Search me O God and know my heart

We sometimes forget that we need the Holy Spirit’s understanding to know the scriptures, or what  HIs Word is saying  to us…for our hearts are deceitful (fraudulent or crooked)

Jer 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

         I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (will), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

(Years ago, when I was a child,, I was at my cousin’s house…she was a lot older than I,…and she was going to make a special sauce for the cake she had made.   I was around and heard her say….”This recipe looks like it would be a good one.  I think I will try it.”

        Well, let me tell you….my cousin was raised in my esteem,…a lot!   How could you tell by just looking at the numbers, and the ingredients of a recipe…and tell it would be good?   She was a superstar to me!   

        Of course, now, after some  “experience”  myself….I know what she meant.   And it still pleases me, when I can do the same….read a recipe and tell whether it will be good or not.   

       But it struck me the other day….as Christians….newly born ones….or older….are we acquiring the “experience”  of hearing what  the Word of God  is saying to us?  or what He is telling us to do?

       Well, He has just that help for us…. if we listen to the Holy Spirit, who shows us exactly what it means to us! The truth of it.

What a blessing He is!   What a provision for us!   To know for ourselves…both what the Lord is saying to us…and for the grace [ability] He gives to do it…..for that is exactly what we need.)

The Psalmist writes:

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:

       And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Search me….to examine intimately.   

        And as the Psalmist says in another verse in this psalm: “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

        Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”  (verses 2-3)

Thou knowest, O Lord…..so the Psalmist (and we should, too)…says…”search me….make intimate examination of me….of my heart….my inmost feelings and attitudes….and my thoughts.

       For You can see the truth… if there be any wicked way in me”. 

       This is something we should do with the Lord, every now and again.   Especially, when we begin to feel that there is a coldness in our hearts toward the Lord….let Him examine us.  

      (We are not called to search ourselves….but we are to honestly deal with what the Lord shows us….. the Lord is to search us.

I believe it takes the power of the Holy Spirit for us to get honest. We are not able of ourselves to do this….that is why we should cry…”Search me O God…”.)

Our ways are our usual mode of thinking,…planning,…looking at others,…and feeling about things.   This is “our way”.

       Isaiah 53:All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

       Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

What a tremendous Savior we have!

 Christ, by the Holy Spirit will set us aside,   to His Way….this is sanctification.

       If we are yielded to the Holy Spirit in our everyday walk,…we will learn to see things from His viewpoint….and will learn to feel the way He does about things….and people.

And the Lord….has known us.    Sometimes we say:

       “Well, I have good reason to feel the way I do about so and so.   Or about this place.”  

And perhaps we do…..but when we become a child of God,  He will lead us out of our reasons and feelings….into a “large place”….a place where we can stand toe to toe with our “enemies”…and be at peace….having the victory which is….His Way.

God has seen every action…in, for and against us.

       Psalm 139:16-18 “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned,  when as yet there was none of them.

      How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!

      If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:  when I awake, I am still with thee.”

We are not hidden….we have never been hidden from the eyes of God.   This has reference to us being in our Mother’s womb….but it also is spiritually.

      When we are first born again….we are being formed into His character…”in continuance”.   He will lead us into all truth….and lead us out of ourselves.   “…and lead me in the way everlasting.”

HIs is an everlasting Way….a Way and a Life built upon Truth and grace.   

Let us give ourselves over to Him….and He will certainly lead us in His Way, everlasting.

First Principles

My husband received once…the greatest need for our day is a return to first principles.

Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

We need to be taught in the fundamentals of the Scriptures.   

       Of course we need to be born again before we can really learn of Jesus (Ephesians 4:20)….but once we are born again,  we need to learn from the milk of the Word….and grow.

      (I fear that many believe that the “milk of the Word” is all about God’s love….and although HIs love is great and true….the basics of Scripture is Christ.   

       From the beginning to the end…God points to Him…and our part in Him.   His Word…for He is the Word.  His Purpose to have a people for His name sake.   His great call…down through the ages,  to men,  to follow and know Him.  His descent to earth to become our Savior from sin.   His death and resurrection…for He accomplished both death to sin and life to God for us….and His great intercessory power for HIs people.)

Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

       But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations    for the obedience of faith:

       To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.   Amen.”

But the first principle I am going to speak about here….is the cross…my (our) personal cross…that the Lord Jesus told us Himself about….by denying ourselves, picking up our cross (which is anything of God’s Will that cuts across my will)…and following Him.   (Matthew 16:24)

      But when we have done that….and we no longer resist His Will in anything (this is not instant obedience, but final obedience.  We have determined to follow Him, no matter what it costs us.)

