Start:

May 16, '07

by Carolyn Baker

When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.-John 10:4




Prayer: You seem to be shouting in my ear this morning challenging me to step up and step out! I sense You are in the process of consuming my body, soul and spirit with Your Holy Spirit - for Your purposes. I am also recognizing the significance of Your timing - and the need to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit in all things - as You grow me into the fullness of Your nature. I am consumed also with the very real thought that I have not even begun to experience the joy, peace and fruit You have already prepared for me.


I am humbled beyond words as I realize that You are loudly knocking at my door. So it is with a bit of trembling that I answer Your knock. You have been teaching me a great deal about humility these last days - and it is proving to be one of my most powerful life-lessons - which I admit sounds strange. But more than anything else right now, I simply "know that I know" that humility is the key to success in ministry - as it keeps us totally dependent on Your grace and Your mercy.


You have kept me hovering in this valley of humility for a long time as You have been teaching me how vital it is to my being an overcomer. Over and over again You have helped me to see the areas of my heart that have grown cold and indifferent. You have helped me to seek after kingdom truths so Your kingdom needs could be fulfilled - which often meant I had to step out of the comfort zones of my life (which were many).


I often hear about living out on the edge of a very thin limb. That is exactly how my life often seems, Lord! The dependence I have on You has kept me steady (mostly) and helped me to stand strong in the face of enormous obstacles. It is a very humbling position to be in - especially when each day is full of challenges - often threatening to knock me off balance - causing me to "rest" for a while in the valley of deception.


Your Holy Spirit is certainly on the move in my life these days as I recognize both my need for a Savior and my need for the Holy Spirit to take control (rather like the "energizer bunny" that just keeps going). There is no possible way that we will make it to the end - and cross the finish line well - without the day to day - often moment by moment guidance - of Your Holy Spirit - no way!


I cry out to You, Jesus, asking for revival! I cry out asking for restoration and reconciliation. I cry out asking for You to raise up true spiritual leaders who You have been preparing for decades. I realize clearly today that my life has been a "preparation zone" - as You got me ready for the ministry You have prepared for me. You have kept me in touch with real life needs so I would be ready to serve from a place of wisdom and Holy Spirit power.


Your Holy Spirit is at work deep within me - and many who are praying this prayer. You have allowed us to struggle - and even suffer - but it has always had the covering of Your grace and Your mercy - as You provided all that is necessary to get through.


Because we live in challenging times, Lord, I feel You warning me again as You did in Matthew 24:12-13 to guard against becoming cold - just because "lawlessness" has increased in our world and in our own lives. I believe with all my heart this verse is for today - as far too many Christians have given up and grown cold.


I pray You will wake people up from the stupor they have fallen into - and set them on fire for You. I pray against hypocrites who say one thing and live completely differently. Help them to see where they have become blind - free them - and then use them to restore others who have lost their footing. Help us also, my King, to realize that being a Christian is a 24/7 commitment. We can't just turn it off when it is convenient - and turn it back on again when it is easy. We all need Your help to walk the walk we talk. You gave Your life for us - now we must do the same for You - and for others. Set us on fire, Jesus, as only You can.


It is clear that before Your return You will have a Bride fully prepared - without a spot or wrinkle. Now is the time - today is the day - to begin getting ready. Help all who know You intimately begin to see true passion, true humility and servant hood emerge - as You turn us all into butterflies that have finally emerged from a season of safety and comfort. To You be the honor and the glory!


Reflect: Humility - a servant's heart - a passion-filled love for Christ - all of these are solid foundations on which you can stand in the face of any struggles, any loss, any confusion or despair that has a grip on Your life. One of the greatest battles in this modern age is to stay strong in the faith - committed to Jesus becoming the light of truth that shines out of every pore of your being. A very large proportion of the modern church is simply giving lip service as their expression of their faith. Many have grown cold - especially because of the struggles in their lives. It has just become too hard. My challenge to you today is to begin right now to make yourself ready as a spotless Bride - prepared for her Bridegroom -passionately in love! Twenty four hours a day - seven days a week, we are given opportunities to grow closer to Him - and become like Him - to lay down our lives for His kingdom needs. Take a hard look at yourself - find out where you are being deceived - put on Your armor and join the Body of Christ that is about to return to her First Love. An army is arising. The Bride is being prepared for the return of the King. Now is the moment, today is the day! Ask Him for humility - a servant's heart, passion filled love and the strength to stay the course so you can cross the finish line well. To Jesus be the glory - for He alone is worthy!

