New Wineskins 18 of 21 – Illuminate An Area That Needs Grace

Today, pray that as you commune with Christ, the Holy Spirit illuminate an area that needs His transforming grace:

Such transformation of character as is seen in the life of John is ever the result of communion with Christ. There may be marked defects in the character of an individual, yet when he becomes a true disciple of Christ, the power of divine grace transforms and sanctifies him. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, he is changed from glory to glory, until he is like Him whom he adores. 

John was a teacher of holiness, and in his letters to the church he laid down unerring rules for the conduct of Christians. “Everyone who has this hope in Him,” he wrote, “purifies, just as He is pure.” “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 3:3; 2:6. He taught that the Christian must be pure in heart and life. Never should he be satisfied with an empty profession. As God is holy in His sphere, so fallen man, through faith in Christ, is to be holy in his sphere.  (AA 559)

Dear Heavenly Father,

I praise You for never giving up on me, for Your beautiful thoughts toward me, even when my mind is far, far way.  Thank You for being on-call 24/7, for hearing my voice and working out answers even before I pray!  Thank you that through all those years when I “refused to obey and was not mindful of Your wonders,” when I “hardened my neck,” and in my rebellion “appointed a leader” to return to my bondage, “You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake” me!

I want You to take the position in my life that I have in Yours. I don’t want to think or say, “I should be spending more time with God.” I want to throw out all my excuses and practice what I profess and place You as my life priority, in my time off work as well as in my busiest and most difficult moments!  I really want to learn to trust You with ALL my heart in this area of my life, and not lean on what makes sense to me in the moment. For how can You direct my paths when I do not acknowledge You in all my ways?

I pray with the Psalmist, “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  Help me to follow through!  To be a Berean, daily searching the Scriptures; like Samuel, “among those who call upon Your name.”  And when I leave the Holy Place where I meet You daily and step into the Outer Court, may our time together remain with me all day!  Train me to keep You in my mind always, to communicate what You are teaching me to others, especially in the ways I act and speak.

I know I need transformation.  I ask that You show me one area where I ought to have a closer walk with You, where I need Your pure heart and life!  I claim the promise in Isaiah 42:16 that You will bring the blind by a way I did not know and lead me in paths I have not known; You will make darkness light before me, and crooked places straight. You will do all these things for me and not forsake me!  Thank You for the “new thing” You are doing in me! And may Your joy be my strength today!

To think that You already picture me in Your kingdom, as a “joint-heir” with Jesus! Keep this beautiful thought in my mind all day.  I pray this in the name of my Elder Brother, Jesus, Amen.

Today, spend some extra time with God, reading a trilogy of Psalms, asking Him for an experience with Jesus as:

22—Your Sacrifice

23—Your Shepherd

24—Your coming King of Glory

Psalm 139:17; Psalm 130:1; Neh.9:17; Prov. 3: 5; Psalm 119:10,11; Acts 17:11;  Psalm 99:6; Is. 53:19; Neh. 8:10; Rom. 8:17