Then, we are ready to go on  in the fundamentals of Christ….then we become the living sacrifice:

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,  that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

      The member of the Godhead we present our bodies to is the Holy Spirit.   He has come to transform us…sanctify us….set us aside in all our ways, thoughts, actions, words,….to God.

And He works in us to:

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

How amazing is our God!   He commands that we be not conformed to this world….but He just does not command….He gives grace….to renew our minds, to see the evil of this world…not just in general….but in particular where our walk is concerned.

How do we know whether this course of action….or this person,…or going to this place is right?

          There are many “bad” things we  absolutely know to stay away from…the scriptures are very plain about these…..but there are also many things which may be right for some….but not for me.   These are called personal convictions.

Our minds being renewed (In the Greek means renovation.  We all have thoughts of renovating a house, kitchen or other room.  There is always a lot of tearing out….building up…replacing new for the old.)   So it is with our minds.

        They are renewed….for the Holy Spirit has come and gives us His thoughts.   “Old things are passed away…behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Many of the “old things” that need to be replaced are “conformity to the world”.   

       We often grow up comparing ourselves with others around us….at home or school or work.  The “fads” of the times….in clothes, and speech.  The morals of the world…and (sadly) sometimes even the church we attend…

…all these are “old things” which need to be renewed by His Holy Spirit and the Word of God, when we are born again….and are beginning to follow Him.

For now, we are His child…His servant….His friend.   And we can not be a friend of the world, if we are a friend of God.  (James 4:4 “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?…”)

     (We are not friends of the world,   we are lights to it…showing His light from within us.)

The means is always the same….deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow the Lord Jesus.

      The cross we carry is a daily cross.   It first deals with our wills….but once we truly will to do and be His Will, (and this is often called “being crucified with Christ”)….

…..then, we willingly pick up our cross in love to Christ…and carry it day by day….for it deals with our minds and hearts….our lives, our affections, and our attitudes, bringing us into union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

(One of my favorite songs is 

    “Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand.  

The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land.

     A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way.

From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

     I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;   

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

     Content to let the world go by,  to know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame,  my glory all the cross.”

      We must come to the place that we would not give up our cross for all this weary  world. 

I will cling to it…till I can place it down at Jesus feet for a token of my love.

While Christ is our pattern…each of us will be us,…for time and for eternity.

     That is what the Lord wants….for “us”…the “us” He created…the “us” He saved…the “us” He is forming into His character….to come after Him.

      The first Principle we always need to learn is that Christ not only saves us…but teaches us….leads us….and empowers us….through this world.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

The first principle we need to learn….is to yield to this working….and become renovated for His Purpose, under the teaching of the cross He gives us.

Haggai

Ezra 5:1 “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.”

Haggai was an old man, and Zechariah was a young man.

Both were told to talk to the leaders of the returned remnant (they had been seventy years in captivity in Babylon, for their sins, but had come back, after the opportunity came to return.)

Zechariah spoke mostly in visions, telling the people, that they had returned for a purpose: which they should continue in, and finish.

His was a message to encourage and build up.

But before they could be built up; they needed to Awaken! To God’s claims on their lives. This Haggai did.

Haggai was a man who got right to the point.

Haggai 1:3-5 “Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house (God’s temple they were to rebuild) lie waste?

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

You see, the people who had returned to Israel, had started building the temple with great enthusiasm.

As soon as God’s work was started: enemies came.

They said, Let us “help” you.

They wanted to stop God’s people from being separate from them and their ways. (The world always wants to interfere in God’s Will and work.)

But when the remnant refused, saying they alone would build God’s house. Then trouble began. (Ezra 4:4-6).

The enemies accused the remnant of rebellion to the king of Persia, and he believed them, and commanded that they stop what they were doing!

What should the remnant do? (What they should have done was send their own letters to the king, reminding him of what the former king had promised and decreed for the house at Jerusalem! Ezra 6:1-7)

This was their purpose: To rebuild the temple, so that the first thing (and the Lord is always to be first in our lives), would be His people in a right relationship to Him, by sacrifice.

(We must remember that the sacrifices of the temple were looking forward to the Great, and Only True Sacrifice for sins: Jesus Christ, our Savior.)

When they had stopped building the temple; they started working on their own houses, and estates. They built very elaborate houses for themselves.

But God would not let them forget their purpose, so:

Haggai 1:7-9 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Saith the Lord of hosts.

Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”

This fierce and serious message was heard (thankfully), and obeyed.

Haggai 1:12 “Then Zerubbabel…,and Joshua…,the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.”

And the Lord encouraged them:

Haggai 1:13-14 “Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.

And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel….,governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua…., the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,”

When the Lord is “with us”, we are in a very secure place, for His power is at work for us.

For the Lord also made Darius the king find a decree, which had not been found before.

