Grace To Love Unconditionally.

There are times in my life when my routine is distorted, when there are more activities than usual like giving birth to another baby, or planning a trip, receiving so many guests in my home or planning a family occasion like weddings or naming ceremonies. My daily schedule changes drastically. These activities could stretch from just days to months. When I find myself in such situations it's usually quiet time and spending time with God that takes the hit. 

It's so easy to say, "God understands" he sees my tight schedule and he knows how tough it is to wake up at 3/4am in these times for quiet time. 

When I sit to think of it, even though that has been my attitude in the past, and even though I struggle with it still, I DONT  want to love and serve God conditionally! I don't want to serve Him when times are easy and convenient or when things are "okay & normal."

If He wasn't faithful to make me wake up each and everyday will I still be able to do all these things? Isn't it in trying times like this that I need His grace, love, strength and support? Isn't it now I need him the most?

In the past I would conveniently push God to the back burner but today! I will do things differently!- I  will as for His Grace to see me through. 

For His strength, love and an even closer presence to see me through each moment.... The Grace to love and serve Him unconditionally. Whether busy, overwhelmed, stressed or not. 

Mark 4v18&19

The seed that fell among the thorns represent others who hear God's word but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the "worries of this life," the lures of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 

PRAYERS. 

Dear Lord, in the past, in seasons like these, I neglected your word when the worries of this world came at me. It happened countless number of times and is even threatening now. But you have saved me many times enough for me to realize that it would be bad for me to take your love for granted. 

I recognize your love replaying in this and even now so, Dear Lord, instead of pushing You aside till when it is "convenient" I ask for more grace, more strength and an overwhelming awareness of your presence strengthening me and seeing me through.

If you were not faithful in keeping me would I even be here. Help me to be more faithful. Just like you. 

Sweet Holy Spirit please help me I need You. Strengthen, help and stand by me. 

I love you so much Lord. I do not want to take you for granted. Help me still for I pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

Let The Holy Spirit...

¹⁶ So So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, please show and enable me to let the Holy Spirit guide every aspect of my life. Help me yield more to Him please help me for I pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen. 

Sweet Holy Spirit...

Sweet Holy Spirit, 

The more I go through my days the more I realize how much I need you. 

The more I hear about you the more I want to know you. 

The more I live in this earthly tent, the more I realize I cannot do without you. 

Sweet Holy Spirit I don't want to do anything on my own. I want you!! I need you. I don't want to walk alone. I can't make it on my own. 

As I open my heart wide, please fill me. Fill all of me.  Be my best friend, my loving teacher, my strength when I'm overwhelmed. My clarity when I'm confused, my help when my strength fails, be close to me. Help me hear you speak to me. An intimate walk with you his what I desire. Please be my guide. 

.... Oh  Sweet Spirit of the Most High God, you know me, you know how needy I am of you. Teach me through all Truths. 

I heard again on Sunday that you mediate between myself and The Father. I heard that you are my advocate. That you are for me. You are here to teach me about my heavenly kingdom.

Communicate The Father to me and me to The Father.

 Sweet Holy Spirit who will hear all about you and not desire you! 

Helper, strengthener, standby, advocate, friend, teacher, comforter! 

Teach me more about you Sweet Spirit. Take me deeper. Please be my best friend! I pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

Zechariah 4v6

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of The Lord unto Zerubbabel saying 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith The Lord of hosts. 

John 14v16

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

John 16v7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Prayers

Dear Lord, 

I thank You for You are always with me. Thank You for your love, for your grace mercy and your kindness. It is because of You, I can stand. 

Please Dear Lord, I ask for renewed strength to continue to seek and serve You with all my heart,all my soul and all my might.  

Pour on me a fresh anointing. New grace to serve You. Fill my heart with your words. That they comfort me when I'm down!! 

Grant me the strength to seek your face on every matter that concerns me. I ask for wisdom to lay up your words in my heart. Wisdom to pray. Wisdom to raise the children You oh almighty God have given to me! 

Breathe life oh Lord into my dry and thirsty soul. Lord hear my cry!!!

...for in Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen. 

Sweet Communion...

Communion, sweet communion

To fellowship with You

Is what I long to do

Communion, Holy communion 

Lord I long to 

Commune, with You...

Those where the lyrics to the song that sounded in my heart today as I entered into His presence. I serve a good God. He teaches my ready heart to trust, Him!! He turns my mourning into songs of joy. Gives me beauty for ashes. He answers the prayers of a sincere heart...That's the God I serve. 

