Vain Illusions

“…the way in which we repent to God or apologize to someone show that
we have not truly judged ourselves. We betray the fact that we feel the wrong is only an unfortunate slip, and that we have on this occasion acted out of character with our true selves. What deception” (ref#100, p77)!

FATHER, I do not have the ability to take honest stock of myself. You say my heart is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9) but it doesn’t seem that bad to me. I live in the realm of illusion just as the Pharisee in the temple (Luke 18:10-14).

“The Pharisee who thanked God that he was not as other men were, honestly thought he was telling the truth. He was, however, just as covetous, unjust, and adulterous as anybody else, but his own heart had deceived him” (ref#100, p50).

FATHER, I want to know the truth about myself. I am suffering from sin much more than I know. Shatter my vain illusion about myself:

“If the moment the Holy One took our place and bore our sins He was condemned by the Father and left derelict in the hour of His sufferings, what must our true condition be to occasion so severe an act of judgment! The Bible says He was made in ‘the likeness of sinful flesh’ (Rom 8:3), which means that He was there as an effigy of us. But if the moment He became that effigy, He had to cry, ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt 27:46), what must God see us to be? It is plain that God was not forsaking the Son as the Son. He was forsaking the Son as us, whose likeness He was wearing” (ref#100, p52).

Public Confession

“Be confessing…your sins to one another for your own benefit, and be praying for one another that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person is able to do much as it operates”
(ref#37, p547, [James 5:16]).

FATHER, I sit here righteous because Your Son has clothed me in His robe of righteousness. But, I am a righteous sinner. I am always righteous and I am always a sinner. When I publicly confess I alert others of my activities so they might pray specifically for my spiritual welfare.

My brothers and sisters, being outsiders looking in at my sin, can pray more wisely than myself. Oh, that they might be true servants of You and be fervent in their prayers for me.

FATHER, make me see the goodness of public confession—how it maintains my communion with my fellow saints. After all, we are all the same—sinners huddled under the Cross of JESUS.

Remind me that the ones I judge as good Christians and the ones I judge as weak and backslidden are, like me, all in constant need of the forgiveness of JESUS. We simply are all the same—needing JESUS.

Although confession humbles me, it also makes me watchful. Being accountable keeps me from plummeting into habitual ruts of sin. It is beneficial to me that nothing is hidden from You; it is also beneficial to me if nothing is hidden from my fellow Christians.

Confession puts me on equal ground with my brothers and sisters. In no way am I better than anyone else. Sinning less is still sinning. One tiny sin makes the cross of CHRIST a necessity.

Confession teaches me to mourn as well as to celebrate Your goodness with my spiritual family. Transparency keeps me humble and conscience-clear. Once I confess, may I hear an assurance of pardon from my listeners. May they speak the words of Your heart.

FATHER, my desire is that we continually preach the Gospel of Your Son to one another. May we see You as the Giver and us as the receiver. May we never assume we have anything to give each other except to give You.

“Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield; Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee, tightly entwine itself round thee, be allured by thee. Then shall my walk be endless praise” (ref#76, p108).

Psalm 33

Let me sing for joy in You,
Confessing what I possess in You
It is my honor, it is my praise,
all my boast is in You (ref#68, [Ps 33:1]).

Praise is my suitable employment;
You are the fountain where I receive all good.
I trace my character to You (ref#16, [Ps 33:1]),
for You show me Your mercy and power (ref#67, [Ps 33:1]).

Indeed, I shall sing for joy in You;
Praise is becoming to the upright (Ps 33:1).

You, it is You who fashions my heart
and understands all my works (Ps 33:15).

Your eye is upon me; I fear You.
You are my help and my shield (Ps 33:18, 20);

I hope for Your lovingkindness (Ps 33:18),

therefore my heart rejoices in You (Ps 33:21).

My soul waits for You, LORD (Ps 33:20),
for Your word is upright;
And all Your work is done in faithfulness (Ps 33:4).

Yes, I shall sing for joy in You, LORD (Ps 33:1).

GOD Waits For Me

“…the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]” (Isa 30:18 AMP)

Prayer Facts:

“We seek God’s gifts: God wants to give us HIMSELF first. We think of prayer as the power to draw down good gifts from heaven; Jesus is the means to draw ourselves up to God. We want to stand at the door and cry; Jesus would have us first enter in and realize that we are friends and children” (ref#19, TWELFTH LESSON).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because Your eyes are on me and Your ears are open to my prayers (1 Pet 3:12), I will wait for You.
Because You hear when I cry for help and deliver me out of all my distress and troubles (Ps 34:17), I will wait for You.

Because You perform that which You have planned for me (Job 23:14), I will wait for Y ou.

Forever Faithful GOD

Forever, O LORD, Your Word stands firm in the heavens (Ps 119:89). Your purposes are all settled above, and they shall all be fulfilled below (ref#15, [Ps 119:89]). FATHER, what You have ordained as law will always remain law—what You have affirmed will always remain true—and, what You have promised will be sure forever (ref#16, [Ps 119:89]).

Your faithfulness, O GOD, extends from one generation to another (Ps 119:90). As with Your everlasting faithfulness to Your promises, You will reign forever, to all generations (Ps 146:10). Your faithfulness is as established as the earth.