By that decree, the Israelites were not only to be left alone to build the House of God…….but they were to be funded, and encouraged! (Ezra 6:2-3, 6-7)

And the Lord gave them a very great promise:

Haggai 2:7, 9 “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with (the)glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Part of the temple they were finishing, would be there when God sends His Son, Jesus Christ. (It was; for Herod built his temple around part of this original building. Jesus walked on the stones they laid.)

(Notice how many times Haggai uses the name The Lord of Hosts. This name signifies that the Lord is Captain of His army…..and that army can be anything….angels, hornets, hail,…..and He uses His army for our protection.)

And, when they obeyed; The Lord blessed them in all the other things:

Haggai 2:19 “Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.”

The Lord has said to us:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We are to concentrate on His Purpose for us: to do His Will.

And He will be “with you” today, tomorrow, and so on.

The Reason Entire.

In the French…..the reason entire is one word that stresses what everything else is connected to….the whole cause of all.

And God has a “reason entire” for us believers.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

(Most commentators say that Joshua, the book where Israel fought and got their inheritance God promised them…..is the companion book to Ephesians, the book where the inheritance we have in Christ is spread before our eyes, and we are invited to get it.)

Paul is speaking to Christians about the wonderful blessings we have in Christ, in the heavenlies…..

…..and this is how we are given access to them….by being born again…saved by grace, through faith.

It is all of God, not of us. We do not, and can not, earn our salvation.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Here is the “reason entire” for our existence. The reason we were brought into being for….to walk in the good works that God has ordained for us.

(When I was a child, and I heard these verses, I thought it strange that God says…..”not of works, lest any man should boast”…..

….then turn around and say we should….”walk in good works…”.

I thought the difference was “bad” works and “good” works. But that is not the case.

When God speaks of “works” in scripture…..there are two different kinds:

The works we do for ourselves, or others….good or evil….it is spoken of as “our ways” in scripture.

Or,

The works we do as obedience to Christ Jesus…..”for His sake”

Again, it comes down to the “reason entire” we do works….for us….or for Christ.)

Here is God’s purpose manifested…..His heart shown.

We are to walk with Him in the obediences He places before us.

Fulfilling the obediences, yes….but also fulfilling and receiving the inheritance God has for us….in and through them.

Think of Israel fighting for their land. Each battle was a victory…..hurrah!

But also it was a victory for the grand Purpose of becoming and manifesting God’s chosen nation!

So with us.

Each victory we have…..small or large obediences that we do for His sake….is a part in the overall Victory of Christ in the earth.

His reason entire…..His cause of choosing us in eternity past….

…..is that we might manifest…..like a spectacle….to an assembled Universe (and that is our Universe around us day by day)….

……that Christ Jesus is worthy to be obeyed, adored, and praised!

1 Corinthians 4:9 “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”

Spectacle here means like on a stage…..each, fulfilling their part….that the whole story might be shown to those watching.

But God does not leave us to do it on our own…..no, He “ordains”….or makes full provision for all that comes into our lives.

Let me repeat that…..He makes full provision for all that comes into our lives.

(I have had to have that repeated to me often….especially during trying times.

But God is so good to repeat it to me. He does not tire of training us…..He has not….nor will He ever leave us to ourselves…..unless we choose it.)

The battles are many…..but it is for a grand end…..that we might be the manifestation of Jesus Christ on the earth.

For the world does not really see Him, except through us.

May each of us see and fulfill God’s Purpose, by our obediences, in our day to day battles….for His sake.

Overthrowing the Moneychangers.

I want to speak of two things, which all of us are influenced by: convenience and money.

John 2:13-16 “And the Jews Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers money, and overthrew their tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

This is the first of three Passovers, which Jesus attends to fulfill His work, after He was baptized of John the Baptist.

He came with no fanfare, but walked into the temple, fulfilling God’s commandment.

There He finds those men which had been allowed to go into the outer court of the temple, to sell their wares.

This would be very convenient.

(And how many times we give into the convenient way of doing God’s Will; not His way).

If you had traveled from a far distance, you could not bring a proper sacrifice with you……..It would certainly be damaged by the time you got to Jerusalem. Which would make it unacceptable. (Deuteronomy 17:1)

So, you would need to buy one there……..usually, at an exorbitant rate!

The priests had an arrangement with the sellers.

(Most likely getting some of the money they charged to the visitors.)

And so at the time of the Passover, the outer court was turned into a market place.

When Jesus came, and saw it…….He drove out the sellers, and reminded all that the temple was God’s house.

It was not to be a house of merchandise,….but a house of prayer.

John 2:17 “And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

This was the first public rebuking of the Priests, and authorities. It was for His Father’s glory,……and they should have realized their error……if they wanted God’s glory….and repented.

