Come Out of The Dark
And Into the Light!
Lent has begun and offers a tremendous opportunity to step back from distractions and seek the Lord. In the forty days leading up to Easter Christians all over the world commit to making personal sacrifices. There is much discussion and internet posting about what is ‘given up for Lent.’ I would like to propose a slightly different approach to your Lenten journey.
Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God
Seek the Lord first. Seek His Kingdom first. Let the Lord lead you on this forty day journey. Do not just ‘sign up’ for corporate prayer or fasting. This is good as where two or more are gathered He is in the midst but let Him take you on a personal journey as well. After all, your relationship with the Lord is only as deep as you are willing to spend personal time alone with Him.
However He guides you; keep it sacred between you and Him. Jesus warns not to seek approval from people but to keep some things before the Father.
Do You Follow the Lord or the Crowd?
Your walk with God over this next forty days and for the rest of your life is really a consecrated journey. If you are open to Him He will take you on a most sanctified path.
There will be ups and downs, straight roads and challenges but He will be right with you with each and every step you take.
To be sanctified is to be set apart. To be set apart is to be different from the crowd to include those who call themselves Christian and have the form but not the substance. I do not say this to open the door to judging who has form and who has substance. I say it to encourage you to seek Him and therefore the substance. Form is easy. Substance requires mind renewal and cutting away in your heart all that does not serve Him.
Let His Light Overtake the Darkness
The choice is really yours whether to be a nominal Christian or walk in Kingdom power and authority.
It is always a heart issue. Each of us carries unhealthy generational patterns in our emotional makeup. Resentment, bitterness, holding grudges, judgment and more can lurk under the surface for a lifetime if not released. It is impossible to release these root issues without divine intervention. That intervention comes when you make the decision to let the Lord work in your heart and mind. It is your choice.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Just as a candle lights a dark place so He will light you path. Open your heart this Lent and let Him be the light that dwells within you. Let Him be the light that leads you in a darkened world. Let Him be the Light of the World in your world!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:2-4
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:16-18
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:33
“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” ~Jesus, Luke 15:33 (emphasis added)
“You are these who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” ~Jesus, Luke 16:15
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” ~Jesus, John 8:12
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.
May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe.
May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father we thank You that You lay before us this Lenten season to deepen our commitment and walk with You. Let us open our hearts and minds to Your guidance and direction. Grace us to step away from a ‘crowd’ mentality to a ‘relationship journey.’
We thank You, Jesus, that You came to bring light to a dying world. We thank You that You come today into our lives to bring Your light to our personal worlds so that we may walk in Your Kingdom power and authority to bring Your glory to earth as it is in heaven. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.