"The Joy and Rejoicing of Mine Heart"

NOTE: Originally intended for January 8, 2015

I want to be temperate, but that is one area where I tend to struggle. For those of you who don't know, temperance often refers to refraining from alcohol, but also means "moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control."[1] I'm neither moderate nor very adept at self-control. I often eat too much (whether vegan or not, too much food isn't good for health) and sleep too much, while I hydrate, exercise, and enjoy sunlight too little. Nevertheless, I know that temperance plays a key role in both physical and spiritual health, and it is a goal I long to reach. We are told that "intemperance lies at the foundation of all the moral evils known to man"[2], so I think I'm on the right track with wanting to fix this situation.

While there has been some progress in the exercise department, I have a long way to go. I knew that somewhere was as good a place to start as anywhere when it came to making more improvement, and I felt impressed to begin with rising and resting early. That sounds easy, right? Yes—except for one thing: I am not a morning person by nature. I enjoy the comforts of a soft bed, especially in the morning; and yet, I was keenly aware of the fact that I would never accomplish what I wanted if I allowed myself to be captive to blankets and pillows.

The night before the starting day, I set out the clothes I would wear on the bench in the bathroom so I could ask someone for them and put them on. That way, I would be less tempted to plod on back to bed after relieving myself. More than that, I prayed. Well, that didn't work out as I planned it would. I had an opportunity to have them, but I passed it by, and returned to the bedroom. The chance was there, but I didn't go to GOD for strength in that moment. The next day, I prayed and asked Him for help, but also determined to make an effort. With my attempts united to His strength, I succeeded. The same with the following day. The day after that my mother was busy and couldn't help me till later, but on the morrow I was again successful.

Today, I didn't feel like getting out of bed. There was the temptation to snuggle down and drift off to sleep again, but I clearly saw what it was, and even though my flesh wanted me to give in, I refused. I prayed, and called for my mom to come and help me. She brought me into the bathroom, and I think she asked, "Do you want the shawl, or do you just want your clothes?"

"Just my clothes," I replied. Since I had forgotten to have someone set them out the night before, she went and got them. I put them on, and began what turned into a productive, enjoyable day. While I can't remember exactly what I said this morning, I remember that on quite a few of the other successful days, I had latched onto Philippians 4:13—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"—along with praying. I believed it and acted upon it, and thus received the needed strength.

As we saw in my last post, in every command and promise there is the power to fulfill it. Well, I saw that proved again this morning. I'm finding that the Word is indeed powerful (Hebrews 4:12), and that by it I can and have, in a measure, overcome (1 John 2:14). I understand what Jeremiah meant when he said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart": (Jeremiah 15:16). Such words are not physically eaten, but eaten by reading and applying them to the life through Christ's strength, and it really is a joy.


Blessings,
Jean




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[1] from www.dictionary.com, definition 1


[2] White, Ellen. The Sufferings of Christ, pg. 12

More on the Promises

The apostle Peter, in his second epistle, wrote: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12). It is this that gives me license to address yet again a subject I have already written about.

In fact, Peter mentions it in the very first verses: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (vv. 2-4).

Within the Bible are precious promises that, if claimed, will enable us to develop the character of Christ. Some of you might be wondering whether this is really a possibility for you. Perhaps you are, like I was, more confident that they will be fulfilled to the next person sooner than yourself. Well it would be for you to remember that GOD "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). All includes everyone, even you and me.

"But," you say, "why would GOD be so good as to do that for me? I am not worthy of such kindness." Well, that, my friends, is true; but thank GOD that worthiness is not a requirement! All that is necessary is a sense of our need as well as a believing and willing heart. GOD cannot help us if we do not feel we need His help, "for thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15). We must be believing because "without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:16). We must be willing because we are told in Isaiah 1:19 that "if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land": That is all. If anyone is struggling to do this, don't be discouraged; He is ready and willing to forgive you. What is more, the strength you need to fulfill even these conditions is found in the verses themselves. Look:

"The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God’s word. Christ says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God."[1]

Friends, GOD's power is even in the commands, as well as His promises, and it is ours for the taking. Not only do I believe this theoretically, but also practically. I accepted it in theory when I heard of it, but I never took GOD at His Word personally. Over the past few months, I reached the place where I was willing to do that, and I did it. I can testify that it has made a difference. For example, as long as I claim Philippians 4:6-7, I hardly worry or have angry outbursts such as before. I have found it to be true, and I encourage you today to do so as well, to the end that we all may be fitted for that eternal kingdom.


Blessings,
Jean






White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 38 (emphasis supplied). [1]

Rainbows and God's Promises

A rainbow is a marvelous display of color, a beautiful thing. Who isn’t cheered at the sight of one? They ought to do more than please our senses every time we see one, however; they ought to constantly bolster our faith. Yes, they should bolster our faith in the God Who gave it, especially as we remember the reason why.

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Gen. 9:13-16).

It has been a few thousand years since Noah’s day, and the earth hasn’t been destroyed by a flood since. God has kept His word here; will He not do the same with every other promise He has made to us? I believe so–but more than that, the Bible says so. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul the apostle tells us that “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” If we ask in faith, and do what we can to cooperate with Him, He will fulfill His promises to us.

 “God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bible in your hands say, I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.'” In the book Education, on pages 257-258, she states, “Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God’s will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.”

Here is one last word on rainbows: “The rainbow round about the throne is an assurance that God is true, that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him, and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.’ Jeremiah 14:21. When we come to him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.”[1] He has pledged Himself not only to “forgive us our sins” but also to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Knowing that God is true to His word, knowing that He will grant us what we ask as long as it is His will and we cooperate with Him, knowing that He will especially give us that which we need to overcome–knowing all this, why do we so often live in a cloud of gloom? Why do we not think and speak about this wonderful privilege more often?

Blessings,
Jean

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[1] White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 148