“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;

LEAD ME TO A ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I,

for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” Psalms 61:1-4

Lead me

Lord, today I need direction. I feel like my personal GPS is not aligned with today’s needs. God, please guide me today. I will listen more closely for your voice. Only directions from you and the leading of the Holy Spirit will I look for today. You know the path and I step outside today without predetermined directions. I will listen and feel your presence.

TO A ROCK

Lord, I need a solid foundation to trust. You are that foundation. You are the creator of all I see. Not only were you the designer and creator, but it is also Your power that continues to hold together all I see. Without your constant power and presence, all matter would dissolve. You are my most solid rock. You are my most trusted and true giver of hope and truth. You are my greatest foundation to build upon.

THAT IS HIGHER THAN I

Lord, today I rest in knowing that You see farther than I can. Today I need to be elevated to Your presence beyond my capabilities. Today I feel frustrated at my efforts and need a more substantial hand from a higher position, and a stronger base. Lord, today I pray that I can feel you lifting me upward. That feeling of being gathered in your strong arms and you raising me to a position I cannot reach myself. “Not by might, or strength, but by My Spirit”

Lord, you have been faithful all my life.

You are my refuge and a strong tower.

I long to be in your presence and rest at your feet.

Today I enjoy your strong arm and wise counsel.

Today my lightnside is refreshed on a ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I.

Ephesians 3:10 “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

No one expected the church

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil to God was torn, and the Holy Spirit was given to the Jews and the Gentiles. God was up to something BIG. Paul was given a revelation that was hidden from all prophets in the Old Testament.  

Ephesians 3:3-5  

 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit, he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. What was the revelation? All Gentiles are now accepted into the family of God with all the rights of a born Jew. Jesus is building something new. It is the birth of a brand new plan. A worldwide church filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and built upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone.  

 …display his (God’s) wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities

It is the church that will now do battle with the leaders of darkness. It is the church that will establish a place of hope and righteousness. A place where broken and lost people can find restoration and relationship with Christ. The church brings down demonic powers and prays for miracles and divine help in troubled times.

The church has a specific purpose.

The power of the church is to proclaim Christ against all the dark rulers of this world. It is the church that is holding back the power of the antichrist and lawlessness. It is the church that leads righteous nations to greatness and the church that proclaims the hope of Christ to the ends of the world.   

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The end of the church

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17   For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The church will be taken away from the earth during the end times or the tribulations. I cannot imagine a world without the church. It is essential to be a part of the church of Christ while it is still at work today. The church was a masterstroke of God and was kept secret from the world until it was revealed to Paul and the Apostles.

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. “

Let your lightnside shine bright in your church as the end of days approach.

I am pressing on…forgetting everything which is past. (Phil. 3:12-13 WEYMOUTH)

Today a single quote from “Springs in the Valley” by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman July 12th captured my thoughts. It comes from one of the most important commands from Christ, to forgive as we have been forgiven by God.

Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

In the very depths of yourself, dig a grave. Let it be like some forgotten spot to which no path leads, and there, in the eternal silence, bury the wrongs that you have suffered. Your heart will feel as if a weight had fallen from it, and a Divine peace comes to abide with you.

CHARLES WAGNER

Let your lightnside shine bright as you bury your grudges.

Ephesians 3:1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

A Prisoner by the government

Paul is in a physical prison because of His ministry. He is on house arrest awaiting to give his testimony to Caesar. He is free to write and have visitors. It would seem he has more ministry capability because of this imprisonment. However, I don’t believe this was Paul’s tone when he stated he is a prisoner of Christ.

Captured by Christ

Paul claims to be the worst of sinners. Also, in this chapter, Paul claims he is the least of all saints. There is humility with Paul that is opposite from the Paul before conversion. Paul was filled with rage and hatred toward Christians. Because of Paul, many Christians were killed, and many Christians ran for their life away from Paul’s influence. Jesus Christ met Paul supernaturally when Paul was on his way to another attack. Christ captured Paul’s heart and he became a prisoner of Christ by choice. Paul’s love for Christ spread into compassion for the Gentiles who were considered outcasts in his former life. 

Prison has both limitations and opportunities.

When one is in prison, there are several limitations. Many addicted prisoners find their mind becomes clear because they have no access to drugs or alcohol as in their normal life. Most do not have access to the internet and social media. So the junk found online is no longer poisonings their mind. Addicts n Jail can take classes and be connected to religious training with clearer minds and purpose.

Paul is a prisoner of Christ. His focus to seek Christ and be in the presence of God has some positive outcomes. For one, revelations from Christ. One of Paul’s revelations is a vastly expanded understanding of Christ’s love for us and the potential power we have in Christ. Paul writes in verses 16-19 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Do I need a type of self-imposed prison?

Would you be willing to place yourself in a type of prison to benefit from more time and focus on Christ? Maybe a prison from gaming, social media, entertainment, and other things that swallow up your precious time. Would you like to receive revelations from Christ and know deeper truths from the Holy Spirit about the power you have in Christ? 

Imprisoned for others

Paul said he was a prisoner of Jesus for the Gentiles. Do you have someone in your life you are praying for or a desire to help someone find greater hope through Christ? You can become a prisoner of Jesus Christ for them. 

My desire

I am choosing to become a prisoner of Christ so God can work through me in my later years in life. I want to see God move in this nation and in my family. What will it take? Prisoners who are seeking Christ. Who place themselves in a restriction to allow the truths of Christ to be revealed.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Imprison your lightnside so it will shine even brighter for HIM.