Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Six

 

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore,

 under The Mighty Hand of God,

 that He may exalt you in due time.

    A humble heart is a must when entering God's presence in prayer. Yes, we are bold and confident, but we are also souls of humility.
    Arrogance and pride have no place in the tabernacle which is not made with hands, nor is there room for it in our churches. God is our God. Christ is our Lord.
    We sing, "I Surrender All" and "Lay It All Down" because we recognize that our flesh is at war with The Holy Spirit within us, and we must come to the throne of grace and mercy with an attitude of Lord, I can't but You can.
    I can't get out of bed as easily as I used to, but I will with Your Strength and urging. I can't speak as well as I ever did, but I will with Your Spirit and at Your prompting. I bump into air and it leaves a mark, but You, O LORD, are still my God and You, O LORD, are still my King.
    I sing through the unction of Your Holy Spirit and I write what He speaks to me. Like a mountain explodes from the pressure of the song within me; like a river flows over smoothened rocks and into streams which meander across my years, You fill me and flow through me. What a blessing it is to have You in my life!
    You, O GOD, amaze me every single day. I could not live this life I live without You in it. Where You go, I will follow. When You speak, I will listen. I bring You an offering, this heart You have transformed within me is all Yours, Father. Do with me as You will. I belong to You in Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Humble Oneself

 

    1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

    To humble oneself is to choose to put ourselves under His Authority. It is good to humble ourselves, as God gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34) . And we need His grace. 

    Who are the humble? The meek, the lowly in heart. They who put God first and themselves last. With Christ as our example of humbleness (Matthew 11:29), we place the cares of our lives into His loving hands. 

    We come to God in prayer and praise, in worship and tears, in thanksgiving and joy, bringing Him everything that bothers us, all that grieves us and whatever brings a smile to our faces or fills our mouths with laughter. We are ever aware that our very existence is by the mercy of God. 

    I read this book quite a few years ago titled I Am Third in which the coach had this plaque above his desk which read: Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third. That's my daily goal. 

    It isn't as easy as it sounds, though. Sometimes God allows us to go through the storms of life. Not because He doesn't care, but because He wants us to know that He will go through these rough waters with us. He will be with us in dangerous (fiery) situations. If He chooses to bring us through, we will get through, with Him. But, if He chooses our death instead, we will still be with Him. 

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

    The thing we need to remember is that life and death are not about us. Our life is to magnify Christ that He may be seen in us through our actions and heard in our words. The believer's death glorifies God in the same way. We submit with grace; we do not seek revenge against they who attack us, imprison us and kill us: for vengeance belongs to God (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). As Job says, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

CALLED TO HUMBLENESS  (what I listened to while I studied)

I Found God - Ben Laine

Beatitude - Jonathan Ogden

Defender - Rita Springer

You Are The Light - Andrew Word

Psalm 34:1-9 - Awona

Red Carpet - Chapel Co.

You're The Best - Ben Oribe

Rest In You - All Sons & Daughters

Simple 

Simple Truth - Ryan Ellis

Filled With The Light - The Halls

Altar - Emilie Weiss

He Makes Me Well - Allie Paige

Home - Splendor Tree

Seek & Find - Zach Winters

Holding Us All Together - Andrew Word

A Crucified Life - - Is Humbled & Obedient

 

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death -- even death on the cross.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5013

Humbled: to make low

From the Greek word 'tapeinoó' (pronounced tap-i-no'-o): stoops to become a servant. 

    Now, be honest with yourself. When was the last time you humbled yourself and did what God was asking you to do? 

    Jesus humbled Himself. He put aside the comforts of His home and went on a journey. A journey whose earthly journey began in a stable. A journey whose ministry of being the gospel led to the cross, the tomb and the garden.     

    He chose to leave the beautifulness of heaven and come to a sinful world that He might die on the cross for us. He chose the nails. He chose to be obedient to His Father. He chose what He chose for the sake of Love. 

    John 3:16,17

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

    John 1:24

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

    Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

    Willingly. Obediently. By choice. Making an independent decision to do what His heavenly Father was asking Him to do. 
    Just as, when God calls each of us to do a task, we must each make that same independent decision to hear, trust and obey. The decision to choose between making a right godly choice and making the decision to do what we want to do is accomplished on a day to day basis. All day long we are tempted to sin, to turn against God and live in rebellion. But all day long, God waits for us to turn to Him for help. 

    He's not pushy and will not go where He is not wanted. Do you want God in your life? Then you need to ask Him to come into the heart of your life: the center of our being needs to be the center where He is being, living, loving. 

    Lord, I have failed You many times, please forgive me. Help me to live a humble and obedient life, as I follow You in my journey. I, too, am a wayfaring stranger. And I need You with me day and night. Not my will but Yours be done. 

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen.

HUMBLED & OBEDIENT

Wayfaring Stranger

He Chose The Nails

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

The Old Rugged Cross

Lamb of God, Holy One

Wounded One & One Found Worthy

The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference

I Know Whom I Have Believed