HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PSALM 85: HOW LONG GOD? PRAYER FOR GOD'S MERCY UPON THE NATION...

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...

PSALM 85: HOW LONG GOD? PRAYER FOR GOD'S MERCY UPON THE NATION...

The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies---

PSALM 85...

1+++O LORD, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob.

2+++You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah.

3+++You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger.

4+++Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

5+++Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

6+++Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?

7+++Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.

8+++I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.

9+++Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

10+++Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11+++Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven.

12+++Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce.

13+++Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.

The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. See what the pardon of sin is. In compassion to us, when Christ our Intercessor has stood before thee, thou hast turned away thine anger.

When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his being reconciled to us. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mere mercy. The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.

Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he does not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may dwell in our land. And the truth of the promises is shown by the Divine mercy in sending the Redeemer. The Divine justice is now satisfied by the great atonement. Christ, the way, truth, and life, sprang out of the earth when he took our nature upon him, and Divine justice looked upon him well pleased and satisfied. For his sake all good things, especially his Holy Spirit, are given to those who ask him. Through Christ, the pardoned sinner becomes fruitful in good works, and by looking to and trusting in the Saviour's righteousness, finds his feet set in the way of his steps. Righteousness is a sure guide, both in meeting God, and in following him.

Acknowledge, repent, align, grow, thrive, be humbled, give thanks, REJOICE, PRAISE, WORSHIP, and HONOUR THE LORD *GOD*, then PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for yourself, and for ALL! DO GOOD, and BE GOOD! SHINE OF HIM, and REFLECT HIM for the good of others, and HIS GLORY!!!

Surely, you have to SEE that we NEED THE LORD *GOD* extremely in these volatile, uncertain, and life altering times, and SURELY, we NEED to acknowledge OUR role in the backsliding, and going far astray from HIM, LOVE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all which OPTIMIZES our existence on this Earth! NOW IS THE TIME TO PRAY, and TO REPENT, and TO GROW INTO TRUTH!!!

If we refuse to change our ways, you can be sure what is to come will be far worse than even imagined! AND, we won't have a chance without THE LORD *GOD*; ONLY HE CAN RECTIFY this mess, and ONLY HE CAN RESTORE us, and our nation! Foolish are those whom think that we might continue to abandon HIM, and what leads us aright, while being immoral, careless, ruthless, void of regard for life, and all of the rest of the rebellious issues at hand, void of stoking HIS anger further, which means more troubles to endure, and possibly all at the same time, like we are witnessing right now, and you think this is bad?, it has only begun!!!

The heart of the matter IS that nearly everyone THINKS they are justified, and able to fix whatever they don't like, or to change the DIVINE ORDER of HIS WILL! People are SELF-INVOLVED, SELF-INCLINED, and SELF-CONVINCED, so, they don't want to be told they are wrong, or heading deeper into the darkness, THUS *GOD* WILL SHOW them, in ways that WILL force them to assess themselves, and their ways, YET, IF they repent, and FOLLOW HIM, HE WILL RENEW and RESTORE!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS