Jesus, there are days like today when SIL is withdrawn and appears sullen (although that may not be accurate), that I don’t want to be around her. But those are the days she probably needs me to be around her the most. God, grant me the grace to do what’s best for SIL regardless the cost to my flesh.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35
God, You loved me when I was at my worst; You died for me before I turned to You. Help me to remember You have done the same for SIL. Tell her that You love her when she’s withdrawn as much as when she’s engaged with the people around her. You died for her regardless of her behavior and attitude. You are kind to her always. Help me to have the same mind set as You.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8
Lord, help me to do nothing out my own self-centeredness but humbly count SIL more significant than me. Let me look to her interests as well as my own. Even though I was created in Your image, help me to not count being treated as such a thing to be grasped, insisted on, but rather empty myself by obediently serving SIL, even if it kills me.
Lord, SIL used to be so smart, considering all options before making a decision. Now she seems to be guided by impulse, a lack of impulse control – and that ends up with decisions/actions that cost those around her. When I ask about them or point them out, she’s defensive. If she won’t discuss them with someone before she acts, then I ask that you guide her thinking and that you protect her loved ones from her actions.
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15
Lord , I pray that SIL moves away from believing everything she hears and towards giving more thought to her steps. She defends herself, thinks she knows better than everyone around her. I pray that You show her the wisdom in listening to those who would be most affected by her decisions. Lord, she once sought knowledge, and I pray that, with Your help, she will once again seek it.
Thank You, Lord, for the work You are doing in SIL. I get glimpses of it from time to time so I know You are working on the inside of her, and I trust eventually the changes will be increasingly seen on the outside. In the meantime, open her eyes to see how her words and behavior are affecting those around her.
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. Psalm 10:7
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Jesus, SIL’s mouth may not be full of curses most of the time, but she does use it to attempt to deceive and to force others to agree with her so she can have things her way no matter how it affects them. I pray that she uses her mouth, her words, to bring life and joy to others so that it does not result in the death of relationships – and that the fruit will be sweet interactions – not bitter regret.
Lord Jesus, You healed so many people who came looking for it. You freed many people who asked for Your mercy and power to intervene in their lives. I pray tonight that SIL comes looking for healing so that You may heal her. And that she asks for Your mercy and power to break through strongholds. She doesn’t need to know all the details; she just needs to acknowledge her need for you.
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b
You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:2b-3
Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit he has made to dwell in us? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:5-6
Jesus I ask that You bring SIL to the place where she can see herself in this. I pray that she humbles herself, puts down her desires to serve herself and to do things her way, and seeks to serve You in Your ways. I pray that she asks for Your healing and grace to be healed and set free in order to walk as the woman of God You made her to be – a woman after Your own heart.
Lord, heal SIL’s body as You work in her heart. I don’t know what those sounds she’s making are, but they are not normal. If she’s in pain, soothe her with Your healing touch. If it’s just a self-soothing habit, reveal that to her and help her to get to the place where she doesn’t need them anymore. Hold her gently in Your arms Whisper words of love, encouragement, and correction – and open her ears to hear them. Lord, she still believes she can’t hear You. Can You speak louder until she recognizes Your voice?
He goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:4b
You said Your sheep know Your voice. So I believe SIL does know Your voice – she just doesn’t know that she knows it. Speak to her clearly and often until she can’t help but hear it and recognize that it is Your voice. May she get excited when she makes this connection.
We choose who to follow based on who we think will best get us to where we want to go. This is true with both earthly aspirations and spiritual destinations. Christians usually have both, but the ultimate destination would be heaven.
I used to think that the kingdom of heaven was just another way of saying heaven. Or it’s the time when Jesus reigns for a thousand years on earth or when the New Jerusalem comes down to a new earth. There are scriptures that can support each of those ideas. They are all in the future making the kingdom of God something we could look forward to but didn’t impact us in our day to day lives here and now. But Jesus also talked about the kingdom of heaven as being here now.
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will t hey say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-21
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, part of Jesus’ response was “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28
So the kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future promise. It can be described as “already, but not yet” – active right now in the hearts of believers but will achieve its full manifestation in the future.
Believers can be likened to athletes. Everyone acknowledges and appreciates athletes as they compete, but few consider that the same people are athletes outside their competitions. They live in the now the same way they will at the time of their competitions. They practice the same skills. They have the same mind set. They live with the same self-control. Their eyes are focused on the future, yet they live in the present as if it were the future. No serious athlete would live a life of self-gratification, conform to the lifestyle of those around them, and follow what sounds reasonable and good to them. They don’t wait until their competition to get in shape. They find a professional trainer and follow what they are told to do, trusting in their expertise.
