Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
We may live for years having desires to spend time with the Lord in a regular way.
We may experience these desires to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon our spiritual situation.
Nevertheless, we may not be aware of the fact that the very existence of these desires stirring within us is God operating in us.
God works in your will to incline you to spend time with Him.
He operates to that extent.
But He does not take us over, obliterating our faculties and human responsibility and forcing us to spend time with Him.
He works in us to a point.
Then it is up to us to take the initiative to follow through by cooperating with His worked-in inclinations and desires.
In other words, God’s part is to supply the desire and the inclination to be with Him.
Our part is to find a private place, set the alarm clock, rise up from our bed, wash our face, get our Bible, hymnal, and other spiritual books, and begin to wait upon the Lord by reading, praying, singing, or just quietly being in His presence to enjoy Him and behold Him.
We need to realize that our desires to be with the Lord are God Himself.
It is not just you.
It is not just your desire.
It is not merely your own thought that you should spend time with the Lord.
It is God!
God is in your desire!
God is in your inclination!
God is in your thought!
Now you must work out what God has worked in.
Just go along with that still small voice, that slight sensation that you should withdraw yourself to pray and spend time with Him.
If you obey those small nudges, you are obeying God operating within you.
Until Tomorrow,
With A Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Dan Haines
Dan Wohey
Daniel Ford
Darlene Thaxton – Radiation
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’Mother
Dr. Don Davis
Easton Fielder
Ellen Boyd
Freddie May’s Mom & Friend
George/Linda Alexander
James Burnette
Jim Mabe – Chemo
Joan Cronan’s Sister
John McClain
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Ronnie Palmer
Rusty Turner
Scott Nix
Tom Witcher
Tony Breedlove
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christian
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sandra Graham – Sheila Simmons’ Sister
Tammy Shellnut’s Mother/Dad