For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.
Gird on the armor of the Lord…. Opposition will come. Unbelief will be manifested by those who do not encourage faith and hope. When you cannot tell which way to turn, rest the whole matter with God. Encourage in your heart the faith that works by love and purifies the soul…. The Lord has a work for you somewhere, but wherever that field may be, do not make an incomplete work of your consecration. Strive earnestly to glorify God, who has given His only begotten Son to save you. When you teach the Word, keep to the affirmative, and let the melting mercy of the love of God into your heart, and the quickening influence of His Holy Spirit into your mind…. Be of good courage in the Lord…. Now is our time to pray and to believe and to do earnest work before the church, the means of higher education, and the agency of the Holy Spirit. That agency is truly for your life. Christ, the Chief Physician, has the only wisdom that can apply the unfailing remedy. I am instructed by the Holy Spirit to say, “All who believe the truth are to be the Lord’s messengers.” As disciples they are to learn continually of Christ, how to lift up their thoughts, to enlarge their expectations, and to have the loftiest conceptions of His excellence and grace, that the endowment of His Holy Spirit may compensate for the loss of His personal presence. This the Saviour sought to impress on the minds of His disciples. Let there be more earnest prayer in seeking the Lord. “Every one,” said Christ, “that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth” (Luke 11:10). I am enjoined to urge upon every teacher of the gospel the need of multiplying and enlarging their conceptions of what Christ will be to them in carrying responsibilities. Capabilities increase wonderfully under the Holy Spirit’s power…. Will you seek the Lord most earnestly? Pray, pray as humble seekers. Do not put your ingenuity to work to prove that others are evil, but tell them in tenderness to probe deeply their own sinful hearts, and pray that the Lord will purge the soul temple of sins. Let each confess his own sins; then may he draw nigh with full assurance of faith.—Letter 296, September 9, 1906, to O. A. Olsen, at the time secretary of the North American Foreign Department of the General Conference.
The Upward Look p. 266
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will continue to work in David’s life. Buck
—-Please pray for those affected by the wildfires. G
—-Randi (age 10) is missing. Please pray for her safe return. Arlene
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Dear Friends,
When she was young, Eileen’s favorite book of the Bible was the book of Esther. As a child, she often pretended to be Queen Esther and save her people from the wicked plotting of Haman.
Often when reading that book, we would laugh at how Haman received the very punishment that he thought to inflict upon God’s people. Truly his life and death illustrates what God’s Word declares, “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” Ps 37:14, 15; 7:16
One time, as we were reading from the book of Esther concerning Haman’s humiliation and death, Ron commented, “There’s a little Haman in all of us.” I was shocked! Yet, as I thought about it, I could see how true his words were. How often we are filled with self importance. How many times we feel slighted if we are not given the recognition that we think that we deserve. How often we are filled with thoughts of hatred and retaliation against the one whom we think has wronged us.
Yet, this is not Jesus’ way. Our Dear Saviour told a parable illustrating how pride separates us from Him. “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14
Peter tells us, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 James adds, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10
When we feel that we have been wronged, we are to bring our case before the King of the Universe, Who assures us, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Rom 12:19 He, alone, can help us. He, alone, judges aright. We are to leave our case in His hands and continue doing His will and walking hand in hand with Him no matter what is going on around us or in our own life. David advises, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps 37:1-12
May we turn from our pride and self importance and view ourselves as God views us. May we, when we feel that we have been wronged, refrain from attempting to justify ourselves but let the Great Judge of the Universe do the justifying. May we bring all of our trials, all of our cares, all of the situations arise that perplex us, and lay them at our Loving Saviour’s feet knowing that He, Who loves us more than He loves His own life, will make all things right in His time.
Rose