HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ON BENDED KNEE WE PETITION THEE, O 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...

ON BENDED KNEE WE PETITION THEE, O LORD...

LORD hear our PRAYERS; hear the petitions of our hearts, and our cries for YOUR assistance in matters great and small---

Don't turn away from us, LORD, though we are wrong as wrong can be in countless ways; we have lost our direction, in more than a few instances, but we NEED YOU, dear LORD, and some of us yet honestly RELY ON YOU for THE WAY, as well as whatever is necessary to navigate this rough, and craggy valley...

FATHER, LIFT us OVER the darkness, and help us to see clearly through the shroud of deception which blinds far too many! Let us be able to hear TRUTH OVER all of the wicked whispering intended to distract, and disarm us! Let us STAND STRONG IN YOU, IN LOVE, and IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, despite the onslaught of evil surrounding us, hoping to entrap us! Let us LEARN to recognize the difference between what is OF YOU, and what is not...

Keep our hearts from turning to stone amidst the increasing hatred; keep us ROOTED IN YOU, and YOUR LOVE! Guide us, direct us, protect us, and grant us full access to knowledge enough to manage the journey in this realm! Lend us PEACE enough to function according to what is right, just, and good, even when in the thick of opposition, and aggression; let us think according to YOUR WILL, regardless of the pressure of the moment...

LEAD whom YOU WILL through the chaos of this world, and may we be wise enough to know YOUR PRESENCE as YOU do so! May we LEARN to put on our armor and wear it well, while TRUSTING YOU at the head to LEAD us no matter what...

Defend us, LORD, as more of our rights, and privileges are threatened, and obscured by influence, and corrupt, perverted tendencies! TEACH us to FOLLOW YOU ALONE, NOT worldly beings, or ideals, and to avoid being swayed for the sake of survival, or less!!!

AID us so we are not shaken out of YOU, and RIGHTEOUSNESS! HELP us to recognize those capable of causing us to slip up, and STEADY us, that we REMAIN IN YOU ALONE!!!

DEAR LORD, we ARE in dire straits in this time, in which case, we NEED YOU unapologetically , as well as ABSOLUTELY! May we repent of our wrongs, humble ourselves before YOU, and ALLOW ourselves to be LED BY YOU, and no one, nor anything else! May we now begin to AWAKEN TO TRUTH, that we recognize untruth immediately, for SO many HAVE been taken through ignorance, and inertia...

This old world is endangering us, LORD, as YOU know, albeit we have abetted it's increase, so, we are at a point where ONLY YOU CAN HELP us, and PROTECT us, therefore, I RAISE my being TO YOU for the sake of souls, and change! May we BE astute enough to perceive YOU as we move forward in YOUR NAME, and to abide IN YOU, as we gain the strength YOU offer us! OH LORD, we HAVE gone astray, and there is NONE OTHER THAN YOU who CAN bring us back into YOUR GRACE; have MERCY on us FATHER, and please, hear our PRAYERS as we SEEK YOU in all this mess!!!

PRAISE & EXALT THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY! WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT & IN TRUTH! REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE, & LOVING KINDNESS FOR US, & TOWARDS US! HONOUR THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY IN ALL OF YOUR WAYS, ALL OF YOUR DAYS; DO GOOD & BE GOOD! BLESS THE LORD BY BEING A BLESSING EVEN in the midst of the worst! LOVE AS HE LOVES US; YAH, EVEN THE ENEMY, FOR THIS IS HIS WILL, HIS WAY, HIS LAW; LOVE NEVER FAILS, & SHALL EVER BE! TURN TO HIM FOR PEACE & HOPE, & RELY ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING!!!