HEAVENLY INCLINED...: DAY OF PRAYER USA...

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...

DAY OF PRAYER USA...

Today is the 64TH annual National Day of PRAYER in the USA---

Which is a good thing, yes?!! We, as a Nation are facing more challenges than we ever imagined, all across the globe, and board, as well as in our National choice of religion, which is Christianity!!!

Speaking of prayer, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science, explained: “True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good”.

Christ Jesus best demonstrated for all how to truly pray. Not only was he known to pray frequently and to expect good results, but he showed that actually living love reflects divine Love’s transformational power.

PRAYER is a difficult area of understanding for many people, and often reserved for times when one is suffering, or has certain needs, or for special occasions, however, we are bid by THE LORD *GOD* to PRAY without ceasing, which makes perfect sense, since PRAYER, ultimately, is intercessory, and seeks the well-being of others...

Just as TRUE Sacrifice unto THE LORD is NOT about what one offers, instead, about the LOVE which comes from the heart of hearts, too is PRAYER most pleasing to HIM which comes from one who exists IN HIS WILL, and LOVE. Everyone can PRAY, indeed, and they should be encouraged to do so, for PRAYER invokes the ONE TRUE LORD, then, brings about a greater good for others...

If one reads the WHOLE BIBLE, there are hundreds of PRAYERS which grant us insight into how to PRAY, including CHRIST JESUS' own teachings about PRAYER. It is said that there are 650 PRAYERS in both TESTAMENTS, and 450 recorded answers to those PRAYERS. PRAYING should be SINCERE, HONEST, EARNEST, with a TRUSTING RELIANCE OF THE LORD. Some PRAYERS by even Elijah, had to be repeated several times, but FAITH did NOT waver! Then other PRAYERS are not answered, according to HIS WILL, and this is important to understand, ALL things work according to HIS WILL. Too, PRAYER is for JOYOUS THANKSGIVING OF ALL HE HAS BESTOWED upon us, and HIS CONSTANT PRESENCE in our lives; PRAYER has many facets, purposes, expectations, and results...

JAMES 4: 3...
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Worldly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty.

Let us PRAY with all our hearts, all the day, all through the time we have been allotted, and let us seek the answer to WHY this should be, then let us PRAISE, WORSHIP, and GLORIFY THE LORD, while REJOICING in HIS LOVING CARE for us! Let us BE BLESSINGS for others, that we BE BLESSED!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2015
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS