"I have" aspirations, longing and waiting with open hands and exposed heart (Psalm 119:81-88, 121-128)

Yesterday I changed my blog caption to Psalm 119:30, from Psalm 119:45. I've been wondering from faithfulness in my freedom and want to meditate and come back to the basics. Looking at Psalms "I have" we see life as a series of true ups and downs. It's good to remember the mission and the great commission. What's important and of lasting value. Our legacy and future belong to the Lord. The Lord is my banner. 

Psalm 119:10, I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 

Psalm 119:11, I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 

Psalm 119:13, I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. 

Psalm 119:14, I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

Psalm 119:22, Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws. 

Psalm 119:30, I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. 

Psalm 119:45, I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Psalm 119:54, Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived. 

Psalm 119:74, May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. 

Psalm 119:81, Kaph I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. 

The word kaph means "palm of the hand" or "hollow of the hand" — and the shape of the letter visually suggests a cupped or open hand.

Symbolic and Theological Significance

The palm/hand imagery carries rich meaning in the Hebrew Bible:

• God's "kaph" — the hollow of His hand — appears in passages like Isaiah 40:12, where He measures the waters in the palm of His hand, conveying His immeasurable power
• The hand as an instrument of blessing, work, and covering runs throughout Scripture
• In Psalm 119, the stanza beginning with kaph (verses 81–88) reflects longing and waiting — some connect this to an open, upturned hand waiting to receive

In the Psalms

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem where each 8-verse stanza begins with a successive Hebrew letter. The Kaph stanza (vv. 81–88) is one of the most anguished sections — the psalmist cries out in exhaustion, waiting for God's salvation like a wineskin shriveled in smoke.

It's a small but theologically rich letter, tying physical gesture (the open hand) to spiritual posture (dependence, reception, blessing). - Claude Sonnet 4.6 adaptive

Psalm 119:83, I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. 

Psalm 119:94, I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. 

Psalm 119:99, Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 

Psalm 119:100, I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. 

Psalm 119:101, I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. 

Psalm 119:107, I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised. 

Psalm 119:121, Ayin Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right. 

Ayin simply means "eye" — and the ancient Phoenician/paleo-Hebrew form of the letter was literally drawn as a circle representing an eye. The modern ע still faintly suggests that shape.

Symbolic Significance

The eye carries deep meaning throughout Hebrew thought:

• Seeing and perception — not just physical sight but spiritual discernment and understanding
• Presence and attention — "the eye of the LORD" (ayin YHWH) appears throughout the Psalms and Proverbs, conveying God's watchful care and moral attention
• Fountain or spring — interestingly, ayin also means spring of water in Hebrew (as in Ein Gedi, Ain, etc.), since both an eye and a spring are openings that pour forth
• The number 70 in gematria connects to completeness and fullness — 70 elders of Israel, 70 nations of the world in rabbinic thought

In Psalm 119

The Ayin stanza (verses 121–128) opens with themes of justice, sight, and longing — fitting for a letter meaning "eye." The psalmist asks God to see his affliction and act. The prayer is essentially: "Turn your eye toward me."

Deeper Word Connections

Many Hebrew words built on the root ע carry sight-related meaning:

• Ra'ah (to see) — though a different root, the concept of seeing pervades ayin's semantic field
• Place names like Ein Gedi (spring of the young goat) and En Hakkore (spring of the one who called) use ayin in its spring/fountain sense

A Dual Picture

The letter beautifully holds two ideas together — eye and spring — both are openings, both pour something outward, and both speak to the way God sees His people and the way living water flows from His presence. It is one of the richest letters in the alphabet symbolically.

Psalm 119:152, I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever. 

Psalm 119:153, Resh Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions.

Resh means "head" — from the Hebrew word rosh (רֹאשׁ), the common biblical word for head, top, chief, or beginning. The ancient Phoenician form of the letter was drawn as a profile of a human head, and the shape of the modern ר still suggests a head turned downward.

Symbolic Significance

The head carries enormous weight in Hebrew thought:

• Authority and leadership — rosh is the word for a chief, ruler, or leader throughout the Old Testament
• Beginning and preeminence — rosh appears in Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית), the very first word of the Bible: "In the beginning." The universe opens with resh.
• New Year — Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) literally means "head of the year"
• Summit and pinnacle — used for mountaintops, the top of a scepter, the head of a procession

In Psalm 119

The Resh stanza (verses 153–160) opens with a cry for deliverance and pleads for God to consider the psalmist's cause. Fittingly for a letter meaning "head," the stanza moves toward appeals to God's sovereign judgment and the foundational truth that His word stands from the very beginning — verse 160 declares: "The sum of your word is truth." The word for "sum" or "entirety" there is rosh — head, totality, the whole.

Contrast With Dalet

Interestingly, resh and dalet (ד) look nearly identical and are easily confused in ancient manuscripts — a small serif distinguishes them. Yet their meanings are near opposites: dalet means door (lowly, humble, poor) while resh means head (exalted, chief). Scribes had to pay careful attention — the difference between dalet and resh in a word could completely change its meaning.

Key Word Connections

Many foundational Hebrew words are built on resh:

• Rosh (רֹאשׁ) — head, chief, beginning
• Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית) — in the beginning
• Rishon (רִאשׁוֹן) — first, foremost
• Rosh Hashanah — head of the year
• Rosh Chodesh — head of the month (new moon celebration)

A Governing Letter

Resh speaks to headship and origin — the place where things begin, the one who leads, the summit that defines everything below it. In a biblical worldview, every rosh points upward to the ultimate Head, the One from whom all authority and all beginnings flow. It is a letter about preeminence in its fullest sense.

Psalm 119:157, Many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws. 

Psalm 119:166, I long for your rescue, Lord, so I have obeyed your commands. 

Psalm 119:167, I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much. 

Psalm 119:173, Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. 

Psalm 119:174, O Lord, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight. 

Psalm 119:176, I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.

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PEACE: invite God’s presence without pressure, shame, or coercion.

I like the PEACE framework for helping people through change (myself included). It stands for Problem, Empathy, Action, Change, End Result. 

P. Problem. Prayer of Truth and Illumination

Scripture anchor
Psalm 139:23–24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”

Prayer reflection

God, we come to You without pretending.
We name what is real, not what we wish were true.
Show us where fear has blurred our vision.
Reveal what we have avoided facing.
Give us courage to see clearly without despair.

Silent reflection questions

• What reality am I resisting naming before God?

• What facts have I been afraid to acknowledge?

• Where has avoidance felt safer than truth?

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E. Empathy. Prayer of Lament and Compassion

Scripture anchor
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.”

Prayer reflection

Lord, this season has been heavy.
You see the grief, the disappointment, the shame we do not say out loud.
Meet us here without condemnation.
Sit with us in the sorrow we have carried too long.
Remind us that pain does not disqualify us from Your care.

Silent reflection questions

• What loss do I still need to grieve?

• Where do I feel unseen or misunderstood?

• What emotion have I been numbing instead of offering to God?

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A. Action. Prayer of Willingness and Obedience

Scripture anchor
Proverbs 16:3
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Prayer reflection

God, we do not ask for the full plan.
We ask for the next faithful step.
Give us willingness where motivation is weak.
Help us choose obedience over overwhelm.
Strengthen our hands for small acts of faithfulness.

Silent reflection questions

• What small action am I resisting?

• What step is within my control today?

• Where might obedience come before understanding?

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C. Change. Prayer of Identity and Stewardship

Scripture anchor
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.”

Prayer reflection

Father, reshape how we see ourselves.
We reject the lie that we are powerless.
Teach us to steward what remains, not mourn only what is lost.
Restore our sense of agency as Your children.
Form character in us through this season.

Silent reflection questions

• What identity am I living out right now?

• Where have I confused limitation with helplessness?

• What does stewardship look like in my present reality?

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E. End Result. Prayer of Hope and Trust

Scripture anchor (sovereignty and freedom)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13

Prayer reflection

God, we place the future back in Your hands.
Not demanding comfort, but trusting Your faithfulness.
Help us imagine a future marked by stability, dignity, and peace.
Give us endurance to walk toward it step by step.
Teach us to hope without denying reality.

Silent reflection questions

• What kind of future am I afraid to hope for?

• What would peace look like six months from now?

• Where do I need to trust God instead of control outcomes? Christ’s yoke reshapes the heart through the Spirit, not self-regulation (Matthew 11:29-30)

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Closing Prayer

Lord, we offer You what we have, not what we wish we had.
Meet us in truth.
Strengthen us in weakness.
Guide us in obedience.
And lead us into a future shaped by faith, not fear.
Amen.

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A Gentle Reminder for You

Prayer prepares the heart.
Action moves the feet.
God honors both.

