What is the one thing you want more than anything else?
Found this on one of Benny Hinn's brochure…….
Paul the apostle knew what he wanted and he knew the one thing that would give him his greatest desire in life. What was the one thing?
In
Philippians 3:13-14 he wrote: “
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
What he wanted most was his death - death to his flesh, death to his desire, death to his past, and to all his experiences in the flesh.
What did he long for? What was his greatest desire in life?
It was Jesus Christ and His fullness – the high calling of God was Paul’s oneness with Jesus Christ.
Paul’s greatest desire was his own cancellation and elimination, for in
Philippians 3:10, the apostle wrote, “
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” He wanted to be conformed to the death of Christ Jesus. The apostle wanted to die that Christ might live. He wanted to decrease so that Christ might increase. He wanted to be fully clothed in the image of Christ Jesus.
He knew the secret to victory in this world, for he understood the words spoken by the Lord in
Matthew 16:24: “
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Paul understood that only total death to self would cause a believer to belong wholly to the Lord.
Is that your cry? Is that why you pray? Do you pray to become more like Jesus Christ? Do you pray that self may die?
What is your reason for prayer? Is it that your needs will be met, or is it that Christ’s image will be form in you?
Meditate on these questions……
Psalm 46 (New King James Version)
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
God Is, by Tom Norvel
The forty-sixth Psalm can easily be divided into three natural divisions. Each division is separated by the word "Selah." It is believed that "Selah" was a musical term meaning "to pause." One writer expands the idea to mean, "Pause, and let that sink in." The overall theme of the Psalm might be summed up with "God is."
First, he says God is our refuge in natural disasters.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the
Mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar
and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
:Selah.(Psalm 46:2-3)Pause, and let that sink in.
Second, he says God is our stronghold in threatening warfare.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not
fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar,
kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD
Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
:Selah.
(Psalm 46:4-7)
Pause, and let that sink in.
Finally, he says God is in control of seemingly uncertain future.
Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought
on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he
breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with
fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
:Selah.
(Psalm 46:8-11)
Pause, and let that sink in.
God is ... Pause, and let that sink in.
God is in control ... Pause, and let that sink in. "Be still, and know
that I am God." Pause, and let that sink in. "I will be exalted among
the nations." Pause, and let that sink in. "I will be exalted in the
earth." Pause, and let that sink in. "The Lord Almighty is with us."
Pause, and let that sink in.
Are you seeking refuge from one of the natural disasters? God is in
control. Pause, and let that sink in.
Are you concerned about the effects of the wars around the world? God
is in control. Pause, and let that sink in.
Are you concerned about what may come your way in the next few days?
God is in control. Pause, and let that sink in.
God is. Pause, and let that sink in.
© 2005 Tom Norvell
Why I'm Quitting
Sometimes I ask God, there's just not enough room for both of us to be in charge of my life. It's not that I haven't taken the job seriously, mind you! I have fretted, laid awake nights, and worked out the most detailed and wonderful schemes. The problem is not with the planning and scheming. It’s with the "control". Or, perhaps I should have said, the lack-of-control. I don't really have any.
Oh, I know. You have repeatedly told me that you are competent to be in charge and that putting you in charge would relieve me of worry. But I seem to enjoy it. The fact that I'm worried about tomorrow seems to tell my sick soul that I somehow have a semblance of control over it. But I don't. I just don't have.
Then there's the mess I make of things. The worried-over plan begins to be put in motion, one of those things or people I can't control comes into play, and the bus runs into the ditch! I try to press on. I try to force outcomes. The ditch gets deeper and deeper, and the pain begins to come.
Even so, you show up and offer to take control. You ask me – without ever forcing things -- to turn loose of the wheel and trust you to steer. Sometimes I want to let you have control. I really do. Then something wells up inside me that makes me push you away -- to tell you I can do it all by myself. Truth be told, I'm often thinking that just as soon as I get this thing out of the ditch, then I'm going to ask you to drive. Unfortunately, I never do.
Then there are the people on the bus with me. They are always the people I love most and for whose welfare I care most passionately about. When I drive, then wreck, then push you away, I sense their disappointment. Even that, however, hasn't been enough to this point. It kills me to know I'm hurting them, but I still want to steer. I want to be at the controls. I want to be in charge.
The time has come to try another approach. Oh, it's not that I want to be heard saying that your way is the way of last resort for me. Or maybe it is. But I'm just so so tired. And bunged up. And you and I both know things aren't getting better with me in charge. So that's why I've made up my mind.
God, I'm quitting. No more Mr. Know-It-All. No more having to be in charge. No more playing like I know more about myself than you do. You're in control from this point forward. My Heart, Mind and Body. Family and Personal. Career and Social. Weekdays as well as Weekends. It's all yours now. I resign as co-regent!
God, even if you were reluctant to take over after the mess I've made to date, I'm warning you: From now on you're God – and I'm not! So God, please take your place on the alter in my life.
Our Heavenly Father
How often do we feel so lost, helpless and depressed? The burden of life weighs so heavily on our hearts.
How often do we feel the need to hide in one quiet corner and give out a good cry?
How often we ran away from God during such trying times?
How often we tried to use our own strength instead of relying on the strength of our God.
It is times like this we should remember that God is the one that bring about comfort and peace in our heart.
He's our Creator, our Lord, the most importantly, our Heavenly Father!
Let me share this verse that comforts me during such time.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Change is the only constant
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.2 Corinthians 4:18 (New King James Version)Recently, many of us faces challenges, obstacles seem so hard to overcome. Always remember this! Whatever we see with our physical eyes is subjected to change! Thing that look dead and hopeless is subject to change. Change is the only constant! Only God’s word is final!
So the next time we face a difficult situation, remember this verse in the bible. Learn to see, not using our physical eyes nut with our spiritual eyes.
For it is written:
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (New King James Version)Be strong and know this, so long as our heart truly after God, He is always with us,
Yes! We could be hard press, but we will never be crush.
God Bless You!
The journey begins
Life is a journey, the path we choose determine our destination.
Life is about choices, good and bad ones, we learn along the way.
This is our journeys, our walk with Jesus....
Share our journeys.....
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because[a] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
