Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is He having His wonderful way with me? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now— no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.

Is the Son of God praying in me, bringing honor to the Father, or am I dictating my demands to Him? Is He ministering in me as He did in the time of His manhood here on earth? Is God’s Son in me going through His passion, suffering so that His own purposes might be fulfilled? The more a person knows of the inner life of God’s most mature saints, the more he sees what God’s purpose really is: to “…fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24). And when we think of what it takes to “fill up,” there is always something yet to be done.

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August 8, 2016

My prayer for today-JDV

Father God, thank You for this day, and this devotional and song. And thank You for reminding me that the very same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in me. I pray that I can live in that realization this day.

I ask You to remind me of this fact over and over today as issues and troubles of this day try to ambush my awareness of my surrender, connection expectations and curiosity. Please remind me to be aware of my need to live this day allowing You to “have Your wonderful way with me.”

I ask you to heal those that are in need of healing; my mom, David, Luell, and others that are suffering. I thank You for Your healing power over my own infirmities, and I ask You to help me remember to surrender my healing to You as well.  Please watch over and care for my daughters; Melissa in her move to Seattle, and Amanda in her  studies and preparations for her next career step.

Thank You for this day, please continue to make me a man after Your own heart, and help me to spread the Gospel today, and use words only when necessary.

He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master…let us make three tabernacles…” (Luke 9:33).Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.He works where He sends us to wait. “…tarry…until…” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.

These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.

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August 1, 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank you for this devotional and the study time with You and David this morning. We arrived at the same place once again; namely that we are not to try and figure out what You are doing, nor are we to expect You to act or work in any single particular way. It seems that once again You are reaffirming that we are to trust You and let go of our own ideas about how and when You will respond to us or those we pray for. It seems that we are once again reminded that You are God, we are not, and You are good all the time; regardless of the diagnosis, employment or marital status and circumstances. What we do know is that out of our surrender, connection, obedience and expectation, we find a peace that passes all understanding, and “a knowing” that You will meet all our needs.

And God says…”Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and do not rely on your own understanding, actions or even faith, and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God which is Jesus, and I will meet all your worldly and daily needs. When you rely on Me and let go of your own need to look good, feel good, be right or to be in control, I can work in your circumstance. I may not change the circumstance; perhaps I will only change your view and expectations. Perhaps I will simply give you the peace that passes all understanding. But know this, you do not need to know how or when I will respond in your life or in the of the lives of those you love. You simply need to surrender, be connected and obedient, and then I am free to move and act on your behalf. I am happy that you have made your mantra Romans 8:28….”all things work together for good for those that love the Lord.  It is true, and helps you capture the peace that passes all understanding even when you cannot or do not understand how or when I am working it all out for your good and My glory.”