Saturday, March 31, 2012
Comfort for Christians by Arthur Pink-Chapter 5
Comfort for Christians by Arthur Pink
Chapter 5
The Divine Rememberer
for His mercy endureth forever"
Blessed is The Lord
Get Ready
Be Prepared
1 Kings 5-7
And swiftly the seasons roll;
Today is yours, it may be your last;
Choose life for your priceless soul! —Fithian
Peace and Joy are What You Need Today
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Right State of Mind
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Power of Knowing
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Keep Moving Forward
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Light of The Lord
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Eye of Love
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Be Strong
I am strong in body and mind.
The strength of God is present and active within my body and mind. God's vision for me is wholeness and vitality. I align my thoughts, feelings and beliefs with these truths and remove any barriers I may have built in fear. I open to the flow of divine energy and life that strengthens, sustains and heals me in body and mind.
Just as divine strength infuses my body, it also empowers me to use my mind constructively. In faith, I focus my thoughts on what I want to experience. If I find myself worrying, I gently set those worries aside and affirm I am strong in body and mind. I draw from the wellspring of divine strength within.
The Lord will guide you continually, ... and you shall be like a watered garden, ... like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. --Isaiah 58:11
Saturday, March 24, 2012
The Way
The spirit of God within me lovingly navigates my way.
A Global Positioning System (GPS) in one's car shows the way to new places, while a friendly, automated voice gives turn-by-turn instructions on how to get to a specific destination.
Similarly, we have an internal GPS which we can activate anytime to steer us on our spiritual journey. My internal guidance arises through intuitive prompts, gut instinct and an inner knowing that guides me where I need to be.
The voice that speaks to me is the still small voice within, which helps me navigate through any challenges. I listen for Spirit's cues when I am quiet and still, and I confidently follow the prompts to my highest good.
And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."--Isaiah 30:21
Friday, March 23, 2012
A Means to See God
This vision is dated in the third year of Cyrus, that is, of his reign after the conquest of Babylon, his third year since Daniel became acquainted with him and a subject to him. Here is,
I. A general idea of this prophecy (Daniel 10:1): The thing was true; every word of God is so; it was true that Daniel had such a vision, and that such and such things were said. This he solemnly attests upon the word of a prophet. Et hoc paratus est verificare--He was prepared to verify it; and, if it was a word spoken from heaven, no doubt it is stedfast and may be depended upon. But the time appointed was long, as long as to the end of the reign of Antiochus, which was 300 years, a long time indeed when it is looked upon as to come. Nay, and because it is usual with the prophets to glance at things spiritual and eternal, there is that in this prophecy which looks in type as far forward as to the end of the world and the resurrection of the dead; and then he might well say, The time appointed was long. It was, however, made as plain to him as if it had been a history rather than a prophecy; he understood the thing; so distinctly was it delivered to him, and received by him, that he could say he had understanding of the vision. It did not so much operate upon his fancy as upon his understanding.
II. An account of Daniel's mortification of himself before he had this vision, not in expectation of it, nor, when he prayed that solemn prayer Daniel 9:1-27, does it appear that he had any expectation of the vision in answer to it, but purely from a principle of devotion and pious sympathy with the afflicted people of God. He was mourning full three weeks (Daniel 10:2), for his own sins and the sins of his people, and their sorrows. Some think that the particular occasion of his mourning was slothfulness and indifference of many of the Jews, who, though they had liberty to return to their own land, continued still in the land of their captivity, not knowing how to value the privileges offered them; and perhaps it troubled him the more because those that did so justified themselves by the example of Daniel, though they had not that reason to stay behind which he had. Others think that it was because he heard of the obstruction given to the building of the temple by the enemies of the Jews, who hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose (Ezra 4:4,5), all the days of Cyrus, and gained their point from his son Cambyses, or Artaxerxes, who governed while Cyrus was absent in the Scythian war. Note, Good men cannot but mourn to see how slowly the work of God goes on in the world and what opposition it meets with, how weak its friends are and how active its enemies. During the days of Daniel's mourning he ate no pleasant bread; he could not live without meat, but he ate little, and very sparingly, and mortified himself in the quality as well as the quantity of what he ate, which may truly be reckoned fasting, and a token of humiliation and sorrow. He did not eat the pleasant bread he used to eat, but that which was course and unpalatable, which he would not be tempted to eat any more of than was just necessary to support nature. As ornaments, so delicacies, are very disagreeable to a day of humiliation. Daniel ate no flesh, drank no wine, nor anointed himself, for those three week's time, Daniel 10:3. Though he was now a very old man, and might plead that the decay of his nature required what was nourishing, though he was a very great man, and might plead that, being used to dainty meats, he could not do without them, it would prejudice his health if he were, yet, when it was both to testify and to assist his devotion, he could thus deny himself; let this be noted to the shame of many young people in the common ranks of life who cannot persuade themselves thus to deny themselves.