Your gracious promises are addressed to people of every age (ref#16, [Ps 119:90]). FATHER, You never change. Your faithfulness is always around You, it attends You at all times for it is a part of Your very nature (ref#16, [Ps 89:8]). You keep faith forever (Ps 146:6). You unchangeably adhere to the fulfilling of Your promises (ref#68, [Ps 146:6]). I thank You, that You are a forever faithful GOD. AMEN.

Destitute and Helpless

FATHER, Your Son did not come to call men righteous in character—ones who satisfy themselves by doing good things. He calls those who (know they) are sinners by nature (ref#37, p21, [Matt 9:13]). LORD, Your Son is moved with compassion by those who are exhausted by their troubles and their long aimless wanderings, and have thrown themselves to the ground in an utterly prostrate condition as sheep not having a shepherd (ref#37, p23, [Matt 9:36]).

As long as ____ is successful and independent or hanging on to even a thread of self- respect, (he/she) will not turn to consider giving (his/her) life over to You. But, when (his/her) pride is shattered and (his/her) life is ready for love (he/she) will not escape Your notice, will (he/she) (Ps 51:17)? You do not despise a broken and repentant heart. In (his/her) distress, when (he/she) seeks You, You will be found by (him/her) (2 Chron 15:4).

It is CHRIST who will cause ____ to cease pursuing a righteousness for (himself/herself) and it is CHRIST who will take away (his/her) burdens and refresh (him/her) with rest (Matt 11:29). FATHER, You know what circumstances (he/she) needs; bring (him/her) to Yourself. Your promise is: “…I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert” (Isa 43:19 AMP).

The Joy of Planting and Watering

FATHER, You have created ____ for fellowshipping with You in Your work. You have fashioned (him/her) to experience the most joy when (he/she) is with You. By steady attention to obedience, natural lives can be turned into spiritual lives (ref#118, p61-62). The farmer joyfully plants anticipating the harvest. Cause ____ who plants to anticipate Your spiritual harvest.

Your powerful Word dawns on men like the morning light—like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning—like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth (2 Sam 23:4). This Word comes through the SPIRIT, LORD, put His words on ____’s tongue (2 Sam 23:2).

Make it, FATHER, ____’s joy to be faithful to You as You make (his/her) way blameless (2 Sam 22:33) and righteous (2 Sam 22:21). You will reward (him/her) with joy when (his/her) work is faithful to You (ref#56, p460, [2 Sam 22:21-25]).

By working in union with You ____ can be bold declaring the Gospel, without error or impurity—having no desire to deceive. Make it (his/her) longing to be approved by You (1 Thes 2:2-4)—desiring not approval for (himself/herself) or from men.

FATHER, make ____ gentle, and affectionately desirous that men hear plainly the Gospel (1 Thes 2:7-8). With You, (he/she) will exhort and encourage and charge men to walk in a manner worthy of You—calling them into Your kingdom and glory (1 Thes 2:12).

Also, FATHER, make the ones You regenerate____’s hope and joy and crown of boasting (1 Thes 2:19). Joining with You, FATHER, in prayer for the ones awakened to Your free gift of grace, cause it to be (his/her) greatest joy. For (he/she) knows that the ones You draw toYourself through (him/her), will remain in faith and love (1 Thes 3:6) and continue standing fast
(1 Thes 3:8). What joy (he/she) will feel for their sake and will long to continue in fellowship with them so that (he/she) may
supply what is lacking in their faith and they may supply what is lacking in (his/her) faith (1 Thes 3:9-10).

The Divine Weapons of Warfare – The Sword of the SPIRIT

FATHER, the sword of the SPIRIT is the revelation which You provided of Yourself in the Bible. “This is called the sword of the Spirit, because it comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the operation of the Holy Spirit” (ref#15, [Eph 6:17]).

Your Scriptures, FATHER, are a lamp to ____’s feet and a light to (his/her) path (Ps 119:105). (His/Her) ability to quote Bible verses “especially in times of temptation and trial has a wonderful tendency to cut in pieces the snares of the adversary” (ref#15, [Eph 6:17]). Holding Your unchangeable word in (his/her) heart gives (him/her) unlimited confidence (ref#15, [Eph 6:17]). Convict ____ to memorize Scripture. Even the enemy, as formable as a roaring lion, dare not contend with (him/her) when (he/she) takes up and puts on the full armor of GOD!

Living in the SPIRIT Longer

FATHER, the presence of the SPIRIT instantly causes a conflict in me. His presence is so satisfying I am tempted to seek Him simply for the feelings His closeness creates. He comes, though, to bring me sanctification through my obedience to His leading. The conflict is, do I obey the SPIRIT or just enjoy His presence?

I know from experience that as soon as I focus on the happiness the SPIRIT brings, He leaves. Haven’t revivals through the ages been short-lived because men have sought SPIRIT-filled joy instead of obedience? Hasn’t the enemy freely imitated the SPIRIT because men have longed for only the blessings the SPIRIT brings?

This life with the SPIRIT is not about happiness although He enables me to experience unimaginable joy. It is about submission—letting You, FATHER, do as You please. The SPIRIT provides Your sanctification for
me—He provides what is needed for my holiness; I simply must follow Him.

I pray for the SPIRIT to conquer my life. Send out Your SPIRIT, FATHER, to take me to Your habitation—the place where Your glory dwells (Ps 26:8)