Day 13. He is our Self-Control

The fruit of the Spirit is---self-control (Galatians 5:22).

For the love of Christ controls us (2 Corinthians 5:14).

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1).

Dear Father, let Your love control me this day. All would fall into place if this earthly vessel could just be totally turned over to You. I am prone to seek my will, to trust my emotions and my own intellect. Show me the way where I become a living sacrifice to You. I know You are trustworthy. You will show me more of Christ as I submit to You. And through it all I will be more like Him-- able to follow Your leading.

The world will offer guidance and direction for me that will be contrary to Your will. Let Your Spirit control me as I seek discernment and wisdom. Let me be steady in my walk and constantly certain of Your presence. Your yoke fits well and the load will be easy because Jesus is with me.

I understand that Your control is gentle. Yet there will be times of discipline because You love me. Your “rod and staff” comfort me. As a loving Father You will only seek what is best for me. Help me yield toYou in all that I do. We are bonded together in Christ, and I pray that my life will be to His praise. Amen.

















Day 14. He is our Defense Advocate

My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! (Psalm 43:1)

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their case, and take the life of those who rob them (Proverbs 22:22,23).

Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name; he will vigorously plead their case, so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:34).

Dear Jesus, You not only paid the price for my sin but You represent me as my defense attorney before the Father. This is grace and love beyond everything that I can comprehend. It is though You have discussed this with the Father before time began, and the issue of my sin is totally resolved—forever. My sin You will remember no more.

How can this be? How can I understand Your ways? Slowly, surely Your Spirit is calling out to me with words of truth and wisdom. Your ways are revealed in glimpses of You at work in my life. How can I comprehend it all? Most certainly I cannot, but, no matter, You are persistent and ever present to teach me in another hour, another day.

The world will accuse me of all manner of things-- from being too heavenly minded to being a hypocrite. In all cases You are present. Your council before the Father justifies me before Him. I will not treat this lightly, for it required Your sacrifice. I will only offer You praise for Your righteousness. You alone are worthy. Amen.












Day 15. He is our Way.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me (John 14:6).

I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23).

He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way (Psalm 25:9).

As for God, His way is blameless (2 Samuel 22:31a).

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Thy ways (Psalm 119:37).

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing the way in Jesus. By myself I would be lost, but You sent Jesus down to my crooked path and made it His straight path. It is not in my ability to choose the right way, or even to follow it when it is found. But You have decided to walk with me when I placed my faith in Your Son, Jesus. As a result I can be confident that the true way is always before me. I need only trust Your Spirit as He comforts me with Your loving words.

Thank you for casting aside my old nature at the cross. It only led me on the wrong path. Teach me not to remember or to seek the old ways. The world beckons me constantly to take the wrong directions.

Today, dear Jesus, let me walk more closely to Thee. I will not trust in my own understanding or attempt to question Your way. Thank you for the privilege of walking with You. In Your name, Amen.

















Day 16. He is our Truth.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me (John 14:6).

And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth (1 John 5:7).

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth (John 17:17).

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of truth in Jesus. He, Himself, is my truth. There is no other way to seek or to claim truth other than in Him. All of creation cries out for truth, and that truth is constantly with us. We need only to claim it by faith in Jesus.

The world is denying the existence of absolute truth. Many define truth as relative, subject to the bias and limited view of the human mind. But Your way leads to the absolute truth of Jesus. Only that truth can set me free from bondage of the old ways, to the sin of my old nature in Adam, and to the world’s lack of understanding of You. Thank You that I am set-aside for Your sanctifying Spirit, Who also is absolute truth.

Thank you, Jesus, that You are the living Word. You can only speak truth. Your grace has allowed the sharing of this truth, and I thank You today for the precious ways You reveal truth to me.

Lord Jesus; I pray this day with praise to You. Amen.

 

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