Ephesians 6:10-20; Various Scriptures - "Fix My Eyes"

Ephesians 6:10-20 are orders from the Lord that all believers need to follow each and every day.  There is so much in this world that tries to pull us away from the Lord.  People, circumstances, health issues, family issues…the list goes on and on.  But we must remember that no matter what comes our way He is with us.  When we put on the full armor of God and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we will have victory each and every day.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

I want to be like the Apostle Paul and say "…I am an ambassador in chains."  I am faithful in "…praying for all the Lord's people."  I want for people to see Jesus in me.  I want them to see me going through the struggles of life with the Lord oozing out of me.  He is my strength. He is the One who directs my path.  What a blessing to be living for Him.  It saddens me to see believers who are struggling.  Many won't allow the Lord full control of their life so they struggle with the same issue over and over when it's unnecessary.  Yes, they may have to deal with the same issue but when one is surrendered to the Lord they will have His strength and direction to get through it.  

Spiritual warfare is so real but unfortunately many have their eyes closed to it.  How can you be ready for it if you won't acknowledge it?  You can't.  We must acknowledge it and be prepared as these verses tell us.  It doesn't mean we need to find a demon behind every busy or give credit to satan.  But we do need to be in a relationship with the Lord where we hear from Him so we will know when it is the enemy knocking at our door.  The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6 that we have sin in ourselves that needs conquered.  In Ephesians 6 he tells us the war is against the evil one.  He tells us to put on the spiritual armor God gives us. 

• We are to speak the truth when the enemy tells lies.
• We need to recognize Jesus died a sacrificial death for us which gives us righteousness.
• We must stand firm in our faith no matter what comes our way.
• We are to proclaim the Gospel no matter what.
• We must always remember that we have salvation which in turn will give us eternal life.

Jesus is the example we must follow.  Satan tempted Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) yet He continued to be strong in His faith.  We need to remember the Word of God is the most powerful weapon we have against the enemy.  Jesus told him, "It is written."  Why?  Because He knew the Word of God is powerful.  I think of how many times I say scripture when the enemy comes knocking.

• Philippians 4:13 - When I feel weakness whether it be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.
• II Timothy 1:7 - When I am afraid of what is thrown before me.
• Psalm 139:14 - When I feel worthless.
• James 1:2 - When the enemy is trying to steal my joy.
• Philippians 4:6 - When I am anxious.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for reminding me of the importance of having Your full armor of God on.  Father, I pray for more people to realize the importance of being ready to stand firm in You each and every day.  Lord, bless my efforts in being Your servant.  I pray for You to guide my steps today, wherever You lead me.  I pray for You to speak through me.  I pray for my focus to not stray from You today.  Father, more of You and less of me is my prayer.  Thank You Jesus for being My Full Armor.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:29; Various Scriptures - "The More I Seek You"

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

I woke up this morning singing "I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lay back against You and breathe and feel Your heartbeat…Your love is so deep….it's more than I can stand…"  Woo hoo!  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for putting the desire in my heart to live a 24/7 life with You.  Thank You for accepting my surrender and blessing it mightily.  "The more I seek You, the more I find You, the more I find You the more I love You…"  When we find Jesus as our personal Savior, we are blessed in so many ways.  For one, we are blessed in the knowledge that we will live for eternity with Him.  Another way we are blessed is having Him with us to love on us, direct our path, care for us…take care of us.  When we totally surrender to the Lord, we our doubly blessed.  He directs our path in a new way.  We no longer have to worry about making decisions because He will make decisions for us.  He will be there to lead us into doing things we sometimes could never imagine doing.  

When we live a life of surrender, we find ourselves sitting at the feet of Jesus more and more.  It is at the feet of Jesus we find…

• …a place of pardon - Luke 7:38 - Jesus is ready to forgive our sins, no matter how "bad" we think we are.
• …a place of healing - Matthew 15:30 - No matter if we need a physical touch upon our body or if we need a mental, emotional or spiritual healing, He is ready to heal.  Too many people are dealing with worldly wounds that need the callouses removed in order to be able to be healed.
• …a place of learning - Luke 10:39 - We learn so much when we stop being a "Martha" who is constantly busy and start being a "Mary" who listens.
• …a place of prayer - Mark 5:22-23 - He is always ready to hear our prayers.  Sometimes we throw up a "flair prayer" where we need help and those are fine.  But the more time we put into prayer, the closer we will be drawn to Him.
• …a place of thanksgiving - Luke 17:16 - Every breathe we take is a gift from God.  We need to daily thank Him for all He gives to us.
• …a place of rest - Luke 8:35 - We all need physical rest but it is also important that we have rest in our emotional and mental bodies.  
• …a place of worship - Revelation 1:17 - Worship isn't just to be practiced in a church building.  Worship needs to be a way of life.  In order to worship Him, we must be still in His presence.