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Don’t Pray More, Pray Better: How to Pray Effectively

Don’t Pray More, Pray Better: How to Pray Effectively - Bill Johnson

 Prayer is not about saying more words. It is about aligning with God’s heart and partnering with Him to release His will on earth.

Matthew 6:7–10, John 15:7

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1. Prayer Is Partnership, Not Performance

Effective prayer invites believers to co labor with God in what He already desires to do. God chooses to work through human agreement and obedience.
Genesis 1:26–28, Matthew 18:18–20, 2 Corinthians 6:1

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2. Pray from Discernment, Not Assumption

Powerful prayer flows from listening to the Holy Spirit. Like Simeon and Anna, discernment grows through devotion, waiting, and sensitivity to God’s presence.
Luke 2:25–38, Romans 8:26–27, John 16:13

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3. Agreement Sustains the Miracle

Words spoken after prayer matter. Doubt and negativity can undermine faith, while agreement with God protects what has been prayed into motion.
Mark 11:22–24, Proverbs 18:21, Hebrews 10:23

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4. Jesus Secured the Victory

Sin and sickness were dealt with at the cross. Prayer is not convincing God to act but enforcing what Christ has already accomplished.
Isaiah 53:4–5, Colossians 2:13–15, John 19:30

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5. Prayer Releases God’s Glory

Answered prayer advances the gospel and shifts spiritual atmospheres. Persistent, focused prayer has global impact, even across generations.
Habakkuk 2:14, Acts 4:29–31, Matthew 24:14

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6. Pray Specifically and Expect Testimony

Targeted prayers invite targeted breakthroughs. Testimonies strengthen faith and multiply impact.
Philippians 4:6, Revelation 12:11, Psalm 66:16

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Bottom Line
Do not pray longer. Pray aligned. Listen first. Agree fully. Speak life. Expect fruit.

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Binary: Belong to the Lord or belong to the enemy

My friend Paul M. is retiring this month, he shared this truth with me years ago: 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

Continuing the theme Corrie Ten Boom says, 

The world is very sick. There is tragic amount of darkness and sin in the world. And every child of God is standing on the front line of the battle, and the battle is very severe. There's no time anymore for a compromise. You do belong to the Lord Lock Stock and barrel, or you do not belong to him, and then you belong to the enemy. 

Just imagine when you are on the front line of a battle. And you compromise a little bit with the Enemy and the other side. You yourself are in danger, and you, your nation, is in danger because of you.  - Choose Your Side - Corrie Ten Boom

John 14:23: Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

This may be my most important insight: It's evil to refuse to follow the Lord completely (1 Kings 11:6, Mark 8:36)

• God heals our unfaithfulness when we listen and obey him (Book of Hosea)
• Acknowledge God for three days and you'll experience mercy (Hosea 6, Acts 9:9)
• Three Days, recurring theme in the Bible for changing your heart

Aleluia, You have saved me, so much better Your Way, Aleluia. Aleluia Great Defender, so much better your Way! Jehovah-Nissi, Banner of protection, El Shaddai, our Lord God Almighty, El Olam, the Everlasting God, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who provides for us, Jehovah Rapha (Great Physician Luke 5:31), the Lord Who heals us, Jehovah Mekoddishkem, the Lord Who sanctifies, to Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace, Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, to Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd, Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:1-35, 35). 16-Names-of-God

the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there. - Ezekiel 48:35

• Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
• Revelation 22:3-4: No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. / They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
• Revelation 21:22-23: But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. / And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. Isaiah 60:19-20: No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.
• Revelation 21:10-11: And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, / shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
• Revelation 21:2: I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
• Zechariah 2:10-11: “Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD. / “On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 14:9: On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
• Isaiah 12:6: Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
• Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. Matthew 1:23: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”). John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Jeremiah 3:17: At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts
• Jeremiah 33:16: In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
• Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
• Jeremiah 33:16: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
• Zechariah 14:21: Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. 
• Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
• Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
• Judges 6:24: Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

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My spirit is the lamp of the LORD, who sheds light on my inmost being (Proverbs 20:27)

Matthew 6:22-23: The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Luke 11:34-36: Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. / Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. / So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

Lord, help me to stay away from media that takes me away from you. Help me to see what you want me to see, to be clear minded and self controlled so that I can pray. Above all to love eachother deeply, covering a multitude of sins. Let the peace of Christ dwell inside me, Coram Deo Alleluia.

