Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

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HEIRS OF GOD’S PROMISES AND GOD HIMSELF

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-1-20-39-pm…FATHER, my irrepressible joy comes from the consciousness of Your favor and protection (Ps 97:11). I thank You not only for everything Your covenant promises but for You. You are my portion and inheritance (Num 18:20). You adopt me into Your family. You are my share (Lam 3:24). Therefore I have an infinite interest in every perfection of Your divine nature Octavius Winslow (ref#61, Sept 12th).

In You, FATHER, there is “an all-sufficiency of love to comfort us; an all-sufficiency of strength to uphold us; an all-sufficiency of power to protect us; an all-sufficiency of good to satisfy us; an all-sufficiency of wisdom to guide us; an all-sufficiency of glory to reward us; and an all-sufficiency of bliss to make us happy here, and happy to all eternity” Octavius Winslow (ref#61, Sept 12th).

THANKSGIVING

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YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH ME; I AM ASTONISHED

Screen Shot 2016-08-24 at 3.44.16 PM…FATHER, love is “an affection of union and nearness…” John Owen (ref#35, p113). The result of our union raises my level of love to You—it increases my faith. Because of our union I observe Your kindness, tenderness, unchangeableness, etc, which brings rest to my soul, and rest is my most prized possession (ref#35, p114).

O LORD, I desire to search out continually Your beauty for I am always seeking rest for my soul. This rest is a quiet joy that fills me completely so I find no need to roam unsatisfied. To be a doorkeeper in Your house, to get as close as I can to You is my desire, for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10) (ref#35, p113).

“The union…of likeness, is the cause of the love of another” John Owen (ref#35, p113).

You rejoice over me with joy and rest in silent satisfaction. You are held still by the very depth of Your love for me—resting with contentment. You are delighted when You think of me—with deep and tender yearning love You hold me to Yourself. Your love for me so engulfs You, You leap for joy; every inward and outward expression or token of love is heaped together to express Yourself. You sing—Your contentment is expressed in singing—I cause the jubilee in Your heart (Zeph 3:17).

Thus, Your love animates me; it makes me fully satisfied with You so I will not seek further for another to love. Your love is a joy past belief, past utterance, past thought. I am motionless as I experience Your love but then must exult in an outward demonstration of my delight. Singing and praise is the result of my great enjoyment and pleasure in You. Your love is so surprising I must leap for joy or cry or do something that would embarrass even Michal, King David’s wife (2 Sam 6:16). Michal would think, “This is not normal.”  It may not be normal but how thankful I am it is real.

THANKSGIVING

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THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

“My beloved is mine, and I am his;…” (Song 2:16 ESV).

Screen Shot 2016-08-24 at 2.59.56 PMFATHER, CHRIST is mine, “I possess him, I have interest in him, as my head and my husband; and I am his, possessed of him, owned by him, given up unto him: and that as to my Beloved in a conjugal relation”  John Owen (ref#35, p153). CHRIST and I are far from equal—Him no sin, me sin—but I am part of His bride, the church, and will attend the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9).

CHRIST and I stand facing each other in mutual resignation. He takes me to be His, to love and care for me; I take Him to be mine giving myself up to be His in obedience (ref#35, p155).

He says, “…I know by experience those that are mine, and those that are mine know me by experience, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p238, [John 10:14-15]). And CHRIST, if I love You, then I am known by You (1 Cor 8:3).

CHRIST, You make rich provision for my needs, You pay all my debts and I can share in Your wealth and You even allow me to assume Your name (ref#34, July 22nd AM). My sin is covered by my Bridegroom. His puts on me His very own comeliness which makes me beautiful—even perfect (ref#35, p156).

And, on my part it is to consent to accept all He gives—to “receive, embrace, and submit unto the Lord Jesus, as…husband, Lord, and Savior—to abide with him…and be ruled by him forever” John Owen (ref#35, p157).

FATHER, I thank You that You have made me prefer CHRIST counting everything else as dung compared to Him. Thank You for my heart change so I am willing to give myself up to Him. I desire He see my face and hear my voice and count it as sweet and lovely (Song 2:14).

“He is…your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death’s dark vale. He is your help and your deliverer; your castle and your high tower; the horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all…” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, April 19th PM).

THANKSGIVING

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JESUS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

Screen Shot 2016-08-24 at 1.03.16 PM…FATHER, You give dominion and glory and a kingdom to Your Son, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed (Dan 7:14).

You have appointed Your Son to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). When He comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne and before Him all the nations will be gathered and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Matt 25:31-32).

He will place the sheep on his right, and the goats on His left. Then Your Son, the King, will say to those on His right, (Matt 25:33). “’Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34 ESV).

But He will say to those on His left, “’Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41 ESV). And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Matt 25:46).

FATHER, in a world of unfairness, I thank You for JESUS, the Righteous Judge.

THANKSGIVING

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RECEIVING THE SPIRIT TO MINISTER

Screen Shot 2016-08-23 at 3.50.46 PM“…when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8 MSG).

FATHER, I gratefully thank You for inviting me to be the cup You use to pour out Your goodness on mankind. You require and then enable me to keep my cup clean so You can choose me to be Your minister.

You require it and make me able to die to self—to be constantly dying, always carrying in my body the death of JESUS, so that the life of JESUS may also be manifested in my body (2 Cor 4:10) (ref#97, p25).