He is the WAY, where there seems to be no way! He gives strength for fear. Turns every situation to our favour. He stands by me. Comforts me. Accepts me. Loves me. Gives me hope and joy. Grants me sweet fellowship of His glorious presence. He is a God like no other. A God that speaks back to us when we speak to Him. He is a God that we don't have to feed but feeds us. I don't have to shelter but shelters us. I don't have to protect but protects me. He is a good God. He satisfies me with good things that my cups runs over. 

No one man can tell His story. Words are not enough to describe His awesomeness. He is mighty, powerful beautiful, I'm overwhelmed at His goodness. He is my saviour. He saves me again and again always ready to pick me when I'm down. The Truth of His sweet words comforts me. My Solid Rock. My everything. 

Lord I thank You for everything you've seen me through and all the lessons you have taught me.... One thing I have learnt today is, You are God regardless of any circumstance or situation. You are worthy of my uninterrupted undisputed and constant praise!!! Because You are God and you cannot change....

Take me deeper Lord! Help me to know You more and more! You have been so good to me! Life is meaningless without You. Life is nothing without You!!!

I Change Not!

It has been quite emotional for me these past few days. Sometimes I marvel at how so easily one can spiral down the road of worry.

The joys of worshiping in His presence and the true essence and beauty of fellowship with Him diminishes as this ill of worry sets in. I have come to literarily see it as a robber of joy and all things godly. 

I thank God for His sovereign nature. I'm grateful for the gift of His word! It snatches us from whatever situation, trial or condition we are in! And the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us is so reassuring and comforting. 

As I entered His presence today, all slouched down trying to salvage what praise was left in me, I asked this question, "what has changed?" Almost immediately this answer came to my heart. 

Malachi 3v6

For I am The Lord, I change not;

So, since my God does not change, then who has?- The answer was glaring. It was me. 

I learnt a huge lesson today, even though I have been told before, situations may change, times may change, everything else may change, but my God cannot and will not change! He is still the same yesterday, today and forever! The same loving, forgiving, kind, marvelous, mighty, awesome, saving, sovereign, steadfast and true God! 

The lyrics of the song "You Are Eternal" by Don Moen resounds in my heart. 

You are eternal unchanging 

And there is no shadow

Of turning with You

O it's true

I have a covenant with You

You are eternal

Forever You will be my God 

Therefore it is important that I give Him my unconditional praise. Happy or sad. Irrespective of feelings situations or circumstance. Because He is worthy, unchanging, steadfast, sovereign, and  eternal!  Glory be to His Holy name. 

PRAYER

Dear Lord, I thank You for your Sovereignty, and your Steadfastness. I bless Your name because You are God regardless of whatever circumstance i go through or however I may feel. 

Help me to always remember this. Help me also dear Lord to always give You my praise and worship due You in every situation. Help me almighty Father for I pray, in Jesus mighty name. Amen! 

....A Clean Heart, A Loyal Spirit.

Psalm 51v10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me..

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 

Dear Lord remove from me a foul mouth and a judgmental heart. Cleanse me from every immoral thought and wickedness of heart. 

Make me a child of few words and an listening ear. Teach my lips to praise worship and thank you! 

I want to give you my all please break every barrier that holds me back. Break every chain that keeps me bound. 

Fill my heart with your words. Teach me to love You with ALL my heart, soul and and strength. Help me to love everyone you put in my life for they are the works of your Hands. Help me to show You my love by what I do not what I say alone.  Dear Lord make me into what you want me to be for I am far from perfect. 

Fill me with all of You! Take my all I do not want to hold back. 

I truly need You! 

Psalm 51v16-17

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken heart O God.  

The duty of man.

Here now is my final conclusion, fear God and obey His commandments, for this is everyone's duty. Ecclesiastes12v13. 

John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Luke 10:27

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is- in my own opinion, and in very simple scriptural terms, this (above) should always be at the back of our minds as Christians. 

I truly pray for the grace to Give God my ALL!! 

PRAYER

Lord, I love you, you loved me first died for me promised never to leave me. You promised never to loosen your grip on me!  Many ways and numerous times You demonstrate Your love for me. You are beautiful beyond description. There is no one like You!!! 

Dear Father, help me give You my ALL. after all my whole life and everything I have is yours. Help me to honor and obey you. Help me to do your will. 

I have many struggles and shortcomings please Lord see me through them all. So many things lumped up in my heart to say but I'm grateful that you see the heart! 

Father, help me to love you with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. Help me to love my neighbors as myself. 

Draw me closer to You, in Jesus mighty name I pray! Amen!

In a strange land...

"...but how can we sing The Lord's song in a strange Land."-Psalm 137v4. 

It's hard to lift up holy hands and sing praises when my heart is burdened. Songs just don't fill my mouth and it takes a lot of effort to do something that's supposed to be easy and effortless. 

I'm having some sorrows right now! I'm sad about how long it will take me to know how to speak wisely? Bible talks so much about using few words, having a quiet spirit, fools being destroyed by their own words. I need help. I find myself always having to explain myself which often times puts me under so much pressure. It makes life unbearable. I need to be wise with my words. I want to listen more and talk less. If I can do this life will be so much easier. Life will be much more simple. 

Apostle Paul in 2Corinthians 7v10&11. Talks about Godly Sorrows that lead us away from sin. Could this be a godly sorrow? 

Still I thank God. That he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for me. (Heb7v25). 

All I need to do is look up, pray, and get out of this strange place....

PRAYERS.

My Sweet Savior, my Redeemer, my King, my beauty for ashes, my God. You said in many ways to "come". You instructed me not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. You promised that You won't leave me or forsake me, You promised Lord that I should come when I'm labored or heavy laden that You will give me rest. You promised to give me an easy yolk, a lighter burden. Father you promised not to give me stones for bread and a serpent for fish. You said you are able to save to the uttermost if I come through You to God almighty. You said I should come boldly and I believe You!!! For forever Your word is settled in Heaven. I consider it a sin against You having heard all these to still worry. Lord you are able. 

Please Lord give me a quiet spirit, make me a lady of few words. I want to listen more and speak less. Whenever I open my mouth to speak let wisdom flow through. Full my heart with all of You! So when ever I open my mouth it's Your own words that will come out. Fill me Lord. Fill my mind have Your way in me. I have made up my mind to follow You! Lord please lead me. I want to empty myself of every weight and burden that makes my journey with you stressful and unbearable. Bitterness, worry, guilt, un forgiveness, to mention a few. I don't want to praise You in a strange land. My heavy heart I give to You please change me. 

Thank You Lord for you are concerned with all that concerns me. I give You my praise. I give you my heart, my all. I love you Lord. In Jesus mighty name I have prayed. Amen. 

...Been here before

I have been here before. I know the ropes. Can feel it in the air... A familiar ground. A lonely place. 

It's a dry land. A quiet place. Seems like nothing's here. Yet I can tell. Because I have been here before, I know the ropes. It's a familiar ground. A lonely place.  

Nothing to feel. Nothing to see. Nothing is here.... and yet everything is here in this dry land in this lonely place. 

I will not panic, I will not fret, I will take heart, its time to wait. I will be still.. Because I have been here before, I know the ropes. It's a familiar ground. A lonely place.  

My strength will not grow weak. My faith will not fail me. My light will not grow dim. I will not fall asleep ... Because even though I'm on my own, I'm not alone. 

He is here with me. This I know.

I have been taught time and time and again... It's not in feelings. It's not in signs. It's not by sight. It's beyond what I can see, it's more than what I know....Though its a lonely place and though its a dry land, I have been here before...

I don't know where to go but I'm on the right path. It is written in my heart. It is right here within me. I will wait, my heart will not fail. I will wait. My love will not shake. Though I'm on my own, I'm not alone this I know, in this I am sure...He is Here with me, He is awesome in this place.

2 Corinthians 4v18

While we look not on the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Proverbs 3v4&5

Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. 

...I will trust in You Lord. I will wait on You Lord. I don't need to understand. I know You will lead me on the right paths. I don't need signs. I just need You!

Why?

Sometimes my mind is filled with more questions than answers? Even if I asked, I never fully satisfy my quest. Why war? Why famine? Why so much evil? ....The whys never end. 

Today, I discovered in Proverbs 16v4 "The Lord has made all things for His own purposes even the wicked for a day of disaster."  

Who can question The Lord? ...Most times, we see in part and not the full picture. We often times see the result of a thing but not the cause. But God sees everything- hidden and open, and I have learnt to direct my questions to The One who is all knowing! 

I believe strongly in my heart that - The secret of The Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25v14. 

The closer we are to the Almighty, All Knowing God, the more He reveals His secrets to us even the things that were seen of Him that no other eyes sees. 

PRAYERS. 

Dear Lord, please teach me your ways that I may walk along your paths. Teach me to obey, honour and fear You. Teach my lips to offer praises and worship to You. Help me to know Your voice. I don't want to be far from You; draw me closer. I want more Lord, more of You!