Contentment
Isn’t it strange that we need a book to help us experience what ought to come naturally? No, not really . . . not when its major theme is contentment . . . not when we’ve been programmed to compete, achieve, increase, fight, and worry our way up the so-called “ladder of success” (which few can even define).
Submission to God’s Will
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6
It’s one thing to know God’s will, but it is a whole other thing to do God’s will. It’s the difference between admiring a person’s generosity to care for the poor and personally writing a big check or volunteering my time to support the cause. Knowing is not the same as doing. Knowing becomes an obstacle to doing if it becomes a feel good emotion that intuitively agrees, but never does anything. Better to side with God by doing something and be judged by the world—than to side with the world by doing nothing and be judged by God. Submission to God’s will leads to action.
Overflowing Hope from the Holy Spirit
“Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13
Trust in the God of hope fills the hearts of Jesus followers with joy and peace, overflowing with hope, all powered by the Holy Spirit. Our Christian hope is secure in Christ—the originator and giver of hope—no other foundation is as unshakeable and secure as His (our Rock). Fear is unable to scale to the top of our Rock (as the psalmist penned the words “Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee, nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress, helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die), only faith is victorious because of the well-worn path marked by God’s promises. Led by the Holy Spirit joy and peace accompany those who persevere in their journey of hope.
How Do We Maintain Freedom?
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25
When what I do flows out of what I believe there is freedom. Freedom from the fear of eternity in hell, knowing the security of my salvation is based on faith in the gospel of Jesus. Freedom from guilt, knowing when my conduct aligns with what I believe my conscious is free. Freedom from hurt, knowing the grace of God brings healing to my heart. Freedom from striving, knowing the Holy Spirit fills and empowers my soul to find sustaining strength for life’s journey!
September Prayer List of the Harry Lee Jackson Jr. Prayer Line
© 2024 Harry Lee Jackson Jr Prayer Line