Friday, October 10, 2008

FIRST WORKS

Remember when we first confessed Jesus as Lord? Self was the last thing on our minds. So much joy, earnestly seeking Him, great expectation losing self, huge hopes, lifesize faith. We would go about doing good every where we could. Seeing all of life through Heaven's eyes. Forgiving, forgetting, and loving at last. Living the life that was truly life, living love.

The other day driving down the road I called a friend and she encouraged me to remember to focus my attentions on what I cannot see. Wrong will be made right. Holdfast. There has been some difficult situations and strains going on in my family and between family members. It is very uncomfortable and disheartening to witness and go on each day feeling the yuck of what is lingering in the air. It literally feels like it is sucking the life right out of me and those I love.

Worries and cares choke out the Word of God --- is this happening to you?

I was almost home, still driving, and this came to my mind. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM. IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM. GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. HOW MANY TIMES SHALL WE FORGIVE? SEVENTY times SEVEN. LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. Right then, I confessed out of my mouth and decided in my heart to examine who I had not forgiven and why. I FORGAVE in JESUS NAME. I WANT TO BE FORGIVEN. Suddenly words came and prayers for individuals that I had not had a heart to pray for up until that point. I was released from a burden I had picked up by not laying my understanding down. I was compelled to love by speaking the Word of God over all involved and thanked God for their freedom and mine, that they would be released from their debts and be helped and healed at once.

It is time for God's people to REPENT and return to the first works. Loving God like they loved Him first, with a childlike abandon and determination.