08/19/2024
This morning I have been concentrating on Matthew 6 and a statement I read in my morning devotional. I am contemplating what it takes to be consecrated and filled with the light of God, and what we must do when we stumble. Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote "Consecration is really devoting oneself to a life of prayer. It means not only to pray, but to pray consistently and effectively... It puts him in reach of God. It places him where he can get hold of God, and where he can influence God to do things that He would not otherwise do."
Prayer includes a refinement of our thoughts; it is more than just a collection of random ideas that pop into our head. When we dedicate ourselves to God, and by so doing entering a life of prayer, we begin a life of focusing our every thought on God, Jesus, and righteousness. Jesus speaks to what we should dwell on in thought and prayer when He says things like this...
“"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”"
Matthew 6:22-23 ESV
Paul further outlined what our minds should dwell on, our prayers be full of, and our lives reflect, when he wrote:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
In a world of vice and profanity it is hard to remove their influences from our lives. To separate yourself from the sin that exists in the world is nearly impossible... Even in the desert Jesus was tempted. So how do we overcome the temptations of a sinful environment? ... Through prayer and concentration on those things which are righteous and good. But even so we know through the words of Jesus that the flesh is weak.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."”
Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch (or think), and Pray... these are the common defenses we find in scripture when it comes to rebuffing temptation and evil. Our armor against sin is our faith, our shield is prayer, and our sword and spear are righteous thought and the Word of God.
We are weak and there will be times when evil wounds us, but when this happens we must not yield to our adversary... We must remember who our king is and why we fight to the death against sin and temptation. There is no compromise.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24 KJV
We can't appease Satan and still maintain our love and allegiance to God. Consecration is dedication and that precludes an unsettled mind, life, and unguided prayers. I mentioned a few days ago that there are times when all we can say in prayer is "God Forgive me" and that is the appropriate prayer when we have sinned, but it must be a prayer of not just remorse, but contrition, or penitence. The wonderful reality of a contrite prayer is that God hears us, forgives us, and heals the wounds that sin has inflicted upon us... You may be left with a scar, but the wound is healed by a merciful and gracious God.
This morning as we pray, let's think on those things that are holy and righteous; let's pray for God to protect us from evil, remove us from temptation (are you beginning to hear something you recognize?), and to forgive us our sins.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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.”
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for hearing our trivial prayers as we pray them without much fervency, and intensity of thought, but we thank you all the more Lord for helping us to mature in our faith so that we become consecrated, and able to pray to you whole heartedly with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength; as we should. Help us to awaken each day to a prayerful state of mind and heart, and let our first breath always be your name Yahweh, as we breath in and out the breath of life you have given us. We breathe in YAH, and out WEH. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come, eternal are you and forever you abide in us, and in our prayers. You are merciful and forgiving, and your grace flows over us through your Son Jesus Christ, your vessel, as we pray in His name. Wash us clean of all our sin and iniquity with His blood Father, and lead us daily towards you as we pick up our crosses and follow Him. Feed our faith Holy Father as we take His broken body and allow it to make us whole as we consume it… your Word. As we stand before you in judgement and Jesus prays in intercession for us Lord, we pray too that you will find us pure, perfect, and worthy of eternity with you; that you will see no sign of unrighteousness in us, but only the image of Jesus who has paid our price, and redeemed us with His life, suffering, death, resurrection, and pleas for our forgiveness… even with his final breaths from the cross on Calvary. We praise your name, and call out with the heavenly host… “Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God” as we raise our arms towards you and our love flows out with tears of emotion as we praise, worship, and give you all the glory for the vision of Heaven you have shared with us.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we praise you with all our being… body, mind, and soul. Amen
Rich Forbes