The Beauty of the Lord

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

David knew that his faith was sustained only by the power of Almighty God and that he could walk in that power only by dwelling in God’s presence the rest of his life . . . beholding His “BEAUTY” and inquiring of (communing with) Him daily.

Before David’s time, Moses declared, “And let the BEAUTY of the Lord our God be upon us. . . .“ (Psalm 90:17a) (Emphasis supplied.)

Zechariah, the prophet, foretold Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and the Lord’s salvation in Zechariah 9 and concluded: “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his BEAUTY!” (Verse 17a) (Emphasis supplied.)

What is the “BEA UTY” of the Lord? It is the blessing and favor of the Lord. It is beautiful to walk in God’s blessing and to sense His favor upon you. To behold His “BEA UTY,” we need only to DESIRE Him and SEEK Him.

Hebrews 1 1:6c reminds you “. .. he is a REWARDER of them that diligently SEEK [pursuel him. “(Emphasis supplied.)

PRAY:
“Magnificent Lord, Your BEAUTY overwhelms me. I rejoice in the blessing and favor You bestow upon me daily. I will seek You with my whole heart and give testimony of Your never-ending provision. Amen.”

Resurrection Power

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ fromthe dead.”I Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Resurrection only comes through death, and the Spirit of God grows as the flesh is brought under subjection. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might he destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)

Since the death and resurrection of Jesus nearly 2000 years ago, mankind has been able to experience that same RESURRECTION POWER of the risen Christ. HOW? Through a “born-again” experience, when Jesus puts within you His Spirit. “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.(Romans 6:8)

Your mortal body now is alive. . . alive to the reason that God put you on earth. You are alive to give praise, honor, and glory to Him. You are alive to the needs of others around you. You become a better citizen in the community.

Continue to recognize that Jesus’ RESURRECTION POWER is in your life today and be thankful. Demonstrate the power of the resurrected Christ in WORD and DEED.

PRAY:“Omnipotent Father, help me grasp the full magnitude of what it means to experience Your RESURRECTION POWER Let my life be a testimony of You. Amen.”

A RISEN SAVIOUR

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that

dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

“I serve a risen Saviour!” More than words of an old, familiar resurrection hymn, this statement forms the foundation of a living faith in God today. The Saviour lives! That is the JOY of the season.

How do you know He lives? Because you can see the life-changing effects of His Holy Spirit alive on the earth today… IN PEOPLE!

People who have accepted the Holy Spirit of Christ into their repentant hearts have been changed from selfish, sinful people into loving, caring people who are ALIVE with joy, good health, peace, and the promise of eternity.

The power of the resurrected Christ is available to ALL who will call upon the Name of Jesus, ask Him into their hearts, and confess Him as Lord. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt he saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Is the Spirit of the RISEN Saviour alive in you today?

PRAY:
God of mercy, love, and grace, thank You for the cross where You buried my sin

forever in the blood of Your Son who died and arose to give me new life. Amen.”

Teach Me To Pray

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1

Evidently the disciples were impressed when they heard Jesus praying. The close, sweet communion He had with His Father became obvious to them as they watched, and the miraculous power He gained through that contact was awesome.

Praying to the Father consists of six specific areas:

1) PRAYER begins with PRAISE.

2) PRAYER continues with THANKSGIVING.

3) PRAYER involves CONFESSION.

4) PRAYER delights in INTERCESSION.

5) PRAYER invites PETITION.

6) PRAYER ends with LISTENING.

Learn well. Do not miss out on the blessing of prayer! It is through prayer that actual communion with your Creator IS possible.

PRAY:
‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.* To You be the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forevermore, I pray. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

*Luke 11:2-4

Praise it Away

“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.” Psalm 149:1

Praise in song is a powerful tool. David, the psalmist, must have mastered the ministry of music well, because even King Saul’s troubled soul was comforted and refreshed by the skillful hands of David upon the harp. (See I Samuel 16:23.)

Many Scriptures have been put to music and are like medicine in times of trouble. Here are some that are sung at Christian Retreat:

FOR FEAR (Psalm 27:1): “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?.. .”

FOR DEPRESSION, HEAVINESS (Isaiah 61:3): “He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…

FOR SICKNESS (Romans 8:11): “If that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in you… it shall quicken your mortal body. . . .”

Praise away your problems today with Scripture in song!

FOR JOY (Psalm 96:1): “Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.. .”

PRAY:
“Maker of music in my soul, I will open my mouth to sing praises to Your Name today in all circumstances. As You heal my sicknesses and resolve my problems, I will dance in jubilant triumph. Amen.”

A TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

“And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and stra wed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:8-9

As you remember the events of Jesus’ life that mark Palm Sunday through Resurrection Day, renew your faith in the LIVING CHRIST who lives within you!

All four Gospels give an account of Jesus making His final visit to Jerusalem in what is commonly known as the Triumphal Entry. (See Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12.) He rode in on a colt with enthusiastic crowds surrounding Him, carpeting His path with palm branches and clothing amid shouts of praise hailing Him as KING!

Indeed, God’s King had come. . . not of an earthly kingdom but of an eternal one. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. . . for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

There were many on that first Palm Sunday in Jerusalem who did not recognize Jesus as King. Others rejoiced in His coming but quickly turned away when events did not materialize as they had expected. What kind of “triumphal entry” has Christ made in your life? Will you still trust Him in the hard times?

PRAY: “Lord, today I shout ‘Hosanna’ to the King of kings Let Your kingdom grow in me so that I might serve You faithfully. Amen.”

A Holy Calling

“Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” II Timothy 1:9

Isn’t it great to know that you have been called to a “holy calling”? It is the purpose for which you have been created… that is, to be holy and able to have fellowship with God.

In the beginning, man was created “in the image of God.” (Genesis 1:27) God has always taken a personal interest in man. When Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them and made a way of atonement. Through the death and resurrection of His Son, the Father made a way for all men to be reconciled back to a right relationship with Him.

God is always leading you upward in the path of holiness and righteousness. His desire for you is to be HOLY. . . separate from the sin of the world and set apart for His service.

Peter refers to the promise of God to make you a partaker of His “divine nature” so that you can escape the “corruption that is in the world through lust” (See II Peter 1:4.)

Friend, you have got it made! “If God be for [you], who can be against [you]?” (Romans 8:31b)

PRAY:
“Hallelujah! Thank You, Father, for calling me into a sanctified life-style which is to reflect Your image With You by my side, I cannot lose. Amen.