Jesus is here for us at all times.  The desire of His heart is for us to live a life of surrender to Him.  He wants us to sit at His feet and receive all He has for us.  He wants to give us a place of pardon, a place of healing, a place of learning, a place of prayer, a place of thanksgiving, a place of rest, and a place of worship to come to.  The more we seek Him, the more we will find Him.  In turn, the more we find Him the more we will fall deeper in love with Him.  It all comes back to giving Him our time.  When we realize our time is not ours but is His, we will receive such a blessing.  When we realize our money is not really ours but His, we will be so blessed.  When we quit worrying over loved ones and give them to Him, He will bless us abundantly.  

Dear Jesus,
I thank You for waking me up this morning.  I thank You for giving me breathe.  Lord, I'm not sure what all is ahead for You and I today but I know I don't want to do anything not in Your plan for me.  Guide my steps to wherever You so desire.  Guide my words and my actions.  Father, enable me to serve others in the way You so desire.  Lord, so many hurting people…I know it takes them coming to You to receive a healing.  Would You use me to enable them to find You?  Would You use something I say for them to make a change in their life so they can live in Your presence?  Thank You, Father, for using me as Your servant.  I pray for more of You and less of me.  Thank You Jesus for being My Stillness.  Amen.

I Peter 3:1-7 - Marriages

I Peter 3:1-7…

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.  7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

I am praying for a few different couples who are going through some tough times in their relationship.  I wish I could take them away from everyday life, take them to a secluded place where there are no stresses, get them talking to one another and most importantly get them to remember why they got married…what made them fall in love with one another to the point of getting married.  

These words in I Peter give the direction on what a marriage is suppose to look like.  Unfortunately, too many wives refuse to submit to their husbands because they see it as a weakness when in fact it is a strength.  It takes a strong woman to submit to their husband.  Another issue in a lot of marriages is that the husband doesn't show respect to the wife.  In a lot of situations that respect is not shown by the husband because the wife shows no respect to the husband.

Women who are strong in their personality are likely to be the dominant one in a relationship.  A lot of times the husband is happy for her to take care of things so he's OK with it.  But that's not the way the Lord designed marriage to be.  Frustration between a couple can become so great because of this.  Is it easy for a woman with a dominant personality to allow the husband be the head of the household?  Absolutely not.  But I can speak from experience that when the relationship is aligned with the way the Lord has designed it, blessings will come in abundance.  

My prayer requests today are..

• the couple struggling with her being the head of the household
• the couple struggling due to not communicating, not loving one another, not submitting to the Lord
• the couple struggling due to health issues in one of them
• the couple struggling with the man pretending he is a believer and that life is fine when it's all falling apart around them
• the couple struggling with one of them being a believer and the other one not
• the couples struggling with never having time for one another
• the couples struggling with finances…to the point of thinking of bankruptcy
• the couple struggling with the call from the Lord on one of their lives
• for wives to see their worth in the Lord instead of in their outward beauty
• for husbands who aren't the head of the household to take on the position of authority

Dear Jesus,

If people would only get to the end of themselves and totally surrender to You, a lot of these issues would be gone.  It has to not be "me" but "us"…it has to be thinking about what the other spouse wants instead of putting our own desires first.  The secrets couples are keeping from one another need revealed and resolved.  Father, I pray for these marriages to be restored and renewed.  I pray for the children involved to be protected from the hurt.  My heart is braking over these ones I love.  Thank You Jesus for my marriage.  Thank You for my husband, who is the head of our household.  I praise You for the day he took ownership of that in our relationship.  Thank You Jesus for being the One Who Blesses Us.  Amen.

Matthew 22:34-40 - "Completely"

I love, love, love the song "Completely" by Among the Thirsty.  Part of it goes...

• I am completely surrendering
  Finally giving You everything
  You're my redeemer, I run to the cross
  Because You are more than enough
  Lord complete me
  Cause I'm Yours completely
  
  The day I completely surrendered to the Lord was the day I found His peace.  It was the day I found His love in a deeper way than I've ever experienced it.  There's one part that goes, "But You pulled up my selfishness from it's roots…"  I am seeing so many people who are being selfish to the point of hurting others so deeply.  It grieves my heart.  I can't imagine what it does to the Lord.  If people would only realize it's not about themselves but needs to be about the Lord, the world would be such a better place.
  

