Leaving Anxiety Behind

Let us leave anxiety behind. We have no use of it as God's children. Surely, it will interrupt our lives but let us ponder on Pink's godly advice:

“Be anxious for nothing”— Philippians 4:6
Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft. This needs to be carefully pondered and definitely realized by us, so that we do not excuse it as an innocent “infirmity.” The more we are convicted of the sinfulness of anxiety, the sooner are we likely to perceive that it is most dishonoring to God, and “strive against” it (Hebrews 12:4). But how are we to “strive against” it? ....

The best antidote for anxiety is frequent meditation upon God's goodness, power and sufficiency. When the saint can confidently realize “The Lord is My Shepherd,” he must draw the conclusion, “I shall not want!” Immediately following our exhortation is, “but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.” Nothing is too big and nothing is too little to spread before and cast upon the Lord. The “with thanksgiving” is most important, yet it is the point at which we most fail. It means that before we receive God's answer, we thank Him for the same: it is the confidence of the child expecting his Father to be gracious.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (anxious concern) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33) - From The Arthur Pink Anthology.

Self Examination II

Men compare themselves with men, and readily with the worst, and flatter themselves with that comparative betterness. This is not the way to see spots, to look into the muddy streams of profane men’s lives; but look into the clear fountain of the Word, and there we may both discern and wash them; and consider the infinite holiness of God, and this will humble us to the dust. - Robert Leighton

Self Examination I

Make up your spiritual accounts daily; see how matters stand between God and your souls (Psalm 77:6). Often reckonings keep God and conscience friends. Do with your hearts as you do with your watches, wind them up every morning by prayer, and at night examine whether your hearts have gone true all that day, whether the wheels of your affections have moved swiftly toward heaven. - Thomas Watson

Confession of Sin

With Christmas coming this week I believe the corporate confession of sin below very appropriate. May we all take some time to truly consider where our comfort and pleasure comes from. If it is from anything beside our Lord and Master we need to repent and be grateful to our God and King, the One who most assuredly gives true comfort.

Father, we confess that we have often sought comfort in the things of this world rather than the consolation of Israel. We have delighted in the gifts more than the Giver of them all. We have enjoyed the celebration more than the One whom we celebrate. We have taken pleasure in earthly friendships more than in heavenly fellowship with you. Frequently our hearts have grown indifferent to the mystery and marvel of our Lord's Incarnation. Please forgive our sins for Jesus' sake, and help us trust in Him alone.

Daily Fellowship with God Parts 10 & 11

Andrew Murray concludes his Daily Fellowship with God this way:

10. As you meditate on this wondrous salvation and seek full fellowship with the great and holy God, and wait on Him to reveal Christ in you, you will feel how needful the giving up of all is to receive Him. Seek grace to know what it means to live as wholly for God as Christ did. Only the Holy Spirit Himself can teach you what an entire yielding of the whole life to God can mean. Wait on God to show you in this what you do not know. Let every approach to God, and every request for fellowship with Him be accompanied by a new, very definite, and entire surrender to Him to work in you.

11. “By faith” must here, as through all Scripture, and all the spiritual life, be the keynote. As you tarry before God, let it be in a deep quiet faith in Him, the Invisible One, who is so near, so holy, so mighty, so loving. In a deep, restful faith too, that all the blessings and powers of the heavenly life are around you, and in you. Just yield yourself in the faith of a perfect trust to the Ever Blessed Holy Trinity to work out all God’s purpose in you. Begin each day thus in fellowship with God, and God will be all in all to you. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Parts 8&9

Continuing on...

8. The likeness to Christ consists chiefly in two things—the likeness of His death and resurrection, (Romans 6:5 ). The death of Christ was the consummation of His humility and obedience, the entire giving up of His life to God. In Him we are dead to sin. As we sink down in humility and dependence and entire surrender to God, the power of His death works in us, and we are made conformable to His death. And so we know Him in the power of His resurrection, in the victory over sin, and all the joy and power of the risen life. Therefore every morning, “present yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead.” He will maintain the life He gave, and bestow the grace to live as risen ones.

