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A Duty Or A Desire?
Open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth; How I need a map-and Your commands are my chart and my guide. I long for your nstructions more than I can tell. Psalm 119: 18-20
Rote. Do you know what "rote" means? A fixed mechanical way of doing something. No thought involved-just get it done. A duty. A formality. I have to do this. I should. I must. I ought.
Psalm 119:18-20 is usually my first bit of communication with the Lord when we get together. But it can be very "rote"-mechanical-unless I carefully examine my thoughts, put life into the words, meditate on what I'm reading. Let me share with you what I mean.
"OPEN MY EYES"
The "YOU" is understood. I am acknowledging my inability to grasp spiritual truth and His capability to reveal spiritual truth. I cannot do this, Lord. Only YOU can open my eyes.
OPEN MY EYES TO SEE:
Teachability: I want You to open my eyes, Lord. I want to see, to understand, to grow. I am prepared to listen. It is the deep desire of my heart. I am asking You to do this for me. To the best of my knowledge, my motives are pure.
OPEN MY EYES TO SEE:
Revelation: Open Your Word to me. Only You can lead me to see how dependent I am on Your Word-how it will strengthen me-enable me through my day-no matter what comes. Only You can give me understanding of the relevance of Your Word for my world and only through Your Spirit will revelation come. Reveal truth to me, please, dear Lord.
WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR WORD:
My expectations. What does "wonderful" mean to me? Words of hope and fulfillment; words of peace, comfort, and joy; a measure of understanding; exciting, awesome, beautiful things. Words that will sustain me and guide me. Words designed to give me answers for the confusion, for the aching in my heart. Words that will give me the power to lift my head and face my world today with shoulders thrown back and determination in every step. Words of Life!
IN YOUR WORD:
His position. You are God. You have written the book. I am affirming You as being The Author and I hereby accept this Bible as being from God. I take my stand on its being a direct word from You-infallible. I step across the line. I understand the stigma that may come to me, the separation from family and friends, but I believe You and want to be counted among those who are on Your side. I want to raise my flag for everyone to see! Hey! Look at me! I believe!
I AM BUT A PILGRIM HERE:
Humility: I am but a pilgrim-recognizing my humble position.
Pilgrim: A wanderer. I am not a part of this place; I am out of my element; but I AM here; I AM on earth, away from home.
I'm not wise, Lord. I'm not strong. I am a stranger in a foreign land, searching for the Way, the Truth and the Life. I cannot do this on my own. I must have You.
HOW I NEED A MAP:
Asking for His guidance, acknowledging my vulnerable position, so I won't wander hopelessly, having no sense of direction.
I've just GOT to have a map. The longer I wander the further away I get from my route. Am I going in the right direction? What is my direction?
A map does so much for your sense of security and your state of mind when you're in a strange place.
YOUR COMMANDMENTS ARE MY CHART AND MY GUIDE:
Realization of the source available to me.
A chart means a plan! A guide means a companion, Someone to walk with me! What relief! I'm not going blindly into my world by myself. I have a chart and a Guide. Thank You, dear One.
I LONG FOR YOUR INSTRUCTION MORE THAN I CAN TELL:
To "long for" signifies a yearning, desiring something for the satisfaction/fulfillment that will come. When you long for something it seems to obsess you, to control your every waking moment, your every decision. And it's difficult to explain to anyone else how intense this longing can be. It consumes you-your mind, your emotions, your body are all a part of this deep desire. Yes, that's how I long for Your instructions, Your way.
"Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for You are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in You." Psalm 25: 4-5
Reflection:
Lord, I don't want to parrot hollow, meaningless words from the Bible "rotely." When it's just You and me, who in the world am I trying to impress anyway? Certainly not You! You see straight through me! I don't want to be insincere as I talk to You reticent in the confidences that I share with You. I don't want to hurt You with flattery or empty and vain rhetoric. You are my very dearest Friend. I love You-so very much. Thank You for spending time with just me.
Open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth; How I need a map-and Your commands are my chart and my guide. I long for your nstructions more than I can tell. Psalm 119: 18-20
Rote. Do you know what "rote" means? A fixed mechanical way of doing something. No thought involved-just get it done. A duty. A formality. I have to do this. I should. I must. I ought.
