Anger

“…whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17 ESV)

Anger is my announcement to myself that I am seeking my own way and not Yours, FATHER. And the announcement makes me madder—it tells me I’m failing at being righteous—the very thing I want to be known for.

You have taught me so much. I know so much of the right things to do. I’m irritated that I know so much which proclaims to me how often I fail. Ah, but anger clues me that I have fallen into the devil’s ploy of trying to be spiritually ambitions (ref#105, p68).

“The massive interest in self-esteem and self-worth exists because it is trying to help us with a real problem. The problem is that we really are not okay. There is no reason why we should feel great about ourselves. We truly are deficient” (ref#106, p29).

“When a man really sees himself as the Lord sees him, it is not the abominable sins of the flesh that shock him, but the awful nature of the pride of his own heart against Jesus Christ” (ref#7, March 8th).

Pride makes me angry. But how can I let my selfishness upstage CHRIST? CHRIST a continual servant—excepting life as it came—never getting His way—never.

“All He did was for others. When He came from heaven, it was for others. When He laid down His life, it was for others….when He was raised again… it was…to justify others…the position He occupies…now in heaven is for others,…” (ref#100, p139).

“For every one look at myself I must take ten looks at Jesus” (ref#106, p67). Anger begs a “time-out.” And a productive “time-out” is to squelch anger by looking to JESUS.

“Turn your eyes away from all else to Him, even to the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. Consider Him only, and render Him glory” (ref#104, Day 10).

Psalm 35

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help.

Draw the spear,

draw the javelin against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation” (Ps 35:1-3).

You have seen, O LORD,

be not silent O LORD, be not far from me.
Awake and rouse Yourself for my cause,

my God and my LORD (Ps 35:22-23).

Vindicate me, O LORD,

according to Your righteousness.

Let none rejoice over me (Ps 35:24).

But, let them be put to shame (Ps 35:4).

Then my soul, yes, my soul will rejoice in You,

LORD— exulting in Your salvation.
All my bones shall say,
O LORD, who is like You? (Ps 35:9-10).

Shout for joy and be glad,
and let me say, “Great is the LORD” (Ps 35:27-28).

My tongue shall tell of Your righteousness
and of Your praise all the day long (Ps 35:28).

Scripture Written so I Might Know GOD

FATHER, You, a GOD who needs nothing from me, puts at my disposal word-pictures that I might acquaint myself with Your majesty and love. You reveal Yourself through the Bible.

“…when we understand the words used, the historical background, and the cultural conventions of the writer and his readers, we are well on our way to grasping the thoughts that are being conveyed”
(ref#56, p844, “Understanding the Word of God”).

Without the SPIRIT’s help I will read the Bible from my vantage point, looking for facts that will help me know and achieve what I want. So, FATHER, I desire the SPIRIT to generate in me a passion for You.

May I seek You as I read noting Your attributes so I might strengthen my trust and love for You “not reading the Bible looking for information like an academic subject or trivia or doctrines, but a Person…” (ref#141, Basking In the Light of the Glory of Christ, (sermon notes) Jan 1, 2005).

Prayer Facts:

“Prayer is affirming God’s sovereignty, righteousness, and majesty and seeking to conform our desires and our purposes to His will and glory” (ref#36. p375).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because all things originate with You and come from You; all things live through You and all things center in and tend to consummate and end in You (Rom 11:36), I will wait for You.
Because You are trustworthy and faithful and mean what You say (2 Cor 1:18), I will wait for You.

Because You are among us—a mighty and terrible GOD (Deut 7:21), I will wait for You.

How Precious Are Your Thoughts to Me

“How precious and weighty…are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them” (Ps 139:17 AMP)!
“…You did form my inward parts;
You did knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13 AMP).

“O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly]
and have known me….
You understand my thought afar off….
You are acquainted with all my ways….” (Ps 139:1-3 AMP).

“You drew near on the day I called to You; You said, Fear not” (Lam 3:57 AMP).

“You heard my voice…” (Lam 3:56 AMP). “O Lord,
You have pleaded the causes of my soul…” (Lam 3:58 AMP)

“If I ascend up into heaven,
You are there;
if I make my bed in…(the place of the dead), behold, You are there” (Ps 139:8 AMP).

O GOD, how precious and weighty
are Your thoughts toward me.
How vast is the sum of them (Ps 139:17).

O GOD, You know me!

Begging To Bring My Friends With Me

FATHER, You multiply mercy and peace and affection to those You dearly love. You set them apart and keep them for CHRIST (Jude 1-2). How I’d love to have ____ in CHRIST, growing in peace and love.

“DADDY, can I bring ____ with me? My enjoyment of Your glory—the blessings that You give me through CHRIST will not be so joyful if (he/she) can’t enjoy Your presence with me.”

I will only be completely happy at the “supper of the Lamb” if all my family and friends are around the table. DADDY, You are the only one who can give consent for them to come with me. To You, DADDY, I will beg and bagger (Luke 11:8) and wear You down (Luke 18:5) in hopes You will relent so they can come. I’m not one of Your constantly obedient children, but remember You have said that even

if I’m not a perfect child, if I persist You will answer me (Luke 11:8-10).

