The Sword of the Spirit -

http://youtu.be/trUI1wtIIFk - Word of God Speak  - Mercy Me


Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.  - Psalm 119:27 NLT

How many times have you heard someone say that the Bible is just too hard to understand?  Unfortunately, too many people give up on reading God's Word for that reason - or excuse.

A preacher asked this question:

"If you were given a treasure map and were told that if you followed the map, the treasure you would find would be a chest full of golden coins equal to millions of dollars.  Now imagine that this map is complicated, not easy to read or understand.  Wouldn't you study that map and do whatever you needed to do to get to that treasure chest? 

Well, the Word of God is a Treasure map.  It's holds the answers to all of life's questions and concerns.  There's so much wealth of knowledge and wisdom written in the pages of the Bible. It shows us God's great love and compassion for us - His chosen people. 

God has given us His very Word filled with instructions on how to live our lives to the fullest.  Yet
we say, 'it's too complicated, too hard to understand.'  It's the best "self help book" ever written. What a shame that God's very special gift to us - His written Word - isn't worth at least the same effort we'd give to understand a treasure map."

Today I want to thank God for His written Word which is powerful and active. and when/if I listen, He speaks specifically to me through His Word - bringing each passage into my heart and showing me how I personally can apply His great wisdom and insight.  His Word is light unto my path.

It takes effort, and it takes practice.  But the Word of God is the powerful weapon we have against the Enemy.  When we write God's Word on our hearts through reading and meditating on it, the Holy Spirit will help us yield this powerful sword against anything that would keep us from accomplishing God purpose for us on earth.   Today, I want to be a mighty warrior for Christ.  I can do that because He's given me the Sword of the Spirit, His precious written Word.

Hebrews 4:12 nlt
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Psalm 119:105 nasb
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.


Psalm 45:3-7 nlt
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
                                                                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following is from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers. 
Thank You, Lord, for how You continue in our day to speak with power through Your Word, the sword of the Spirit.  You've promised that Your Word will not return to You useless.  You send forth Your command over the earth, and Your Word runs swiftly, controlling the forces of nature, defeating the power and schemes of the adversary.  Delivery me from letting my experience of Your written-down truth get stale through neglect.  Thank You that Your Word is the Bread of Life, which nourishes my soul as I feed on it richly and hide it in my heart -- as I let it grip me in a powerful way, just as You intend.  May Your Word day by day be the joy and rejoicing of my heart!
 
I love Your Word especially because it so vividly displays the wonders of who You are:  Your heart of love, Your thoughts and values, Your character with its deep concern for me and all people, Your delight in each of Your children, and Your infinite, boundless power to bless Your loved ones and to defeat the purposes of Satan.  How grateful I am for this written revelation of who You are and of how I can be a joy to You, fulfilling Your purposes for my life.  Your Word reveals what You want for me and from me.  It shows how infinitely greater Your power is than our adversary's, as well as how infinitely better Your purposes are than his.  How I praise You for this wonderful Book!
 
I thank You again that Your Word is a sword that cuts through Satan's power and purposes, enabling me to experience You in all I am and in all I do.  Use Your Word in my life day by day. Strengthen me through it and tune me in to Your wisdom.  Enhance my delight in it and deepen my knowledge of You...increase my trust in You...and enrich my experience of You as I face the needs and demands of daily life.  More and more may Your Word be "the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."
 
Isaiah 55:11 nlt
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Psalm 147:15 nasb
15 He sends forth His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

Psalm 119:11 nasb
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Luke 4:4 nlt
⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Jeremiah 15:16 nkjv
Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

Acts 26:18 nlt
Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

James 2:19 nlt
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

Ephesians 6:17 nlt
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.




Psalm 1:1-2 nlt
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.


 



BeliefChangers photo

 For me...


 http://youtu.be/XrO5KGCNGHM   - God with Us - Mercy Me

John 3:16 NASB
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.




I hope you're enjoying the daily devotionals from  "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" .  This book is truly a "treasure".   I found my copy at Mardel's, but I'm  sure that this little book of  Praises can be purchased online at www.Amazon.com.  . 



Day Two
from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers


Thank You, Father, that You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that when the time had fully come, He wrapped Himself in human form, being born as a helpless baby into a poor family.  Thank You that He walked here on earth, radiating the brightness of Your glory and flawlessly expressing Your nature.  And so, through Him, people saw You in action, involved with them, available to meet their needs.  Thank You that He focused Your almighty power into the lives of common people with deep needs, just like me...that He preached the gospel to the poor, proclaimed freedom to prisoners of sin and recovery of sight to the blind, and set free the oppressed victims of sin and Satan -- the downtrodden, the lost, the hurting, the broken.  Thank You for the way He rebuked the arrogant and looked with favor on the humble-minded, opening wide the door of His kingdom to those who were destitute and helpless in spirit.  I delight in Your tender mercies, O my God, by which the Sunrise from on high has come to us!

