Short Meditations on the Disciplines: Day by Day

Brad D.

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I really like the concept of this Forum. I have often wondered why it is so little used. I guess people are busy talking about other things. As long as He wills, I thought I would try to use it to journal some quick meditations that God impresses upon my heart each day. I hope at least some of them will be inspiring, thought provoking, encouraging and yes even challenging at times. Some don't have the time to read long devotionals. So I hope these can be used to grab a quick cup of water and sustenance along the way.
Blessings
Brad


9/14/2022
Solitude and Service-
We live in an age of doing. Anybody who has ever been called into solitude and silence with God knows this very well. What are you doing? Get involved! Find a church! What do you do for a living? What do you have to say for yourself? Where did you go to school? What are you studying? DONT JUST SIT THERE DO SOMETHING! But consider this.
If there was anyone who ever lived on this earth who had something to do and something to say it was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. But the Father didn't consider it waste for even Him to sit in relative solitude, silence and obscurity for 30 years. The only thing we really know about Him is from the last three years of His life on this earth, and even then He was sent into the desert alone to be tormented by the enemy. And what did the Father say about these 30 years when He finally came up from out of that place? What have you been doing all this time? No! He rather said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." And yet We feign if we are but one day away from our phone!


Service, Simplicity, Ministry- I find it almost humorous that God chose a single seeming madman, yelling repent out by a river in the middle of the desert, living off of honey and insects to prepare the way for the biggest event ever to take place in the history of this world. No marketing campaigns, no slick multi-media shows, no staff meetings, no amps, just John, a man who loved His Lord and knew what he was supposed to do.

Perhaps God, in foreseeing this day in which we live, chose to make John the forerunner choosing the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. If I know God it will not be these lofty things that look high and mighty that will count in these days, it will be His "Johns'' that love Him with all their heart. But I wouldn't look for them in the typical places we might think they would be.
 
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Brad D.

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Prayer-
The Prayer "In Jesus Name" may be one of the most misused phrases in the Bible. To pray in Jesus' name doesn't mean to throw three magic words at the end of any prayer and it will be done. To come into what that really means is much more costly than that. Jesus desired us to be identified with Him, to walk with Him, and to speak out from Him. When, "it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us" then and only then do we pray in Jesus name.

Christ repeatedly said "I do nothing out of my own initiative." And neither should we. When we are identified with His death and resurrection in that way it won't be us praying any longer, but it will be Him praying through us. And then we will be praying in Jesus name. And it is that prayer He will do.

Humility- Francois Fenelon said the following on the need for humility: Humility gives you a teachable spirit that makes everything easier. Consider the life of Jesus. He was born in a stable. He had to flee to Egypt. He worked 30 years in the shop of a craftsman. He suffered hunger, thirst, fatigue. He was poor and He was ridiculed. He taught the doctrine of heaven and no one listened to Him. He was treated like a slave, betrayed, and died between two thieves. Jesus' life was full of humiliation, but we are horrified by the slightest humiliation. How then do you expect to know Jesus if you do not seek Him where He was found: in suffering and the cross? {End Quote}

Simplicity, Acceptance- The shortest most profound sermon in the Bible is found in Exodus 3:14.
I AM WHO I AM. When we can accept that, We have come into a lot. That should suffice for at least half of all the questions found on Christian Forums. He is who He is. We are who we are. We are where He has placed us. Whatever questions we have about that. Whatever questions we have about Him can usually be summed up in those four words.
 
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Brad D.

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I shared this with a brother Who's spirits were down living under the persecution of the church in China. He was a young man who hadn't walked with the Lord for a long time and was discouraged His zeal for the things of God were low. I thought it would fit nicely here in the spiritual discipline posts. I modified a sentence in the end, but for the most part the post remains the same. Blessings!

Faith, Testing-Brother I don't know how long you have walked with the Lord, but for me after nearly 30 years I can tell you the ups and downs of Christianity, and our emotions are many. Sometimes there is much singing and jubilation as the children of Israel had crossing the Red Sea witnessing the Lord grant a great victory. They sang the Song of Moses with joy for all the Lord had done for them (Exodus 15) and not long after they were brought into Elim where it says there were 12 wells of water and seventy palm trees and they were allowed to camp by the waters for a time (Exodus 15:27).

