Daily Devotional

Galatians 4:9 Now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles?  Why do you want to become their slaves all over again.

What one loves most and cares most for, that is his god.  Some have their riches, some pleasures, and some their lusts as their god.  Many worship a god of their own making and are in bondage to the elements of the world, slaves to worldly customs.

Romans 10:4 For the Messiah is the culmination of the Law as far as righteousness is concerned for everyone who believes.

Jesus Christ has fulfilled the whole law, therefore whoever believes in Him, is counted just before God.

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy e saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

If you have felt the liberty of grace, why return to the bondage of religious slavery?  Thank God, He knows me, and knew about me in my sin, and He loved me and gave Himself for me!

1 John 1:9 If we make it our habit to confess our sins, in His faithful righteousness He forgives us for those sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Confession is owning negative thoughts and emotions and acknowledging that what I have done, knowingly or not, has quenched the Holy Spirit within me.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Do not put out the spirit's fire. Do not despise prophecies. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.

Believers are said to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11) He works as fire by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. As fire is put out by taking away fuel or quenched by pouring water upon it, I must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by minding earthly things and selfish desires. I will hinder my growth in grace by not giving myself up to the spiritual affections raised in my heart by the Holy Spirit.

The work of the Holy Spirit first convicts me of sin and my need for salvation (1 Thessalonians 1:5) I quench the Holy Spirit's fire when I ignore and reject His inner promptings.  

John 16:8 When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

What are the results of my being convicted, confessing, and then repenting of sin that has been brought to light in my prayerful inquiries of God? I receive direction (Acts 13:2; 15:28), transformed circumstances (Philippians 1:19), encouragement (Acts 9:31), and power to share the gospel (Acts 1:8; 6:10). Being forgiven fans the flame of the Spirit to produce its fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, meekness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

An Honest Note:  When I started this study, I intended to get rid of anger and bitterness from past hurts and pain inflicted upon me. How did this turn into confession, repentance, and forgiveness on *my* part? I can give God my hurts all day. I can pour out my heart and cry for relief. But I see now that I'm never really letting go of or giving over these hurtful situations to God to the point that *I* have become part of the problem myself. When I asked God to shine His light into the hidden chambers of my heart, well, He did, and I am sad to say there is a good bit of confessing and repenting that needs to occur; otherwise, this anger and bitterness will never go away. I am quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit by hanging on to the hurt and hoping He will someday avenge me.

What to do? Own these thoughts and emotions. I have chosen to harbor these feelings rather than give them over to God. This has quenched His Spirit in me, which is sin. I decide to turn around from dwelling on what these thoughts are telling me and choose instead to allow God to change my attitudes and feelings.

And then there's forgiveness. Unforgiveness is one of the many things that quench God's Spirit in me, and if I hold on to it, it will hinder God from working in and through me, but it can be so very difficult! I must trust God for His wisdom, love, and supernatural ability to forgive. If I do this, if I totally give myself over to Him, He will enable me to forgive others genuinely.

Matthew 6:14-15 If you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people their offenses, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Forgiveness and pardoning are two different things, though. It is my responsibility to forgive, but it is God's responsibility to judge them righteously. I'm sure He will do a better job of that than me!  Besides, Romans 12:17-18 says, Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people.  

How to be an Open Vessel for God's Love
Confess, Repent, Forgive

Luke 6:27 But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who insult you.  

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ...forgive...so that we may not be outsmarted by Satan. After all, we are not unaware of his intentions.

Proverbs 28:13 Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.  

This is a process that may take time. I must remember that I don't have to feel willing; I have to be willing.

The next step is giving it all to God.

Job 23:3-4 If only I knew where to find Him, I would visit Him where He has taken His seat.
I would lay out my case before Him;
and fill my mouth with arguments.

Job desires the presence of God so that he might pray to Him. He desired to plead as before, one whom he knew would hear and help him. He longed to lay out his own case before the perfect and impartial Judge, in the presence of the all-wise God.

Pray Carefully and Thoughtfully

Before going to the Lord in prayer, lay out your case and be prepared to set forth your arguments to Him just as a petitioner comes into court well-prepared to state his case. Consider that you are about to address yourself to God. Feeling the reality of God's presence, my mind will be led by His grace into a humble attitude. (Gen 18:27)

Put Forward Your Case

Isaiah 41:21 Put forward your case! says the Lord. Submit your arguments! says Jacob's king.
KJV says, "Bring forth your strong reasons."

Feel the value of the mercy of God. State the reasons for your needing it.

The very act of prayer is a blessing. To pray is, as it were, to bathe in a cool, swirling stream and so to escape from the heat of earth's summer sun. To pray is to mount on eagle's wings above the clouds and get into the clear heaven where God dwells. To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse. To pray is to grasp heaven in one's arms, to embrace the Deity within one's soul, and to feel one's body made a temple of the Holy Spirit.  ¹

I will take hold of the attributes of God - His justice, mercy, faithfulness, wisdom, and long-suffering,
I will take hold of all His promises in His word. He has said, "He will deliver you through six calamities, and calamity won't touch you through the seventh." Job 5:19

Psalm 27:8-9 My mind recalls Your word, "Seek My face," so Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn away in anger from your servant. You have been my help; therefore, do not abandon or forsake me, God of my salvation.

I will pray, "Father in heaven, by Your holiness, existence, justice, and mercy, if truly You are God, now show Yourself to be the help of Your people."
Jesus says in John 14:13, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

I am now left with nothing more than praise. If the Holy Spirit shows me how to order my cause and fill my mouth with argument, I will present my case to the Lord, and my heart will then be filled with His praises.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.