“It will mean no plans, no time, no money, no pleasure of our own. It will mean a constant yielding to those around us…” Roy Hession (ref#97, p25).

You make me able to put out of my life every known sin (ref#30, p116). The SPIRIT makes me willing to show You my dirty cup—makes me willing to give it to You to clean—and it will be cleaned with Your Son’s precious Blood that continually flows for sin (ref#97, p30).

You make me able to be broken of my will.   The SPIRIT brings me to the foot of the Cross to show me what real brokenness is. I see His wounded hands and feet and His face crowned with thorns… (ref#97, p48).

Through Your direction of the SPIRIT, He is able to make me into a suitable tool for Your use. And going yet further, the SPIRIT points my desires toward a further spiritual anointing—the “definite endowment of power from the Holy Spirit” R. A. Torrey (ref#30, p115-116).

All praise to You, FATHER, for You make me able to be in relationship with You. I thank You for the SPIRIT Who leads me to every step of cleanliness and on to the ability to minister with You in Your behalf.

THANKSGIVING

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CALLING AND PROVIDING FOR ME

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 4.24.06 PM…FATHER, You have called forth and guided the destinies of the generations from the beginning. You are the first, existing before history began, and You are the last, an ever-present, unchanging GOD (Isa 41:4).

You say to me, “I have chosen you, You are my servant; fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa 41:8-10).

You, FATHER, come to me with might, and Your arm rules for You; You are Your own reward (Isa 40:10). I am a sheep in Your flock that You tend like a shepherd; You gather me in Your arms, and carry me in Your bosom; You gently lead me (Isa 40:11). I am poor and needy and must have provisions I do not possess. You answer my calls for help and will not forsake me (Isa 41:17).

FATHER, You call and captivate me. Your everlasting gift of Your presence is enough to engage my mind with continual thanksgiving. Not only do You call me, but You fill my arms with promises. You will strengthen, help, uphold, gather me in Your arms, carry me, lead—yes, gently lead me. I never need to fear or be dismayed. Thank You for Your calling and Your providing.

I see it—I see it. I look back over the years and note Your work. I no longer walk in blind faith—desperately wanting to believe, but knowing faith—resting in You. I see it!

THANKSGIVING

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THE SUPERIORITY OF THE SON

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 1.53.32 PM“In the beginning the Word was existing….And the Word was as to His essence absolute deity. This Word was in the beginning in fellowship with God the Father. All things through His intermediate agency came into being, and without Him there came into being not even one thing which has come into existence. In Him life was existing” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p209 [John 1:1-3]).

“…the believing Hebrews were so favored beyond their fathers, to have the best revelation of God in Christ made to them…Christ…is his bosom Son, nearest his heart…” Matthew Poole (ref#21, p809).

“…he is…an engraven image of the Father, every way like him” (ref#21, p810). “Jesus is not merely an image or reflection of God…he is the absolutely authentic representation of God’s being” The NIV Study Bible (ref#96, p1858). “…he is the visible representation of him” (ref#21, p810).

“…the Son…provided purification for sins through his redeeming death on the cross” (ref#96, p1858). “…by himself purged our sins…” (ref#21, p209). “…by his satisfaction and merit, removing both the guilt and stain of sin; so as God, the injured Lawgiver, could be just as well as merciful in pardoning it; and justifying those who believe and plead it from the condemnation they were liable to for it…” (ref#21, p810).

“Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He is a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside. His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Dec 25th).

“…you are Son of God by virtue of your participation in the divine essence…” (ref#37, p136 [Luke 4:9]). “…in Him the whole fullness of…(the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form…” (Col 2:9 AMP).

“Let the One who comes in the Name of the Lord be eulogized” (ref#37, p53 [Matt 21:9]).

THANKSGIVING

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CARING FOR ALL I CARE FOR

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 11.30.53 AMThank You, FATHER, for taking care of my loved ones. I get discouraged just naming them all in prayer. The process overwhelms my old nature which proves that it has no power to do any good.

I gladly lean upon You for nothing is too difficult for You (Jer 32:17). You are love (1 John 4:16); You do all that pleases You (2 Sam 10:12). Therefore, with joy, I defer to You all my worldly concerns.

FATHER, Your steadfast love endures all through the day—through all the circumstances You give me and my loved ones (Ps 52:1). Therefore I will praise You among the nations and sing praises to Your name (2 Sam 22:50).

THANKSGIVING

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FOREVER FAITHFUL GOD

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 6.38.29 AM…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.

THANKSGIVING

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THANKS FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 5.27.07 AM…FATHER, I thank You that not only do You draw me, but You draw close to me. You do not send another; You attend to me Yourself. It’s the tiny things You do that shows Your willingness to be amazingly intimate. You know every detail of my life (ref#7, June 3rd).

You look on the earth and it quakes; You touch the mountains and they smoke (Ps 104:32); You speak and the heavens tremble. The whole earth shudders at Your presence (Ps 114:7).

Yet You know what I’m thinking and I’m never out of Your sight (Ps 139:2-3). You even know everything I’m going to say before I say it (Ps 139:4).

You are constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to You. You are constantly searching me in order to strengthen my heart. You show Yourself strong on my behalf (2 Chron 16:9).

When I take a deep breath it moves Your heart; my whisper can turn Your head toward me; You respond when You hear my prayer (ref#34, Sept 28th AM). Thank You for Your attentiveness to little things. May You rejoice in Your works; may Your glory endure forever (Ps 104:31).