I wrote this last week after meditating on the book of James and some things the Lord has been teaching me...
James 4:
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The Lord is reminding me of how we need to stay in the Word, reading and meditating on it, day and night as it says in Psalm 1. We can sing it, breathe it, and live it, everyday. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, as Jesus said, every word ... The sword of the Spirit is the word of God!! In these times of warfare (the evil day) we need to abide in His Word. We need not just milk, but also meat to be strong in these desert, deceptive and dangerous times! The Word builds our faith ( which is the shield from the fiery darts of the enemy!). The Word feeds our spirit man with strength and hope and love. Are we hungry for it?! Or are our spiritual senses dulled by other things? If our spiritual hunger is dulled then we need to humble ourselves with prayer and fasting-
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. ( James 4...)
Too may distractions out there and everywhere that can keep us away from feeding on the Word, which should be first and foremost! We have to learn to hear from the Lord through our own walk with Him, so we can learn to discern good from evil. The Scriptures, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, are the very words Jesus used in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil!! In this hour of temptation ( for the whole earth) we need to be grounded in the Truth of God's Word, first and foremost, growing in the knowledge of God, in humility. We need to dare to be holy and set apart unto the Lord!! Lord help us as we press on to know You and Your ways more and more! Let us not settle for a mediocre spiritual life. Let us not be deplorably lukewarm! We need to be hot and on fire because Your love compels us, oh Christ our King..!!
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The Lord is reminding me of how we need to stay in the Word, reading and meditating on it, day and night as it says in Psalm 1. We can sing it, breathe it, and live it, everyday. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, as Jesus said, every word ... The sword of the Spirit is the word of God!! In these times of warfare (the evil day) we need to abide in His Word. We need not just milk, but also meat to be strong in these desert, deceptive and dangerous times! The Word builds our faith ( which is the shield from the fiery darts of the enemy!). The Word feeds our spirit man with strength and hope and love. Are we hungry for it?! Or are our spiritual senses dulled by other things? If our spiritual hunger is dulled then we need to humble ourselves with prayer and fasting-
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. ( James 4...)
Too may distractions out there and everywhere that can keep us away from feeding on the Word, which should be first and foremost! We have to learn to hear from the Lord through our own walk with Him, so we can learn to discern good from evil. The Scriptures, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, are the very words Jesus used in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil!! In this hour of temptation ( for the whole earth) we need to be grounded in the Truth of God's Word, first and foremost, growing in the knowledge of God, in humility. We need to dare to be holy and set apart unto the Lord!! Lord help us as we press on to know You and Your ways more and more! Let us not settle for a mediocre spiritual life. Let us not be deplorably lukewarm! We need to be hot and on fire because Your love compels us, oh Christ our King..!!
