CONSIDER IT
Jesus was bodily present on earth for thirty-three years and His disciples spent more than three years with Him. That time came to an end at last, though, and then the disciples had to start trusting in His Presence without seeing Him bodily. That is the situation in which we find ourselves as well. It is harder to trust someone we can't see than someone we can, but that is what Jesus asks us to do.
What is your immediate reaction when you contemplate the idea of helping others experience Jesus' presence? Does that excite you? Does it seem like a burden or a demand?
EXPERIENCE IT
"Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me. I know that your heart's desire is to be aware of My Presence continually. This is a lofty goal; you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life. Don't let feelings of failure weigh you down. Instead, try to see yourself as I see you. First of all, I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me through your life. I am pleased each time you initiate communication with Me. In addition, I notice the progress you have made since you first resolved to live in My Presence.
When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don't be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days"
How do you react when you find it hard to stay focused on Jesus' Presence? Do you have feelings of failure or surprise? Do you rejoice in tiny triumphs? /Do you gently turn back to Jesus' Presence, or do you have to deal with guilt or other obstacles?
"Look to Me continually for help, comfort, and companionship. Because I am always by your side, the briefest glance can connect you with Me. When you look to Me for help, it flows freely from My Presence. This recognition of your need for Me, in small matters as well as in large ones, keeps you spiritually alive.
When you need comfort, I love to enfold you in My arms. I enable you not only to feel comforted but also to be a channel through whom I comfort others. Thus you are doubly blessed, because a living channel absorbs some of whatever flows through it.
My constant Companionship is the piece de resistance: the summit of salvation blessings. No matter what losses you experience in your life, no one can take away this glorious gift"
(Consider It ... Experience It / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 15:1-5 and John 15:12-13
"I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing"
ReplyDelete(John 15:1-5 / New International Version)
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends"
(John 15:12-13 / New International Version)