Month: January 2024

Combatting Darkness

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

Me: Good evening, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good evening, Jon!

Me: I know we are not now under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). But Jesus also said that none of the law would pass away while heaven and earth remain (Matthew 5:18). How does this injunction from Joshua 1:8 apply to believers?

Holy Spirit: The Word stands forever. Focusing on it, meditating on it, speaking it, observing (obeying) it, is key to transforming your mind:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 12-17

You see, aligning your heart and mind with My word, which reveals my perfect will, is not just about improving your own spiritual state, but is critical to equip you to be effective in the work I have called you to do. As the world system and its inhabitants accelerate into the dark abyss of corruption, it is upon those who will apply themselves to My Word to shed light where I have placed them.

Me: Thank You, Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Not to Worry

A teacher at a Bible Study I attended as a young mother threw me a rope one day. She was teaching on the importance of meditation (devotional contemplation and prayer) when she said this, “If you are a worrier, you will be good at meditation, for worry is simply meditating on the wrong things.”

Rhonda Schrock

Nothing to worry about – The Daily Bo Snerdley (thedailybs.com)

I don’t often do this sort of thing, pointing to wisdom not found among the WordPress blogging community. But I was struck by how many practical life-improving nuggets were contained in Rhonda Schrock’s short article. I have quoted one of them above and provided a link to the article.

– Jon

PS. “Bo Snerdley” is a pseudonym used by James Golden, Rush Limbaugh’s long-time call screener. Golden has maintained an incredibly active conservative news and opinion aggregation site. If that is likely to trigger you, you have been forewarned about who is hosting the above link.

Interlopers

Cats Commandeer Dog’s Crate.

If you look closely, you can see that the door to this crate for the dog is open. Vander (the lighter one) and Covid have taken up temporary residence. We wouldn’t have a crate in the house at all, if it were not for the fact that Ola the dog had chewed the TV remote one day when we left her at home alone.

Both of these critters were abandoned near where we live. But that’s another story.

Mysteries Revealed

I am grateful for revelation, Holy Spirit!

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:13

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:9-14

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: This work of Yours, “revealing the deep things of God”, is mysteriously awesome in that it is done completely in the open, yet reserved only for those who love and trust You enough to take what You say by faith over their five senses and human wisdom. And what mysteries! Things that would not even enter my mind, were it not revealed by You!

Holy Spirit: Faith implies you also must be fine with being considered foolish and hateful for believing what I Am telling you.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:18-19

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6


Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! The name calling of the world is inconsequential compared to the glory of knowing You! I love You!

Holy Spirit! You are welcome! I love you!

Some melting this afternoon

Easy?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Me: Good afternoon, Jesus!

Jesus: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: Tell me more about this passage?

Jesus: Let’s continue, shall we?

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30

Me: You have borne the weight of all the sins of all the world for all time. Or, should I say, “are bearing” instead of, “have borne”? How can you say, “My burden is light”?

Jesus: My burden is light for you if you are in the yoke with Me. I have, and I Am bearing the load. Do not miss the charge to learn of Me. The wisdom of the world is not like My Wisdom.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:13-18

The wisdom of earth is based on the senses. Seeing is believing, the scientific method, and so forth. On the dark side, there is delusion, propaganda, lies and deception. These things masquerade as wisdom, when they are anything but. Examples go back to near the beginning.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:6

Note that Eve was deciding based on physical sight. The wisdom she was sold was a mirage. She already had access to the wisdom that is full of mercy. You can recognize wisdom that I give. It is first pure. No strife, no confusion, no conflicting accounts. When it comes from Me, it comes with a sense of peace, down in your spirit. Only don’t let fear lurking in the mind mask the peace I send to accompany wisdom from above. The rest of those characteristics listed in James 3 are important as well.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Me: Thank You Jesus! I am grateful for Your wisdom and Your Peace! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

Photo by Alan Cabello on Pexels.com

Featured: Photo of yoked oxen by Sarau00ed Carrasco on Pexels.com