But believing in God’s Law, in general…….and being personally corrected by it, are two different things.

It requires heart submission, to God….to receive correction.

(Paul said of these religious hypocrites, later:

Romans 2:21-23 “Thou therefore which teaches another, teaches thou not thyself? Thou that teaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Thou that sayest that a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?

Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?”)

Jesus had ministered to others, and had done miracles;…but this was the first time He publicly showed His authority:

He not only demanded the removal of that which was defiling His Father’s House……He drove them out!

He spoke with Power, and used His power to cleanse His Father’s Temple!

None had done, as He was doing.

There were three years of the ministry of Jesus:

It is not certain when the priests went back to the arrangement of selling in the temple court;….but in the third year of His ministry, He came again to Jerusalem, for the Passover.

This time He came with fanfare….if anyone wanted to really see and receive their Messiah; here He was: according to prophesy. (Zechariah 9:9)

Matthew 21:6-11 “And His disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon.

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

By this time He was recognized, as the One who did many miracles, throughout the land.

Not so long ago He had raised Lazarus from the dead. For all these things, the crowds in Jerusalem praised Him.

There were many who believed on Him as the Messiah; but the crowds were looking for miracles, for healing, for a show.

(Were those who praised Him here, crying “Crucify Him”, in a few days?)

Matthew 21:12-14 “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all of them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

And said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the blind, and the lame, came to Him in the temple; and He healed them.”

When He came the first time, He said, “My Father’s House”.

Here it is called the temple of God, still.

Later He will say, “your house is left unto you desolate”. (Matthew 23:37-38)

But here, in front of all, He said “My house”. Showing clearly that He is the Messiah, that was to come, and restore the hearts of Israel to God. (Isaiah 56:7)

But the leaders refused. There was no subjection to His claims.

He did teach and heal those who came to Him,……and it is pointed, that God wanted us to know that it was the blind and lame who came…….

….but when it was evening……He left Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:15 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased.”

After all, He was the Messiah, that meant they would have to submit to Him. This they had refused to do;…..even with all His miracles……and still refused.

Their hearts were full of themselves.

They had a good thing going here. They were in charge of the money, gifts, and offerings, given to the Lord.

They had influence and power. They had place.

And they did not want the Messiah coming along, and ruining it for them.

(How sad to refuse salvation because of things! How often have we felt the same about our plans, and position?

I know I have. We think, “If we yield to God, and do His Will; how will that effect us?”

When the Lord pointed it out to me, I confessed my sin; for how awful for me to think this way, after all He has done for me!)

The next day, when He comes back into Jerusalem, to the temple to teach; the chief priests send people to prove Him wrong. Then, they could accuse Him of something.

But He knew their tricks, and confused them.

Then He spoke to them, directly:

Matthew 21:31-32 “….Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

Here is the crux of the whole matter: “ye repented not afterward, that ye might believe”.

Jesus had given them time to repent,…..to come and believe Him.

But though they heard Him many times (and acknowledged His answers), yet their hearts would not yield.

John the Baptist had come, preaching repentance; to prepare for the Messiah.

The Son of God had come, preaching the kingdom of God was at hand.

Why wouldn’t they hear and enter in?

Isaiah 65:2 “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walked in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;”

We seldom understand the grip that the world has on us; until we see it next to Jesus.

Repentance is changing our minds and hearts about God; then changing our actions toward Him.

Once we fought against Him: His will and our subjection to Him.

But when we repent: we give in. He will be our Lord and Savior.

He will command in this holy temple of my body (1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”), …..and I will yield to Him.

Repentance toward God, and faith to our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)

For Christ Jesus is still saving His people.

He cleanses us….driving out those things which defile us…..that we might be His dwelling place here on earth.

To pray aright

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

In this prayer, the Lord gives us the spiritual essence of true prayer…

…we begin with addressing the God of Heaven, as our Father in Heaven.

…and we end with confessing and praising Him as King of the Universe in power and glory.

If you look at the prayers of Ezra, Daniel, David, the Prophets and Paul,….all seek certain requests for themselves and others…..

…but also, they adore and praise the One Who has saved and called them.

But now, our prayers….

I know when I was called as a prayer warrior, I thought that it would be easy…(little did I know of the battle that rages around those who really pray).

But I learned that prayer is more than seeking things I need….for me and others….

…it is coming before the throne of God and seeking His Will for these things….in the manner accustomed a King.

Christ, here, taught His disciples to ask for things which are needed, and to give the glory due to God.

We should bless and praise the One Who gives us His grace.

As we pray: two things happen.

We see ourselves…and if anything is hindering the prayer in us….the Holy Spirit makes it known to us, to get it taken care of.