 Proverbs 20:27 is so interesting as it's translated into various ideas: 

• The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being. NIV
• The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive. NLT
• The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. NKJV
• The spirit of a person is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. NASB
• The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being. AMP
• The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching the innermost parts. CSB

Genesis 2:7: Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

Job 32:8: But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

Psalm 18:28: For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.

Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. / See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.

Isaiah 11:2: The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 26:9: My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 29:24: Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

Jeremiah 17:10: I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Zechariah 12:1: This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:

John 1:4-5: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 3:19-21: And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

John 8:12: Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Romans 8:16: The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Lord fill my life with your presence, and lead me into your promises. I place my life into your hands and I'm willing to let you carry me away. Yet I hear your servants say, "get up and walk." So Lord, I'll walk with you today. I'll let my yes be yes and my no be no. You are enough, you fill my cup, you make me strong, you're will be done. In my heart, my mind, my strength, my soul. I love you Lord, amen. 

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Confess daily and repent from premeditated sin

In Is My Repentance Real If I Keep Committing the Same Sin? John Piper suggest we separate repentance from confession. Repentance can be thought of as agreeing with God, changing our heart and mind, lifting our eyes up and letting God put our feet on the path, seeing God as our guiding light. 

The daily activity of asking forgiveness is not repentance. Repentance happens when we come to our sense and give our lives back over to God like the prodigal son, like the thief on the cross, like the tax collector who beats his chest. 

• Life of Christians can go off the rails and require repentance like the Churches in first chapters of Revelation needed to repent from forsaking first love (Rev 2:4), allowing false teachers (Rev 2:16,20), being dead (Rev 3:2–3).
• False religious security of wicked, obstinate people leads to doom (Jer 6:22-8:3)
  

Our lives should look different after we've repented and given our lives to Christ: James 2:17, Heb 12:14, John 14:15, Matthew 7:23, Romans 6:2. Yet We Christians still sin everyday... sin can be defined as any action that doesn't flow from loving and abiding in Christ (every action in our lives isn't hitting a bullseye). 

• Jesus said "give us today, our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
• 1 John 1:9. New International Version ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
• This is our daily habit of prayer and confession.
• As long as it's called today...Heb 3-4
• His mercies are made new everyday. Lamentations 3:22-23

Sin will be with us until our inner condition of rebellion is obliterated

Two kinds of confession

1. Superficial, fatalism. Express regret and sorrow but knowing that this is going to happen again, probably this week. Hypocrisy
2. Express guilt and sorrow, but have a hatred for the sin - you have every intention to make war against it. You are going to rob it of its power. Romans 7:16-19

Two kinds of sin

1. Not premeditate, blindsided. Before you wish you haven't done it but it's done. 
2. Premeditated sin, weighing it. You take some time wressing and then doing the sin. 

Warning against perfectionism and the reality of God's faithfulness to forgive us and make us holy: 1 John 1:8-10

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Freedom, liberty in communion with God

Sometimes we need a fresh start, we've been a failure and need to get back in step with the Lord. Sometimes a quick prayer doesn't feel like enough. Hebrews reminds us that God made a special day called "today" - today WHEN you hear his voice don't harden your heart, today is the day of salvation. Warn each other every day, while it is still "today", so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Heb 3:13) 

• Before work talk to God and give your ideas to him: “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. (Gen 24:12-14)
• Then Pay attention:  Before he had finished praying... (he witnessed the answer)... “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” (Gen 24:15-27)
• Acknowledge the Lord to others: “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission. (Gen 24:42)

Sometimes our prayers are interrupted by thoughts, obsessions, or desires that want to carry us away from the LORD. We need to "be still" and turn the lights on inside our heart, have a moment of reflection, let the word of Christ dwell within ourselves and take Holy Communion. In our hearts we can hold up the shield of faith that extinguish the enemy arrows from the outside, but on the inside of faith is peace. 

• Psalms 11:5 says that “the LORD tests the righteous,” and in Job 23:10, Job says of God, “When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Similarly, God told Jeremiah, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10), and Proverbs 17:3 declares that “the LORD tests hearts.”

 Communion: The Meal of Absolute Victory - Bill Johnson (Sermon Clip) | Bethel Church

• "This is my body" - "broken for you"
• "By His stripes you WERE healed" - today I get to experience the liberty and forgiveness 
• Put someone on your lips and declare healing for them, in Jesus name. 
• As for me and my house we will serve the LORD. 

Communion, the body and blood and the weekend (Psalm 23, John 13-21, Exodus 12)

Psalm 19

Don't hold on theology of problems, hold onto theology of our solution. Take time with the LORD. 

