HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PRAY CONSISTENTLY, CONSTANTLY...

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...

PRAY CONSISTENTLY, CONSTANTLY...

We are taught to pray continually, and, is it any wonder? There are endless things to pray for; all sorts of things happen every moment, and, to every one, in the course of their lives! Also, we pray to survive the hours of the day, without slipping, without falter, without temptation, and, for forgiveness for, even, the slightest wrong we may have done! In my understanding, prayer is LARGELY, intercessory, therefore, we pray for the world, it's woes, for healing, encouragement, safety, and, on it goes! And, prayer IS the voice of the LOVING!!!

Praying does not mean that you have to stop everything, and, get down on your knees; that kind of praying is reserved for certain times of the day, when, you PRAISE, WORSHIP, and, THANK THE LORD! I move through the day, talking to *GOD*, and, anything that I hear, or, see, or, feel, which needs to be addressed, is lifted UP, while, silently, talking/praying to HIM, with thanks, and, PRAISE!!!

It becomes second nature after a while, to talk to *GOD* in the course of a day, and, is quite, effective, as it KEEPS you close to HIM, while, showing HIM, that you TRUST HIM, ABOVE everything else, for answers, guidance, direction, and, resolutions to whatever is at hand! It is a bond, a secured bond, which, once initiated, cannot be severed, and, grows stronger, all the time!!!

The list of people, and, circumstances, that NEED UPLIFTING, throughout the course of a day is extensive, therefore, we pray continuously! Let us look at some BIBLE verses...

PHILIPPIANS 4:6...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

LUKE 18:1...Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

EPHESIANS 6:18...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 saints.

ROMANS 8:26...
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

There are, of course, MANY more references to praying continuously, but, these reiterate the NEED of constant prayer!!!

We NEVER know when time will whisk us away, and, so, it is wise to stay connected to *GOD*, in EVERY sense, but, especially, in prayer, petitioning, repentance, and, open discussion!!!

Pray for the day, pray for the weak, pray for the orphaned, pray for the widowed, pray for the persecuted, pray for the ill, pray for the shut-ins, pray for the preachers, pray for the animals, pray for the leaders, pray for your neighbors, pray for the hungry, pray for the homeless, pray for ALL, and, EVERYTHING, all the while, with sincerity, thankfulness, and, PRAISE of the LORD, *GOD* ALMIGHTY! Prayer IS a most powerful resource!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS