Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV
This is sanctification.
Let the Father change you through the Holy Spirit ever more to be like Christ. Repentance literally means “change your mind”. It takes a changing of the way you think to change your actions.
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28, ESV
The next time Christ comes, we shall remain with Him forever.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 ESV
To know Jesus is to know truth and find all grace. He came to us, and His life, death, and resurrection prove the truthfulness of the Bible and that God desires loving relationship with us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3, ESV
Most problems are not strictly attacks from the Devil. Rather, some are testing of our faith, some are discipline to help us grow, and some are merely our own actions.
Learn and grow through all of them (even the devil attacks).
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5, ESV
We cannot explain how or when a soul is made and put into a baby.
We therefore should not presume to understand God’s plans.
Some? Yes. But not all. Not even the Son knows the hour of His return …
We are continuing to look at hymns and songs that impacted my spiritual life – with another reminder to check out the other blog I contribute to, ProverbialThought.com, and the daily thoughts on the Bible (specifically Proverbs).
I Want To Know You (In the Secret)
Lyrics
In the secret,
In the quiet place
in the stillness you are there
In the secret in the quite hour I wait, only for you
Cause i want to know you more
In the secret
In the quite place
In the stillness you are there
In the secret in the quiet hour I wait
Because i want to know you more
Chorus
I want to know you
I want to hear your voice
I want to know you more
I want to touch you
I want to see your face
I want to know you more
I am reaching for the highest goals
That i might receive the prize
Pressing onward
Pushing every hindrance aside
Out of my way
Cause i want to know you more
Chorus x2
in the secret in the quite place
in the stillness you are there
Chorus x2
A few thoughts …
When I was a young believer, this song helped me to realize and live out an important truth.
Christ said we regularly should get to a place that is out of sight and quiet and seek God through prayer (Matthew 6:6). We can call this the secret place. Our highest goal is to be like Christ, so we are seeking God asking the Holy Spirit to make us more Christ-like.
To quote Jesus (Luke 10:37), “Go and do likewise.”
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4, ESV
It is true that God may grant us prosperity in this life, but Jesus revealed that our true riches are found in eternal life in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:19-24).
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11, ESV
Praising God is the best way to get out of a funk of depression, worry/anxiety, confusion, and fear.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18, ESV
When found in Christ, we are no longer condemned. The fear of punishment is gone.
We should still tremble before a mighty God, but our fear should transform into not wanting to disappoint our loving God who first loved us.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!