HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WE MOST CERTAINLY SHALL OVERCOME!!!

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...

WE MOST CERTAINLY SHALL OVERCOME!!!

Bad things, let alone terrible things, bring forth more honest appreciation for that which is right, just, and good---

From the evil, and awfulness in this world, we are more apt to embrace what is *GODLY*, what is moral, what is sound, what is principled, and so on...

We learn from hatred that LOVE IS key, and crucial to all on this planet, and in CREATION itself! And from these POSITIVES we gather the strength to endure, persevere, and move forward, even with cracks, or worse in our hearts...

As Christians, the harsh realities of this wicked world OUGHT to bring us even closer to our LORD *GOD*, and THE TRUTH of all HE offers us! Our spirits must NOT be broken despite the agony, the suffering, the constant barrage against us! We MUST REMAIN TRUE IN FAITH, and maintain FAITHFULNESS, and LOVE MUST REIGN even when it seems impossible, BECAUSE LOVE WAS, IS, and EVERMORE SHALL BE, and IS that which eradicates what conspires against us, AND INVOKES HEAVENLY BLESSINGS of every kind...

THE LORD brings PEACE; and the JOY of HIS PRESENCE in our existence REMAINS BECAUSE we ARE SURE of our standing, and of HIS WILL! We DON'T allow tangibles of this world to diminish the intangibles of THE LORD which PROVIDE for us, no matter what! We HOLD FAST TO HIM, and we KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON, RECALLING that HE, also, suffered in this world, and severely, at that! We REMIND ourselves that this is NOT our home, and thus, are NOT bound to it, UNLESS we allow ourselves to be!!!

All the worst the evil one can hurl our way PROVES our resilience, our devotion, our rock solid standing IN THE LORD, and this SHOULD encourage us always, for we are shown just how secure our place IN HIM is, and shall be, AS LONG as we retain the knowledge HE HAS GIVEN us, and REMAIN IN HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WORD!!!

We LEARN via the ugliness of this world; we learn crucial lessons concerning LOVE, forgiveness, FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS! We LEARN that we are WAY stronger than the evil which aspires to chain us! We LEARN that WITH *GOD*, ALL things ARE possible, and that NO darkness can overtake us, for we ARE OF THE LIGHT, and while we might be shaken, we have POWER IN THE LORD to NOT be shaken out of our senses, or FAITH!!!

FEAR IS a VIABLE ENEMY, and CAN take a strong person down, but THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, which IS *GOD*, which MEANS we CAN survive even the gravest fears, IF we CALL UPON THE LORD, RELY ON HIM, TRUST HIM, and WAIT ON HIM! Humanity IS enmeshed by fears of this world, but CHRIST JESUS SAYS, "I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" (JOHN 16: 33), meaning:
Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the Father, and his return to him. The Redeemer, in his entrance, was God manifest in the flesh, and in his departure was received up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in knowledge. Also in faith; Now are we sure. Alas! they knew not their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human nature, but supported it, and put comfort and value into Christ's sufferings. And while we have God's favourable presence, we are happy, and ought to be easy, though all the world forsake us. Peace in Christ is the only true peace, in him alone believers have it. Through him we have peace with God, and so in him we have peace in our own minds. We ought to be encouraged, because Christ has overcome the world before us. But while we think we stand, let us take heed lest we fall. We know not how we should act if brought into temptation; let us watch and pray without ceasing, that we may not be left to ourselves.

Humans tend to rely on themselves, it is as an instinct, and yes, even Christians are prone to doing the same, but we must NOT, for WITHOUT THE LORD, we are fair game, and vulnerable TO the intentions, and despairs of the world! INSTANTLY, under ANY circumstance, condition, and situation we OUGHT TO CALL UPON HIM, and THEN, BELIEVE IN HIS MIGHT TO SAVE US, LEAD US, and OTHERWISE PROVIDE FOR us, regardless of the world's afflictions!!!

We HAVE A SAVIOUR WHOM HAS EXPERIENCED this world, even as we may never have to, or have! HE KNOWS what we are up against, and SINCE HE IS VICTOR OVER THE WORLD, we OUGHT to have an easier time RELYING ON HIM, and TRUSTING HIM TO LEAD us through! HE IS FAITHFUL TO THE FAITHFUL, and IS OUR CHAMPION, and our DELIVERER, EVEN when it seems HE is distanced; HE IS NOT, and NEVER shall be!!!

How awful the world is! How disturbing the works of the wicked! How scary the evil forces we face! BUT we do NOT LOSE ground, FAITH, or HOPE, FOR WE KNOW OUR LORD IS WITH us, and EVERYTHING IS WORKING TOWARDS THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, and HIS WILL! HE IS THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and NOTHING IN CREATION CAN stand up TO HIS MIGHT, POWER, and SAFE-GUARDING of what, and whom belongs to HIM!!!

I KNOW how some are suffering, and I URGE you, IF you are IN CHRIST JESUS TO REMAIN ABOVE the vortex of suffering which CAN, as a vacuum suck you in, BY CLINGING to what HE PROMISES, and OFFERS, FOR HE ALONE, IS OUR ONLY HOPE, and IS THE LIGHT WHICH SEARS THROUGH, and ERADICATES THE DARKEST DARKNESS! HAVE FAITH, and BELIEVE IN HIS AWESOME POWERS!!!

Each time the world provokes us, we MUST RENEW OUR FAITH, and HOLD ONTO THE LORD, and STAY STEADFASTLY ANCHORED IN HIM, and HIS WILL! We CAN'T figure evil out, because we are not evil, INSTEAD, we MUST KEEP our THOUGHTS, HEARTS, and CONFIDENCE ON, and IN THE LORD *GOD*!!!

Let us PRAY, PRAY, PRAY; then let us PRAISE, WORSHIP, and REJOICE IN THE LORD who IS RULER OVER ALL AND EVERYTHING, and SHALL UPROOT evil forevermore, and WILL, in the meantime, BE NEAR for those who TRUST HIM! Let us move FORWARD IN HIS NAME, even as our hearts are broken, we wail, and spend oceans of tears, and experience adversity as never before, for in doing so, WE, LIKE OUR LORD, ARE VICTORS OVER what intends to destroy us!!!

I wish us LOVE, I wish us PEACE, I wish us JOY, I wish us THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, AND HIS INFINITE POWERS! Let us HONOUR HIM BY moving forward IN HIS NAME, and letting our FAITH be strengthened by what hopes to weaken it! *GOD* BLESS US ALL, and let us BLESS HIM in all our ways, the rest of our days, and let us BLESS others in LOVE, and whatever kindness we might share!!!

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