Encouragement of Desire

"We read the Word, we listen to the Word as an act of worship. It is not really Biblical to say that we are going to do worship and then after worship we are going to have the reading of the Word and preaching because everything is supposed to be worship...When you and I listen, even if we are not comprehending and even if there's a battle raging in our minds in the sense that we are being distracted but every time we are distracted we pull ourselves back to the text and we try to listen that much harder do you realize what you are doing? You are loving God with your mind. You are declaring that yes there is still an aspect of me that is very fallen, yes I struggle through this Christian life but yes because the Holy Spirit has regenerated me I understand these are the Words of life and by faith I am going to fight to keep my mind centered upon on this text that is being read... And when we stand and we read the Word of God we don't allow our minds just to stray unhindered. We pull it back and we say no, I will bring you into subjection, I will bring every thought in subjection to Christ."

~ Paul Washer

The Impossibility of the Christian Life

There are many times when I am in a Church meeting and I am more discouraged by the fact that I am being distracted than I am encouraged by the fact that I get to listen to God's word and that I have a desire to listen to God's word.  It is sometimes hard not to get discouraged by my sin, but the joy and wonder of it is that my sin bothers me! I am a new creation! I DO want to listen to God's word, to read it, to meditate on it.  Yes, my flesh often sneaks in and hinders my mind from really gleaning things from the word, but praise the LORD that I even want to be in the word. Praise Him that I want to pray, that I want to know Him more.  

I shouldn't be discouraged that there's a battle, I should be encouraged that there's a fight against sin! 

Free Grace Sustains Me Still

Today has been a day of battle for me.  I feel the doubting of all I know to be true of God and of myself warring within me.  It has taken it's toll and I am weak and weary of this fight; more often than not, I just want to give up.  I would like to put down my sword and rest for awhile. The doubts in my mind are raging, but God is the same and nothing can change that.  My standing with Him is the same no matter what lies come or how I feel. 
 There are many days when I come to the realization that if it was my conduct that had saved me, then I would be lost forever.  I'm thankful that it is not of myself that keeps me in the same standing with God.  If it was of my doing I know that I would not be able to even attain a right standing with God much less sustain one.  What a privilege to be a child of God! To be redeemed by His blood, to be made one with Him.What assurance there is in knowing that nothing can sever this union. Not you, nor me, not principalities, not death, Beloved, there is NOTHING that can do so (Romans 8:35-39). When our feelings and doubts get in the way we can still rest assured that we are one in Christ. Why? Because we are not resting in our emotions or our merits, but we are resting in the finished work of Christ.
So, when the battle becomes too intense I can simply rest in Christ because "free grace sustains me still". 


Free Grace

"1. You children of God,
by faith in His Son
Redeemed by His blood,
and with Him made one
This union with wonder
and rapture be seen
Which nothing shall sunder,
without or within

2. This pardon, this peace
which none can destroy
This treasure of grace
and heavenly joy
The worthless may crave it,
it always comes free
The vilest may have it,
it was given to me

Chorus:
Free grace has paid for all my sin
Free grace, though it cost so much to Him
Free grace has freed even my will
Free grace to the end sustains me still

3. It's not for good deeds,
good tempers nor frames
From grace it proceeds,
and all is the Lamb's
No goodness, no fitness
expects He from us
This I can well witness,
for none could be worse

Bridge: Sick sinner, expect no
balm but Christ's blood
Your own works reject,
the bad and the good
None ever regret it that on Him rely
Though guilty as Saul or Jonah or I"

~J Hart

Persist To The End

'Your work and your life must go off the stage together. Persisting to the end will be the burr in your saddle- the thorn in your flesh- when the road ahead seems endless and your soul begs an early discharge. It weighs down every other difficulty of your calling. We have known many who have joined the army of Christ and liked being a soldier for a battle or two, but have soon had enough and ended up deserting. They impulsively enlist for Christian duties, are easily persuaded to take up a profession of religion, and are just as easily persuaded to lay it down. Like the new moon, they shine a little in the first part of the evening, but go down before the night is over.

This persevering is a hard word! Taking up the cross daily, praying always, watching night and day and never laying aside our armour to indulge ourselves, sends many sorrowful away from Christ. Yet this is your calling: to make the Christian faith your daily work, without any vacation from one end of the year to the other.'
~ William Gurnall

HT: Liyah McDonnell