HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TEST MY HEART, OH LORD!!!

Thanksgiving for the LORD's Favor

Psalms 138 (A Psalm of David)
1/ I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2/ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3/ In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4/ All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5/ Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6/ Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8/ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands... AMEN!!!

One CANNOT earn GRACE, it is HIS own ESSENCE; a gift, still, IF one claims to be IN HIS GRACE, we ARE to, or, OUGHT to, be reflections of that GRACE! 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1, tells us not to take HIS GRACE in vain! This means, living in LOVE, morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness, and, spiritual improvement, TOWARDS, spiritual maturity, WHILE, visibly BEING as LIGHTS, beaming OF *GOD*, beckoning the world, TO THE LIGHT! Righteousness MEANS, conduct in conformity with *GOD'S* WILL, and, "Be HOLY because I AM HOLY!", therefore, indicating that knowledge, wisdom, and, effort, DO, apply TO the righteous!!! NEVER forget, we were grafted in, and, if we do not bear fruit, as a dead branch, we will be pruned out, just as were, the natural branches!!!

We are not saved by works, instead, works PROVE HIM in us: they identify HIS own...

IF I claim ONENESS with *GOD*, through CHRIST JESUS, I am DEAD TO THE WORLD, THUS, LIVING as HIM, which is, hopefully, witnessed IN, and, THROUGH, my every thought, action, and, reaction; MEANING, I am, THROUGH CONSCIOUS application OF THE WORD, HIS COMMANDS, HIS WILL, REFLECTING righteousness, not, merely, FAITH! I become, the TRULY FRUITFUL branch, of THE VINE, the TRUE member of THE BODY/THE CHURCH, CHRIST JESUS, and, TESTIFY, then, GLORIFY, BOLDLY, BY my thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HIS name, because, HE IS WORTHY, and, IN HIS LOVE, has SHOWN me, how I OUGHT to exist, to which, I eagerly, adapt, and, comply!!!

MATTHEW 5:48...
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

1 PETER 1:14-16...
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."

ROMANS 12:2...
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conduct, in conformity to *GOD'S* WILL, marks the righteous; it is NOT because of guilt, or, ancient Laws, but, because of LOVE; LOVE for *GOD*, self, then, others! CHRIST JESUS gave us Commandments to live by, of which, the first is to LOVE *GOD*, with all of your mind, heart, and, soul; the second is, to LOVE one another!

LOVE COMPELS us to LIVE IN HIM, through conduct which conforms to *GOD*; in other words, morality, ethics, doing good, and, being good, and, ever striving to improve the spirit! It is about REFLECTING THE TRUTH, for ALL to bear witness to, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, RADIANTLY SHINING OF HIS POWER, GRACE, and, MERCIES!!!

It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, baby, all about LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 4: 17...From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

JOHN 14:15..."If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NOTE: I do not intend to preach, rather to reach; to stir up, awaken, to inspire, and, bring forth, in discussion, that which is, perhaps, dormantly existing in the heart of hearts, thus, little, or, no, sugar coatings, just THE WORD of *GOD*, the TRUTH, along with some of my thoughts. And truth is, I am reminding myself always, as I practice these reminders, in the best of my abilities, and capacities, while RELYING on THE LORD to lead me on that narrow PATH---> MATTHEW 7: 14: "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it... TO *GOD* BE ALL GLORY...

TEST MY HEART, OH LORD!!!

Life is going to happen; things are going to be hurled your way, without warning, and, seemingly, without reason, but, often, this happens to strengthen you! It could be said that you are being tested, not for the sake of proving you wrong, or, weak, but, for the sake of proving you right, and, strong! You see, as you advance in spiritual maturity, there are yet, things in your character, which need strengthening, and, that old deceiver is, surely, going to try these weaker aspects of your being, hoping to disarm you, or, pry you from that which is holding you in righteousness. *GOD* also, tests HIS people, to chastise, to teach, to PROVE; such is part of the refiners fire, though, HIS intentions are for UPLIFTING you, more, and, more, in HIS name!!!

1 JAMES 1:2-4...
2/ Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
3/ for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4/ And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 PETER 1:6-7...
6/ In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,
7/ so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 PETER 4:12-13...
12/ Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you.
13/ But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.

ROMANS 5:3-5...
3/ Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,
4/ and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,
5/ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.

JAMES 1:12...
12/ Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

Trials, and, tribulations, are a fact of life IN *GOD*! We fall down, we get up! We are weak, we become strong! We are ignorant, we learn! We have no clue, HE leads us to understanding, knowledge, and, wisdom! It IS a true test of our spirit, when we are up against that which is discomforting, fearful, extreme, and, unwarranted, as, this IS the PROOF of those, securely, locked in FAITH, and, FAITHFULNESS, for the unproven will crumble, and, become one with err, in their weakness!!!

BLESSED IS the one being tested, as, this makes you like steel, having been tempered, which means you have been TOUGHENED, which means, you are all the closer to spiritual maturity, and, the favours of *GOD*!!!

IF we could learn to, at the onset of trials, or, tests, to REMEMBER that this IS a part of the PROCESS of being REFINED, perhaps, our FAITH would be more enduring, and, could SERVE us, throughout what we face, endure, and, overcome!!!

*GOD* does NOT give us more than we can handle, even in those times when it seems almost impossible to arise! HE has tried people far greater than are we, one of which was Paul, whom took it as a sign that he was favoured by *GOD*, and, even, cheerfully, endured what was brought into his life, because HE so LOVED the LORD, our *GOD*, that HE KNEW that testing is a huge part of the equation, and, surely, he was correct, for, ONLY the righteous are to inherit the KINGDOM of *GOD*, therefore, shouldn't they have been PROVEN as worthy???

DON'T react, emotionally, when things happen, react FAITHFULLY, and, raise up your concerns to *GOD*, asking HIM for guidance, direction, protection, and, then, TRUST HIM with ALL your heart; after all, it IS your heart that is being tested, for the heart of the world sways with the hour, the heart of *GOD* stands steadfast, NO MATTER WHAT!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP
*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS