S.M. Wibberley’s Blog

Prayer: “For your name’s sake, Lord, for your glory and honor, work amongst us to bring revival.

Reveal your holiness in such a way as to bring us to our knees;

show us our sinfulness sufficiently to strike us to the ground; and then pour out the healing knowledge of how much you love and forgive us.

Stand us again on our feet, transformed as Job was: humbled and broken, not trusting in himself, but trusting only in you,

the great and mighty King, the Creator of everything. I praise you now for what you are going to do. Amen.”

Everyone wants to be happy. Maybe each has a different definition of what makes them happy, but they all have a common factor: their happiness depends on their circumstances. When things go according to their plans and desires, they are happy. When  their desires are thwarted, their happiness evaporates like snow on a warm Spring day.

“Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” Psalm 86:4

All around me are difficult situations, problems, barriers and stubborn, hurting people. I do not have the wisdom, the power, the ability to solve their problems, to alter their attitudes or change their perceptions– I cannot trust in myself to help them.

But you, O Lord God, you are the Most High, the Almighty, the great Transformer who can reach into situations and hearts to bring the change necessary. Only you can open eyes, give conviction, alter circumstances and bring surrender.

Therefore, “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7). Your faithfulness is my comfort; your wisdom is my joy.

“Teach me your way O Lord and I will walk in your truth.” (Ps. 86:11).

More on: “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for to you do I lift up my soul, for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:4,5 KJV

AsGod refocused me on the need to constantly be transparent before Him so He can help me deal with the negative motives before they become action, I realized that I need to consistently practice lifting my soul to Him: telling Him what I am really thinking (mind), wanting (will) and feeling (emotions)—no editing allowed, no making things look good, just raw truth—and then comparing these to what His Word has to say.

With this stark picture I can discard the negative and neutral motives and desires, so I can affirm what is biblical. He will then “show me the way in which I should go” (Ps. 143:8b), so I can join Him in what He is doing.

Praise God that He doesn’t take my ideas of how He should answer prayer but does what is best instead!

 

Prayer: “Father, I praise you that you are my Heavenly Father: wise, all knowing and good. Praise you that you answer prayer as you know best. Help me to be transparent before you so you can point out my wrong motives and help me to choose right motives to speak, act and live from. Amen.”

“Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for to you do I lift up my soul, for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:4,5 KJV

 

When I pray for things, I usually have a pretty clear idea of how I want God to answer my prayer. Although God often has the same goal in mind, He usually has a much better idea of how to reach it—and rarely does His idea line up exactly with mine!

 

In my own life I’ve been asking God to give me growth; His answer has been to reveal sin. For instance, when I recently read an article praising the ministry of a worker I know, I was dismayed that my first reaction was a powerful surge of jealousy.!

That was certainly my natural self: competing, seeking significance in success, and finding security in being better than others. God brought me back to the Truth of the sinfulness of my old nature and to the very mixed motives I have. He was  giving opportunity to repent of and reject my wrong motives—those which are negative and neutral—and affirm my positive motives.

Through this, God refocused me on the need to constantly be transparent before Him so He can help me deal with the negative motives before they become action! And I can be secure in Him even when He’s pointing out sin in my life:

Lord,  “..you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:4,5 KJV May the revelations continue that I may give you more honor by confessing and receiving forgiveness. May I be a reflection of your character, like the tree in this picture.

“Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy” is a phrase that I use often in my life.

It is a reminder that the focus of life should not be what makes us comfortable,

but on the beautiful, literally awesome character of Jesus. It is a call to pure worship.

Here’s an example of this in poetic fashion. I hope it inspires and edifies you,

deepening your awe for Jesus.

Whom have I

in heaven but you?

And Earth has nothing

I desire besides You.

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Elohim—Creator

Adonai—Master

Yahweh—Savior

Nissi—Defender

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Stars’ Creator

Day’s Designer

Life’s Sustainer

History’s Ender

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Creation’s Redeemer

Sinners’ Savior

Hearts’ Transformer

Mansions’ Maker

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Strong Shepherd

Living Bread

Church’s Head

Judge of all dead

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Day Giver

Need Provider

Spirit Refresher

Soul Purifier

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Heart Pursuer

Spirit Lifter

Soul Lover

Heaven Bringer

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Worthy of Praise

You Ancient of Days

Your name we raise

In endless praise.

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!

 

Whom have I

in heaven but you?

And Earth has nothing

I desire besides You.

Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy, Period!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us….” 1 John 3:1

Lord Jesus, your  unconditional Agape love is astounding. In one way, it is a brutal love–brutal to you, the Lover, who suffered all the agonies of the crucifixion, and now gives and gives, unswayed by the lack of positive response from the rebellious, self-centered, unbelieving, negative objects of your love–us.

This love, so painful to you as you are grieved daily by our rebellion, is so gracious to us: embracing, caring, kind, forgiving, correcting, guiding, rebuking, nurturing, directing and cherishing

As J.I. Packer puts it in his powerful book, Knowing God, the Judge becomes, “our perfect parent—faithful in love and care, generous and thoughtful, interested in all we do, respecting our individuality, skillful in training us, wise in guidance, always available, helping us to find ourselves in maturity, integrity and uprightness….”

In making us your children, Heavenly Father, you have invited us into the deep, intimate relationship you have with the Lord Jesus, giving us what you gave Him in His time on earth: grace, affection, fellowship, honor, and authority. As you loved your only begotten Son, so you love your only adopted children. “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ”!!! (1 John 1:3).

 

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Heavenly Father, I share John’s wonder at this astounding truth: that you, the Holy God, the Righteous One, the Just Judge, the Good Creator King, would want to take your enemies, meaning every human being–evil, depraved, ugly, stubborn, rebellious and destructive as we all by nature are—and, if they are willing, to transform them into new creatures and adopt them as your children!

What a turn-around: to bring your adversary into the palace and place him into your family, making him your heir!

Your astounding act of justification is the great gem of Truth in the New Testament—you, the Just Judge, by the propitiation of Christ’s shed blood, satisfied the law and bought for us, your enemies, complete forgiveness, restoration and eternal life–and a place in your plan. By your work, Lord Jesus, we stand justified before the court of Heaven.

Adoption, however, is another matter altogether. Justification is a forensic idea, meeting the demands of the law, coldly correct, handed down in court. In contrast, adoption is a family idea: warm, welcoming, accepting, being offered to a new position of privilege and grace. And this is what you offer!

picture: the destructive  rebel becomes the forgiven and adopted child of God

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5

You, Lord, are entirely different from you in our failures, wanderings and rebellion. Your faithfulness continues through all generations. From eternity, Lord God, you have remained unchanged, faithful to your character, to your Word and to your purposes. You never tire, you never waver, you never are inconsistent or unfaithful.

You are worthy of love and obedience, of exaltation and worship, of praise and honor,

for in your goodness, your greatness, your grace and your glory

you are beyond human conception, beyond understanding and logic, beyond imagination.

 

Prayer: “May I bring honor to you today, Lord, in my motives, attitudes, words and actions. Help me to set my heart and my mind on things above. Guide me in thinking and living as a child of the King

so those around me may be blessed in the reflected glow of your greatness. Amen.”

More reasons to give thanks.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4

 

There are so many reasons to come into your gates with thanksgiving and praise, Lord God.

We were rebellious, hateful, destructive, condemned criminals, worthy of worse than crucifixion.

But, in spite of this, we were sought out by you, bought at a great price, cleansed of our guilt, transformed from our sinfulness and adopted into your great family.

We stand now as your dearly loved children, highly favored, delighted in, rejoiced in.

You, in your greatness,

your immense, immeasurable love,

your superb self-control,

your forever faithfulness to your character and Word,

your endless working in time,

your limitless love,

You have poured out grace on this rebellious, foretaste-of-hell planet to make your enemies into your sons and daughters, to make us heirs of your unimaginably great riches.

We praise you that we can come into your courts with praise, that we, who deserve banishment, have been given unlimited access to walk right in and speak directly with you.

You have made it possible for us to come and worship at your footstool without any formality, further sacrifice or ceremony.

You are the God of accessibility; you are the God of availability; you are the Lord of accumulated grace, always giving, always good, always gracious, your gates always wide open.

Picture: gate to old Jerusalem