New Wineskins 2 of 21 – A “New Thing” In You Through His Word

Pray for the Holy Spirit to do this “New Thing” in you through His Word today:

In doing the work of a humble shepherd, in being forgetful of self and interested for the flock given to his charge, he was to become fitted for the most exalted work ever entrusted to mortals, that of being a shepherd of the sheep of the Lord’s pasture.

Those who fear God in the world must be connected with Him.

Christ is the most perfect educator the world ever knew. To receive wisdom and knowledge from Him was more valuable to Moses than all the learning of the Egyptians.

(4T 343)

Dear Heavenly Father,

I have prayed for humility, but I’m not sure I really desire the process required to get there.  I can’t imagine living in the pomp and prestige of Pharaoh’s house and ending up as an unknown, with a life of hardship in the dust of the desert, waking up early to spend the day with dumb animals—I have to admit, God–that would not be my dream-come-true.

Oh Lord, I am embarrassed as I rethink what I just said, for it strikes me that You, the God of all creation, also chose difficulty when you decided (before You even created us) to deliver us.  You left the comfort of Your throne in heaven and the adoration of all the beings of the universe to humble Yourself, take our human form, to live among splinters and dust, without a place to lay your head, spending Your days among “dumb animals,” trying to connect with us and show us what You really are like.  Even hanging from the cross, You ignored Your suffering, asking Your Father to forgive Your torturers, promising a dying thief he would be with You in paradise, and making provision for Your grieving mother.

You are so self-denying, and I am so unlike You!  Really, God, all this this seems so far away from possibility in my life, so I just ask that You, for whom nothing is impossible, just take me today as wholly Yours! I lay everything at Your feet. Help me take time today and every day to connect with You, to have this desire to sit at Your feet, open Your word and my heart and learn of You, that I may know and understand Your love for me and my world. Help me to focus on Your journey on earth, so I, like You, can rise above my circumstances, my issues, the “tape-on-replay” of personal injuries in my mind.  Only YOU can do this “new thing” in me, so please, do it!

I praise You for Your willingness to be my Shepherd, dear Lord.  Thank You for Your patience with me; help me remember this as I get up after this prayer to go out to the pastures You have called me to.  I do not feel worthy or ready to take on a work for You, but I will trust that I can do all things through You who strengthens Me.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Read Psalm 113 today and ask God to show You in a deeper way how amazing His love for You is!

Eph. 1:4; Is. 57:15; SC 70; Psalm 23