Meditation

08/22/2022

“So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—-four hundred men—-and asked them, ‘Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?’ ‘To,’ they said they answered, ‘for God will give it into the king’s hand.’ But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?’ The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imiah.’ ‘The king should not say that,’ Jehoshaphat replied. God the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, ‘Bring Micaiah son of Imiah at once.’” (2^nd Chronicles 26:16-18 – God Takes the Initiative Through the Holy Spirit)

Many voices claim to represent God but often substitute their own desires over God’s revelation. In this case four hundred voices told him to go and take his army and win the victory. Even Micaiah told him the same, but the king didn’t believe it. So he rode into battle disguised and because he had shown no faith, he died on the field that day and the army was in disarray. It is always smart to seek God’s guidance, but then you must believe Him and commit yourself fully towards God’s commitment to you.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, we come before Your throne seeking Your will in the works we plan to do in Your honor this day. We desire to please You in all that we do and pray that it is within Your will and purposes. Today we continue to pray troops serving in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, that a peaceful solution might be found and let the fighting be silenced. We also pray for those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, and for those we don’t know. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“With God each day is filled with miracles!”

KNOWING GOD:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight!; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he established justice on earth in his law the islands will put their hope.” (Israel 42:1-4 – God Takes the Initiative Through the Holy Spirit)

The purposes of God were to be most daringly fulfilled in the use of a servant the presence and will of God resided. God revealed the particular way in which he would provide justice and complete His will on earth: the tender gift of a servant leader. The servant would be an instrument of revelation because God’s Spirit would direct His life. Israel refused to accept the servant role for the nation and never recognized that Messiah had to be a servant. Israel was blinded by their royal, political ambitions and did not learn to see their promised King as a suffering servant. Jesus centered His ministry and messianic understanding on the servant role, which thus became the center of biblical revelation.

I AM:

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31 – God Takes the Initiative Through the Holy Spirit)

When talking with people, I will often ask them the question, “Do you pray?” Most will say yes to the question, but then I will ask, “Do you feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit?” This answer is usually no. God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to understand the answers of what they pray about and they are surprised. I think mostly, because people are not actively taught how to listen and comprehend the Spirit. Beloved, we must pray often, for this the way we communicate to God. Then we must take time to listen, for we are not to end our prayer and then jump up and start out day, without hearing the response that God seeks to give us. It takes practice, but is so well worth your time. There are times when we start to do something and then stop for no reason. That’s the Holy Spirit telling us to wait, no yet. Jesus told us that when he arose from the grave, He would ask our Father to give us a helper/counselor, and that is the Holy Spirit. You must have faith in God and belief in the power of the Holy Spirit to hear what it is that you are being asked to do.

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“I would not have known him except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:33 – God Takes the Initiative Through The Holy Spirit)

God revealed to John that he would see the Spirit come to the Messiah. At Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit of God revealed Jesus as the Son of God to John. He then revealed this to others through his testimony. The revelation chain here included private experience with God, the Spirit’s testimony, and John’s human witness.