Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29.
Consecration is a very simple thing. When brought daily into our individual life in practice, we shall know far more by consecration than by trusting to an experience. Each day, each hour, let the heart go out after God: “Here, Lord, am I, Thy property; take me, use me today. I lay all my plans at Thy feet; I will have no way of my own in the matter. My time is Thine; my whole life is Thine.” Let the heart be constantly going forth to God for strength, for grace every moment.
Let not one evil word escape our lips, because our lips, our voice, belong to the Lord, and must be consecrated to the Lord and to His service. These lips must not dishonor Jesus, for they belong to Him. He has bought them and I must speak nothing that will offend Jesus. My ears must be closed to evil. Thus day by day we can consecrate ourselves to God. The ears must not be defiled by listening to any gossip that faultfinding ones would have us hear, for I not only cause them to sin in allowing them to talk of others’ faults, but I sin myself in listening to them. I can prevent much evil speaking in thus having ears consecrated to God. I can say before the evil is done, “Let us pray,” then ask God to enlighten both our minds to understand our true relation to one another and our true relation to God.
Let us open our hearts to Jesus with all the simplicity that a child would tell his earthly parents his perplexities and the things that trouble him. Thus we can restrain evil not only in ourselves but in others. Practice consecration to God daily; then there will be no danger in the life of service to God. We want gratitude brought into our life, words, and works.
Every word, every thought of complaining indulged in, is a reflection upon God, a dishonor to His name. We want our hearts attuned to His praise, full of thankfulness, talking of His love, our hearts softened and subdued by the grace of Christ, full of sweetness and peace and fragrance. We shall be patient, kind, tenderhearted, pitiful, courteous, even when dealing with those who are disagreeable. Oh, how many precious blessings we lose because we esteem self altogether too highly and have so little esteem for others….
We must not demerit ourselves and lightly esteem the ability given us of God, neither should we overestimate our own importance and trust to our human ability.—Letter 7a, August 11, 1886, to a husband and wife working in England.
The Upward Look p. 237
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a prayer request for Jim, an elderly friend, hospitalized with Covid! Wayne
—-Please pray for all those in Iowa who are without power after the storms that rolled through late yesterday morning. Last I heard is that about 450k are without power. Power lines are down all over, damage is severe in some areas. Keep the emergency and power workers in prayer for safety. Amanda
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Dear Friends,
One day when Esther was in her mid-teens, she decided to make something for her lunch. Since she was the only one home, she looked for something small to cook in. I had recently been given some glass pans that were specially made for stovetop use, but she couldn’t find one of those. She did find a flat, glass top to my slow cooker that looked just like those pans. Unfortunately, it was not made for stovetop use. She didn’t realize that.
Esther put some food into it, put it on the burner, turned on the stove, and then, without knowing why, left the room. When she came to her senses, she was looking out of the little window in the back door. She said to herself, “What am I doing here?” As she was turning around to go back into the kitchen, she heard an explosion. Rushing back to the kitchen, she saw countless pieces of glass everywhere—sharp jagged pieces.
While she was cleaning up the mess, Esther suddenly realized that if she had not gone into the laundry room and looked out of the door, she would have been badly hurt. As she picked up a large dagger-like piece, she thanked God for His protecting care!
How important it is to daily pray for protection from the evil one. In this dangerous, old world praying for our safety and the safety of our friends and family is vital. We never know when something we do will place us in harm’s way, just as surely as Esther was in danger so many years ago.
Even though our Loving Saviour is “upholding all things by the word of his power,” He is never too busy for us. He cares for even the smallest details of our life. He assures us, “I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee” Jer 15:20 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isa 41: 10-13
Praise God! We can say with confidence as did David, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” “Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Ps 56:11; 73:23-26
How great and good God is! He is so close to us! He watches over us with such tender care! Only when we are in Heaven, will we realize how many times He has delivered us out of the hand of the enemy of souls. May we “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8 May we trust Him fully with every aspect of our life. May we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength is my prayer.
Rose