  My heart is broken tonight for the child who is being torn between parents who have separated.  It is not the child's fault they can't get along.  The child should not have to pay the price for what the adults are doing.  I hesitate to even use the term "adults" in this situation because they sure aren't acting like adults.  My heart is also broken tonight for the wife who is shutting her husband out of her life because she doesn't want to live a life with the Lord and for the husband who isn't living a life for the Lord.  Why don't people think before they marry?  My heart is also broken tonight for the one who has walked away from a friendship and hurting the other person involved.  Why won't people talk things out instead of being bullheaded?  

  
  

  As I prayed with one this evening who is in his last days I had to think about these ones.  Would they be living their life any different if they were told they only had "days" to live?  Would they think twice before subjecting others with their hateful ways?  Would they offer a truce to mend a relationship?  Would they even think about where they would be spending eternity?  I'm not the judge but I believe we are to love one another not fight with one another.  His word tells us in Matthew 22..

  
  

  34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

  Dear Jesus,

  I pray for people to realize the importance of loving one another.  I pray more people will totally surrender to You so they will love one another in the manner You so desire.  Father, be with these ones I've mentioned.  Touch their lives in a way that will make an eternal difference.  Lord, I pray for this one and his family who are suffering so.  Give them Your strength just as I prayed for them when I was with them.  Lord, thank You for being the One I Am Completely Surrendered To.  Amen.

  
  

John 15:14 - Obedience

John 15:14 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jesus’ speaking)

Obedience is key in my relationship with the Lord.  As I am obedient, He blesses me more and more.  Sometimes the blessings come in small ways while other times they come in big ways.  The Lord blessed me mightily today as I dealt with physical pain yet was able to minister to many.  He blessed me with one who was in a tough situation yet had the biggest smile on her face and told me over and over again how blessed she is by the Lord.  He also blessed me with seeing tears when I prayed with people.  Those tears were tears of realization that the Lord is with them even in tough days.  Another blessing was being able to hug a friend who is going through a tough time.  

Yesterday was full of blessings too!  Even though I had to take a couple hippy-hippy shake pills yesterday morning He blessed me with being a part of the praise team with no problems.  He also blessed me as I ministered with my church family with the "Loads of Love" project at the local laundromat.  

Obedience leads down a path of known and unknown.  He asks me to do things I never would have imagined myself doing.  He also asks me to follow Him to unknown places.  My obedience blesses Him and He in turn blesses me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for blessing me in so many ways!  I was blessed in great ways at the Spiritual Renewal Friday.  Then Saturday I was blessed with listening to the Prayer Awakening.  Yesterday I was blessed in corporate worship and as we shared You with others at the laundromat.  Today I was blessed in so many different ways by so many different people.  You are so awesome!  Lord, thank You for getting me through this day even with the pain I am having.  I pray for Your healing touch upon my body.  Lord, thank You for being My Blesser.  Amen.

II Corinthians 7:15a - "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"

I am still trying to process everything from yesterday.  What a blessing of a day!  As I participated in a Spiritual Retreat with Mercy Hospital I was renewed and refreshed.  The Lord spoke to me so many times throughout the day.  I will have to say the one time was my absolute favorite.  He blessed me mightily with His words.  One of the questions we were to ask the Lord in one of the morning sessions was, "What do you weep for me over?"  I was expecting His answer to be a negative but was pleasantly surprised with what He said…

"I weep for joy over your transformation.  For the way You continue to seek more of Me and less of yourself.  You are a blessing to me as you live a life of sacrifice."

Wow!  The tears started flowing.  I was overwhelmed with His love in hearing these words.  I am so grateful for the time in Illinois a few years ago that started my healing process from "junk" I had been carrying around for years.  I was able to rid myself of "burial clothes" that I was bound by.  I praise His Holy Name for not only healing me but also giving me new life and the desire to live a life of surrender to Him.  It was interesting that He used the phrase "…life of sacrifice."  I guess when you think about "sacrifice" and "surrender" they go hand-in-hand.  When one lives a life of surrender, they do sacrifice.  Sometimes the sacrifice comes in the form of relationships, finances, time, etc.  

