It is the last day of the year. A day of reflection on the past year. A day to thank the Lord for walking with us each day, through each circumstance of life. Once again, we find that He has been faithful all along the way. I want to end this year with a thankful heart and I want to take it into 2013. I want this desire to draw closer to my Savior to become a reality in 2013. This 'want to' to be put into action.
I want to share my devotional with you this morning. It is titled IN TUNE WITH GOD written by Smith Wigglesworth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
-Matthew 6:33
"One thing that can hinder our faith is a seared conscience. There is a conscience that is spiritless, and one that is so opened to the presence of God that the smallest thing in the world will drive it to God. What we need is a conscience that is so in tune with God that not one thing can come into and stay in our lives to hinder our fellowship with God and shatter our faith in Him. And when we can come into the presence of God with clear consciences and genuine faith, our hearts not condemning us, then we have confidence toward God (1 John 3:21), "and whatsoever we ask we receive from Him" (v.22).
In Mark 11:24 we read, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Verse twenty-three speaks of mountains removed and difficulties cleared away. Sugarcoating won't do. We must have reality, the real working of our God. We must know God. We must be able to go in and converse with God. We must also know the mind of God toward us, so that all our petitions are always in line with His will.
As this "like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1) becomes a part of you, it will make you so that you will dare to do anything. And remember, God wants daring followers who will be strong in Him and dare to do exploits. How will we reach this place of faith? Let go of your own thoughts, and take the thoughts of God, the Word of God. If you build yourself on imaginations, you will go wrong. You have the Word of God, and it is enough.
A man gave this remarkable testimony concerning the Word of God: "Never compare this Book with other books. Never think or say that this Book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through. Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. And then pass it on."
Truly the Word of God changes a person until he becomes "an epistle of Christ" (2Cor. 3:3). It transforms his mind, changes his character, moves him on from grace to grace, makes him an inheritor of the very nature of God. God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and dines with him who opens his being to the Word of God and receives the Spirit who inspired it.
If you have lost your hunger for God, if you do not have a cry for more of God, you are missing the plan. A cry must come up from us that cannot be satisfied with anything but God. He wants to give us the vision of the prize ahead that is something higher than we have ever attained. If you ever stop at any point, pick up at the place where you have left off, and begin again under the refining light and power of heaven. God will meet you. And while He will bring you to a consciousness of your own frailty and to a brokenness of spirit, your faith will lay hold of Him and all the divine resources. His light and compassion will be manifested through you, and He will send the rain.
Should we not dedicate ourselves afresh to God? Some say, "I dedicated myself last night to God." Every new revelation brings a new decision. Let us seek Him.
Thought for today: Do not let one thought, one action, one thing in any way interfere with the Rapture. Ask God that every moment will be a moment of purifying."