III. A description of that glorious person whom Daniel saw in vision, which, it is generally agreed, could be no other that Christ himself, the eternal Word. He was by the side of the river Hiddekel (Daniel 10:4), probably walking there, not for diversion, but devotion and contemplation, as Isaac walked in the field, to meditate; and, being a person of distinction, he had his servants attending him at some distance. There he looked up, and saw one man Christ Jesus. It must be he, for he appears in the same resemblance wherein he appeared to St. John in the isle of Patmos, Revelation 1:13-15. His dress was priestly, for he is the high priest of our profession, clothed in linen, as the high priest himself was on the day of atonement, that great day; his loins were girded (in St. John's vision his paps were girded) with a golden girdle of the finest gold, that of Uphaz, for every thing about Christ is the best in its kind. The girding of the loins denotes his ready and diligent application to his work, as his Father's servant, in the business of our redemption. His shape was amiable, his body like the beryl, a precious stone of a sky-colour. His countenance was awful, and enough to strike a terror on the beholders, for his face was as the appearance of lightning, which dazzles the eyes, both brightens and threatens. His eyes were bright and sparkling, as lamps of fire. His arms and feet shone like polished brass, Daniel 10:6. His voice was loud, and strong, and very piercing, like the voice of a multitude. The vox Dei--voice of God can overpower the vox populi--voice of the people. Thus glorious did Christ appear, and it should engage us, 1. To think highly and honourably of him. Now consider how great this man is, and in all things let him have the pre-eminence. 2. To admire his condescension for us and our salvation. Over all this splendour he drew a veil when he took upon him the form of a servant, and emptied himself.
IV. The wonderful influence that this appearance had upon Daniel and his attendants, and the terror that it struck upon him and them.
1. His attendants saw not the vision; it was not fit that they should be honoured with the sight of it. There is a divine revelation vouchsafed to all, from converse with which none are excluded who do not exclude themselves; but such a vision must be peculiar to Daniel, who was a favourite. Paul's companions were aware of the light, but saw no man, Acts 9:7,22:9. Note, It is the honour of those who are beloved of God that, what is hidden from others, is known to them. Christ manifests himself to them, but not to the world, John 14:22. But, though they saw not the vision, they were seized with an unaccountable trembling; either from the voice they heard, or from some strange concussion or vibration of the air they felt, so it was that a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves, probably among the willows that grew by the river's side. Note, Many have a spirit of bondage to fear who never receive a spirit of adoption, to whom Christ has been, and will be, never otherwise than a terror. Now the fright that Daniel's attendants were in is a confirmation of the truth of the vision; it could not be Daniel's fancy, or the product of a heated imagination of his own, or it had a real, powerful, and strange effect upon those about him.
The Incredible Gift
I live fully in the grace of Spirit.
The spiritual leaders in Jesus' time believed that in order to earn favor with God, one must obey strict behavioral rules. By contrast, Jesus emphasized spiritual discipline that drew people closer to the kingdom of God within.
God within me is the flow of all good and the essence of all life. If I feel separation or experience lack, I know these are error thoughts, and I realign with the truth of my being.
In prayer, I connect with Spirit. I recognize the activity of grace everywhere. I co-create a full and meaningful life by giving generously and receiving joyfully. Abundance, wholeness, understanding, vibrancy, strength and peace are mine.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.--John 4:24
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Trust in God
I let go, confident in the good God provides.
If I leave one job for a better one, or move into a more comfortable home, letting go of the old may feel easy. But it can be more difficult to let go when I am unsure about what is to come. Sometimes staying in an unsatisfying situation feels safer than stepping into the unknown.
When my spirit knows I need to let go, I do it with confidence that my good is being revealed. I release to God any concerns, situations or relationships that no longer serve me. Even when my future is uncertain, healing and growth are assured.
I am open to and cooperate with the guidance of Spirit even before the path ahead is clear. I release, let go and claim my divine potential.
Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.--Hebrews 10:35
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Connecting with God for Healing
Through the healing power of God, I experience my wholeness.
Health is my divine birthright. Making inner and outer adjustments in my mind, body and spirit, I reveal my innate wholeness. I am restored to perfection on every level.
In my mind's eye, I visualize disconnecting from any pent-up bitterness or disappointment that may be manifesting in my body as dis-ease or pain. I imagine the energy of these emotions being drained and replaced by pure healing light from the Divine within. This purifying energy stream flows through me, undiminished by any diagnosis or prognosis.
I am grateful for the healing taking place within me now. Every cell and system of my body responds positively to the healing power of God within me as I connect to wholeness.
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me."--Luke 8:46
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
This is The Day
Bountiful blessings echo through my words and manifest in my life.
The start of spring brings a sense of bounty as new life awakens from the drowsiness of winter. I cultivate a springtime consciousness of newness and abundance by calling forth the divine blessings available to me now.
As I focus on the Divine within--the source of all my good--bounty pours into my awareness as ideas and opportunities. Possibilities for order, health, wisdom, love and joy echo through my creative word and manifest in my life. Countless blessings of good fill the once-idle spaces of my life in energizing and delightful ways. I am sustained by the awareness of good supporting and renewing me now.
The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, ... to bless all your undertakings.--Deuteronomy 28:12
Monday, March 19, 2012
Pray for PEACE
I am an instrument of peace and serenity.
In the rush of everyday activities, peace and quiet may seem an elusive dream. So I begin each day with a time of prayer and meditation in which I enter the kingdom of God within.
In meditation, I mentally draw an image that reminds me of peace. It may be a quiet lake or the face of a loved one. I may recall the words of a favorite song or Scripture. Whatever I choose to visualize or focus on becomes a touchstone to which I can return any moment of the day.
My key to this sacred inner space, this center of serenity and love deep within, is a simple "Thank you, God." In appreciation, I realize the love that supports me. I realize God and I are one.
The effect of righteousness will be peace.--Isaiah 32:17
Sunday, March 18, 2012
To Give unto The Lord
With positive expectation, I surrender to Spirit.
Some may think surrender means giving up, but surrender is giving over. I give over to God whatever is keeping me from being all I can be. I let go of resentment, worry and negative habits--ways of thinking and acting that drain my energy and potential.
As I give these thoughts and habits over to Spirit, they are no longer mine to carry. I feel the weight lifting off my shoulders, replaced by lightness of being, intense gratitude and positive expectation.
I now focus my mind on the power and presence of Spirit in me. I open to divine ideas and direction. I am one with God, and in that oneness I experience deep peace and faith.
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me. --Psalm 50:23
Saturday, March 17, 2012
What a Blessing
I see the good in my life and in the world.
Today I embrace an expanded view of my life and my world. I am awakening to my divine potential, and I am aware of the abundance of good in my life. I see myself as a child of God, supported and guided, sustained and whole, vibrant and enthusiastic.
I envision the best for myself and for others. I intentionally behold the innate beauty in the faces and hearts of people around me. I value the unique expressions of divine life. I honor our differences while appreciating our oneness.
I enlarge my vision to include peace and prosperity for everyone. I open to a world of positive possibilities and expect the manifestation of all that is good.
They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."--Matthew 20:33
Friday, March 16, 2012
Today is a Great Day in The Lord
I celebrate today as a gift from God.
Celebrations are a wonderful part of life. They mark important occasions, milestones and turning points. They provide opportunities to honor the people I love. Every day can be a celebration, for every day is a gift from God.
How would I like to celebrate today? Would I like to spend time with family and friends? Would I like to pamper myself? Would I prefer celebrating in quiet solitude, allowing time for contemplation and prayer?
There is no other day like today. Today holds its own blessings for me, for it is a gift from God. I choose to celebrate this day with joy and enthusiasm. It is a divine blessing for me and others.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. --Psalm 118:24
Thursday, March 15, 2012
True Success
The light of God leads me to success.
How do I measure success? Is it the balance in my bank account, the number of friends I have or the amount of things I own? These are material markers, but they do not reflect who I am.
The true measure of success is my ability to greet each day with a positive attitude and the assurance that I am in my right and perfect place. It is my willingness to allow the presence of God to guide me to right actions. It is my capacity to trust the power of God to sustain me.
As I let God's light shine on all I do, I cannot fail. Staying faithful to the powerful Presence within me, I move forward with confidence. This is my measure of success.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. --Psalm 119:105
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Faith is All we Need
I have faith in the goodness of God manifesting in my life right now.
Faith comes to us when we cease to think of external things as having power over us and realize that God--which is all power--brings good into manifestation through us. We increase our faith in God as we realize, in reality, there is only God. No other power exists.
I wake up in the morning in anticipation, looking forward to seeing the activity of Spirit in the day ahead. I have faith that the goodness of God is now being made manifest in, through and around me.
Approaching every situation from the standpoint of absolute faith in God, I find my worries and doubts short-lived. Faith brings answers to prayer, and visible and tangible evidence of the goodness of God.
Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.--Mark 11:24
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Being a Child of God
Monday, March 12, 2012
Love and Peace
Sunday, March 11, 2012
To be Rich in The Lord
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Never Underestimate The Power of God
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Change is Forever
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thank God for Fridays
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Never Underestimate The Power of God
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How Safe are You?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monthly Affirmations of The Joy of Jesus
Monthly Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements of Truth. By affirming Truth we are lifted out of false thinking into the consciousness of Spirit. Each time we pray positively and faithfully, we are calling forth the divine activity that is always within us.