But then they were tested and things were dry. The Song of Moses had faded from their heart and the severity of the desert bore down upon them. And instead of coming to another Elim the Lord led them to Rephidim (Exodus 17:1) But there was no water to drink and the people contended with Moses loudly., saying " Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" And so we know the sad story from the book of Hebrews that they were never able to enter His rest because the did not mix it with faith. (Hebrews 4:1-10)

One of the most beautiful sacrifices of praise we can give Him is to praise Him even when we are being tested severely like you are , both in the outward circumstance through the persecution of your government, and in the interior dryness of your spirit. What do you think would have happened if the Children of Israel had in Rephidim said to Him instead of bitterly complaining something like, " Lord all around us is dry, we feel nothing, we have nothing. There is no water, our little ones suffer, our wives our livestock cry out. We are beside ourselves what to do, but yet we will praise you. Whether we live or die we will praise you. We know it's by your hand you have brought us here. Rephidim this place you have brought us to is of you, by your Spirit we know you have led us here. If this is where you led us, if this is where we are assigned to be, then it must be for our best. We submit our lives to you tonight dear God. Do with us as you will. You are good. You are faithful. We put our trust in you."

This is where faith is forged in us that is stronger than our emotions. This is where we enter into the Rest of God. Be willing to sit in the fire with Him tonight and praise Him. The fire may not go away, nothing in your circumstance will probably change, but I will pray you will begin to sense a sweetness there with you in the fire that will begin to strengthen you deep within your Spirit until soon the sunshine of His Holy Spirit breaks through. This is where the image of Christ is forged deep within us by fire. This is where we are made into the likeness of Him.

Sometimes He leads us to Elim with 12 wells of water and 70 palms, but sometimes we must camp for a while in Rephidim where there is nothing, but the dry desert wind. He is the God of both. Be patient with yourself. You are under tremendous stress there. Our emotions are fickle, but God is not. Keep looking up. You will see Him again soon. Blessings and prayers.
 
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Brad D.

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9/16/2022
Fellowship- Meditations on Philippians 2:1-11 "The Man of No Reputation"

Why did Christ come the way in which He did? Why did He empty Himself so? Why did Isaiah the prophet say of Him, "There was no splendor or appearance .. no beauty in Him that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2). Why did He come as the "Man of no reputation" (Philippians 2:7)? Paul links that question to our fellowship with each other.

Jesus took it off of who He was as a man so you would only be able to see Him as who He was in the Father. He took it off of the things of this earth knowing this is where man will always bring it right back to be. And this dear friends is often where the problems with our fellowship come. If you were going to see Christ you had to see Him in the Spirit. He was not going to allow you to see Him any other way. And this is why Paul says "If you are to have any fellowship in the Spirit...Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus"(Philippians 2:1,5). He made Himself a man of no reputation.

What we stand in will mean everything. If we stand in any other things except Christ the more distant our relationship will be. Some will make it their church. " We are the only true Church." Or "Our church is not legalistic like some" And so on. Some make it their livelihood, their social status. the neighborhood in which they live, the car they drive, the cloths they wear. And some make it all of the above. And on it goes. But until all of that goes down into the ground and dies and only Christ remains, We will stand in everything but Him. And when we do that there is only separation. Maybe now we understand why Christ had to come the way He did.
 
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Brad D.

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9/17/2022
Submission, Obedience- The Sign Of Jonah

Some of the scribes and Pharisees answered saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." But He answered and said them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." (Matthew 12:38-39) Jesus could have proven Himself at anytime. He told them at anytime He could pray to His Father and be provided with more than twelve legions of Angels. Well if a thing would have done it, it would have probably been that. Case closed. What a day that would have been. But He didn't. No, rather like Jonah in the belly of the fish, so Jesus went down into the ground and died. And Like Jonah being spit out after 3 days in the belly, so Jesus would be resurrected from the tomb.