We see the Lord….and how much His redemption has won for us! And our spiritual affections rise up…..our hearts and lives are encouraged….and we are humbled before the Lord’s love.

True prayer never stops with the focus on ourselves….but always guides us to Christ.

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Here is the part of the prayer I wish to focus on:

We are to be pro-active where our lives are concerned…..we are to ask God for help….against the things which tempt and trouble us.

We are to ask that He will guide us out of temptation…..and include that we will listen and obey Him.

And we are to ask that if we are tempted, He will deliver us.

(Here we need to remember the Shepherd’s staff and rod. Psalm 23. These articles were for defense of the sheep, it is true.

A lion or a bear, the sheep might get caught in a pit….the rod for defense was wonderful….

…the staff for lifting us out of the pit was a blessing!

But they were also used to correct a wandering sheep….or one which often fell behind, refusing to follow at the Shepherd’s speed.

Corrections will come,….our Shepherd has promised it….for He will not let us fall victim, as our wanderings would do.)

“And deliver us from evil”. It could be written the evil one….or the devil and his wiles.

For “evil” here means “hurtful influence which does harm”.

This is what the Lord wants us to be pro-active about….the influences around us which causes harm to our spiritual life in Him.

The Lord wants us to pray against these things…..looking to Him, Who has all power and authority….and is worthy of all the glory. Amen.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Surely if God blesses us…..we should bless Him in praise and love.

And seeing as how God has blessed us…..does not this verse ask us how many of those heavenly blessings we have within us?

For this is a promise of the things we have “in Christ”….let us get them.

The Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord

Philippians 3:8 “Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them by dung, that I may win Christ,”

As the eye beholds an object, an image of it is introduced and impressed upon our minds. It becomes a part of our memory.

So, the eye of faith, as it looks and beholds Christ, than an image of Him is formed in our souls.

His image is formed on our minds….we think of Him, often.

Formed on our hearts….our affections are moved toward Him.

Formed on our wills….we want to will after Him.

The knowledge of God we are talking about is the personal knowledge of fellowship and communion between our soul and the Lord Christ.

(Our soul is made of three parts of our personality: our minds, our hearts, and our wills.

The way we think, our emotional make-up, and our determined actions.)

Faith always shows us God….and so, through the light of the Scriptures—His Word,….and by the Spirit, we are able to take what is communicated to us by faith, and “see” God.

This is not imagination……but faith, giving us the substance of what we believe.

Faith shows us Christ…..and when Christ is seen….change comes to our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image (character) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

(Notice this is all about “the Lord”….my Lord)

Faith has so great an influence on us, that it changes the heart’s desire into the same image (character) of Christ.

Let’s look at a few examples in the faith chapter: Hebrews 11.

There was Abraham and his call….

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Abraham saw the greatness of God, and trusted, even before he saw the land.

There was Moses and his leaving the riches and power of this world…

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs’ daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”

Moses saw the riches of the fellowship with God and His people.

Then there was Rehab, giving up all she knew, to believe and stand with God’s people…..

Hebrew 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rehab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

You see faith shows us Christ….and He leads us out of what would hold us back,…from ourselves or the world……and leads us on with Him.

He is the goal….and also the great apprehender:

Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, neither were already perfect (complete): but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Christ, sending forth His faith into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…..apprehends…gets hold of us (praise God that it is His holding us, that is the power…..for if we got to heaven by us holding Christ….we would never make it)…..

….constraining us by His love,…..wooing us by His Spirit to keep coming to Him….and teaching us by His Word, how to do His Will.

He apprehends us….and gives us the desire to, as Paul, to follow after, to get what He has for us.

Paul said, “I pursue with vigor”.

[As the Song of Solomon says:

Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine.”

First, His love is shown….we follow after with our hearts.

Song of Solomon 1:3 “Because of the savor of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee.”

Then, His Name is shown and all it means to us…..and we follow after with our minds. (“Because” is reasonable knowledge)

Song of Solomon 1:4 “Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His Chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

Then our wills are drawn to run after the King…….to make a determined decision to yield to His rule…….and to receive the intimate knowledge of His peace and joy in the Spirit (wine).]

I pursue with vigor…..I want Him….more and more of Him….this is the exercise of rejoicing in God,…..

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, by brethren, rejoice in the Lord….”

It is an exercise, because all our soul’s faculties are involved:

To rejoice, we must will it……for it is God’s Will that we rejoice in Him.

Our minds must understand He is all good……then we are enlightened to rejoice, now.

Our hearts, then will look to Christ Jesus, and rejoice…..in Him.

That is why, rejoicing is always…..in the Lord.

