Belief More Important Than Behavior

FATHER, I desire to be more concerned about my beliefs than my behavior. The enemy would lead me to focus on my behavior—my poor behavior. He is forever reminding me of my sins—trying to convince me that I am “unworthy, unacceptable, sin-sick” who will never amount to anything in Your eyes (ref#14, p 57). Yet, at the same time, he encourages me to work harder at being better.

Your intention is that I confess, forsake the sin, and quickly move on with You. But, I have trouble moving on with You when my attention is on changing sinful behavior. Help me, LORD to dwell on my beliefs and not my behavior.

“I have been justified—completely forgiven and made righteous (Rom 5:1)” (ref#14, p57). Because of CHRIST’s work sin no longer has dominion over me (Rom 6:14). I have passed out of sin as truly as the dead man has passed out of life (Rom 6:2). I have been placed into CHRIST by Your doing, FATHER (1 Cor 1:30). “…The life I am now living is Christ’s life (Gal 2:20)” (ref#14, p58). “…I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call me brother (Heb 2:11)” (ref#14, p59).

Admittedly, the below is also true:

I, along with everyone else, do not understand or seek You (Ps 53:2).
I, along with everyone else, corrupt my own way (Gen 6:12).
I, along with everyone else, have fallen away and am dishonest (Ps 53:3).
I, along with everyone else, do not do good (Ps 53:3).
I, along with everyone else, have a heart filled with destruction and do not speak truth (Ps 5:9).

FATHER, continually aid me to always perceive the truth about my perpetual sinful condition then turn immediately to rest with CHRIST on His accomplishments. He is the upright One who instructs and teaches me (Ps 25:8-9). I walk in His faithfulness, not in my faithfulness (Ps 26:3). May I seek joy in CHRIST alone, not in any good feelings I may get by improving my behavior.

“Thanksgiving and praise are acts of your will, but worship is something God does….It’s where He invites you into a place of adoration where you do less and He does more” (ref#156, p127).

Wait On The LORD

You are LORD OF HOSTS,
I will regard You as holy.
You will be my fear all day long
and You will be my dread (Isa 8:13).

I shall sing to You, “Praise the Lord” (Jer 20:13)!
You, who made the earth by Your great power;
You established the world by Your wisdom;
and by Your understanding stretched out the heavens (Jer 51:15).

You, who formed the mountains and created the wind,

and declared to man what is his thought,
You tread on the heights of the earth—
THE GOD OF HOSTS is Your name (Amos 4:13).

For from days of old, yes,
no one has heard or perceived by ear,
nor has any eye seen a GOD besides You,

who acts as I wait for You (Isa 64:4).

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me (Ps 25:4-5).
None who wait for you shall be put to shame (Ps 25:3).

Holiness
“…’Holy, holy , holy is the Lord of hosts;…” (Isa 6:3 ESV)!

“…what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15 ESV). FATHER, Your abhorrence for ungodly things sobers me when I think about it. I think about it too little, now free me to think about it. Let me review ways of behaving that You positively hate:

“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Ps 5:4-6 ESV).

“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts” (Ps 7:11-13 ESV).

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Prov 6:16-19 ESV).

FATHER, sin is whirling dust—filthy grit in Your eyes. Holiness is what I long for; may I tremble at Your Word lest I offend You (ref#89, p101). Save me, O GOD, that I may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise (1 Chron 16:35).

“…You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place…” (Ps 22:3 AMP).

Prayer Facts:

“It is quite useless knocking at the door of heaven for earthly comfort; it’s not the sort of comfort they supply there.” C. S. Lewis (ref#31, p62).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You are extraordinarily patient toward me (2 Pet 3:9), I will wait for You.

Because You earnestly wait longing to be gracious to me (Isa 30:18), I will wait for You.

Because You discipline and instruct me (Deut 8:5), I will wait for You.
Because You exact less than my guilt and iniquity deserve (Job 11:6), I will wait for You.

Redeeming Love

“Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise” (Ps 119:154 ESV)!

FATHER, You have kept Your promise and You have redeemed me. You have redeemed me from the power of my corruptions—the depth of sin where I was naturally plunged. You have led me to the cross of CHRIST. Through Him I am no longer a bondslave to sin living full of guilt (ref#34, Dec 1st PM).

“…as for me,…redeem me, and be gracious to me” (Ps 26:11 ESV).

“I…go around your altar, O Lord,

proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

“O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells” (Ps 26:6-8 ESV).

“My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless (You), Lord” (Ps 26:12 ESV).

“I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever” (Ps 145:1-2 ESV).

Heaven Sought By Works

FATHER, it’s possible that ____ sits in church with the same attitude as the rich young ruler had as he sat in the synagogue. That ruler hoped heaven would be his reward for all the good he did (Luke 18:21). But JESUS, knowing his dependence on wealth, required he give it up and follow Him if he wanted everlasting life (Luke 18:22). ____ too, may be bypassing JESUS as (he/she) plans (his/her) entrance to heaven.

“Jesus reveals…the possibility of a demonic faith which produces wonderful works quite indistinguishable from the works of the true disciples, works of charity, miracles, perhaps even of personal sanctification, but which is nevertheless a denial of Jesus and of the life of discipleship” (ref#10, p194).

