An Encounter

Today's reading for my daily read through was Ezekiel 42-44 and Revelation 22.  While from the outset it was a pretty dry set of passages, the Lord is so good and revealed exactly what I needed to hear.

S. "Moreover, they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."

Ezekiel 44:23

O. As the 'new priesthood,' there are certain obligations we must uphold in stewarding the Lord's people well.  Saying some acceptance prayer is not enough, nor is teaching some legalistic list of do's and don'ts.  It must go beyond that to equipping them with the knowledge and understanding of holiness.  When there has been a true living encounter of that which is of heaven, that which is of this world won't hold any appeal.  Trust that, after being equipped, they will have the ability and know how to discern, in any situation, the Lord's best and how to properly attain it.

A. In raising up a generation of world changers I have to be a person who seeks holiness and exhibits resemblance of such.  I must invite the presence so my students can experience the distinction between it and the world.  Once decisions are filtered through holy and profane rather than good or bad much of the gray middle ground will disappear.  Then, I need to take my hands off and trust that they have the capability to discern and decipher themselves, allowing them room to fail.  Grace will always go farther in the learning process than a stern eye and iron fist.

P. God,

Thank you for equipping us with your spirit that teaches and brings your holiness.  Forgive me for sometimes erring on the side of legalism in teaching others over the spirit of holiness.  Help me equip my students to discern and decide on your terms, not their own.  That there would be a standard raised of holiness among this generation, and that the essence of it would be attractive to others.  You are the ultimate prize, and it is you alone I focus on.  200 students by October 31st, that every student of every school would know who you are, as we strive to make your name famous!  Make all I am be all you want me to be!  Make me a world changer!  Make me a history maker!  Make me into the woman you dreamt into design once upon a time!

GREAT Love

Simply reading, without doing, makes the Bible nothing more than a literary work passed down through the ages.  What makes it come alive and proves it is active is when we apply it to our lives, allowing it to mold and shape us into all God intended.  Life is busy and hectic and crazy, but choosing the discipline of daily devotions brings a calm that otherwise is hard to find.  In order to find the time, or make the time to do just that, I often fall back on the SOAP method of journaling.  SOAP is an acronym that stands for Scripture Observation Application and Prayer.

Here's a sampling of today's journaling.

Reading for the day: Lamentations 3-5 and Revelation 15

Scripture- "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22-23

Observation- The storms and trials of life come quickly and beat heavily, the war against us has been waged and fires ravage threatening to destroy, but because of His great love we will not be devoured!  Because His compassion for us knows no bounds and His kindness towards us has no limits.  We can walk in security knowing we will be kept safe and unscathed.  We can look eagerly forward to each new day knowing His everlasting faithfulness eagerly awaits us.

Application- No longer will we be people filled with dread, but filled with hope.  He is a good God who delights in us!  He is an all consuming God who lavishes His love upon us!  The liberating freedom that brings makes us unstoppable.  May we rest assured that He will hide us in the refuge of His wings.  That like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we will be untouched by the flames.  Like Daniel we will walk freely out of the den of lions.  Like Jonah we will escape the dark belly of a whale.  Because of His great love!

Prayer- God,
Thank you for your deep, vast, wide love for me!  Thank you for your never ending compassion and your unending faithfulness!  Forgive me for forgetting the magnitude of all that is to me.  Help me to rest solely in your love.  Help me to rely solely upon your love.  Help me to reveal you to others solely based upon your love.  Your love never fails, it never ends, it never runs out.  May I find peace, solace and security in that.  Make all I am be all you want me to be!  Make me a world changer!  Make me a history maker!  Make me into the woman you dreamt into design once upon a time!