Be Still My Heart

I am afraid. Something triggers fear and I  know
it is happening because I disappear into the
kitchen to look for food-- food that will settle
the gnawing. If I stop, recognize what is going
on, and take up my Bible, my heart has a good
chance of becoming still. Today's reading
comes out of Joshua 1:

'I will not leave you or forsake you.' (Wow,
what a promise. Is that not enough?)
'Be strong and courageous!'
'Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG
AND COURAGEOUS.' (Twice)
'Do Not Be Afraid'
'Do Not Be Dismayed' (God is reading me!)
'for the Lord God  (two Names)
    is with you wherever you go. (I'm covered!)

Papa, You did two things today that told me
how close, how present You are to me. First,
I opened to the reading marked out for today,
which gave to me the very words I needed.
Secondly, You showed me where I had put
my journal so I could write it down, found in
such an obscure place. I have no control over
my emotional responses, or the events that
overtake me, but, You, the most wonderful,
magnificent, shining, glorious You, do!

Failure

'My flesh and my emotions fail, but
God is the strength of my heart and
my portion forever. Ps 73:26

How Papa do I plummet the depths
here in this world, this atmosphere.
How do I get from here to there where
You really are superior, supreme,
precious above all else? My head says,
'yes, go for it!' My emotions say,
'ho hum.' This is such a walk of faith,
persisting, pursuing, and partaking of
the One who persists in pursuing me.
You prepare a table before me and say,
'Come and dine.'

And Be Found in Him

Back to Philippians 3

...and be found in him, not having a 
righteousness of my own that comes from 
the law, but that which comes through 
faith in Christ, the righteousness from 
God that depends on faith.
(Phil 3:9)

Paul is clear, 'not the law, but Christ.' The law
brings death to sinful man. He doesn't need a
list of good things to do. His good deeds will
not blot out his sin nature. Only the redeeming
cross of Jesus can change our old nature, our
sin nature, into a new life filled spirit. We
experience His resurrection power the moment
we respond to His call. Jesus says, 'I have come
that you might have life, and have it more 
abundantly!' Abundant life is mine! I so often
listen to lies about myself; I believe my feelings
are the truth.

Lord, out of what do I live each day? Is it out
of oughts, do's and don'ts, or from the abundance
that is mine in Christ. My deepest desire is live my
life from your glorious indwelling.
And, Papa, I pray for my readers that they would
know who they are--in Christ!

Check out my website and stories:
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.php

A Good Question

A good question was asked by a reader. 'What
does it mean that we are in Christ?' There is no
phrase that occurs with greater frequency in the
New Testament-- over 200 times. I shared some
of these quotes yesterday. Romans 6:1-11 gives
insight but I will only quote the fifth verse:

'For if we have been united with him in death, 
we shall certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his.'

We were in Christ when he went to the cross!
When He died, we died; when He was buried,
we were buried; when He rose from the dead,
we rose also.

Our being 'in Christ' goes way back before

creation:  '...he chose us in him before the 
foundation of the world, that we should be 
holy and blameless before him.' Eph 1:4

Yesterday a group of women, who had
been pondering, mulling over, musing upon
Eph 1:4, gathered together to share their
gleanings. One excited voice said:

'Listen to this. God says that I was chosen in
him before creation to be righteous before him!'
Her eyes shown as all vestiges of guilt and
shame dropped off.

What does it mean that we are in Christ?
                EVERYTHING!

The Sum of All Things

What does it mean to be in Christ?
We are told that God has purposed to
sum up all things in Christ. (Eph 1:10)

So what or who is in Christ?
The Creation is in Christ
The Life is in Christ
The Acceptance is in Christ
The Redemption is in Christ
The Sanctification is in Christ
The Hope is in Christ
The Spiritual Blessings are in Christ
The Consolation is in Christ
The Peace is in Christ
The Effectual Prayer is in Christ
The Strength and Riches are in Christ
The Eternal Purpose is in Christ
The New Creation is in Christ
The Promises are in Christ
The NO Condemnation is in Christ
The Perseverance is in Christ
The "No Separation" is in Christ
The Perfect Man is in Christ
WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST

Wow, I don't know about you, reader, but
as I wrote each sentence my spirit soared.
Which one of the above do you need
today? Take it!

He Blew It

Not having righteousness that comes from the law.

Paul does not stand before God righteous because he
was so good at keeping all 800 or so of the Jewish laws.
If I am living by the Jewish law or the Christian law it
becomes all about me. If I am living in the truth that I
am in Christ and therefore righteous, it is all about Him.
Once Paul focused daily on God's commandments.
Elated when he performed well, devastated inside when
he blew it. He had to keep raising the bar, even to the
killing of Christians, in order to be good. The law brings
us into bondage. The letter kills. Jesus said, "If the 
Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

Papa--No matter what it looks like, no matter what it
feels like, I am alive to You, alive in You, alive to Life!
I am secure now and for all eternity. My emotions go
crazy at times, so easily deceived by circumstances
and my response to same. I choose to believe You
today.

Found in Him

...That I may gain Christ and be found in Him...
righteous....

Found in Him--righteous.  I cannot be righteous
if I am not IN HIM. But when I am IN HIM, I
cannot be unrighteous. My standing in Him is not
related to my behavior or the keeping of the law.

Dearest Papa, I am righteous because I am in
Christ. You do not see me through a screen,
but you see me as I really am--in Christ. I
embrace my righteousness that is apart from
anything I do for You. I also embrace my
humaness and thank You for it.

Reader, are you struggling with what it
means to be a saint, a holy one? Paul called
the Corinthian Church, 'saints.' Check it
out. I Corinthians 1:2. Pretty awesome!