The Adversary, the devil…often tells us that we can not rejoice in what we have…..because we do not have what we should have.

Or that rejoicing in the good things now, is not necessary….because there are always greater things coming.

But the Holy Spirit will teach us, by faith,……to exercise our minds, hearts, and wills to receive the tranquility of the Spirit,…..the foundation of a mind stayed on God,…..and willed determination to follow after….to pursue with vigor….to exercise rejoicing in my Lord.

The Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

When we think of God’s power, we think of miracles from the Bible:

The sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14)

or time going backward as a sign for the healing of king Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:8-11).

Indeed, there was power there….

But, when God’s power is usually seen, it is thru His Word.

(He stressed this , at the first:

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

He did not have to speak; all He had to do was will it.

But He did speak, to show the value He places on His Word.)

To stress the real Power of His Voice, we would do back to a cave and a hiding Prophet.

1 Kings 19:9 “And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Indeed, What was Elijah doing in that cave? How did he come to this?

Elijah was a man of Gilead, who was distressed at the low spiritual state of Israel. They were worshipping idols, and killing those who worshipped God. Yes, things were very low.

So he began to pray. God had told Israel that if they worshipped other gods , then He would withhold the rain. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Elijah prayed God would withhold rain, to get Israel’s attention…..so they would turn back to God.

James 5:17 ” Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

For six months Elijah prayed for God to withhold the rain, and He did.

Then Elijah was told to go to Ahab, king of Israel and tell him:

1 Kings 17:1 ” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

This might seem the wrong way to go about it….for Ahab did not believe in God…he had completely become an idol worshipper.

But someone coming and saying , in effect, “The true God of Israel is listening to my prayers,….And He is going to stop the rain, all the rain and dew; until I pray again.”

That got Ahab’s attention!

Elijah was told to go and hide…for Ahab would try and kill him. He did try. But God hid him….till:

After 3 years, Israel was in famine….cattle, crops, everything withering,

Then…

Elijah was told (1 Kings 18:1). “….Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

How would he do that? Through Elijah’s prayer…but first, Elijah wanted to showed Ahab and all the Israelites,…..the power of God,…..when you obey Him.

So , he set up a “contest” between the priests of the idol, and him.

1 Kings 18:19 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

It was a simple contest :

1 Kings 18:23-24 “Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”

So the prophets of Baal began:

1 Kings 18:26 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that heard. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

Notice, “No voice, nor any that heard”. Tricks and show…..but no reality.

So now it was Elijah’s turn.

Remember Elijah began this, by praying that God would withhold rain, so Israel would be awakened to their sin of idolatry and come back to God.

But how would they be awakened?

By a mighty demonstration of God’s Power?

For even under famine, the people had not turned back to God.

Called to the work of making everyone know that God was not pleased with Israel’s sin.

This he did when he went to Ahab.

Everyone knew that he had gone before the king and declared “No rain or dew” till he said.

And there had been no dew or rain for 3 years!

What were the means to Awaken the hearts to God’s demands for His people?

How were they to “hear” for themselves, and return to Him?

Well, it is through His Word spoken to our hearts…..

After three years of drought and famine; Elijah was told to go back and God would send rain.

God puts HIs people through a measured chastening….It was time to send rain. He would send it through Elijah’s prayer, but…….

As for the “contest”, I believe Elijah thought (as most of us would),…..if the people could just see some mighty work, that only God could do, then they would believe.

God’s people would know….once for all–that God was God….and return to Him.

(Remember the people are standing around, watching as the priests of the idol fail…..and now their attention is turned to Elijah)

1 Kings 18:30-35 ” And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

And Elijah took twelve stones, ….And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

And he said, Do it a second time. And they did….And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it the third time.

And water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”

(Where did he get the water? Mt. Carmel is about a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea)

He made the Altar so wet it could never burn….except by the Power of God.

Listen to the Prayer of Elijah:

1Kings 18:37-39 “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back.

The the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

Two things to notice:

Elijah did not pray for rain, here.

And the people said “the Lord, he is the God”…….not our God.

The fire came down! First the burnt sacrifice was consumed, which meant God heard Elijah, and honored him before the king and the people.

Then the wood,

Then the stones of the altar, itself

Then the very dust on the ground where the altar sat.

And licked up the water in the trench.

Then the prophets and priests of Baal were slain!

This was a mighty demonstration; so….

Everything is set in order, right?

But what did it do for King Ahab, or the people?

Where was the rain?

It came, and at Elijah’s prayer, but who was noticing , then?

1 Kings 18:42-45 “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

And said to his servant, Go up now , look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand……..And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

The fire falling was a mighty answer to prayer, but the people’s hearts were not turned back to God.

They might have been shown the true God…….

But I believe, that to turn their hearts back , required Elijah to preach God’s Word to the people that he had prayed for,…..till their hearts said The Lord is our God…..

…..people hearing for themselves God’s requirements on their own lives….

…..comes through preaching, and teaching God’s Word, and prayers.

(We can know God is able, without ever knowing God is able for me. That is the problem here; God was real now, They had to believe in His power…but they did not believe in Him for their lives)

Then what did this mighty demonstration do for Elijah? For Ahab? For the people?

For Ahab there was no change in his heart.

1 Kings 19:1 ” And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”

He ran home and told Jezebel; nothing changed in his life.

For the people? Some say that the worship of Baal was never the same. And the servants of God we’re not brutally killed as before.

But most did not turn back to God, even though they knew He was “The God.”

And for Elijah? That is the saddest situation of all.

Having done such a Mighty Demonstration of God’s Power….

Since the rain was given in answer to his prayer….he thought:

Surely everything is over with….Israel will now worship The Lord God , and Elijah could go and relax.

Everything was fixed…they were God’s People again. Right?

God enables His servants….there was ample power at Elijah’s disposal.

But……God requires His servants to see the job done; and Elijah thought the job was over with.

But it wasn’t:

1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”

Now as God’s Servants, we should expect trials, and enemies in this world.

But Elijah was thrown off guard, by thinking that the work was done, that he and God had won. There would be no opposition.

But, again, that was not the case.

1 Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life,….”

After such a mighty demonstration,….then running for his life.

Now , I would not judge Elijah….I have been tricked up myself, thinking things were not what they actually were.

And thinking that if I could just somehow show God’s Power, too, things would be different.

What we need to come to is God’s Word, and Voice.

What was it that began Elijah’s ministry?

The Word of God spoken to Moses so many years before…a promise that God surely would; and did, bring to pass by his seeking it.

And what caused Elijah to return , to pray for rain, after three years….God’s Word to him.

So now let us consider a lesson that God used to teach His runaway prophet. (For He was not done with him, though he had run away.)

1 Kings 19:9-10 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life , to take it away. “

Maybe he actually thought he was the only one left. A sure sign that no one seemed to stand with him. And here he was hiding inside the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 “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.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God’s Word and Voice began his ministry; and here God teaches His prophet a lesson about His Voice in comparison to Mighty Demonstrations of Power.

God calls Elijah to come out of hiding, after showing him He was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire….but it is His Voice that brings out His real servants to Himself.

Here God gives his runaway servant some instructions, and Elijah just goes and does it. No need for anything else.

And what else does God show him? The prophet who said “I only am left”?

1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

There were seven thousand of God’s servants, throughout Israel.

The important thing here, is: Having heard the Word of the Lord again, Elijah just goes and does it.

There is no fear, no hesitation, he just does what he is told.

This is true power…God’s Voice speaking to us…..and us doing what He says.

He can do what He promises,…….and He can take care of us, through it all.

Faith is:

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

Faith makes the things of God, real to us.   I often say,  that faith sees God.   Always looks toward Him, and in every circumstance….faith knows God,…there in those circumstances.

Let us talk a little about  the reality faith brings:

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

   Justification is such a tremendous doctrine….God makes me, a wretched sinner, who in faith comes to Christ for salvation….not guilty before His holy court….because of the merits of Christ Jesus the Lord.    

   But justification is more than being not guilty….it is the positive merits of Christ Jesus the Lord being applied to me….that I might approach God, as my Father in heaven….

…this is that “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”.     

       1 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us,  who knew no sin;  that we (the sinner) might be made the righteousness of God….in Him.”

Romans 5:2 “By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We are justified by faith….we have access by faith….

….so we can see….faith is a living and growing vitality within us.   

We have access into this  grace.  This grace is empowering, for  by it, we stand (in a world which hates Christ….grace lifts us out of the mire of sin, and…”going along, to get along” attitude….to hold on to the promises and Word of God.).

      This grace is empowering, for by it, we can rejoice in hope. 

      This hope is a faculty of the Holy Spirit within us….it is the confident expectation within us…that God will do what He says.   It is an anchor, which holds us in the storms of life…for we are anchored to God by hope.  Hebrews 6:19-20   (It is not…I hope, I hope, I hope….but it is from the Holy Spirit…real confidence in God’s Word)

      And we can rejoice in hope….of the glory of God.   By faith, we are no longer afraid of God….we have access to His presence in prayer, now…..and one day to His presence forever.   

     Therefore, my soul rejoice!   And stand in that rejoicing….for the glory of God now is shining on us in Christ….not for punishment,  but for enabling grace and hope!

This faith and grace are so enabling….so sustaining…that we can glory in:

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

    And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

Tribulations worketh patience….worketh.  We are not zapped…but taught of the Holy Spirit. 