Believers have their eyes set on the future kingdom in which they will reign with Christ, but they live as if they are living in the kingdom now. Same rules, same mind set, same self-control. They find and follow a professional trainer – the Word – and do what it says, trusting God to know what He’s talking about. So the kingdom of God is already here, in our hearts and lives, but not yet because the full manifestation has not happened yet.
Knowing this, we can begin to discern who we are following. Are we following the Trainer who demands what is best for us no matter how hard? Do we follow someone who says things we want to hear? Do we follow our own ideas of how things should be? Or do we follow the suggestions of the devil who wants nothing more than to destroy us?
(to be continued)
The Bible speaks a lot about the kingdom of heaven; here are a few facts.
Christians know a little about the kingdom of heaven because He reveals secrets about His kingdom to His people, not to the whole world. The world as a whole cannot understand spiritual things so they are not going to understand our behavior, beliefs, and decisions at times.
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:10-11
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Not everyone who appears to be part of God’s kingdom are children of the kingdom. Many are there for reasons other than belonging to God. Some who call themselves Christians do so because they were born into families that attended church and so they attend church. Some think that believing that Jesus existed is enough to belong. Some are truly deceived into believing their ideas are as much truth as the words of God. Some really do love God, but choose to be their own king instead of accepting the kingship of Jesus. Some make up their own versions of the Jesus they want to follow. And some use the label ‘Christian’ to further their selfish goals – they do Christian things to feel good, make money, or gain prestige. They love healing but not holiness; they love power but not purity; they love wonders but not the will of God.
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[c] among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants[d] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:24-30
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23
We must be born of the Spirit to see and enter the kingdom of heaven. We can’t enter on the backs of other people. We can’t earn our way in. We can’t buy our way in. We can’t bully our way in. We can’t deceive our way in. We can’t even pray our way in. We must be born again, which means we must accept Jesus as both Savior and King. We pledge ourselves to Him. We obey His commands over what we want and over what others say. We no longer exist for ourselves but we exist to love and serve Him.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 3:23
God’s kingdom will overcome all other kingdoms and will never be destroyed.
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44
Other Scriptures:
Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in my suffering as a good soldier in Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 1-5
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13
Thank You, Lord, for these instances where I can see SIL step up and take responsibility. They may not last but they seem to be happening more frequently which I attribute to the work You are doing in her, and in her cooperation with the Spirit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
Father, open SIL’s ears so that she can hear in the morning of Your steadfast love for her. May she lift up her soul to You every day and as she puts her trust in You more and more, make her know the way she should go.
Lord, take SIL’s hands. Help her to rise, then to stand, and then to walk.
But taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise.” Luke 8:54
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 116:9
Jesus, just like how You took that little girl’s hand, take SIL’s hand. In some ways she is as “dead” as the girl and needs You to speak life into her. Tell SIL to arise and call her soul to cling to You as Your right hand upholds her. Continue to hold her wherever You lead her. I pray that, with Your help, she will set her mind and heart in walking before You in the land of the living – alert, passionate, and obedient to Your Word. I pray that she chooses daily to follow Your ways as You guide her to the place You want her.
Lord, I don’t get SIL. She says she wants things to get better, yet won’t take even the baby steps to get there. There has to be something blocking her, holding her back, keeping her blind to the truth. Jesus, please break through all that.
Then shall your light break forth, like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8
Father, the surrounding verses talk about true fasting. I pray that You lead SIL to do that so this verse becomes a description of her. As SIL begins to serve others as You direct in the other verses, may Your light break forth like the dawn, and Your healing spring up speedily in her body, mind, and spirit. May her righteousness (though not hers but Christ’s) go before her, and Your glory be her rear guard. Let her know that You have her back as she walks forward into new areas. Protect her from enemy attacks and keep her from turning around.
In Your Faithful Name,
Amen
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly, then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:6-14
Father God, You are a good Father. Jesus, You are the good Shepherd. In both roles, You take care of Your own. You feed them, comfort them, guide them, and love them. But You also discipline them and provide medical care when needed. Sometimes the discipline and medical care is unpleasant but the healing makes it worthwhile.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
God as You work in SIL, as You love her and communicate with her, I pray that You also discipline her. And I pray that just as she readily receives Your love and provision, she will also receive Your discipline. May she be aware of and receive the goal of that discipline – the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Amazing God Stories 