Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidd en recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him.

However, I must take the time to realize what this central point of power is. Am I willing to give one minute out of every hour to concentrate on it? “If you abide in Me . . . “— that is, if you continue to act, and think, and work from that central point— “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” ( John 15:7  ). Am I abiding? Am I taking the time to abide? What is the greatest source of power in my life? Is it my work, service, and sacrifice for others, or is it my striving to work for God? It should be none of these— what ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the atonement of the Lord. It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us. We must make a determination to limit and concentrate our desires and interests on the atonement by the Cross of Christ.

“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . .” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.

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Journal Entry for the Day……….. J D Vaughn

June 7, 2010

I wonder if my faith is growing at all.  I wonder about my motivations, my sense of self; self promotion, self preservation, self serving thoughts about how to maximize my pleasures and minimize my own pain. They often seem to be at the forefront of my thoughts. Even in worship I wonder if my voice is too loud, my voice off key. These new people in this new church, how will they see me?

What about my business, my new opportunities for financial growth, where are they Lord?

I find I am even worried and concerned about being worried and concerned.  I know I am to be connected to you and to give up my daily worries and concerns to you, I know I am to trust and obey and be in your will, but sometimes I am just overwhelmed by all that is and is not happening in my life. The evidence of what I am to be in Jesus and the evidence of Jesus in my life meeting my needs is not visible to me. I wonder if I am strong enough and obedient enough…. I wonder if I will be “good enough”, obedient enough, or even available and open enough for God to work in my life and for my life.

And God says…”You are being confused by the author of confusion. You are being deceived so that you will not rest in me. The enemy is defeated; he was defeated by the cross. But he continues to fight by trying to spread doubt and uncertainty. There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus….nothing. Nothing you can say and do and nothing that you fail to say and do. You can take your place as my child in all you say and do, and know that I am leading and guiding you with the Holy Spirit. Do not look for me in your successes, or failures or trials and self doubt. Do not llok for me in your growth or lack of growth.

Look for me in all things, all the time. You see there are no failures, no successes when you are connected to me, there is simply Me in you, and the results of my action, or inaction, the evidence or lack of evidence of my work are the same. The result cannot be interpreted by you or anyone else. The result is not yours to interpret. You are to be connected. And when you are connected and are intimate with me, you know it and are at peace even though you may not understand it all.

You are to simply stay connected. And you are learning and experiencing this in your life and as a result my love and the work of My Son on the cross has an opportunity to transform you.

Perfect love casts out fear…..love transcends all things.