make sure we know the facts and truth about everything before we jump to conclusions or speak with certainty. I am examining my heart on this as we should never stop doing on everything. I sure want to be a faithful witness to the best of my ability! God is about...truth...and so am I. Let us leave the unknown about someone to the Lord...or wait for it to be revealed to us in time. He knows! It sort of makes me not want to say anything about anyone but there definitely is a time and place for speaking truth too.
I was then pondering on all the eyewitnesses there was of Christ and how we can fully trust in those facts about all He did for us! How awesome!
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.2 Peter 1:16
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;Luke 1:1-2
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Praise God we can know for sure of our glorious Saviour!
But let us believe it by faith because the Lord told us also!
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.1 John 5:9
It's good to again ponder how all we have is the Lord's. That really helps because we can't keep any of it anyway. Our life, our health, our possessions, people in our lives, and even this blog I have. Speaking of that I do not want it to become more than it is. I have been pondering many things and searching my heart to make sure I am not overlooking any little thing I may be convicted on. This blog is the Lord's. He can take it away if He wants...anytime. While I do appreciate sharing many good things to edify you sisters and do it unto the Lord because He wants us to edify one another in love, and it is a real blessing and joy for me to do, we need to remember not to think too highly of things (if we do) which could stumble us if they are removed. Let us give what we have to the Lord and remember this truth often. We don't want anything between us and the Lord. Things are just extra blessings and on the side. In prison, we would learn this I'm sure! He is our portion. Let us also have zeal in what the Lord has given us to do! And do it heartily as unto the Lord. I want to do that with my blog here too! We don't need to worry about other things the Lord hasn't given us. He will give us the zeal to do what He has in front of us if we surrender to His will.
And speaking of, we also should not think too highly of any human. We know how we are to all be at peace and forbearance and longsuffering and one mind with one another, and honouring and respecting and submitting to one another (saints in the body) we cannot let this blind us to any sin in someone or not be able to give them up to the Lord if He wants to take them away from us.
I'm sure also wives could possibly think too highly of their husbands also and go along with sin in them. We see that in Acts 5. We know wives are commanded to obey their husbands and children obey parents but we always know we obey God over man. We are all fallen creatures even when we have the Spirit so that keeps us humble and all on the same level.
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?1 Corinthians 4:6-7
Everything we have is His and from Him!
I love this scripture....
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.1 Kings 19:11-12
We know the Lord does not speak out loud to us today. But He sure can and does 'speak' to us through the Word, and our conscience, and the promptings of the Spirit. Let us listen!
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.1 Samuel 3:9-10
We want willing, soft, surrendered hearts no matter the cost.
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.John 21:21-22
That's a good scripture to ponder. Sometimes we have to let people go and focus on following Him ourselves. IF that is how it has to be and we have done everything we can to obey the scriptures in relationships.
I was pondering how we don't want to get desensitized to the sins of this world by constantly seeing them or being around them. We have been born into this world in a particularly perilous and lascivious age...which is getting worse and worse. If someone from say Bible times somehow was able to see into our day...I'm sure it would produce such horror and disgust in them. Let it do the same in us who are born of God and know the high holiness of God and the vileness of sin. The most obvious thing we may see is the way women (and men) now dress. Let us guard our eyes.
I hope on my blog here...you will only see good pure and true things and it will be refreshing for your eyes in such a dark world. We are no better than anyone but God told us to be holy.
I mentioned examining my heart. How that is for me...it's like when you're just so desperate to want to be doing what's right and you're almost frantically searching to make sure you haven't sinned. Does that sound like what it's like for you sisters? Or maybe I can put it this way...like someone quickly rummaging around in a huge box of odds and ends looking for one particular thing that may or may not be there:-) It's kind of like that in your mind or something:-)
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.Psalm 77:6
Obviously it's testing our heart to the Word, under the fear of God and in the conviction of the Spirit, and also we should ask Him to help us. We may see areas we need to grow in or change and we want to work on those as we have opportunity (meaning some things need a particular circumstance to see how we react for one example). Let us look to the Lord and His power to sanctify and justify us to be pleasing to Him and approved! Let us trust in Him and work with Him on this all. We know it is all only possible through all the things He has given us!
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:Philippians 1:6
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:2 Peter 1:3
If we sin, we know it's against the Lord first even if it may have been against a fellow human. I know for a fact if I sin against someone I feel so bad and am so sorry. I will always try to make it right if that is in my power. The Lord forgives and it is a blessing when others truly forgive also! (Sister hugs:-)
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.Jeremiah 17:10
One thing I do find is also having to be careful about 'false guilt' or something. This may be from someone telling us we are sinning (when we are not as far as we can tell before the Lord) or falsely accusing us or misunderstanding us and such like. Also sins we have repented of and been forgiven of and are washed in Christ's powerful blood...we do not want to be feeling any guilt from these (if we remember them or someone still seems to hold them against us)! Let us rejoice in the Lord's forgiveness and be free after searching our hearts with the Lord's help! After searching there is a time to trust the Lord to reveal anything we can't see and we can move on. Of course never stopping completely. Oh yes we need to keep being on guard and walking every day in the Spirit and not the flesh but praise God for His abundant redemption and hope of mercy for those with humble willing hearts! And sure, where we will be in 10, 20, or 30 years time in the Lord should be one of much greater maturity of course than now so that would mean we are still 'immature' now compared to what we will be so let's keep humble and striving our best trusting in Him! For God's glory, I do not know of any willful sin, or false way I am living in today. But I have not endured to the end yet and we all know we have to be on guard constantly lest we fall. The Lord help us!
Let us also thank the Lord that we even care about every sin. It means there's hope and He hasn't turned us over. God is good to us but let us remember the warnings in His Word about what may happen if we don't act on what we should.
I just thought about how we know our own weaknesses and that I'm sure satan does also and he can use those to discourage us I'm sure, in making us think we are no good and failures. Let us not listen to his lies but do our best to rise up in the Spirit and do the best we can! Press on sisters! Look to Him who is so perfect and worthy!
Yet another thing I was pondering was that while we are to let our good works shine before men...could there be a limit to that to where we are not focusing on doing them 100% unto the Lord? Just something to ponder and that I've been pondering and want to make sure of myself.
I find when there's more trials the much more I have to ponder and that is a super good thing. And if the Lord sets us free in His mercy and timing from confusing situations and/or people then that allows you more time to ponder and examine everything and search your heart. I hope you find that so too sisters as it is a very good purifying thing.
I was also pondering peace and joy. We know the Lord gives those through the Spirit to His saints. I also know though that just as most things there are counterfeits and false deceptions. Many of the world's people 'experience' peace and joy through a variety of ways. Let us make sure our peace and joy is fully rooted in the Lord and all truth.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.Romans 15:13
Well that's enough from me today. Strive on sister soldiers! Hope anything I shared was a blessing and could encourage or help you in any way. I love you in the Lord.
🌷🌷🌷
Sister Chayil
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