Another question we were to ask, "Who have I given (through the Lord) the ability to be free from "burial clothes"?  As I made my list, I wasn't sure why the Lord had me write down this one person.  Less than twenty-four hours later I now understand.   It's amazing how quickly He reveals things to us when we are willing to listen to Him.  I also made a list of those who need to have "burial clothes" removed so they can have the Lord's fullness.  As I was making the list, the Lord gave me words to share with one along with a scripture.  I quickly read the scripture and was amazed at how it fit with the situation.  Nothing the Lord does should surprise us but as human beings it still does!  Even though we weren't suppose to use our phones I text the message and scripture to the person and was blessed with their response.  In that same session, the Lord took me to II Corinthians 7:15a…

And His affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were obedient, receiving Him with fear and trembling.

Woo hoo!  I love, love, love this scripture!  "Fear and trembling" was also a part of the scripture He gave me to give the person.  The Greek for "fear" is "reverence" or "respect."  We are to respect the Lord in our attitudes and in our actions.  "Trembling" can mean to become weak so we will depend on God.  Our attitude should be that of a healthy fear of offending God in our disobedience.  I wrote in my journal….Renew our hearts and minds as we come into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.  Woo hoo!

There was just so much I gained yesterday and I am still processing it.  Thirteen pages in my journal to go back over and be blessed by over and over again.  I actually was getting afraid I would run out of pages but have three left!  I also was blessed throughout the day with different songs the Lord put into my heart.  "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" was flowing from my lips as I walked a bit on the campus.  As the sun shined down on me, I felt Him shining down on me also.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the blessing of yesterday…for the reminders…for the words…for the encouragement!  You are so awesome!  I am so blessed by You.  Father, I pray for those on my list that need to rid themselves of "burial clothes" that are keeping them out of a full relationship with You.  I pray for them to get to the end of themselves and to be filled with fear and trembling for You.  Father, more of You and less of me…that is the desire of my heart.  Lord, fill me emotionally, physically, mentally but most of all spiritually.  I must admit that there is no better place to be than in a full relationship with You.  As I was sharing with a friend this morning and the Holy Spirit goosebumps came down upon me, I was blessed mightily.  Thank You Jesus for being My Fullness!  Amen.

II Timothy 4:1-18 - The Lord's Strength

The Apostle Paul writes in II Timothy 4:1-18….

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Personal Remarks

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

As I read this portion of scripture this morning there were a few key verses that stuck out to me...  

• We are seeing more and more people who don't want to hear the truth.  People who were once believers are allowing the enemy to pull them away from the Lord as they believe what the world is saying instead of what the pastor is saying. (vs 3)
• Even when people turn away from us we can know the Lord never will.  People who don't live in a relationship with the Lord can't give us support from the Lord.  They can be there in a physical way but not in a spiritual way.  It is the spiritual way that we need the most.  The Lord is the One to love us, encourage us, and stand by us.  He does these things by bringing people into our life that will listen to Him on how to support us. (vs 16-17)
• When we live in a relationship with the Lord, we are promised eternity with Him.  No matter what comes our way on this earth we can have the peace that He is with us.  We can have His strength to get through anything when we live in His presence.  Woo hoo!  (vs 18)

These are tough days for many people.  My prayer list continues to grow each and every day.  The Lord keeps bringing to my mind the words He gave to Adavee for me a few weeks ago.  People's hurts, burdens, illnesses, etc. are not my responsibility.  My responsibility is to love on them and pray for them.  I can't fix everyone's problems.  That realization gives me freedom and peace.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for these verses that remind me of Your strength to get me through whatever comes my way.  Father, would You guide my steps today?  Would you not only put opportunities before me to be You to others but would You also have me be aware of them?  Lord, today I am praying for so many situations, so many hurting people…

• those going through medical testing
• marriages that are crumbling
• households going through turmoil
• those grieving over the loss of a loved one
• those dealing with disease - especially ones who are newly diagnosed
• churches with severe financial issues
• friendships that need mended
• families that need healed

Father, I especially pray today for those who don't know You.  I pray someone will say or do something to make a difference in their lives.  Lord, I thank You for loving me...encouraging me...leading me.  I thank You for being the One I live for.  Thank You for being My Strength in tough days.  Thank You for standing by me and bringing people into my life who encourage me.  Thank You Jesus for being My Presence.  Amen.

Romans 8:28 - "Your Love Never Fails"

I woke up in the middle of the night with Romans 8:28 on my mind.  This is a verse I learned as a little girl and have remembered it.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Then I woke up this morning singing "Your Love Never Fails" and realized I needed to see what the Lord was telling me.  

