HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PRAYER: IS THERE A RIGHT WAY??? (PART 2)

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...

PRAYER: IS THERE A RIGHT WAY??? (PART 2)

I have found 21 references to prayer in THE BIBLE; 24, if we are to count THE LORD'S PRAYER, THE prayer for JESUS' Disciples, and, The prayer of the Apostles. The FIRST one, is GENESIS 18:27...
Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am only dust and ashes!

This ONE line shows HOW Abraham was humble BEFORE *GOD*, he, simply, KNEW that *GOD* IS THE SUPREME BEING in ALL existence! Abraham was made great BY *GOD*, because he KNEW his place, and, because he, IN FAITH, BELIEVED *GOD* from every angle, every aspect, and, did NOT falter, nor, wane, in his beliefs, NOR, did he imagine, that he was more than he was, a servant, a tool, of THE ALMIGHTY *GOD*!!!

Abraham was asking, humbly so, AND, in FEAR of *GOD*, that people be sparred *GOD'S* wrath! He used conscientious SENSE, and, his FEAR of *GOD*, to lead him in his opening of his mouth, and, even, asked *GOD* not to be angry with him, for asking, that more people be saved! He, intrinsically KNEW, that *GOD'S* WILL SHALL BE DONE, and, did not question HIS AUTHORITY, or, POWER, instead, asked that HIS intentions be reconsidered, FOR the GOOD OF OTHERS, NOT for himself!!!

Another key, next to humility before *GOD*, is to open up to that which will aid, serve, and, optimize OTHERS, not self! In petitioning for others, there lies BLESSINGS FOR the self, but, it is not to be presumed, nor, expected! The desire to assist others THROUGH *GOD* MUST be sincere, honest, and, for good reason!!!

There are now, HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of people on Earth; *GOD* is BUSY, I am sure! Thus, HIS ears are open to the sincere, and, those whose aim is for the good of LOVE, life, humanity, and, what is to come! HE is NOT a genie, nor, anything less than ALL POWERFUL; HIS POWER IS AWESOME, therefore, should NOT be approached with that, less than worthy, of HIS attentions!!!

Such prayers are INTERCESSORY prayers, and, are the most common IN THE BIBLE, but, ESPECIALLY from CHRIST JESUS! MOST, if not, every prayer, lifted to *GOD*, was FOR us, for the GOOD of humanity, and, for their guidance, direction, and, protection! JESUS NEVER had to ask *GOD* for anything for HIMSELF, for HE KNEW that ALL of HIS needs WOULD be provided for! Intercessory prayers make the most sense, for they ARE demonstrating the SPIRITUAL BEING, NOT, the carnal being! The carnal being is MORE concerned for SELF, than others!!!

I am not saying that you cannot pray for self, yet, IF WE HAVE FAITH, DON'T we BELIEVE that our needs are being met, and, therefore, isn't it a waste of breath, and, time, to lift up what HIS WILL procures, naturally??? Besides that, THE LORD'S PRAYER, covers all of our most pressing needs!I, personally, rarely, appeal to *GOD* for my self, except for HEALTH, that I might continue to do HIS work! I KNOW HE has my back, and that, HIS WILL, is inclusive of provisions, that will, enhance my life!!!

*GOD* hears our cries, feels our pains, knows our sufferings, and, BY HIS WILL, shall, according TO HIS WILL, take care of us, but, we have a role in HIS provisions, and, that is, to live in FAITH, and, FAITHFULNESS, HONOURING HIM, GLORIFYING HIM, EXALTING HIM, PRAISING HIM, WORSHIPPING HIM, THANKING HIM, and, BEING GRATEFULLY APPRECIATIVE OF HIM, and, ALL HE DOES for us!!!

More to come. There is lots to sort through, so, be patient, please...

REV. LWINSOR © 2012