HEAVENLY INCLINED...: RELY ON THE 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...

RELY ON THE LORD!!!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. (PROVERBS 3: 5-6) ...

This is a POWERFUL message, and TEACHES greater humility; the kind that brings about the favour, and BLESSINGS of THE LORD! WHEN we live in this instruction, we have put the self in perspective, realizing that ONLY with HIM, and HIS WILL, do we find LIFE! We are then, as HIS instruments, perfectly allowing HIS WILL to be done through us; after all, it IS all about HIM, and HIS GLORY!!!

Many are the rewards for fidelity and trust in God, and for diffidence of self (Proverb 3:1-8). Cf Deut 30:20; Isaiah 38:19. The offering of material things for divine worship is blessed by an increase of such goods (Proverb 3:9-10). Even correction and chastisement are a mark of God's love and favor (Proverb 3:11-12).

In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising, and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best.

Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last.

We OUGHT to be able to shake off the self, with it's inclinations, to RELY on, then, follow THE LORD! We ARE CREATED FOR HIS GLORY! To underestimate HIM in favour of one's own intelligence is, actually, a waste of one's intelligence, for every fiber in the being KNOWS THE LORD, and IS WILLING to follow after HIM, it is the egocentric being which resists, or trusts in self!!!

Again, we are raised in reverse of reality, and so, WHEN we BEGIN TO SEE THE LIGHT, it is all very confusing, and alien to our ways, but, such is the way the world has afflicted us! And, this IS the point when we begin to realize that our worldly ways are NOT of HIM, so of course, HIS WAY seems alien; that is, until we ALLOW HIM to flow through us, in us, and around us, in which case, HIS WAY then, quite readily, becomes as our way; AFTER the initial resistance...

WHEN we TRUST HIM with ALL we have, we become ONE with HIM, bit by bit, thus, as vessels OF HIM, which allows HIS WILL to be! CHRIST JESUS always did EVERYTHING with HIS FATHER'S WILL AS THE WILL THAT SHALL BE DONE; HE did NOT allow ANYTHING to interfere, deter, or diminish the optimization of *GOD'S* WILL to be done! Thus, CHRIST IS the perfect role model for us to study, and understand, that HIS knowledge guides our knowledge, then, our lives, FOR THE GLORY of *GOD*, which then, becomes our glory!!!

An instrument, or vessel of THE LORD is one who has ALLOWED *GOD* to fill them with HIS SPIRIT, which brings us characteristics, and behaviours all HIS own, such as honesty, truth, kindness, LOVE, patience, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and other fruits of THE HOLY SPIRIT, that we not only REFLECT HIM, but inspire others! HIS vessels, instruments, and Temples are sanctified, and consecrated for HIS purposes...

It is when we TRUST HIM, and are FAITHFUL to HIM, that we begin to perfect in spirit, which then, brings us all the closer to HIM, and our TRUE reality IN HIM, and all of the rich benevolences therein! When we resist, and cling to our own understanding, then we are distanced from our TRUE reality, and HIM, leaving us to continue in anguish, the battle of the wills of the world! HIS WILL is our will, ultimately, and perfectly, despite what the world has taught us, or would like us to believe!!!

As we learn to RELY upon THE LORD, we find PEACE; the very PEACE CHRIST spoke of when HE said in JOHN 14: 27...
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Time after time, OUR understanding has proven wrong, has gotten us into some troubles, has led us astray, has shown us that we are NO match for *GOD*! Time after time, HE HAS been shown to BE THE WAY, THE LIGHT, THE TRUTH, our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our DELIVERER, our sure and present HELP, and ALL which is RIGHT, JUST, GOOD, and BENEFICIAL to our lives, and souls! When we reflect, it doesn't seem difficult to place our TRUST IN HIM OVER all else!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS