Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. When Jesus is life to us, our walk on earth is a continual giving up every part of ourselves to Him. We must decrease and He must increase. Fear not, for He does not leave us desolate in our sacrifices to Him. No, what a great trade He gives us! We give Him our limited abilities and He gives us His gifts. We offer our weaknesses and He replaces with His strength. We give Him our infirmities and He gives us health, for by His stripes we were healed. We come to Him and submit our impatience and limited ability to love, and in return He fills us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self control. He delivers us and sets us free from all that would destroy us so that we could have life abundantly. How much more must we let go of all those pulls in our lives to lay hold of Him. Whether we walk here or stand there, let us do it with all of our might where He would have us dwell.
You have stilled and quieted yourself, you do not seek now to run away to walk in new paths for My glory and your own delight. You had to come to the place in your heart where you said, ‘Whether I am to stay or go, Thy will be done.’ My love, I do not condemn you for seeking new paths, for here has been a hard place to dwell. Your heart longs for adventure and I delight to give it to you.
You have prayed and asked of Me largely in the night season and I heard your prayer. You know that when I hear what you ask of Me it will be done unto you. Watch what way I will make. Continue to dwell in Me and enjoy My presence, for here you are to dwell continually.
- “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22
- “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I John 5:14-15
- The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:19-23
- “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” Psalm 130 and 131