Good morning Heartstrings family
How will they know you are His? By your unselfishness. This morning I spoke about all the work I had done this week to a grandson. Then he went back to work and I returned home. It is only a short distance apart. But, on the way the Holy Spirit let me know the way and the words I said to him were born out of self-pity. Do you know how fast I went back to ask for forgiveness? Right away! I explained to him that I understand that he works much harder than me and that the self-pity flesh of me wanted attention. Not selflessness. But, selfishness. For my own means.
I am so glad Jesus calls us to follow Him because it is step by step we take this journey with Him. His Spirit helps us with our weakness. Now I am free to go on with this day. And, the blessing for my grandson is that he gets to see the operation of obedience to the Holy Spirit. Obey quickly!
In Philippians 4:5 we can read this..."Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness. The Lord is near [He is coming soon]."
That is why it is so important to not leave things undone. Every time we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, He does. No matter how small the issue God sees it all and wants us to be able to be free and walk in the Spirit of His Love.
We can see all the signs converging. So quickly. This is not the time to be lazy and ignore the work that God is doing in our lives. I am so grateful for His care.
So, in my devotions this morning I read something that really spoke to my heart. "In nothing be anxious" Philippians 4:6.
He says, "No anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many, and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God."
"In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of life, bring everything before God, the little things, the very little things, what the world calls trifling things--everything--living in holy communion with our heavenly Father, and with our precious Lord Jesus all day long. And when we awake at night, by a kind of spiritual instinct again turning to Him, and speaking to Him, bringing our various little matters before Him in the sleepless night, the difficulties in connection with the family, our trade, our profession. Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.
"By prayer and supplication," taking the place of beggars, with earnestness, with perseverance, going on and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.
"With thanksgiving." We should at all times lay a good foundation with thanksgiving. If everything else were wanting, this is always present, that He has saved us from hell. Then, that He has given us His Holy Word--His Son, His choicest gift--and the Holy Spirit. therefore we have abundant reason for thanksgiving. O let us aim at this!
"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O, let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done.'"
From George Mueller, in Life of Trust.
I really have nothing I need to add to this. I am grateful for Jesus Christ is my own life story. He is alive. He is real for my everyday. I believe, I trust, and I love Him. God be with you till we meet again in the matchless name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Abundance is...great peace have they who have Jesus