Psalm 119:18-20 is usually my first bit of communication with the Lord when we get together. But it can be very "rote"-mechanical-unless I carefully examine my thoughts, put life into the words, meditate on what I'm reading. Let me share with you what I mean.
"OPEN MY EYES"
The "YOU" is understood. I am acknowledging my inability to grasp spiritual truth and His capability to reveal spiritual truth. I cannot do this, Lord. Only YOU can open my eyes.
OPEN MY EYES TO SEE:
Teachability: I want You to open my eyes, Lord. I want to see, to understand, to grow. I am prepared to listen. It is the deep desire of my heart. I am asking You to do this for me. To the best of my knowledge, my motives are pure.
OPEN MY EYES TO SEE:
Revelation: Open Your Word to me. Only You can lead me to see how dependent I am on Your Word-how it will strengthen me-enable me through my day-no matter what comes. Only You can give me understanding of the relevance of Your Word for my world and only through Your Spirit will revelation come. Reveal truth to me, please, dear Lord.
WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR WORD:
My expectations. What does "wonderful" mean to me? Words of hope and fulfillment; words of peace, comfort, and joy; a measure of understanding; exciting, awesome, beautiful things. Words that will sustain me and guide me. Words designed to give me answers for the confusion, for the aching in my heart. Words that will give me the power to lift my head and face my world today with shoulders thrown back and determination in every step. Words of Life!
IN YOUR WORD:
His position. You are God. You have written the book. I am affirming You as being The Author and I hereby accept this Bible as being from God. I take my stand on its being a direct word from You-infallible. I step across the line. I understand the stigma that may come to me, the separation from family and friends, but I believe You and want to be counted among those who are on Your side. I want to raise my flag for everyone to see! Hey! Look at me! I believe!
I AM BUT A PILGRIM HERE:
Humility: I am but a pilgrim-recognizing my humble position.
Pilgrim: A wanderer. I am not a part of this place; I am out of my element; but I AM here; I AM on earth, away from home.
I'm not wise, Lord. I'm not strong. I am a stranger in a foreign land, searching for the Way, the Truth and the Life. I cannot do this on my own. I must have You.
HOW I NEED A MAP:
Asking for His guidance, acknowledging my vulnerable position, so I won't wander hopelessly, having no sense of direction.
I've just GOT to have a map. The longer I wander the further away I get from my route. Am I going in the right direction? What is my direction?
A map does so much for your sense of security and your state of mind when you're in a strange place.
YOUR COMMANDMENTS ARE MY CHART AND MY GUIDE:
Realization of the source available to me.
A chart means a plan! A guide means a companion, Someone to walk with me! What relief! I'm not going blindly into my world by myself. I have a chart and a Guide. Thank You, dear One.
I LONG FOR YOUR INSTRUCTION MORE THAN I CAN TELL:
To "long for" signifies a yearning, desiring something for the satisfaction/fulfillment that will come. When you long for something it seems to obsess you, to control your every waking moment, your every decision. And it's difficult to explain to anyone else how intense this longing can be. It consumes you-your mind, your emotions, your body are all a part of this deep desire. Yes, that's how I long for Your instructions, Your way.
"Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for You are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in You." Psalm 25: 4-5
Reflection:
Lord, I don't want to parrot hollow, meaningless words from the Bible "rotely." When it's just You and me, who in the world am I trying to impress anyway? Certainly not You! You see straight through me! I don't want to be insincere as I talk to You reticent in the confidences that I share with You. I don't want to hurt You with flattery or empty and vain rhetoric. You are my very dearest Friend. I love You-so very much. Thank You for spending time with just me.
Scripture
About this Plan
Has your faith become more of a burden than a source of joy and rest? The Christian life is not difficult to live. It's impossible to live! God never intended for you to live it. Jesus Christ is the only one who who has ever successfully lived the Christian life, and His plan is to live it through you. We expend so much energy spinning our wheels, trying to live for God instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us. In this deeply personal, encouraging devotional plan, Anabel Gillham comes alongside you to teach you how to allow Christ to express His overcoming life through you on a moment-by-moment basis. It will remind you of who you are in Christ. It will open the floodgates of God's grace, guiding you to experience true rest and freedom in the midst of the storms of life.
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We'd like to thank Lifetime Guarantee Ministries for their generosity in providing the structure for the Lifetime Daily reading plan. To learn more about Lifetime Guarantee Ministries, visit their website at http://www.lifetime.org
