Comfort of the SPIRIT in Affliction

FATHER, as ____ goes through life the consolations of Your HOLY SPIRIT are useful and necessary to (him/her). The SPIRIT comforts (his/her) in afflictions. These afflictions are a provision that You have made for (him/her) (Heb 12:5,6) (ref#35, p405).

____’s natural spirit will struggle with afflictions. (He/She) will try to relieve (himself/herself) by any means. In a display of pride (he/she) will despise the chastising affliction or in dejectedness of spirit, (he/she) will sink under the weight of (his/her) troubles (ref#35, p406).

How easily ____ will look for second causes (causes other than You, FATHER) in (his/her) affliction. (He/She) will try to fix it (himself/herself). Keep (him/her) FATHER, from this for (he/she) will lose all the benefits and advantages of this affliction that You have bestowed upon (him/her) (ref#35, p406).

FATHER, keep (him/her) also from sinking under the trial. If You do not teach (him/her) to consider deeply Your chastisements and dealings with (him/her), (he/she) will find the season of afflictions many as (he/she) goes through life (ref#35, p406).

Only the SPIRIT can manage (his/her) soul in affliction so that You, FATHER, have the glory of it and (he/she) be benefited. Affliction gives (him/her) a chance to glory in (his/her) tribulations (Rom 5:3). Send the SPIRIT, FATHER, to ____.

“…there is no management nor improvement of any affliction, but merely and solely by the consolations of the Holy Ghost” (ref#35, p407).

When the LORD Will Not Hear

“For any one…who separates himself from me, taking his idols into
his heart…I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign
and a byword…and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek 14:7-8 ESV).

“…I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them’”(Ezek 8:18 ESV).

FATHER, these hard words You have recorded are a sobering punctuation of how important it is to daily evaluate myself. My ruin will be estrangement from You by deciding to move my dependence from You to someone else (ref#18, [Ezek 14:1-11]). (An idol is some creature, mainly myself, who I allow to set up rule in my heart that replaces You).

“…the only life that pleases God…is His life—never our life, no matter how hard we try. But inasmuch as our self-centered life is the exact opposite of His, we can never be filled with His life unless we are prepared for God to bring our life constantly to death” (ref#97, p25).

The sin of living by my born-with nature is loathsome to GOD. I am in the way of GOD’s wrath when I attempt to “satisfy a vain curiosity, to stop the mouth of a clamorous conscience, or to get or save a reputation among men, but without any desire to be acquainted with God or any design to be ruled by him” (ref#18, [Ezek 14:1-11]).

“…human nature was created by God, not by the devil; it is impaired, and enfeebled, but it is not sinful. The first creation retains the remnants of God’s handiwork; re-creation is the building of a spiritual habitation, ‘an habitation of God,’ and all our effort is to be spent in disciplining the natural life in obedience to the new creation wrought in us through the Spirit….Any attempt to build on the natural virtues will ultimately outrange the grace of God…” (ref#157, June 5th).

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Reasons for Disobedience—A Spirit Check

FATHER, out of my sin nature that wants only to act like JESUS comes pernicious reasonings and evil intentions (Matt 15:19). FATHER, point out my resistance toward You through the following questions:

• Am I pleased or troubled about situations? Does my countenance depend on my comfort in the situation or do I forget about assessing my feelings and simply obey CHRIST (ref#76, p89)?
• Do I provide for myself instead of letting CHRIST supply my needs? Do I control, rule, serve and love myself and not turn to CHRIST for strength (ref#76, p91)?
• Do I judge myself? Do I settle in despondency dwelling on my faults or believe I am doing well and become puffed up (ref#76, p85)?
• Am I “an evangelical hypocrite who sins more safely because grace abounds, who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood cleanseth them, who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved, who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives unholily” (ref#76, p72)? O FATHER, my “every sense, member, faculty, affection is a snare to me” (ref#76, p74). Sin is my downfall (Ezek 18:30) and “my greatest snare is myself” (ref#76, p74). Thank You for revealing the rebellion lurking in my members. Thank You for cleansing me from these hidden faults as I admit to them. I don’t want sin to control me (Ps 19:12,13). Through this confession turn my face toward You once again so that I may express extravagant love to You.