Jesus would not come down to man's terms. He was not going to let them bring this thing down to the earth. He lived rather out from the Father's will. He submitted Himself, and was obedient to that will to the final day. To death on a cross. If that caused misunderstanding and misconceptions so be it. He wasn't going to play to the crowds and neither should We. " If you're the Son of Man come down from the Cross and save yourself!" But Jesus said not a word. And it was on that day all the powers of Hell were defeated, and He trampled them under His feet. Be encouraged dear believer and stand! It's the best place you can be!
 
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Brad D.

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Faith, Obedience- Walking towards Ahab
The words of the Lord came to Elijah..."Go and present yourself to Ahab (1 Kings 18:1)
Are you walking towards an Ahab in your life dear believer. Some issue that gives you fear? Or perhaps just some issue that is uncomfortable to accept, but you know it is the Lord's will; Something that is going to require you to stand where He has placed you and follow through.

Sometimes what is not said in the Bible is as profound to me as what is said. I wonder how even the great Prophet Elijah felt taking the steps to go and present himself before such a wicked King. A king who's wife had killed all the prophets of the Lord except those Obadiah had hidden and spared. It must not have been easy. It must have been a long, long walk, with much time to think. But it is simply said of Elijah, So He went...And so should we! What He thought of that day, we shall probably never know.

Prayer: Precious Lord may your will to us be more precious and valuable than even our own lives. It is not just our physical life we speak of precious Lord. It is also our self-life that must be willing to go down into the ground and die in order that you may live. May you have a people for yourself that are willing to be wherever you desire them to be. For your sake precious Lord may you purify your bride. May you have a people after your own heart. Let us be like Elijah. And so He went. Let it be. In your precious name we pray Amen.
 
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Brad D.

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9/24/2022
Meditation, Simplicity, Obedience, acceptance- Growing Where You Are Planted

Consider the Lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (Luke 12:27).
Prayer: Praise you precious Father you put us where you know is best. Every condition has been meticulously taken account of - external conditions without, soil conditions within. There is nothing that has been left out. You are good! For the sake of your Son, let me neither toil nor spin, let me not fight against what you have deemed best. Pressures within, pressures without, the soil and the sky do their work day after day. From the dark pelting storm, to the cold winter blast, to the warm pleasant sun, each does its part day after day, month after month to conform us into the image of your Son. Praise you Precious Lord. Let it be!

Whatever the conditions of your life are today let us praise Him. Whatever your circumstances may be! There are no accidents only nutrients to work in us the very best! Accept all with thanksgiving and you will enter the gateway of peace, the joy of the Lord will be your strength!

He knows the way that I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10)
 
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Brad D.

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Solitude, Silence, Interior Light- He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul (Psalm 23:2)

In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15)

Until the dawn breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense(Song of Solomon 4:6)

Be still dear child of God. Lift not a hand to save yourself. Put yourself before Him in quietness and trust. Ask nothing for your self but everything for Him. God does His best mining in the night. He knows what He is after. He will extract the gold; all that is of Christ in you. Only sit with Him in the fire, dare not move, put your trust completely in Him until the dawn breaks and all the shadows flee. And then it will be as in the Song of Songs Who is this that cometh out of the desert like pillars of smoke, perfumed in myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant..... (AND) Who is the coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? (Song of Songs 3:6, 8:5)
 
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I've been getting notifications for this thread because I rarely go see what's in here. It will be great if we can gather all these threads in one place should the mysticism/meditation forum go through.

Wonderful messages!
 
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Brad D.

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Thank you CK. Sometimes I wonder if I should even write over here because it gets so little traffic. But then I think maybe God will lead someone over here just at the right time. Yes, maybe we can move some if that is something the Lord would have us do. Thank goodness for Copy and Paste :blush:
 
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Thank you CK. Sometimes I wonder if I should even write over here because it gets so little traffic. But then I think maybe God will lead someone over here just at the right time. Yes, maybe we can move some if that is something the Lord would have us do. Thank goodness for Copy and Paste :blush:
If that did take place the mods could move it if it were felt to be more the appropriate place, or if the Op asked to have it moved. I sure hope it does :)
 
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Brad D.

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If that did take place the mods could move it if it were felt to be more the appropriate place, or if the Op asked to have it moved. I sure hope it does :)
True you are so right. I am always a step behind the times Ha!
 
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Brad D.

