Arabian Interlude

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Galatians 1:17.
Paul’s life was in peril, and he received a commission from God to leave Damascus for a time. He went into Arabia; and there, in comparative solitude, he had ample opportunity for communion with God and for contemplation. He wished to be alone with God, to search his own heart, to deepen his repentance, and to prepare himself by prayer and study to engage in a work which appeared to him too great and too important for him to undertake. He was an apostle, not chosen of men, but chosen of God, and his work was plainly stated to be among the Gentiles.
While in Arabia he did not communicate with the apostles; he sought God earnestly with all his heart, determining not to rest till he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his great sin pardoned. He would not give up the conflict until he had the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He was ever to carry about with him in the body the marks of Christ’s glory, in his eyes, which had been blinded by the heavenly light, and he desired also to bear with him constantly the assurance of Christ’s sustaining grace. Paul came into close connection with Heaven, and Jesus communed with him, and established him in his faith bestowing upon him His wisdom and grace.
All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God…. They need to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God…. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities, he who is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.
Conflict and Courage p. 340
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Samuel’s mother whose husband died recently. Pray for all the family during this time of grief.
—–Please pray for Noah again, he is the seven year old boy who has brain surgery to remove part of his brain due to epilepsy and constant grand maul seizures, his family are Christians, but this is very scary for them, they are asking for prayer. Kelly
—–Please lift up my youngest son in special prayer. He is severely depressed about his life and I am very worried about him. Connie
—–My family needs prayers for salvation. B
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Dear Friends,
Since tomorrow is Esther’s birthday, I thought that I’d share one of the songs she wrote when she was about fifteen.
A New Heart
*Lord, give me a clean heart,
A kind and a true heart.
Lord through me please show
Others You care.
Lord, give me a new heart,
A loving and pure heart,
So others may find You
And know that You care.
Though this world is rough and dirty,
A new heart is waiting for you.
Though your sins may be many,
Jesus is waiting for you.
Lord, give me a new heart And keep me in Your care.
As we think about our life, we can see little that’s good. We see only a heart all spotted with sin and self. We begin realize how much we need a new heart, a pure heart! Praise God! We can have our desire! Our Great Creator has promised, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
A new heart makes us kind and compassionate toward those around us. John tells us, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:16-22
A new heart makes us obedient to those in authority. Paul advises, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Col 3:22-24; 1 Tim 2:1-3
A new heart makes gives us peace, happiness, and joy no matter what our circumstances. “Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps 144:15; 4:7, 8 Peter exclaims, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9
A new heart causes the love of Jesus shine through us, thereby glorifying God. We are to “shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life,” that others may be drawn to the Light and be saved. Phil 2:15,16 Our Dear Saviour commands, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16
Let us pray daily as did David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Ps 51:10 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb 10:22 Let us “call on the Lord out of a pure heart” each day, and when we ask for it, we will receive it for He is faithful Who has promised.
Rose