“O GOD, MY EXCEEDING JOY, Singing thy praises uplifts my heart, for thou art a fountain of delight,
and dost bless the soul that joys in thee” (ref#76, p189).

Isaiah 64

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—” (Isa 64:1-2 ESV).

“From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him” (Isa 64:4 ESV).

“…Behold, you (LORD) were angry, and (I) sinned;…

(I) have…become like one who is unclean,…
(I) fade like a leaf, and (my) iniquities,
like the wind, take (me) away” (Isa 64:5-6 ESV).

But, “…O Lord, you are (my) Father;
(I am) the clay, and you are (my) potter;

(I am) …the work of your hand.

…Behold, please look,…” (Isa 64:8-9 ESV) draw me back to You.

Fear of the LORD

FATHER, Your Son delighted in the fear of You (Isa 11:3) and Isaiah the prophet predicted it will be Zion’s treasure (Isa 33:6). It is my delight as well. This day give me the ability to recognize some aspect of You that will produce fear.

Understanding the fear of You is to receive Your words and treasure Your commands seeking them intently (Prov 2:1,4,5). You say, the fear of You is the beginning of wisdom—it is insight and understanding (Prov 9:10).

There are two kinds of fear—paralyzing fear and energizing fear. Paralyzing fear comes to people who have no relationship with You when they recognize Your authority over them.

Your presence produces energizing fear though, for a Christian. Fear becomes an excitement waiting for what You will do next.

FATHER, I ask that energizing fear pull me out of my obsession with myself and into Your world of Your surprises (ref#58, p17). With such fear I will easily understand I’m not the center of my existence; (ref#58, p28) nor want to be.

Without some comprehension of You and Your awesome activities, FATHER, everything I do is a self-help project. When You and I are not close I become comfortable with myself and go about my daily business of setting goals and evaluating myself. But energizing fear makes me cast aside my predetermined plans and make an all-out effort to stay close to You (ref#58, p30).

No wonder CHRIST’s delight was the “fear of the LORD” (Isa 11:3). As Son of Man, He needed You, FATHER, minute by minute; His energized fear kept Him receiving miracle after miracle that filled Him with joy as well as moved Him through His earthly life accomplishing all Your will. Energizing fear, obedience, and joy come bundled together.

May I be like the first century church: …in possession of unbroken tranquility, being constantly built up and proceeding on its way in the fear of the Lord… (ref#37, p295, [Acts 9:31]).

Prayer Facts:

“The high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, who is the Creator and Governor of all worlds, who bears up the pillars of the universe, and to whom all the powers in heaven, in earth, and in hell are subject, is the glorious object to whom we address ourselves in prayer” (ref#61. April 26th).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because with You are perfect wisdom and might and You alone have true understanding (Job 12:13), I will wait for You.
Because whatever You do, it endures forever (Eccl 3:14), I will wait for You.
Because You are a stronghold in the day of trouble (Nahum 1:7), I will wait for You. Because Your communion and counsel are with me (Prov 3:32), I will wait for You. Because You know and are fully acquainted with my way (Ps 1:6), I will wait for You. Because You give wisdom and knowledge and joy (Eccl 2:26), I will wait for You. Because Your mercy and kindness and steadfast love endure forever (Jer 33:11), I will wait for You.

Impeccable

To You, O LORD, belongs righteousness (Dan 9:7).

You act “in a just, upright manner” (ref#110, p1156)—

“making no mistakes.”
You are inerrant (ref#110, p690).

FATHER, You are upright (Ps 92:15)

and, FATHER, You are innocent.
You are sinless (ref#110, p1253)—

“without defect or error” (ref#110, p676).

There is no unrighteousness in You (Ps 92:15).
You are incapable of failing,
and One absolutely infallible
for You are “dependable, reliable, sure” (ref#110, p691).

You are “without conditions or reservations;”

You are absolute—
Unconditional (ref#110, p1452)
and “incapable of wrong doing” (ref#110, p676).

JESUS is Able to Keep Me From Falling

FATHER, You have convinced me that You have removed my hard, evil heart of stone and replaced it with a soft, yielding, submitting heart of flesh (Ezek 36:26). I testify my desires have changed—my spirit testifies to it. Presently I know that I am saved, but,… will I endure to the end (Heb 3:14)?

