For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 1 Peter 3:12.
No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His Word. Here are revealed the wiles of the tempter, and the means by which he may be successfully resisted. Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture, placing his own interpretation upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to stumble. We should study the Bible with humility of heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God. While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan, we should pray in faith continually, “Lead us not into temptation.” 62The Great Controversy, 530.
When Balaam, allured by the promise of rich rewards, practiced enchantments against Israel, and by sacrifices to the Lord sought to invoke a curse upon His people, the Spirit of God forbade the evil which he longed to pronounce, and Balaam was forced to exclaim: “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?” Numbers 23:8….
The people of Israel were at this time loyal to God; and so long as they continued in obedience to His law, no power in earth or hell could prevail against them. But the curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce against God’s people, he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them into sin. When they transgressed God’s commandments, then they separated themselves from Him, and they were left to feel the power of the destroyer.
Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than a match for the hosts of darkness…. Only in humble reliance upon God, and obedience to all His commandments, can we be secure.63The Great Controversy, 529, 530.
Let none deceive themselves with the belief that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God.64The Signs of the Times, November 30, 1882 (The Review and Herald, May 3, 1881).
The Faith I Live By p. 331
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Prayer Requests
—-My brother-in-law passed away yesterday of a heart attack. Please keep my sister Marilyn and her family in your prayers. Sherry
—-My friend Tony is getting major surgery tomorrow….So can I please ask you to pray for him. I appreciate it very much. Dean
—-Please pray for CJ to receive a job offer after her interview at the Pharmacy. Alexandra
—-My son had his foot almost cut off in a work accident. Please pray that he will heal quickly without complications. Joann
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Dear Friends,
When I was thinking of what to make for next week’s Thanksgiving meal, I found a vegan “turkey” roll that used both tofu and vital wheat gluten. That reminded me of something that happened fifty-eight years ago when Ron and I were first married.
We had moved from Battle Creek to a little cottage on Lake Huron just south of Alpena. It was a nice little place, and I loved being able to see the lake right outside my window and the majestic pine trees surrounding us.
Like all new brides, I made some real big mistakes—mostly in the kitchen. One day, while Ron was at work, I decided to make gluten steaks even though I only had a vague idea how it was done. At best that was no small task! In order to get the gluten separated from the flour, I had to wash the starch out of that ball of flour many times. Something was not quite right, though. The “ball” would not stay together. I tried to keep it together and rinse the starch out of it, but it was too soft.
As the water would become white with not only the flour’s starch but much of the gluten, I would pour it down the sink and get new water. It was a terrible mess! Finally I ended up with a very small amount of gluten. Even so, I was quite proud of my accomplishment.
That is, I was proud until the next day. To my horror, when I went to use my kitchen sink, it was completely plugged up. I tried everything I knew to unstop it, but try as I might, the water just would not go down. Overnight, that starchy mess had hardened in the drainpipes.
Finally I went next door and got the landlord to help me. As he was working on those clogged-up pipes, he asked, “What did you do, pour cement down the drain?” All my pride fell to the floor. I was too embarrassed to tell him what I had done, so I just stood there. It took him hours to get everything unclogged.
Sometimes we are like those drainpipes. We get all clogged with sin. We desire the water of life to fill us, but it can’t get through because of the hardened mess that sin has caused within us. Our Heavenly Father assures us that He will solve the clogged-up mess in our lives. “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 36:25-27; 33:11
He will cleanse us, yes, He longs to set us free from the sins that have bound us for so long. John, the loving apostle has written, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 This process often takes time just like it took time for the landlord to rid those pipes of that glutenous mass. It can be painful as the sin is chiseled away but we can trust Him because He has loved us with an everlasting love. He assures us of His constant care during this refining process, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee… and he that formed thee…Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3
May we come to Him now that we may receive the pardon and cleansing that He so freely offers is my prayer.
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/safety-only-in-obedience-2.html