DADDY, remember You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, and…You forgive iniquity (Ex 34:6-7). I look at You and see no reason why You would not let ____ come with me. DADDY, I will continually beg and bagger You about this.

Scripture Memory to Encourage Believers

“…God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8 ESV).

FATHER, I pray that ____ be comforted by the following verses or that (he/she) show comfort to someone else with the following verses:

“…the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thes 3:3 ESV).

“…he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence” (Ps 91:3 ESV).

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet 4:12-13 ESV).

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,” (Col 1:11 ESV).

FATHER, You are able to do far more abundantly than all that ____ asks or thinks. You do this by working within (him/her)—by Your SPIRIT working deeply and gently within (him/her) (Eph 3:20). Grant ____ an abundant supply of riches in CHRIST JESUS (Phil 4:19).

The Overwhelming Scourge – Isaiah 28

FATHER, You cast down and trod underfoot the proud—the rich—anyone who thinks they can handle life themselves (Isa 28:1,3,4). When ____ approaches (his/her) situation with only (his/her) resources, standing alone and independent, (he/she) moves (himself/herself) further away from You. (His/Her) attitude toward You becomes harsh and cold—more harsh and more cold the longer (he/she) remains independent (ref#56, p988, [Isa 28:13]).

If ____ continues (his/her) independency and convinces (himself/herself) that any future destruction to (himself/herself) will not come to (him/her), please, FATHER, grace (him/her) with Your discipline (Isa 28:15). Mercy (him/her) with it; beat (him/her) down (Isa 28:18).

Make ____’s bed too short—(his/her) blanket too narrow to wrap (himself/herself) in (Isa 28:20). Your overwhelming destruction, FATHER, will seem strange. It is not what (he/she) expects of You (Isa 28:21). But, if (he/she) dare scoff, You will strengthen (his/her) bonds of suffering (Isa 28:22). FATHER, I plead, make (him/her) understand the overwhelming scourge of destruction is meant to draw (him/her) back to You.

And, I praise You that You do not continue forever Your discipline to Your children:

“Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows…”
(Isa 28:24-25 ESV).

You will not plow ____ ceaselessly (Isa 28:28). In Your anger, You remember mercy (Hab 3:2) so (he/she) may again sprout to display beautiful fruit. If ____’s independency drives (him/her) to experience Your overwhelming scourge, FATHER, I pray it break (his/her) harshness and coldness toward You.

Flesh Too Busy

FATHER, Richard Lovelace has labeled the world as our “corporate flesh” (ref#108, p86). The world’s a busy place—people actively doing what seems best in their own eyes—displeasing You, FATHER, whether they are displaying open rebellion toward You or simply ignoring You.

My “private flesh” is busy, too—busy ignoring You to the point of exhaustion. In attempting to please You my flesh can never work hard enough. The laws the Pharisees created for Sabbath observance is a good example of flesh too busy.

“…the Pharisees…hedged it (the Sabbath) with repressive regulations so as to avoid the possibility of breaking the Sabbath” (ref#56, p1464, [Luke 6:1]).

Paul accuses the Galatians of observing days, months, season and years all in an effort to train the flesh to please You (Gal 4:10).

When I find myself exhausted it is because I overextend myself— trying to perform beyond my capacity (ref# 101, p122). “Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt not bless…” (ref#76, p134). Motivate me to obey Your voice, not my flesh. Motivate me to obey what I hear from You today—only today. You do not strap heavy burdens on my back—You do not require the hectic pace the world requires.

Refuting Strongholds in My Mind

“…the weapons of our warfare are not physical…but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,…we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God;…” (2 Cor 10:4-5 AMP)

FATHER, I desire to sit before You for the purpose of identifying my strongholds. A stronghold is a fortified place. In my mind I keep certain thoughts at the ready to be quickly acted upon because I can trust them to get me through life.

These thoughts, turned to action, have worked for me. They have kept me independent. That’s why I consider them a stronghold and keep them fortified. More than anything I don’t want to abandon them for other thoughts that might not work.

But, FATHER, I know that these stronghold thoughts set themselves against the true knowledge of You for they are my thoughts, doing life my way, not Your way. I do desire You transform me inwardly by a complete change of my mind (Rom 12:2) so I can take everyone of these stronghold thoughts and make them a prisoner capturing them and bringing them into obedience to CHRIST (2 Cor 10:5). By faith I know that I can do this with Your help. My part in this process is to be willing to give strongholds up.

Stronghold thoughts that float into my mind when I’m idle, like prideful ones that serve to build up my ego, I can refute by willfully thinking of something else. So, FATHER, I ask You to call to my attention these stronghold thoughts so I can destroy them by neglect.

Thoughts though, put into actions that get me through frightening phobias, I’m not so willing to give up. But, by obtaining Your strength through faith I can also eliminate these self-preserving, strongholds. You give me the ability to do it when I willfully turn the thoughts toward You, for when my attention is on You I cannot initiate my self-preserving defenses. For it is impossible for two opposing thoughts to exist together.

FATHER, I desire to think upon You. You are true, worthy of reverence, honorable and just. You are pure, lovely and lovable, kind and gracious. You are excellent and worthy of praise ( Phil 4:8). With thoughts on You I lose the desire to think about my self-preservation and comfort at all. Strongholds vanish!