* The Essence of Love

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.

Luke 10:27

God is the very essence of love and so not only should our spirit be full of love we should love God fervently with our whole heart!  We should build our relationship with God on love.

Jesus put it so simply when He said if you love me, you'll keep my commandments.  

If ye love me, keep my commandments.  John 4:15

Our love for God should triumph over every negative and self-centered thing in our life.

We are to love God in the good times and in the bad times; knowing:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 82:8

We need to get a Job mentality that says:

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: . . .   Job 13:15

We don't want to be like the children of Isreal, whom God told Isaiah:

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:  Isaiah 29:13

God says we can't serve two masters. A master is anyone or anything that you put above God or anyone or anything that you try to make equal with God.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

It is an awesome thing to know that God loved us before we were even conceived. 

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.  Isaiah 44:24

That He loved us even before we were born again.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God loves us unconditionally and He has blessings beyond our comprehension for those who love Him in return according to His word.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.   1 Corinthians 2:9

Let us strive to walk worthy of the love bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father.

My prayer today:

Dear Lord, we thank You for the dawning of a new day.  We thank You for Your sovereignty in that You allowed us to wake up this morning.   

We thank You for the life You've given us, for our health and for our strength.  We thank You Lord for being in our right mind; for having a mind to serve You.  We thank You for one more opportunity to unite in prayer and supplication before You.  We come to You, heavenly Father, with thanks giving in our hearts knowing that it is You and only You that is able to supply our every need; 

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

to equip us to run this race, to defeat everything that comes up against us, everything that is not like You and in so doing allow us to come out victoriously.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57

Help us, dear Lord, to strive for mastery in this race; for endurance to remain to the end.     Help us Lord to bring and keep our mind and our bodies under subjection to Your will; help us to change our mindset to have Your mind; 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:5

knowing that Your will is good, it is perfect, and it is acceptable; that You are the final authority in our lives.  Help us Lord to love You with all of our hearts, mind, soul and strength!  

Lord, You said in Your word that You know the thoughts that You have for us; thoughts of good and not of evil.  Help us Lord to see what You have for us and to walk in that direction.  Help us Dear Lord to make the right choice; that is to choose You in all of our ways.  Our heart says yes Lord, we will serve You and it will not be a duty or an obligation but a lifestyle; one that we carry out gladly!   Prick our hearts Lord, convict us of those things that are lacking in us concerning You; trouble our heartts and quicken our spirits to hear and obey what you tell us.  Help us to remember to acknowledge You in all of our ways.

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.  Proberbs 3:5-6

In Your word Lord, You tell us that the battle is not ours, that it belongs to You.  

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Psalms 24:8

Lord help us to trust You and stand firmly on Your word; to place ourselves squarely on the solid rock so we’re not so easily shaken when the storms of life come upon us.  When times get bad, help us to remember that there is a secret place in You where we can reside, where You hide us from our enemies; where we can seek solace and comfort, where we can find strength to continue on in Jesus' name.  

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalms 91:1

We thank You God for Jesus who You sent here to save us and wash our sins away.  Through His blood, healing is available.  In the name of Jesus is the power to come up against every bad and evil thing that comes against us.  It is through Your Holy Spirit residing in us that we have the power to run this race. 

We thank You Lord because we have someone in You Lord to call on when we’re in need.  You're just a call away!   Lord, we ask, in the precious name of Jesus, that You right every wrong in our lives and that You propel us forward in You, that You position us in Your will; give us constant refreshing to lay aside every weight and every sin.  Touch us Lord; just a touch from You will make everything all right.  Regardless of what we see in the natural, give us faith to believe that in You everything is already alright.  Open our eyes Lord so we can see in the spirit the things that You have for us, the plan and the purpose You've designed for us.   We know Lord that we are not saved to sit but that we have a mighty work through You to do.  Workers are needed for Your vineyard; prepare us Lord.  

Give us a mindset to say ‘use me Lord, if You need someone, Lord, send me, I’ll go!  

For all Your many benefits unto us, we owe You Lord, though we can never repay You for all that You've done for us – all we can do is give You a yes and be obedient to You and Your word.  Lord You've given us everything in Your word to keep us and sustain us, You've given us Your precious gift of Your holy spirit and You said If we delight ourselves in You that You will give us the desires of our heart, You said if we commit our ways unto You and trust You that You will bring to pass those things that You have declared.  Because You said it in Your word, Lord, we believe it.   And if our faith is not where it should be in You, Lord, I pray that You help our unbelief!

If ever we needed You, Lord it’s now Lord  - even as we wait on and receive instruction from You.  Open our heart and ears to hear and receive Your word.  You are our precious redeemer, and we pray that You bind us closer Lord to You Every hour of every day.  We pray that You send Your power, because we can’t make it without You and we can’t do it without You.   Lord, help us to be strong and of good courage; knowing that You will never leave us nor forsake us.  You’ll be with us, You will lead us and guide us in the direction that we’re to take.

Lord we acknowledge before You that we just can’t do without You, we can’t win without You, we need Your power and Your strength.  We realize that it is no goodness of our own; nothing that we can say or do,  but You Lord, in your sovereignty, that keeps us and allows us to accomplish Your will in our lives.

Help us, oh Lord, to stay on the path that You have set before us; not veering to the left or to the right.  Help us Lord to meditate on You and Your word day and night.  Help us Lord even as we meditate on You, to hide Your word in our hearts so that we won’t sin against You.  Help us to keep our focus on You.

And now, Lord we pray that You continue to be with us, that You lead us and guide us, give us wisdom and knowledge to speak and act according to Your will and direction to go where You would have us go; to do what you would have us do.  Help us to walk upright before You to be in right standing with You, help us to present ourselves to a dying world as ambassadors, as beacons on a hill, as shining lights, and servants;  all for Your manifested glory; never forgetting that we are saved to help save and to be a blessing to others.  

We ask all these things and we thank You for all things, in the precious name of Jesus, Amen 

Final Scripture - make it your personal declaration!

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, 

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 

nor things present, nor things to come,  

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Have a blessed day in God,

Elder Candy

(Prayer)

5/18/16

03/22/21