Soldier of The Cross, what is it that you want?

     You must decide.

     Are you aiming for resolution now, or are you going to agree with Him about eternity?  You absolutely understand what I am asking.

     Oh, Soldier.  You must do this deliberately and you  must direct your thoughts accordingly.

     Everything revolves around the local assembly.  Many would have you believe your life revolves around your family.  That is not scriptural. 

     The issue is, His Kingdom first and all the other things will be added unto you.

     He said you could call unto Him and He would show you things formerly unrevealed. (Jeremiah 33:3)

     So, do it.  Present yourself to Him and state your case aloud.
     Today.

     "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

                   John 10:10b

     Are you experiencing Abundant Life?

     It's His heart for you.  It's the reason He came.     There is nothing in the Bible that promises a cream-puff life.  But of course, that's not Abundant Life.

     If your heart is throbbing for Him, you know it.
     If your thrill is in Him, you will think about Him, talk about Him,  and want to be like Him
     If you want to be like Him, the things He allows are received in prayer and thankfully, even when the experience  is excruciating.

     Abundant Life means being lifted up from the things of this world, and it happens when the Soldier of The Cross walks in The Light. It comes from accepting by faith that His way is better than all of your designs.  It comes from following after Him in the moments of choice.

     Did Paul suffer?  Did everyone love him?  Were there false accusations?   Was he ever cold and hungry?  You must admit the prison epistles radiate with Abundant Life.

     It's about agreeing with God.  No matter what.

     Tell Him.  Aloud
     Today.

    

     Most are looking for magic instead of God's deliverance and restoration in God's way.

     When God heals and restores a life, He does it from the inside out. 

     What seems to elude so many, is that He can and will do anything.  So many have issues with anxiety, anger and addictions.  Christians, that is. 

     Every Christian will say God can do it, but to submit in prayer and then to be willing to follow a step at a time, that is usually another matter. 

     There are times when He heals the body and times when He doesn't. We know from His Word that the soul can always be healed when the spirit is lined up with His Spirit.

     If Naaman had dipped in the Jordan only six times, we would not have heard about his healing.  But, he dipped the seventh time, as he had been instructed.    And he was healed.  Why in the world did God do it that way?  What difference does it make?  His way is the only way that heals.

     Soldier of The Cross.  don't give up.  He is the one who can take a thousand failures and recover the ground with one success that comes by prayer.  We serve one who doesn't leave potholes for those who follow Him. 

     It isn't possible to move through this life without some heartache and sorrow.  But it is possible to know the deep, deep Peace of the one whose heart is to trust and obey.

     It has to be His way. 

     Tell Him.  Aloud.

     You love the Word of God and you know it well. 

     You believe it and you talk about it and sing about it.  You also study it and have shelves and shelves of  scholarly books.

     How wonderful that the Word is alive and full of power.  

     A. W. Tozer said he read Shakespeare on his knees, asking the Lord what was in the material that had such a broad appeal.   Tozer was a brilliant, self-taught scholar,  and was widely recognized as such.  As an old man, he stated that the more he learned of the Lord, the more he needed to pray that the Word would be opened up to him.

     Soldier of The Cross, it is too easy to get familiar with things and operate as though there were no fresh Light.

     Disciplining a child or preaching to thousands both require wisdom from above.  Fresh.  Alive.

     Prayer brings out the things that are hidden.

     Ask Him.  Be sure to ask aloud.
     Today

     Soldier, the Lord is not looking for brilliant, trained, charismatic or skinny servants.

     He isn't looking for dragon-slayers.

     He is looking for those who will grasp the Outstretched Hand.  Those are the ones He can use.  Those are the ones who will let Him say what He wants to say when He wans to say it and where He wants it to be said.

     Tell Him.
     Aloud.

     You may not live in the same way as those who have no Rock of Ages.

     You have been promised that all your needs would be provided. And, at the time the matter must be addressed.

     As soon as there is an unmet need the flesh begins to writhe and contort and will not rest until there is resolution.  The flesh wants it now.  Visible.  Tangible.  Done.