Start:

May 15, '07

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

by Carolyn Baker

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance; godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.-2 Peter 1:3-8




Prayer: O my King, how foolish we are - mere mortals puffed up by our own importance - seeking to be satisfied - as the goal for our lives. I confess this morning that I am far too often selfish by nature - with a mentality that strives to satisfy the "I ME" of my nature. It is all about You, Jesus. I desire to grow up into the fullness of the stature of Christ. Far too many times I am drifting along in one of the many tributaries that feed into the River of Life. Rather than seeking to have the same heart as You, my King - I often drift along caught up in a wide variety of activities, actions and thoughts that are not focused on attaining the true measure of "fullness in Christ" as its goal.


To have Your heart, Jesus, has often meant being on the outside of the candy store looking in. To have Your heart comes with a price tag as humility and servant hood take pride of position. As I search to understand Your heart, I am often awestruck at the reality of Your nature.


Your servant hood is a goal worth attaining. Seeing You increase - often means I must decrease - and this process can be painful. I was reminded recently, that in their day, Paul and Peter were thought to be "odd men out". They were certainly not charismatic men - rather they were very common men. John the Baptist's entire life and ministry was to prepare the path for You - and then His ministry decreased as Yours increased. Oh how I want that for my own life. I can think of nothing greater than to be used to prepare the path for my King.


I will be the first to admit that I live in very challenging times. It is hard to stay focused on the goal of becoming like You. It is far too easy to jump on board a speed boat heading towards a destination that often looks amazing - rather than sailing along at Your speed - going in Your destination - fueled by the Holy Spirit. Becoming like You is a daily challenge. I am given opportunities every day to be a reflection - a likeness of Your glory! Yet far too often I am busy accomplishing - oftentimes at the cost of my intimacy and devotion to You.

I will never understand how quickly I can fall away from the simplicity of devotion to You, my King! As much as I love You - I am still capable of seeking out of my own pride of position - rather than becoming a humble servant of my most Holy, High God. I no longer will settle for drifting along in the tributaries of life - when I can sail with confidence on the River of Life - fueled by the Holy Spirit - as He helps me to become more like You.


I know I cannot do this on my own, so I ask You to help my church become the embodiment of Christ Himself - a living, surging body of believers sold out to becoming like Christ as they use their gifts, talents and abilities to bring You honor and glory! I need my church and its body of believers. I cannot journey alone. You never intended for us to be adrift - but You did intend to make us like You - committed to You as the Head - so we can mobilize and become an army of servant minded leaders dedicated to the purposes of God.


Forgive us for the times we have put "self" ahead of servant hood! Forgive us for failing to keep our eyes on the goal of becoming like You. Restore us to Yourself - reconcile us to one another and release us into the River of Life! Help us to follow after You - surrendering our own agendas and picking up our cross - trailing in Your footsteps - as together we claim the ground for Christ - using Christ likeness as our power source. To You be the glory!


Reflect: Becoming like Christ must be the primary focus of our every day Christian walk. Without this focus we will always be in danger of falling victim to pride, idolatry, selfishness - instead of selflessness. Christ Himself was the greatest of all servants - and as a believer that is the path on which we too should journey. Whatever role you have in the Body - you must always seek to be like Christ as You accomplish His purposes for Your life. Christ is the Head of the Church. He is the authority of the Church - and the simplicity of devotion to Him is the fuel that will move us away from the minor leagues and get us on the journey of a lifetime - personally designed by the King Himself. He was the servant of all - how can we be any less? Seek to be a servant to all You meet - and you will be a reflection of Christ's heart to a world desperately hungry for the food You bring them. Remember - selfishness will stop you dead in your tracks - and selflessness will propel you into the center of the River of Life where you will one day attain the goal of Christ likeness - reflecting His glory to all you meet. Please journal as you journey. It is a valuable road map for Your progress - or lack of it!

Start:

Jan 12, '07

Song: I walk by faith

I walk by faith, (each step by faith)
to live by faith. I put my trust in you.

Every step I take, is a step of faith.
no weapon formed against me shall prosper.
And every prayer I make, is a prayer of faith.
And if my God is for me, than who can be against me.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift my soul.
Psalms 143:8

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17