Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 16 May
2012
Hi all,
One of the teachings Phyllida
and I have enjoyed taking to various places is “Hearing from God”. We have
always maintained that Christians hear far more from than they realise. If
nothing else this teaching has heightened their awareness. Today’s meditation
is about hearing from God.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 16 May 2012
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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A
CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD
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In 1999, Phyllida and I were in Syria. Living in the
city of Homs; the same city which has featured on the news recently. We loved
the people and were sorry when we had to leave. We didn’t learn Arabic. So
everywhere we went, we would hear the locals speaking but had no idea what
they were saying.
There were not many English speaking people in Homs
although the bulk of the locals knew a few English words. We shopped where
English was reasonably understood. On the few occasions we heard someone speaking
English, we would turn round to see who it was. This experience reminds me of
one of today’s Scriptures. 21 Your own
ears will hear Him. Right behind you a
voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 NLT
This quotation comes from the time when Judah was
seeking an alliance with Egypt for protection against the marauding
Assyrians. Via Isaiah, the Lord told them not to do this. Egypt would not
assist them. Then, speaking of a time in the future, Isaiah stated that the
day would come when the people of Jerusalem would be safe and secure. At that
time they would hear God speaking to them clearly. The illustration used is
similar to our experience. They would hear someone speaking behind them. They
would look behind them and realise it was God Himself speaking. He would tell
them where to go and what to do.
For Phyllida and me, the time spent in Syria was invaluable.
We had nowhere to go for Christian fellowship and worship. The nearest
Christian Church was in Damascus. In any case, Sunday was a normal working
day. Friday was the religious holiday. Christian people were tolerated and
were allowed to attend a church service on Sundays. They were required to be
back at work at 12h00. Phyllida and I could have driven to Damascus to attend
the Baptist Church there. But we couldn’t get back in time. So we were
“forced” to rely on Him entirely. At first it was strange. But we soon found
that these times of fellowship with the Lord were better than attending any
church. There was no alternative. We had to listen for His voice. It was
exciting. He gave us direction and guidance in a way we had heard about but
never experienced.
Twelve years later, we look back on those days with
sadness, particularly as we see the Syrians killing each other. We also look
back with fond memories of the leading of the Lord. Which way to go and what
to do.
Today’s meditation dates back some 23 years. We
desperately needed to hear from Him. We needed guidance. I was not well and
Eskom was considering allowing me to retire, on the grounds of ill-health.
The question was whether we could afford this. In the end, Eskom granted me
early retirement. It was in September 1990. Exactly 30 years since I had
started working in UK. We were sure that the Lord made this possible so that
we could both concentrate on being ministers of the gospel without charge to
the body of Christ. We had waited patiently for this to happen. We knew it
would happen someday. We were not disappointed.
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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7 I will praise the LORD. He gives me good advice.
Even at night my heart teaches me.
Psalms 16:7 NIrV
6 For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 ESV
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have
strength.
Proverbs 8:14 ESV
NUN 105 Your
word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalms 119:105 NLT
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on
your own understanding. 6 Seek
His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
23 I know, GOD, which mere mortals can't run their own
lives, Which men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life.
Jeremiah 10:23 MSG
21 Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice
will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or
to the left.
Isaiah 30:21 NLT
3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be
established.
Proverbs 16:3 ESV
10 But he knows every step I take. When he has put
me to the test, I'll come out as pure as gold.
Job 23:10 NIrV
24 The very steps we take come from GOD; otherwise how
would we know where we're going?
Proverbs 20:24 MSG
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will
receive me to glory.
Psalms 73:24 ESV
14 For
that is what God is like. He is our God forever
and ever, and He will guide us until we die.
Psalms 48:14 NLT
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MY PRAYER;-
Father God, please listen as I come to You and pray.
Lord, I
long to really mean each syllable I say.
Grant me understanding, to follow after You,
And always
be obedient Your sovereign will to do.
Father it's appalling ---------- my insincerity:
In truth, I
long to do the things which You require of me,
But laziness and slackness and other forms of ease
Seem to
overwhelm me and keep me from my knees.
Father, I implore You. Hear my contrite prayer.
Please
control and guide me. Direct me anywhere
That You, Lord, in Your wisdom, desire to have me go.
But Lord,
my supplication, is more of You to know.
Jesus, be my Master. I long to crown You king;
To worship
and adore You and all my praises bring.
I long to serve and bless You with all my earthly frame;
To bow down
low before You and magnify Your name.
Jesus, You are precious; More valuable than gold;
More
beautiful than diamonds; Your worth cannot be told.
For, if the entire universe were placed upon a scale
The value
of what You are worth would make it all look pale.
THE LORD'S REPLY:-
"My son, don't be ambitious and chase after those
things
That, only
by My Spirit, a real achievement brings.
No! Just relax and concentrate on doing what I say;
Settle down
to listening and waiting to obey.
My child, please always realise that those things which I plan
Will only
be accomplished by a simple, honest man.
So, if it's complicated and bound up very tight,
It's
probable that I've not been your partner in the fight!
Often I would intervene and tell My people, 'Pause'.
Don't
gallop into battle, except it's for My cause;
And don't be so determined, that what you think is true,
That
everything that I have said, no longer is in view!
It's only the dogmatic that can never ever change;
Who stands
like a fanatic and other men estrange,
From wanting to be truthful and following My way,
And living
out a Christian life on each and every day.
So exercise intelligence in all the things you do,
By using as
your standard, The Word I've given You.
It's so very simple neither adult nor a child
Ever need
to 'miss it' and by Satan, be beguiled.
So, never act in ignorance and never act in haste,
Or all the
consequences by you must then be faced.
Concentrate on listening and, with My Spirit, flow,
And you
will never 'miss' My way, no matter where You go."
Jim
Strickland – Written 1989
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