Psalm 19:13: Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep me safe (from arrogant people/things), also, from willful (presumptuous, flagrant, conspicuously offensive, obviously inconsistent with what is right) sins; don't let them rule (control, dominion) over me. Then I shall be perfect (blameless, without spot) and free (acquitted, declared innocent, cleansed) from the evil of sin (transgression, greatest sin). May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

• But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
• Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. / For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
• So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
• No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13
• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Hebrews 12:1
• or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. / Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. / But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

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Biblical perspective on Active Listening (Luke 6:27-49, 8:8,18)

Active Listening helps us understand and demonstrate compassion towards obstinate people. Active listening helps us see clearly and truly help people. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. Obeying Jesus in relationships puts us on firm ground and leads to greater understanding.

Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” - Luke 8:8

“So pay attention to HOW you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Luke 8:18

Luke 6:27-49

• But to you who are willing to listen (or who are listening NIV), I say, love your enemies!...You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (or Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NIV) Luke 6:27,36
• Don't judge, give and receive...then you will see well enough (then you will see clearly NIV) to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6:37,42
• ...What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45
• ...comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it...stands firm - Luke 6:47-48

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”  - Luke 9:35

“Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”  - Luke 9:44

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. - Luke 10:39

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God's desire is grace, compassion, and justice (Isaiah 30:14)

 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! - Isaiah 30:14

Psalm 27:14,Isaiah 25:9,Isaiah 33:2,Isaiah 40:31,Isaiah 64:4,Lamentations 3:25,Daniel 12:12

Today I'm letting go of selfishness and receiving God's grace anew. I'll wait for the Lord and not give up.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. - Psalm 27:14

In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” - Isaiah 25:9 

Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. - Isaiah 33:2

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. - Isaiah 64:4

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; - Lamentations 3:25

Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. - Daniel 12:12

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Life within reach (John 15:7)

Wow, Andrew Murray - what grace that's lasted over 100 years! I'm excited to start this series of books by him. Andrew Murray Collection on Prayer Humility, Absolute Surrender, the Ministry of Intercession, the Power of the Blood of Jesus and Others

In The-Ministry-of-Intercession-Andrew-Murray He confesses on behalf of every minister a general failure to believe God and simply live completely surrendered to him. 

Christ waits to fit us by His Spirit to pray as He would have us. This call, of course, brings me back to what I spoke of in connection with the former volume: that there is life in the Spirit, a life of abiding in Christ, within our reach, in which the power of prayer both the power to pray and the power to obtain the answer can be realized in a measure which we could not have thought possible before. Any failure in the prayer-life, any desire or hope really to take the place Christ has prepared for us, brings us to the very root of the doctrine of grace as manifested in the Christian life. It is only by full surrender to the life of abiding, by the yielding to the fulness of the Spirit's leading and quickening, that the prayer-life can be restored to a truly healthy state. 

In John 14-16 Jesus explains how he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in response to Thomas' question, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5,6)

THE TRUTH:

• The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. (John 14:10)
• Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11) - Key Christian Doctrine: Jesus is God's son (John 3:16)

THE PROMISE:

• anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works (John 14:12)
• You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13)
• Question: Are you living in this reality of asking anything in Jesus' name and it's done? Have you asked God for something and witnessed him doing it? If not keep reading.

THE WAY:

• “If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15 has a few conditions, "If you love me" is not followed by then I will give you the Holy Spirit. It is followed by "Obey my commandments"
• Question: if your prayer life is weak, repetitive, boring, or non-existent. Consider getting to know what Jesus has commanded but know that Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit
• Love for Jesus is the way

THE TRUTH:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

The Advocate, Helper comes alongside and leads into ALL truth. Think of all the great truths that have been discovered since Christ rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit onto all people. 

Question: Have you experienced God in your heart as you've discovered the truth in your own life? Do you receive divine truth and recognize that it's not you but God showing you? 

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. 

Question: Why must we receive the Holy Spirit? Do you know the difference between other spirits and the Holy Spirit? Will you take the time to find out? Holy Spirit tactics vs the devil tactics 

THE LIFE:

But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17). 

Question: Have you ever known someone who demonstrated the love of God to you? Where they authentically love you on behalf of God and you knew it was true? Or maybe you had an experience where some terrible calamity was upon you and "for some reason" you were spared by some force outside yourself? Or some benevolent thing happened to you or your family that was life-giving or life-saving? This is the Holy Spirit who is with you. The life Jesus talks about is allowing the grace of God into your life. 

