Archive | October 2023

Attitude of Thanksgiving

Oct31

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/col.4.2.NASB1995

“Pray with an attitude of thanksgiving”. . .

I’d never really thought about an attitude of prayer, except maybe as solemn, with reverence and sometimes with awe. I personally, many times, approached God with an attitude of pleading, crying, selfishness, whining, complaining, self focused prayer. Like children approach their parents in conversation.

BUT. . . Wow!!!
First of all, in prayer, we approach the throne of grace. The throne where Almighty God sits. The God who created the entire universe, and we as well. There is nothing He can’t accomplish. God will answer our prayers. If God will answer our prayers, our prays should be prayed with an attitude of thanksgiving as if we had already received.

🌹“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Matthew‬ ‭7:7‭-‬11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.7.NASB1995

🙏Pray with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Highway of Holiness

Oct30

A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.
No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there,
And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:8-‬10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.35.8.NASB1995

‭‭Are you walking the road of holiness?
It begins with acknowledgement and confession that you are a sinner. It continues by seeking God and walking the rest of your life in faith, trusting in the leadership and guidance of Jesus. Listening . . . for the voice of God.

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.30.21.NASB1995

The Word of God, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit together are the voice of direction and understanding.

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
Psalms‬ ‭25:8‭-‬9‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.25.8.NASB1995

‭‭So,
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew‬ ‭7:13‭-‬14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.13.NASB1995

The road of holiness is a safe road. God is your protector from the ravenous lions, wolves, and beasts of the world.

And in the end, the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. FOREVER!!!

‭‭🌹In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.3.6.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Magnify the Lord!

Oct27

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice.
Psalms‬ ‭34:1‭-‬2 ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.34.1.NASB1995

🌹O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:3 NASB 1995
https://bible.com/Bible/100/psa.34.4.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Vine Evaluation

Oct26

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.15.5.NASB1995

Self evaluation is a tough thing to do, but a very good thing for us to practice.  John 15:5 is a good tester of whether we have a relationship with God or whether we are just participating in religion.

To grow in our Christian walk we must know, and abide in Jesus. We need to be fed by the Word – Jesus – and grow in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is relational. We speak to Jesus through prayer. Jesus feeds us through His word. The Holy Spirit guides us on our walk with strength that we, the branch, received by our feeding through the Vine, Jesus.

Are you being fed? Fed correctly?
Whatever your source of feeding is will depict what you will produce.

‭‭Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.
Genesis‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.1.11.NASB1995

‭‭Being attached to the Vine we will produce Kingdom fruit.

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians‬ ‭1:5‭-‬6‬, 10 ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/col.1.5.NASB1995

Are you attached to the vine? Are you in a relationship with Jesus or playing religion? Are you alive in Christ or dead? It’s either/or.
Are you producing fruit for the Kingdom of God?

‭‭And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew‬ ‭28:18‭-‬20‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.28.18.NASB1995

Without God we cannot produce fruit!! This is why it is so important to abide in the Vine, Jesus. Without Jesus we can do nothing. NOTHING!! Our productivity is under the management of Christ.

I pray God will draw you to Himself as you evaluate your relationship to the Vine. God bless you.

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon

Attitude of Prayer

Oct25

[36]Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, [37] behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.” [38] And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. [39] Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” [40] God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground. Judges‬ ‭6:36‭-‬40‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/ jdg.6.40.NASB1995‭‭

God had a plan for Gideon. Gideon knew what the plan was, but he wanted proof that God would do what He said He would. So he layed a fleece before the Lord. God kept His word. Gideon felt the need to test God again. God is faithful to see us through what He calls us to.

🙏 🙏 🙏


[10] She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
[12] Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. [13] As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. [14] Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” [15] But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. [16] Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” [17] Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” [18] She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
1 Samuel‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/ 100/1sa.1.10.NASB1995

Hannah, a woman desiring the intervention of God in her life, went humbly before her God. She poured out her desire unto the Lord and left it at the throne of grace. She had no answer from God but left with joy in her heart.

🌹What is your attitude of prayer before God? Do you humbly pray the will of God and trust in His Sovereign will or do you continue to question His direction in your life? Do you leave your prayertime prayer FULL or prayer LESS?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Sustaining Love

Oct24

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
Psalms‬ ‭139:17‭-‬18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.139.17.NASB1995

What an awesome love God has for His own. To know the abounding love of God and His precious thoughts toward us is exhilarating yet comforting, knowing when we awake each new day, He is right there. We are still with Him, awaiting a new day adventure of God’s works through us.

‭‭How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
Psalms‬ ‭92:5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.92.5.NASB1995

🌹I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
Psalms‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.3.5.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Who am I?

Oct23

Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Acts‬ ‭11:17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.11.17.NASB1995

‭‭This passage is where Peter went to Jerusalem and was sharing testimony with the circumcised Jewish believers about the conversion of Gentiles, of their salvation. When he received opposition his response was, “who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

I believe we have all been there. That is not the way we do things. That is not how Christians are supposed to act, talk, serve, etc. God and His word is always, or should be, the final word.

There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.
Proverbs‬ ‭21:30‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.21.30.NASB1995

Not one person on the face of this earth is perfect or knows it all. We would be foolish to think this. We must be careful that we do not think or act as if we alone have any authority.
‭‭
Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
Jeremiah‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.9.23.NASB1995

We must seek the counsel of God. Through His Word. Through prayer. Alone and corporately. 
‭‭
Then we must trust God and Him alone.

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
Acts‬ ‭5:39‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.5.39.NASB1995

🌹Who am I? I do not want to be in that position. Do you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

God Is Awesome!

Oct20

Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Psalms‬ ‭96:1‭-‬6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.96.1.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Battle on Your Knees

Oct19

The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/exo.14.14.NASB1995

‭‭For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Isaiah‬ ‭30:15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.30.15.NASB1995

‭‭And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
Isaiah‬ ‭32:17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.32.17.NASB1995

I believe prayer is the best weapon of war. In prayer, our hearts are centered on God. In prayer, we seek God’s forgiveness, His way, His will, and we find quietness and trust. In quietness and trust, we gain strength. With the strength of God working in us, we confidently face opposition with righteousness and quietness; confident that He will and is fighting while we keep silent. Through prayer, our righteous actions will speak louder than words spoken in anger or resentment. The result will be peace.

🌹Pray, trusting God in the battle.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Confident Assurance

Oct18

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matthew‬ ‭7:21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.21.NASB1995

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.23.NASB1995

How content are you that if you died tonight you would be ushered into the presence of God and live with Him eternally?

Are you hanging your assurance on that walk down the aisle? Or on a prayer recited? Or are you clinging to Jesus, your Savior; following in His footsteps, being obedient to the Word of God and doing His will?

Only you and God can answer that question. I pray you are confident of your salvation. Seek God. Read His word. Pray.

🌹Make sure you know that you know that you know that you know!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon