Greetings sisters!
I hope you're all pressing on strong in the Lord today! I am here. It's been a cosy indoor rainy day but thankful for shelter, warmth, and good works to do under a roof!
I love all these scriptures describing our trust in God as if sheltering under His wings...
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.Ruth 2:12
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.Psalm 36:7
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.Psalm 57:1
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.Psalm 61:4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.Psalm 91:4
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!Matthew 23:37
That's an awesome picture to ponder and know He cares and is watching over His children. He is a good Father!
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;2 Thessalonians 1:3
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.1 Peter 2:2-3
Our faith life should be active...growing in the Lord to better conform to the Word of truth
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:13-16
Timothy's profiting (progress) was to be seen by all. May ours as well.
Let us go on to perfection....
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:1-2
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.1 Corinthians 9:27
I was thinking how we need to test ourselves to make sure we are not walking in hypocrisy or having double standards. Like we may expect someone to do something but we give allowance to ourselves not to. This may be easy to see in others but how about testing ourselves deeply as perhaps it is harder to see in yourself. Everything we do should be tested through the Word...as best we can and of course because we ought to be still growing we will see areas for more maturity as we go. In the beginning of our walk in the truth, we will be repenting of 'major' sins and false doctrines etc and as we go these may get 'smaller' (if you want to say it that way) but just more refining as we go and the Lord shows us truth in His Word and convicts us of things in us.
A few things I can think of personally for example was how we need to actively purge distractions from our lives. I post scriptures on my facebook page but in order to get to my page I had to go through the app startup page. So on there videos would start playing and it was cooking and animal videos mostly but sometimes they would catch your eye for too long and so I had to study up how to change my settings to stop them from playing and distracting me. I must be about my Father's business and there's no need for such things even if they may not be sinful (but as we know sometimes things pop up that definitely are sinful.). That is such things the Lord convicts and refines us in and even could chastise us about. This world has a way of cramming other things into our mind so there's more in there to think about and less focus on the things of the Lord. I found a web browser that doesn't have ads so that helps too. Also often phones come with a news feed page that's easily accessible and when I set up my phone awhile ago I had to search online how to remove this. It's just too much of a distraction if it's easily accessible or often seen. Maybe not sinful of knowing a tiny bit of what might be going on in the world once in awhile but who needs to know the latest gossip, murder, celebrity sin, or sports covetousness and idolatry and all manner of evil. It's too easy to be swept away in wanting to know something new and what's going on in detail in the world that it would became a huge distraction if I let myself do this. We have to take control over technology and there are ways to do it even if you have to put some research in and dig through many settings to do so. Jesus told us to actively get rid of that which stumbles us and causes us to sin.
Another thing that came to my attention recently is say like when there's a bag of apples and you tend to look through for a 'good one'. I was thinking 'who am I to think I deserve the best and leave the lesser ones for others. Just grab one and deal with it or someone else will have to. If it has bruises, cut them off. If it's completely rotten, throw it away and get another one'. It could be not loving your neighbour so I'm working on that and anything similar that comes to mind.
We know the Lord prunes those in the Vine so they may bring forth even more fruit for His glory! It's encouraging to hear how others may be growing in the Lord so hopefully anything I share is also. It's a joyous thing to keep walking in His truth! We're responsible for ourselves. Sometimes we want to change things in others that are clearly so wrong...but we can't. God can, if they're willing.
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.Mark 10:27
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.2 Timothy 2:9
I saw that and loved it...the Word of God is not bound! Makes me think of the countries where Bibles are illegal. But man is not in control and God can make ways for His purposes in such places. This world really is satan's kingdom. But our God reigns!
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.1 John 2:15
We know being of the world is a widespread sin in those who claim to believe. But we see you can't love God and the world. If people aren't loving God they will love the world instead. So there is a serious lack of loving God these days (and fearing Him). But let us keep growing in our love for Him which means we would keep seeking out His commands to obey Him!
I was thinking how some people say..."either I'm wrong or you're wrong"...but reality is they could both be very wrong. And then we have two people who need to be changed by the Word and in humility admit they were wrong. It actually builds trust rather than destroys it for people to humbly admit their failings and strive to do better. If someone's just trying to get around or ignore or move on from without addressing their failings and making things right...there must be a problem. Of course once the situation is remedied after repentance and restitution, it is a joy to move on in Christ's hope of forgiveness and mercy!
I like what Jesus said here and may we too be seeking the Father's honour and glory no matter what anyone thinks of us...
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.John 8:49-50
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.1 Peter 3:9
That's God's pure ways! Not man's but we put down the flesh to obey. Two wrongs never make a right. We want to take the higher ground for His glory. When someone does something evil to us...let us not return them evil. If someone slanders us...may we not slander them back. Some people get upset when someone slanders them and demand the person take it back asap all the while never seeing and repenting of their own public written slander. You cannot walk with such people no matter how much truth and sound doctrine they have. It's a really dark world with perilous times. Let us keep watch over our own actions so they do not bring terrible dishonour to our precious Saviour and His way become evil spoke of. I know I can fail too, but I don't want to, so let's keep ourselves sisters, walking in humility, meekness, and the fear of God.
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.1 John 5:18
Really think about the depths of this...
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12:20-21
This does not mean we approve of what the enemy is doing but it's just us following God ourselves knowing He will deal with the enemies in vengeance lest they repent. We hope they do. As Jesus said to Peter who was wondering about what John should do..."What is that to you, follow you me!". Let us do that or try our best to. He is worthy!
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36
We know Jesus makes us free from the bondage of sin! He saves us out of our sins and the power of them...to walk in truth and newness of life! He opens blind eyes and sets the captives free!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,Luke 4:18
I love that. God is good.
Well I guess that's all for today. Always something to share and things that come to mind or I'm pondering on. Strive on sisters! Look to the Lord and trust in Him...like being under the shadow of His wings!
Love in Christ,
Sister Chayil
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