     No one is exempt.  That is what the flesh always wants.  When there is a bill without available resources to pay it,  the assault is vigorous.    Worry has to do with the unknown - some impending issue.

     But, we have Him.  He has promised.  Not to do it in our time in our way, but in His time and in His way.  And, His way is always beyond our conception.

     Set your vector toward the frontier of faith.  There will never be disappointment in Him.  The flesh has to be retrained, but consider the fact that worry is unnatural to the Redeemed, and faith is the natural environment of His Own.

     You were created for faith and  not for worry.  That's why worry, jealousy, lust  and resentment are the enemy's favorite arrows.  You were not designed to handle those feelings or thoughts. That's why worry is so bad.  That's why it feels so terrible and demands a solution now.

     Learn to recognize what is happening.  The Holy Spirit will draw your attention to Him and away from your frantic desire for visible assurance.  We already have assurance by faith - far better than the visible.

     Pour it out to Him in the cathedral of your heart.  He can take it.

     Do it aloud.  Today.

     You have been called and you have been chosen.

     Are you His?  If so, certain things are assumed:

     You do not have the right to complain.
     You do not have the right to be right.
     You do not have the right to be vindicated in this life.
     You do not have the right to be rewarded for what you have done or are doing.
     You do not have the right to have financial security absent faith.

     Aren't you a Soldier of The Cross?  Doesn't that mean the death of the flesh?   Is it beautiful for you?  Is there anything more desirable than leaving it all behind and following Him?

     The most common comment is "You just don't know what I am going through. . ." 

     The issue is, are you or are you not a Soldier of The Cross?    Are you His or are you yours?

     Let's talk about that child.  Autistic?  Serious behavioral issues?  No response in spite of numerous caregivers and professionals?

     Oh, Soldier, the child is His, and the battle is His.  Before the next session, stand before Him.  Tell Him you are secure in His Sovereignty.  Write the child's name on a piece of paper and hold it up to Him.

      Give Him the child.  Give Him the session.  Do it each day or each hour.

     Do it aloud.
     Today.  Time is short.

    Soldier of The Cross, are you determined or are you not?

     It is a race.  A Divine race, orchestrated and energized by the Creator.  It means you can move with all your might, but only by faith. 

     Everything holds you back, and in particular the physical.  It's just so hard to get that Bible out and read.  It's just so hard to pray aloud, and everything seems to get in the way.  The body resists with everything it has.  Is there an enemy?

     Soldier,  you are reading this because you have already decided you want Him more than anything.  So, what stands in the way?

     Opinions of others?
     Your lack of energy?
     Impending doom?
     Financial issues?
     Children eating your heart away?
     Health problems?

     Oh, Soldier, He said He would never leave you and He has you in His grip.  A solid, eternal and loving grip.

     Give it to Him and race on.  Leave the past behind.

      Do it in prayer and do it aloud.
      Right now.

     One of the telling marks of Job's friends is, they just couldn't seem to hold it back.

     Not understanding the actual situation, they went on and on, spraying a mist of verbiage.  It sounded good, but was a ministry of death.

     There are times when all the right things to say are all the wrong things.  The Holy Spirit is both bold and tender, but He will always go beyond the surface facts or circumstances.

     Some are flattered when asked for advice.  Others fancy themselves to hold a spiritual authority that they don't hold.  Then, there are others who have strong feelings about matters that are none of their business, and they just have to be heard.

     For many years, I have been surprised at how easily Christians lie, gossip and hold grudges.  But more overwhelming is the inability to contain the leak of advice that is so often the fruit of spiritual immaturity.

     Soldier of The Cross,  be always prepared in prayer.  All ground is softened by prayer.  Prayer  brings light for the next step, even for another. Or, prayer can still the tongue.

     It is not about education, correct information or need to speak.  It's about His words in His way in His time.

     Make yourself available by prayer. 
     Aloud.

     Soldier of The Cross, what are the best things in life?

     Consider the Word of God.  You would be the first to agree that His agenda is at the forefront.

      What about Peace?
      What about obedience?
      What about Power?
      What about Resolution.

      Oh, Soldier of The Cross, has He or has He not promised?

      Tell Him aloud.
      Today.