Christ changes me, my relationships benefit (Col 3)

Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Relational Grace: Loving kindness of Christ in me

Live the New Life in Christ

God promises to help me obtain the promises

Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

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The Christian doesn't commit their life to God, they surrender

‘When you make a commitment, you are still in control, no matter how noble the thing you commit to. One can commit to pray, to study the Bible, to give his money, or to commit to automobile payments, or to lose weight. Whatever he chooses to do, he commits to. But surrender is different. If someone holds a gun and asks you to lift your hands in the air as a token of surrender, you don’t tell that person what you are committed to. You simply surrender and do as you are told. . . . Americans love commitment because they are still in control. But the key word is surrender. We are to be slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ.’

Why I’m Not a Committed Christian (And Why That’s a Good Thing)[1] By Bob Butler

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

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When we struggle with the meaning of life, conversations help

I was talking with my "spiritual but not religious" friend about family life and our responsibilities that last a lifetime. The idea was is spending your life to bring people into this world really worth it? He brought up Gene Theory and we talked about how really good it is to give your life for the benefit of another. Contrasted with living selfishly, where the end result is loneliness, shame and a series of "guilty pleasures".

Then later in the day, I was talking with another friend about homosexuality and drug abuse in the church - both of which he was struggling with.  He was saying that condemning a gay person to a life of singleness seems unbearable, essentially shutting the door of heaven in their face. When we are vulnerable to temptations, it seems unbearable. However, this is where fellowship with other believers and being connected in Christ, fed by His word and active in prayer comes in to save us. We talked until 8pm, having not eaten - but both felt enriched (Jesus demonstrates how bringing people to faith can nourish us). The awesome truth is that God has made the way, in Jesus Christ to save even people who have traveled down a different road for so much of their life.

Another friend put it this way,

 The New Testament is full of stories where Jesus, the Disciples and others engaged lost people in gracious and loving conversation. Lost people do lost people things. That should never surprise us.
It’s important to remember that Jesus died and rose again to change our NATURE, not our BEHAVIOR. When we focus on behaviors, activities and actions that we call sin, we miss the key principle of redemption....

• We become a NEW CREATION
• We have a NEW FATHER
• We have a NEW IDENTITY 

Focusing on sinful behaviors causes division among Christians and is a non starter when trying to engage a lost person. 

The idea of holding each other to God's standard in the church is actually better for us, however, ministry in the nursery is not the same as a ministry to missionaries. 

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All sin is first against God, only God can make it right and change us

From Bsfinternational.org notes (https://resc.mybsf.org/PPL1_AdNotes_14_062018.pdf)

All sin is first against God. Saul confessed his wrong toward David but never acknowledged his rebellion against God.42 Saul’s life kept moving away from God. As believers struggle with sin, their lives ultimately move Christward.43 When the struggle is hard, remember: God has committed Himself to making each of His children like Jesus.44 If God is your Father,45 He will bring you safe to heaven.46 Ask Him for courage to allow His Word and Spirit to examine47 and change you.48
41: Confession: Psalm 51:1-10, 17
42: Saul’s rebellion: 1 Samuel 15:22-30
43: Believers’ struggle: Psalms 32; 41:4; 51; Romans 7:1-8:17; 1 John 1:5-9
44: Like Jesus: Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:1-3
45: God’s children: Matthew 6; John 1:12-13; 1 John 2:15-16,23-24
46: Eternal security: John10:27-30; Philippians 1:6;1 Thessalonians 5:24
47: Sin exposed: Psalms 19:7-11;139:23-24; John 16:8
48: Transformed: Romans 12:1-2;Philippians 2:12-13

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Don't enable bad behavior by avoiding accountability

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17)

Reality-Based Leadership author Cy Wakeman, highlights accountability not engagement, drives results. She tells a good story about enabling bad behavior happens when we give non-compliant people an asterisk by their name. They aren't compliant here but look what great things they've done in the past. Or they are compliant here, but they've been through so much, we can't expect them to behave like the rest. Allow people to avoid reality is not good for anyone.

From 6 Good Bible Verses About Accountability

• We are accountable to warn unbelievers (Ezekiel 33:8)
• We are accountable for every word we speak (Matthew 12:36-37)
• We are accountable for how we live our lives (Romans 14:12)
• Leaders are accountable for those who serve under them (Hebrews 13:17)

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