    We learn patience…or the letting God work all things out, the way He wants.  

    These are many experiences…but they lead to more growth in hope.   We have seen the deliverances, the answers fulfilled,  the problem solved.  (the weight of our anchor of hope…grows with every trial to steady and hold us…as we yield to it)

How can we learn His faithfulness….if we have no troubles….no hurts….no tribulations (trials)?  These work within us patience….for we learn to wait for God to make good on His Word.   

     When these trials are all to the glory of God,  then rejoice!

By faith, we experience more hope….and become not ashamed (again,  we stand)…and then we begin to know the reality of:

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

It is amazing….but  Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 says:  “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love),  these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”    

    And here, to the Romans, he is describing the growth of faith….it is faith, hope, leading to love.   

God’s love being “shed abroad in our hearts”….which means, it pours forth…gushes….into our hearts….giving us love for Christ….and love for others.  That love is there by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.

Faith sees God….and from there we learn from Him, by the Holy Spirit within.   The lessons are varied….some long, some short….all according to His Word and in His time.

   And faith is the victory…

1 John 5:3-5 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.

   For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

   Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

We are to overcome the world….it’s purpose, it’s attitudes, it’s feelings about things….through faith.  For faith sees God and leads us out of ourselves.

Faith holds on in hope….and faith ignites love for God and others within us (sheds it abroad).

What a victory we can have over the world and it’s “things”….by the faith given us by the Holy Spirit, by the precious merits of Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Path of the Just.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

When the sun first begins to break, the sky begins to be light. Then the sun comes up, and in the east, the light comes streaming.

But there are shadows, for the light shows all that stands in the way of complete light.

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away. When the shadows are gone, then there is nothing between us and the Son of God, our Light source.

Our Lord, here, is inviting us to come with Him further into the Light of His love, so even the shadows “flee” away.

Now shadows are not the thing itself, but the impress of it. But it is in darkness.

What this means is that the sin itself has been taken care of:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

But the influence of the sin, or the resentment because of the consequences of the sin are still there.

These are the shadows.

They are darkness, but not the substance of sin.

Many people are confused about this.

They think that if the sin is confessed, and they know they are forgiven; then all the other emotions concerning the sin, are gone to.

Suppose you have a habit of lying: you have hurt your family, people at work, etc. by your habit.

Then you are given real light about this, and you confess it.

(Perhaps you say, why would we need light about lying. Surely everyone knows it’s wrong.

Maybe they know in a general sense, but the offense of lying when it lays upon my personal heart, is an eye opener.)

But even though you have confessed your sin, and asked God to cleanse you from the desire and habit of lying;…..the reason for it is still there to face everyday…..the desire to look better than you are….

…and that “shadow” needs to be dealt with.

These are the shadows, the image of the sin, though not the sin.

The trouble with Shadows is that the influence of our Adversary, the Devil can be felt through them.

But how do we deal with shadows?

First, it is the work of the Spirit of God within you to show you light. Light to see and deal with the attitudes surrounding the sin.

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There is putting behind,…..and there is reaching forth.

This requires us to be in subjection to the Holy Spirit, for He asks you to be obedient to the Light He gives in these matters.

These shadows that remain, are shadows only; but they are there and the influence of the the Adversary can be felt through them.

They are there because of the choices we have made, true; but we can also make choices which remove them, by coming more into the Light.

Shadows do not exist in light

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

We are to go to the high noon of Light with Christ Jesus. Many choose, instead to stay in the shadowy existence of the fear of the truth.

But don’t.

God’s Light shows truth, yes, and when we see the reasons of our actions, it gives us the ability to deal with what is really behind the: “why we did what we did”.

Let’s face it, we all have reasons we act the way we do. But have you dealt with the reasons? Or just the actions?

True Light; the Light of Life, deals with both. It frees you from both the sin and the reason of the sin.

And gives you joy.

John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Joy is one of the grandest attributes of God, Himself.

Joy is not dependent upon the people or events around me.(That is happiness, which has to do with how things or people treat us, or those we love.)

Joy springs from the presence of God in my life, for He is the abundant power of good, and peace.

In this, we know the purifying of the Holy Spirit, assuring me that I am right with God.

I am made right with others,

And, importantly, I know that I all is well between me and myself.

(How many things come from the disappointment we have about ourselves? How many times have we hated what we have done, but refused to look at it? How many times have we hidden our hurt behind a phony face of ridicule?)

These all can be brought out into the Light; and put behind us. We can be free from them.

The Joy of the Lord can become a force in my life.

It is a great light, illuminating the whole of my being; dispelling the darkness, and despair that dominates so often. He has it for us, in His Light.