9. All this can only be in the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you. Count upon Him to glorify Christ in you. Count upon Christ to increase in you the inflowing of His Spirit. As you wait before God to realize His presence, remember that the Spirit is in you to reveal the things of God. Seek in God’s presence to have the anointing of the Spirit of Christ so truly that your whole life may every moment be spiritual. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 7

Number 7 of Andrew Murray's reminders on daily fellowship with God.

7. We have not only Christ’s life in us as a power, and His presence with us as a person, but we have His likeness to be wrought into us. He is to be formed in us, so that His form or figure, His likeness, can be seen in us. Bow before God until you get some sense of the greatness and blessedness of the work to be carried on by God in you this day. Say to God, “Father, here am I for Thee to give as much in me of Christ’s likeness as I can receive.” And wait to hear Him say, “My child, I give thee as much of Christ as thy heart is open to receive.” The God who revealed Jesus in the flesh and perfected Him, will reveal Him in thee and perfect thee in Him. The Father loves the Son, and delights to work out His image and likeness in thee. Count upon it that this blessed work will be done in thee as thou waitest on thy God, and holdest fellowship with Him. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 6

Let's return to Andrew Murray's reminders on fellowship with God.

6. This Christ is a living Person. He loves you with a personal love, and He looks every day for the personal response of your love. Look into His face with trust, till His love really shines into your heart. Make His heart glad by telling Him that you do love Him. He offers Himself to you as a personal Saviour and Keeper from the power of sin. Do not ask, can I be kept from sinning, if I keep close to Him? but ask, can I be kept from sinning, if He always keeps close to me? and you see at once how safe it is to trust Him. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 5

Let us look at number 5 of Andrew Murray's instructions on daily fellowship with God.

5. Then accept and value your place in Christ Jesus. God delights in nothing but His beloved Son, and can be satisfied with nothing else in those who draw nigh to Him. Enter deep into God’s holy presence in the boldness which the blood gives, and in the assurance that in Christ you are most well-pleasing. In Christ you are within the veil. You have access into the very heart and love of the Father. This is the great object of fellowship with God, that I may have more of God in my life, and that God may see Christ formed in me. Be silent before God and let Him bless you. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

More to follow...

Daily Fellowship with God Part 4

Andrew Murray has so many good things to say on regular, daily fellowship with God. Here is number 4:

4. When you have given God His place of honor, glory, and power, take your place of deepest lowliness, and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self abasement. As a saint, let God’s love overwhelm you, and bow you still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience, and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you. Oh! take time, to get very low before God. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 3

More from Andrew Murray on daily fellowship with God.

3. To this end, let your first act in your devotion be a setting yourself still before God. In prayer, or worship, everything depends upon God taking the chief place. I must bow quietly before Him in humble faith and adoration, speaking thus within my heart: “God is. God is near. God is love, longing to communicate Himself to me. God the Almighty One, Who worketh all in all, is even now waiting to work in me, and make Himself known. “Take time, till you know God is very near". - Taken from the The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Still more to come...

Daily Fellowship With God Parts 1&2

It is often so easy for us to forget our need for the Lord and to spend time with him daily. The following are good reminders taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

1. The first and chief need of our Christian life is, Fellowship with God.

2. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the s sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God. - Andrew Murray

More to come....

Our Speech

As we start our week let us be cautious in our speech. We have the power to build up or tear down. Let's take time to think before we speak.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NIV)

Rutherford on Prayer

Words are but the body, the garment, the outside of prayer; sighs are nearer the heart work. A dumb beggar getteth an alms at Christ’s gates, even by making signs, when his tongue cannot plead for him; and the rather, because he is dumb. . . . Tears have a tongue, and grammar, and language, that our Father knoweth. Babes have no prayer for the breast, but weeping: the mother can read hunger in weeping. -SAMUEL RUTHERFORD