FATHER, ____ has the ability to change (his/her) outward expression to one which does not come from within and is not representative of (his/her) inner character (ref#37, p433 [2 Cor 11:15]). Satan himself can change his outward expression (2 Cor 11:14). It’s entirely possible that ____ masquerades as CHRIST’s disciple (2 Cor 11:13).

So, LORD, teach ____ what criteria You will accept. For Your call to discipleship is always Your word—Your call— Yours alone (ref#10, p195).

“If we follow Christ, cling to his word, and let everything else go, it will see us through the day of judgment” (ref#10, p195).

The Obedience of JESUS

FATHER, illuminate CHRIST as ____’s example of how to live by obedience to You. Keep (him/her) from thinking just because (he/she) loves You and has walked many years with You that (he/she) knows what You want and proceeds without consulting You day by day. Your Son sums up His way of life on earth in one verse. Aid ____ to fashion (his/her) life after His.

“I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord — but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me” (John 5:30 AMP).

CHRIST Owns Tribulations

This suffering ____ is going through is CHRIST’s sufferings that ____ is to share with CHRIST (1 Pet 4:13). Help (him/her), FATHER, to not twist this circumstance of suffering into what would best suit (him/her).

The logical way of dealing with (his/her) affliction is to find a way to end it as soon as possible. But that is never what You intend, FATHER. The situations You give are not sidetracks in life intended to be navigated quickly—its not about getting back to comfort and productive things.

If ____ is treating this suffering as if it belongs to (him/her), guide (him/her) into making it an instrument of Your intention. It has purpose. The way (he/she) travels through the conflict must put CHRIST on center stage (ref#5, p153).

FATHER, remind ____ of the early church. Their response to suffering affliction was not to pray the affliction be taken away, instead they prayed for freedom to further proclaim the Gospel through it (Acts 4:23-31).

“…grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,” (Acts 4:29 ESV).

LORD, help ____ settle into suffering, looking to You for advice in how to proceed. Remind (him/her) that suffering is an end in itself as is all circumstances. You provide all circumstances as a gift—an opportunity to trust more in Y ou.

Work Out My Own Salvation

FATHER, I don’t want to go to hell. I want to be forgiven and avoid Your wrath and to go to heaven. Reconciliation with You—everybody wants that (if they’re honest with themselves) (ref#93, p28-29).

But, the important question is, “Do I want these things for my own security?” or “Do I want them because they bring me to the enjoyment of You” (ref#93, p29)?

FATHER, only You can change my nature so I’m able to concentrate on You and reject my attention to preserving myself. When You provide a new nature it sets me on the path of working out my own salvation—working out selfishness and working in ever- increasing happiness in You. “[A]s ‘a nail is driven out by another nail, habit is overcome by habit’” Erasmus (ref#130 p49).

“…become shares (partakers) of the divine nature….adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue…knowledge…self-control… steadfastness…godliness…brotherly affection…Christian love” (2 Pet 1:4-7 AMP).

“Wherefore, brethren, exert yourselves the more, and bend every effort to make for yourselves your divine call [into salvation] and your divine selection [for salvation] things that have been confirmed”(ref#37, p559, [2 Peter 1:10]).

Two Entities—Depraved Flesh and the SPIRIT

FATHER, when I bow my knee and ask You to search me for sin clue me that I set two entities into motion: my natural, depraved flesh searches for sin as well as Your SPIRIT (ref#100, p83). Flesh brings to my mind unrighteous actions that I’ve committed; the SPIRIT reveals my unrighteous motives.

The search engine of natural flesh only finds obvious willful sins of rebellion—one or two unholy deeds. These are the sins I feel I can correct myself, with better effort.

The search engine of the SPIRIT scans the heart and finds innate rebellion—obstinate roots imbedded in my very character.

The SPIRIT brings my real fleshly self to my attention, while flesh overlooks itself and attempts to change bad actions. Flesh will not believe that its very self is bad. Therefore, FATHER, “I fall short of the purity thou requirest because in thinking I am holy I do not see holiness, or, believing I am impotent, I do no more” (ref#76, p96).

Motivate me to stay on my knees past admitting a few recent sins. For if I consider my confession done I will have only met with my self—my depraved flesh—and not with Your SPIRIT. My flesh will only prompt me to deal with my symptoms not my sickness. I wish to be obedient to You, FATHER, and wait until a thought enters my mind that requires more than my own efforts to correct.

I thank You, SPIRIT, that You will not only convict, but also correct as You give me solid directions to work beside You for accomplishing the correction. Yes, how I thank You for not only directing but also I thank You for changing my very nature day by day making me able to obey Your commands.

FATHER, in my routine of confession prompt me please to warn myself to not stumble over JESUS, the rock of offense (Rom 9:33) by listening to my flesh and attempting to eradicate sin by working at it in my own strength. Direct me to stumble onto JESUS. For He, working through the SPIRIT, is the only One able to make me righteous. FATHER, increase my faith, not my abilities (Rom 9:30-33).