Pain is the price – sacrifice is the offering.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. … I go and meet with God… Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42
Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell. Psalm 43:3
Bible Gateway – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num.%207;%20Ps.%2042,43;%20Song%205;%20Heb.%205&version=NIV1984
Numbers 7, Psalm 42, Psalm 43 – Costly offerings – material wealth offered to the Lord God Almighty – the Holy One. We give from our excess – but You want from what we think we need. You are pleased with what is valuable to us. You want us stripped from even the smallest idol. You want complete devotion and allegiance – for You alone are Worthy!
Pain is the price – sacrifice is the offering. Living life consciously that all is Yours, nothing is mine. All is for Your glory, nothing is to my credit. (Punny!!) Paramount, You want a heart desirous to do Your will. (Hebrews 10:8-10, Psalm 51:17, Psalm 37:4) You gave us the example: This is love: “He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 We are to love as You have loved us! (1 John 4:19, Revelation 2:4, Ephesians 3:14-21)
Being recently sick, yet without pain, You were close. I had nothing, no energy, no ability, and no squirming. Just peaceful joy knowing I can’t and You can. I wasn’t even conscious of this, for it was all that I could do. Love, appreciate, and yearn for more intimacy with You, the Holy God. You overly filled my longings and needs. Now as I am well, may I love with that deep sense of dependence upon You permeating. Prayerful powerfully for You to Do, Be, and Magnify Yourself in my heart and in others’!! I rejoice in You Jesus!
Song of Solomon 5 You call me Your bride, Your beloved, cherished treasure! You possess me, You bought me at Your most personal cost – Yourself. You write this song of love for me, and for all who belong to You, my Saviour. Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:9; Deuteronomy 7:6; Zephaniah 3:17
You pursued me with gentleness and understanding. You drew me to Yourself, You were the lure. I caught Your glimpse and saw my defilement. You loved me as I was, cleansing me by Your Sacrifice. You changed me into Your image of righteousness in Your sight. I am forever Yours!
Hebrews 5 – Christ Jesus, You are the high Priest forever. There is no other. While Your Word says all regenerated persons are the royal priesthood, with no hierarchy between us- You, Lord Jesus Christ, are THE High Priest, forever!
Lord Jesus, You are “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey” You. Cause Your Body to yearn and mature, living live for You, Righteousness!! Have us desirous of solid food, training ourselves to distinguish good from evil during these dangerous times. Isaiah 26:3, John 16:33, 1 John 4:4
I am weak in many moments. When I am filled with your Holy Spirit, Your power is great. Sin, worry and fear disrupt the flow of Your Spirit. Distrust of You is wrong. You carefully and diligently teach me Your Ways to keep me on Your Path so as to bring Yourself Praise and Glory. I am grateful! Thank You for dealing gently with me when I am ignorant or going astray. I am amazed and humbled that You subjected Yourself to weakness to make me strong. I worship You Lord Jesus! Amen!
Crystal (PsalmThirty4)
Sixty-six books in a year 