By Mary Lindow

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To do justly, to love kindness and mercy,

To humble yourself and walk humbly with your God."

-Micah 6:8

ALTHOUGH I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A FRESH EXPRESSION OF THE HEART OF THE FATHER STIRRING IN THE EARTH, I also see that there is a lot of "bashing" regularly occurring due to the abuse that others have exhibited in their places of calling, aimed at those who have been true to what the Lord has asked them to do in His name, and this has caused not just a little sorrow.

WE MUST CLEARLY SEE THAT CORRUPTION CAN RAPIDLY OCCUR IN ANY PERSON OR ANY GROUP, ORGANIZED, RELAXED, OR OTHERWISE, when the tendency to think that they have arrived at a new or deeper revelation about something more so than others who perhaps express the Lord's voice differently.

ARROGANCE IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT I, INDIVIDUALLY,

OR SOME GROUP THAT I AM A PART OF, COLLECTIVELY,

IS SOMEHOW SUPERIOR TO SOMEONE ELSE OR

SOME OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AT THE HEART OF ARROGANCE IS SELF-CENTEREDNESS. And self-centeredness is the foundation of human sin. I believe any serious attempt at self-examination by an honest person will reveal that we humans are sinful and flawed beyond measure.

MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID, “MAN IS THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT BLUSHES—

OR [FOR THAT MATTER] NEEDS TO.”

Paul writes,

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand…Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?”

WE ARE CONSUMED BY SELF. And every time we arrogantly place our own needs before others we are enslaved by sin.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? HOW SHOULD WE LIVE INSTEAD OF IN THAT ARROGANT MODE? WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE?

How about the words of Jesus? What did he say?

"Everyone who exalts himself (for example, "Aren't I great? Aren't I right? Don't I always have the best opinion?") will be humbled.

But he who humbles himself (for example, "This is my opinion but it may not be right. I don't have a corner on the market of truth") will be exalted."

THE LORD IS NOT SPEEDING UP THE DELIVERY OF ANY "FRESH THING" IN THE EARTH IN ORDER TO GET US TO HIS PURPOSES QUICKLY. No. He is testing the hearts of men and women everywhere, looking for humility, selflessness, and honor, for those who although not perfect, have also served and pointed the way to salvation for many years previously.

THE LORD IS NOT GOING TO HONOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHOUTS THAT "CHANGE IS NEEDED" OR THAT "CHANGE IS COMING" AND THEN SLASHES AND BURNS ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T EMBRACE THEIR VERSION OF IT.

THE LORD IS INTERESTED IN THE SOUND OF HUMILITY,

THE HAND OF MERCY,

AND...

...THE VOICE OF GRACE.

These key character issues attract the pure and simple Presence of the Lord. Blessed are the PURE in heart...for they shall see God.

Until the Body of Christ that has been through many difficult and shattering events, rids itself of bitter and venomous words against one another and accepts that each one like sheep have gone astray and turned to what pleased them at the moment, there will be little evidence of much harvest .

THE LOST AND CONFUSED WORLD OUT THERE WATCHES CHRISTIANS TEAR EACH OTHER TO SHREDS DAILY AND WONDERS WHY WE ARE ASKING THEM TO JOIN US! Remember Christ’s two great commandments—love God with all your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.

SELF-CENTEREDNESS IS THE REVERSAL OF THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. Self-centeredness means to place ourselves first, in effect proclaiming our own form of self-government (not needing or wanting the advice or insight of others), therefore our neighbors become an afterthought, and God becomes simply a convenience to be considered only when it’s helpful to us.

It is evident even in our language that self-centeredness is woven into the fabric of the human experience.

THE ONE TRUE SACRIFICIAL MODEL TOLD US THAT HE WOULD SEND THE VERY SPIRIT OF GOD IN ORDER TO CONVICT ALL PEOPLE OF SIN, TO COMFORT, TO GUIDE, AND TO SET THEM FREE. Indeed. The very evidence of a redemptive type of life, is in one who washes the feet of his/her brothers and his/her enemies in an act of cleansing the dirt from the road of life off of the pathway to the Truth.

May we truly hear the sound of the unmistakable heartbeat of a redemptive model rising up in clear resounding purity, personal transparency, and in the covering of the multitude of sins by speaking and meditating only on those things that are noble, just, pure, and of a good report.

AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS NATIONS, THE ANTIDOTE TO ARROGANCE AND SELF-CENTEREDNESS IS A HEAVY DOSE OF HUMILITY. That is; a profound willingness to recognize the value and respect the dignity of every human life. And, furthermore, a humble heart calls us to seek and serve Christ in ALL persons by giving of ourselves willingly for the welfare of other people.

THE LORD SAYS,

"Do not let a wise man brag about how wise he is. Do not let a strong man boast about how strong he is. Do not let  a rich person brag about how rich he is.

But here is what the one who brags should boast about. He should brag that he has understanding and knows me. I want him to know that I am the Lord.

No matter what I do on earth, I am always kind, fair and right. And I take delight in that".  -JEREMIAH 9:23-24 (NIV) 

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for Mary Lindow is included.

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

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“I praise you because I am fearfully 

and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14

WE ARE STRANGE AND EXQUISITE CREATURES.

We can ache for God tremendously; yet find ourselves getting nervous if God gets too close!  After all, the closer God gets, the more we hear the call to be “unpolluted”.

It is both exciting and frightening to hear that call!

 A SHORT STORY

 “Once upon a time there was a little plant that was small and whose growth was stunted, for it lived under the shade of a giant oak tree.

The little plant valued the shade that covered it and highly enjoyed and relished the quiet rest that it’s majestic friend provided. Yet there was a greater blessing prepared for this little plant.

One day a lumberjack entered the forest with a sharp ax and cut down the giant oak! The little plant began to weep, crying out, “My shelter has been taken away”. Now every fierce wind will blow on me, and every storm will seek to uproot me!”

The guardian angel of the little plant responded, “NO! Now the sun will shine and showers will fall on you more abundantly than ever before! Now your stunted form will spring up into loveliness, and your flowers, which could never have grown to full perfection in the shade, will laugh in the sunshine. Many will say, "Look how that plant has grown. How gloriously beautiful it has become by removing that which was it’s shade and comfort!"

THE TRAINING OF THE SPIRITUAL COMRADE

We need to see that the Lord wisely trains his soldiers by calling them into difficult travels and service. He strengthens them through wildernesses and mountains. God knows that spiritually armed Soldiers can only be developed in battle and are not developed in times of calm. 

We can only become true seasoned soldiers of Christ when we train and serve in the preparation time of the uninviting, and at times "unfriendly"  surroundings.

TRUST FOR A SEASON!

It's all about trusting God in the end. Oh yes it is!

We often ask in the heat of difficult battles whether they are mental battles, spiritual battles, and financial battles…”Will He REALLY refresh us in this time of struggle?” 

His Loving Word says so.

 "For I satisfy the weary ones

And refresh everyone who languishes."

Jer. 31:25

 THE LORD IS PRODUCING STAMINA…

 …WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT!

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

For once he has been approved,

He will receive the crown of life,

Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:12

THE FATHER IS URGING US TO RUN TO HIM, TO CRY TO HIM!

He is there! Even in this fog of struggle, loss, anxiety, or even seeming success! He wants us to be desperate for Him and is training us to rely on His voice. To make our decisions based on His plan for the whole earth!

 TIE YOURSELF TO THE HAND OF GOD!

 Get a "rope of expectation" (the word of God) and tie yourself to it.

Hold on! The boding evil is nearly over!

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness

And put on the armor of light."

Romans 13:12

INTIMATE PLACE OF COMMUNICATION

It would be a powerful opportunity for all of us to get on our knees in an “intimate place of communication” with the Lord, and refresh our commitment to purity and with a willing heart to yield to the bidding of the Father.

"They charge like warriors; 

they scale walls like soldiers.

They all march in line, 

not swerving from their course."

Joel 2:7

 LET OUR HEARTS WILLINGLY...

…Give Him Room to Move Freely in our daily action in this Life.

We do this by clearing away or removing anything that feeds and pampers our flesh and our own concepts of the Kingdom.

 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—

He wants to please his commanding officer."

2 Timothy 2:4

WE PREPARE HIM A PLACE

A throne in our hearts, from which He can reign and activate His anointing.

" As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. 

But as HIS anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, 

Remain in him."

1 John 2:27

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 Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You Copyright © 2015 " THE MESSENGER " ~Mary Lindow

 www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

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