Thank You that through the Gospels I can watch this beloved One walk among ordinary people.   I can hear the gracious words that came from His lips.  I can see His compassion and tenderness toward needy people, His anger at hypocrisy, His faithfulness, His intense love for His followers.

Fairest Lord Jesus?  You alone are my heart's desire...my chief delight...my soul's glory, joy and crown.  Every advantage life can offer is like rubbish, compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing You.  You are worthy, Lord --- worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored.
All passages are from the New American Standard Bible unless noted otherwise. The Words spoken by Jesus are in red.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Hebrews 1:3
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Luke 4:18-19
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” 
 

Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Luke 1:78  NLT
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us
 

Luke 4:22
And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 
 

Matthew 15:32
And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”


Matthew 23:13-33, 37
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.


John 13:1
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19 You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full [u]of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?"

vs 37
 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."


John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them  to the end.

Psalm 45:2
You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.

Song of Solomon 5:16
“His mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Philippians 3:7-11  Phillips
Yet every advantage that I had gained I considered lost for Christ’s sake. Yes, and I look upon everything as loss compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For his sake I did in actual fact suffer the loss of everything, but I considered it useless rubbish compared with being able to win Christ. For now my place is in him, and I am not dependent upon any of the self-achieved righteousness of the Law. God has given me that genuine righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection: now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead.


Matthew 9:36
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

For all You are, Thank YOU!

http://youtu.be/EbOJcfJAiy0 - My Savior My God - Aaron Shust

Day Two
prayer from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers

I praise You for Your love and Your wisdom.  You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind. You act on my behalf, accomplishing what concerns me, fulfilling Your purpose for me as I call on You.  Thank You that You love me deeply and tenderly.  You are compassionate and gracious, full of lovingkindness, ready to forgive, patiently considerate, and generous beyond imagining.  You desire my love and rejoice to do good things for me. You delight to give me the desires of my heart as I delight myself in You.  How precious is Your love to me, O God!  I sing for joy as I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!

The following passages are taken  from the New American Standard Bible

Psalm 57:2
I will cry to God Most High, Psalm 138:8
To God who accomplishes all things for me.





The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.



Psalm 103:8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.


Psalm 86:5
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.


Matthew 22:37
And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,                                           AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’



Jeremiah 32:41
I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land
with all My heart and with all My soul.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.


Psalm 63:7
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.



Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

I found this great little book at Mardel's.  It was on the discount table - but what a "treasure"!  The book
is by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers and it's called "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew".

I want to share the first day of devotionals with you.  I pray that God will let these words become my worship
today.  My schedule is full - to overflowing!  But I have to remember each day, "It's not about me.  It's all about Jesus
and how I can best honor Him in all things." 

Have a blessed Monday and remember who you belong to.  You are God's special treasure, bought with the greatest price ever, the blood of our Savior.  Praise His holy Name.

--------------------------------

Offering Myself -
Your Most Basic Act of Worship

Lord, I'm Yours.  Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life.
I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing or to seek my own fulfillment, or for my own glory.  I'm not here to indulge in my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, or to prove I'm somebody important; and I'm not here to promote myself in any way. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards.

I'm here to please You.

I offer myself to You, for You are worthy.  All that I am or hope to be, I owe to You.  I'm Yours by creation and every day I receive from You life and breath and all things. And I'm Yours because You bought me.  And the price You paid was the precious blood of Christ.  You alone, the Triune God, are worthy to be my Lord and Master.  I yield to You, my gracious and glorious heavenly Father; to the Lord Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me; to the Holy Spirit and His gracious influence and empowering. 

I give to You, Lord, all that I am and all that I have.

I give You any rebellion in me, which resists doing Your will.

I give You my pride and self-dependence, those attitudes which try to convince me that I can do Your will in my own power -  if I just try hard enough.

I give You my fears, which try to convince me that I'll never be able to do Your will in some area of my life.

I consent to let You energize me...to create within me, moment by moment, both the desire and the power to do You will.

I give You my body and each of its members...my entire inner being, my mind, my emotional life, my will...my loved ones...my marriage or my hopes for marriage...my abilities and gifts...my strengths and weaknesses...my health...my status - whether that's high or low...my possessions...my past, my present, my future...I give to You "when and how" I'll go home to be with You.

I'm here to love You, to obey You, to glorify You.  O my Beloved, may I be a joy to You this day!

http://youtu.be/M0AyxEMFRbI - With All I Am - Hillsong