We focus on these affirmations throughout the month for greater expression of our divine inner light. Giving thanks in advance, we claim each affirmation as true for ourselves and our loved ones, remaining open and receptive to the highest good for all.
March 2012
Inner Peace
The peace of God flows through me now.Guidance
I am attuned to Spirit and act on the guidance I receive.Healing
Through the healing power of God, I experience my wholeness.Prosperity
I am enriched by the gifts of Spirit.World Peace
My prayer for peace encircles the world.
April 2012
Inner Peace
I am tranquil as I experience love and peace within me.Guidance
Confident and assured, I trust my inner guidance.Healing
Health is my natural state. My body responds to love and care.Prosperity
I am grateful for blessings manifested and all those yet to be.World Peace
I treat others with loving-kindness, co-creating a world at peace.
A Prayer for Peace
In Scripture, Jesus tells us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind," and to "love your neighbor as yourself."
These are the ultimate rules to live by, and I consciously aspire to both. When I love God, I express the Christ in me. When I love my neighbor as myself, I behold the Christ in them. All outer differences fade away. I look beyond appearances and know, that at heart, we are truly one.
We are all children of God. We are all unique expressions of the Divine. When we embrace that truth, we lay the foundation for a world of peace.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Christian Family Never Underestimate The Power of God
The power of God can be found in Christ Jesus. Who turned water into wine; who calmed the storms at sea, and who healed the sick and raised the dead? Jesus did this and so much much more to show us that with faith we too can do the impossible.
The power of God is still alive today. Our leadership so very often forget that God is still on the throne. Jesus gave His life on the cross for our sins. God through His power raised Jesus from the grave on the third day.
The power we need today can only come from our faith in God through all that Jesus has done for us. This is our pray in Jesus name. Praise God. Dr. James A. Lee
The Joy of Jesus is to Pray for Others
As a spiritual being, I visualize prosperity, healing, wisdom, insight, peace and well-being when I pray. I hold this vision for others, releasing the ways and means to God and giving thanks in advance for right outcomes.
As I think of someone experiencing a challenge, I open my heart in compassion, while also knowing this person has everything they need spiritually and physically. I am steadfast in knowing that with God, all things are possible.
I deepen my awareness of the power of prayer by allowing others to pray with and for me. A prayer partner, a minister or other spiritual leader, the prayer line at Silent Unity--all these strengthen my ability to envision the highest and best for those I hold in prayer.
The Joy of Jesus is to Pray for Others
As a spiritual being, I visualize prosperity, healing, wisdom, insight, peace and well-being when I pray. I hold this vision for others, releasing the ways and means to God and giving thanks in advance for right outcomes.
As I think of someone experiencing a challenge, I open my heart in compassion, while also knowing this person has everything they need spiritually and physically. I am steadfast in knowing that with God, all things are possible.
I deepen my awareness of the power of prayer by allowing others to pray with and for me. A prayer partner, a minister or other spiritual leader, the prayer line at Silent Unity--all these strengthen my ability to envision the highest and best for those I hold in prayer.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Waiting on The Lord is Worthwhile
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'via Blog this'
Kindness is The Joy of Jesus
Kindness
With kindness I give; in kindness I live.
Today I choose to practice kindness. As I encounter others, I am happy to greet them. I think of them as traveling companions on life's journey. I offer a warm smile or a few words of appreciation to a friend or a stranger. Acts of kindness bring positive energy to both giver and receiver, then ripple out to bless others.
When I inquire about someone's day, I honor them by listening deeply to their reply. If I miss an opportunity for kindness, I am kind to the next person I meet, and I remember to be kind to myself.
However expressed, kindness honors the divine within us all. I affirm: With kindness I give, and in kindness I live.
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor. --Proverbs 21:21
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Joy of Jesus is Peace for You
Inner Peace
The peace of God flows through me now.
As the song proclaims, "I've got peace like a river in my soul." Peace is like a river, for peace is the steady stream of God's presence. It saturates my being. I am sustained and fulfilled by the flow of divine peace within me.
Even as I experience the twists and turns of life, the peace of God is steady, carrying me gently along. Nothing can disturb the calm peace of my soul.
I feel that peace now. I feel it permeating my life, expressing through my everyday activities. I experience peace in my mind, in my heart, in my body, and peace in my soul. I draw strength from God's peace. Its energy blesses me with vitality, graces me with divine ideas and leads me on the right path.
Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.--1 Samuel 25:6
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Affirming The God in You
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Scripture: Psalm 100 (New International Version) Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving thanks. 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worsh...
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“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,...