The bridge goes:  You make all things work together for my good.  "…all things…"  That means exactly what it says.  It doesn't mean some things but "…all things…"  There are a lot of circumstances in this song that proves the Lord loves us no matter what we go through.

• When we run away from Him
• When we make mistakes
• When we go through tough times

Praise God that His "…love never fails."  He is with us through everything.  It is when we live a life for Him that we find His peace, His love, His acceptance and His joy.  There is no other place but with Him that these things can be found.

Too many times we try to find the easy way out of circumstances.  We try to figure things out ourselves instead of asking the Lord for His direction.  Or we will ask Him but not follow what He gives us.  It is during these times that we can feel the most lonely, the most worthless, the most crabby, etc.  We usually don't like ourselves or anyone else when we find ourselves in the position of not following the Lord.  It takes getting to the end of ourself and surrendering to Him before we change.  It takes being brave as we ask the Lord to enable us to overcome whatever is before us.  

When I saw this picture with the arrows, I immediately thought of the enemy trying to shoot us down.  He doesn't like when people believe in the Lord.  His preference is for people to continue to live a life of sin with him.  When believers start to falter in their faith, he is so ready to shoot arrows at them to make them fall.  It's sad to see so many falling prey to the enemy.  Believers must put on their full armor of God each and every day in order to stand against the enemy.  The thing we must remember though is that even when we falter or fall the Lord never leaves us.  "Your Love Never Fails"  Woo hoo!  He is always ready to accept us back with open arms.

If it were not for God's mercy and grace I would not be where I am today.  I shudder to think of how my life would have been if I would have allowed the enemy reign in my life instead of going back to the Lord.  

Dear Jesus,
This morning I am praying for many who are faltering in their faith.  I pray their eyes will be opened up before the enemy gets all of them.  I pray for them to realize that You love them, no matter what.  Lord, please put someone before them that will do or say something to make a difference in their lives.  Father, as I go throughout my day today I pray You will ooze out of me.  I pray for more of You and less of me.  I pray for people to see me and think "I want what she has."  Thank You Jesus for being My Mercy and Grace.  Amen.

John 14:15-27 - The Gift

As Jesus was talking to the disciples before He left this earth He was giving them encouragement.  He told them the Holy Spirit would always be with them even when He was not physically with them.  He was trying to get them to understand they didn't have to worry about things of this world but instead needed to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.  John 14:15-27 reads…

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We can learn so much from this passage.  We can have His peace when we abide in Him.  That doesn't mean we won't have problems in this life.  But it means we will have peace through the problems when we live in His presence.  The Holy Spirit will bless us through the issues.  He will never leave us.  Verse twenty-seven is the key verse to me in this passage.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  These words are so encouraging.

I'm so grateful for this reminder this morning.  There are some things that are troubling right now with some people.  It's like I heard Doc say last night, "It's hard to see people who you've invested so much time falling away from the Lord."  It hurts.  It drives me crazy and makes me ask myself, "What did I do wrong?  Was there something I could have done different?"  I'm so grateful for the way the Lord gave me words through Adavee a few weeks ago.  He knew I would need them in the weeks to come and I am so grateful for them.  People make their own choices.  It is not up to me to save them.  It is only up to me to be a beacon of light for the Lord and pray for them.

I must stay in His presence in order to do that.  I cannot allow people to pull me down.  I cannot allow the enemy to get me through people.  I must stand against being agitated, disturbed or intimidated by them.  I must stand against allowing people's circumstances to make me feel intimidated, fearful, cowardly or unsettled.  

The Lord's presence in my life is a gift He has given me.  Through the opening of that gift I have received peace, strength, comfort, blessing, His direction and motivation to continue on even in tough times.  I have a choice to make in this world.  I can either open this gift and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me or I can sit this gift up on a shelf and admire it being pretty.  We are all given that choice.  Then once we open the gift we must choose whether we are going to experience it or just use it whenever it is convenient for us.

Dear Jesus,
I thank You for this reminder this morning.  Father, enable me to accept every aspect of You as I live in Your Presence.  Give me the strength to stand up against the enemy when he tries to pull me down through people.  Father, I pray for those who are falling away from You.  I pray for them to have Your strength so they will not give into the world.  I pray for people to realize You are the gift to be opened and enjoyed.  Father, I also pray for Your strength in my humanness so that I don't fall prey to the elements that can come upon me as I deal with these people.  Lord, thank You for giving Adavee words for me a few weeks ago.  What a blessing!  You are so cool in how You take care of me.  Thank You Jesus for being My Gift.  Amen.