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10/01/2022 Faith, Waiting, Weakness, Victory - Scripture meditation 1 Samuel 24 and
Matthew 27:40

The story of David in the cave with Saul has always been a story of immense blessing to me. There are some passages of the Bible that the Holy Spirit chooses to use at a particular time in your life that become indelibly imprinted within you. The story even now as I write this strengthens me.

The men loyal to David were beside themselves that Saul stepping into the cave was God's sure sign to David that He had handed Saul over into David's hands. " There He is David, what more do you need, take this matter now into your own hands and kill him and you will be anointed king." But David dared not do it. He dared not take something from God and put it into his own hands.

Have you ever been there dear believer? Have you ever been placed in a place of immense weakness, humility, suffering, pain? Perhaps there is something in your personal life that has brought you great sorrow. Perhaps you feel a failure time and time again. Perhaps you have been placed in a place of great unjust scrutiny, misunderstanding and shame. Perhaps the Lord has allowed an illness to come into your life, weakness, vulnerability and immense pressures of faith and uncertainty at ever turn. Perhaps it is an enormous emotional and spiritual battle you face that has raged on and on. The possibilities are limitless, the journey with the Lord is often strange, difficult and long.

When this happens think of David in the Cave. Think of Jesus on the Cross. " If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save yourself!" " If you really think you are to be king, take Saul now, surely He has been given into your hands." There is such a tendency within us to be done with, escape from, desire a quick fix of the very thing that God may be using in our lives that matters most. But Jesus didn't come down from the cross, and David didn't take matter into His own hands, and on that day Jesus trampled Satan under his feet, and David came up from that place and was anointed king. To the overcomer He has promised that these are those who through Me will trample the enemy under our feet and these are those that will be raised up to become Priests and kings.
 
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Brad D.

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10/05/2022 Love the Most Excellent Way- And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy understanding all mysteries.... and faith to move mountains, and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor...and give my body to be burned, but have not love I am nothing, it profits me nothing. ( 1 Corinthians 12:31) (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

There is only one way to get to love and that is to come into Christ. Notice I didn't say Come to Christ. We can come to Christ at the blood, but to come into Christ we have to journey on. Many people chase after signs, wonders and gifts of many kinds, and make much to do and show about them. Others make much of their theology and will debate you verse by verse to the end. Others take great pride in all of their works, and have much to show for themselves. But what did Paul say. Yes, Yes, they can be part of things, but here I show you a more excellent way.

If all of these things are not leading one place then they are leading nowhere. If our gifts and signs and wonders and theology and works are not leading to the cross and more importantly been born out of the cross then what has it really done? The only way to come into Christ is to come through the Cross. That is why it says the Cross is the Wisdom and Power of God, and not tongues and prophecies and works and signs and wonders of many kinds. You cannot come into Christ without coming through the Cross. And you cannot come into Love unless you Come into Christ For God is Love (1 John4:8) And many stumble here because of the cost, but most assuredly I say to you this is the most excellent way. And Paul makes it abundantly clear that somehow you can come into a lot of things and not come into love. And this is a thought we should all take deeply to heart and take to the Lord.
 
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Brad D.

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10/23/2022 Following, Discipleship, Obedience, growth- Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.7Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’  ( Hebrews 10:5-7)

What relationship does obedience have as to our relationship with Christ? The answer is plenty! Christ trampled the enemy underfoot because He was obedient to death, even to death on a cross! See Philippians 2:8, Colossians 2:14-15 - We are also directed to be identified with that death so that day by day we are coming into and growing in that victorious life. For we who live are daily being delivered over to death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our moral flesh ( 2 Corinthians 4:11) That does not mean He is interested in or delights in all of our good works. All of our sacrifices and offerings earn us nothing. But a man who learns to walk in the Spirit and learns to do the will of God comes into everything. We can do nothing for God. But by the same token we can keep Him from doing anything in us. See the Parable of the Sower if you think it is not true.

The unmerited grace we come into is a precious thing. There is no doubt we can do nothing to earn our salvation. But from that day forward if we simply live out of the flesh, refuse to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him we come dangerously close to considering the blood a common thing and insulting the Spirit of Grace. See Hebrews 10:29 - But just remember when you set out to follow Him that our good works and His Will are two very different things.
 
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