I have times where I forsake You—saying, “No more, I’m leaving; You’re just too demanding.” It scares me how little it takes for me to arrive in that place. I worry that I’ll be in such a state when the end comes.

But, all honor to You for You have put Your affections on me. If You loved me at first (Rom 5:8) You will always love me. You keep Your part of the covenant (Ps 105:8) even if I don’t keep mine (Ps 78:10). You are chaste and display continual contentment with loving me (Zeph 3:17) even when I am unfaithful to You (Hos 3:1).

You also give others in return for me—people in exchange for my life (Isa 43:4). How can I ever think that any rebellion on my part would be able to separate the bond of Your covenant.

You, FATHER, who possess the power to create and uphold the world, keep me. You guard me through the faith You give me for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Pet 1:5). I may wander but the faith You provide
will always draw me back to You. You delight in making

me Your child (1 Sam 12:22). You make me know I’m Yours even when I am running from You.

Your Son, keeps me. He is my shepherd; He makes me able to hear His voice and follow Him and none shall ever pluck me out of His hand (John 10:27-28).

O POWERFUL FATHER, You will keep me to the end. CHRIST will present me faultless before You—with exceeding joy, He will present me to You (Jude 24-25).

How can I be so prideful to think that I have the power to control my destiny after You choose me for Your bride. This life is about Your desires, not mine.

You are so stable and I so unstable. To eternity Your love will never wane for me. And for this I am just not capable of expressing enough thanksgiving to You.

The SPIRIT’s Freedom and Power

FATHER, I think of Your nation Israel, at the time Ezra came to Jerusalem and found that the people had intermarried with the peoples of nearby lands (Ezra 9:2). In a manner of months they sent back home these foreign wives and their children (Ezra 10:3). LORD, this story certainly proves how powerful Your SPIRIT is as He enabled them to send away their family!

SPIRIT, the FATHER gives You to us powerfully. Comfort from the words and promises of CHRIST can sometimes break in through all opposition into the saddest and darkest condition imaginable just as was the case recorded in Ezra (ref#35, p375).

The FATHER also gives You to us freely. BOUNDLESS SPIRIT, You have freedom in Your operation meaning You can come as the Comforter unexpectedly (ref#35, p376).

SPIRIT-GIVING FATHER, I stand on the fact that You are able in an instant to do all I ask because of Your SPIRIT’s freedom and the strength of His power. I pray for ____. O SPIRIT, come and surprise (him/her)—impress upon (him/her) that all (his/her) comforts lie treasured up in the promises of CHRIST— that CHRIST provides hope in the darkest situations.

SPIRIT, surprise ____ by enabling (him/her) to come to CHRIST through Your freedom and power. AMEN.

Sharing In Pretense or Truth?

“Some preach Christ from envy but others from good will”(Phil 1:15 ESV).

FATHER, it’s not that ____ consciously preaches CHRIST out of envy; but, (he/she) can be envious unaware, therefore, I pray (he/she) set (his/her) thoughts on searching for the real reason (he/she) finds joy in telling people about CHRIST. (His/Her) actions can be simply acting the part, while (his/her) motives may not be purely good will. Some preach CHRIST so that they themselves can seem important (ref#56, p1719 [Phil 1:15-18]).

And humanly ____ is capable of desiring to be important.

In Matthew 7:21-23, LORD, You tell us we can be a service to Your Gospel and yet be shut out of eternal fellowship with You. Because of the gravity of that Scripture portion, I desire, FATHER, that You search ____’s heart for self-honoring sin. Is (he/she) sharing the Gospel or performing any other Christian service in pretense (Phil 1:18)?

Your Word, through the Apostle Paul, paints a picture of Christians accomplishing service to You in truth and in good will. He writes in Philippians 1:27-29: “…let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that…I may hear…that you are standing firm…and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign…of your salvation…For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,…” (ESV).

The HOLY SPIRIT gives ____ power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). I want the SPIRIT to work Himself out in ____’s life. I want ____ to stand firm in power; I want (him/her) to love opponents and not be frightened by them; I want (him/her) to exercise self- control in (his/her) suffering. I want (him/her) to preach CHRIST from good will—thinking only of Your advancement, FATHER, and oblivious to any benefit for (himself/herself).