Day 21. He is our Treasure.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).

That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2,3).

Lord Jesus, You are my treasure. You sustain me in the midst of conflicts-- in all of life’s problems, and I will never be forsaken. You are with me in Your Spirit. Although the world teaches me to seek an appearance of wealth on the outside, You teach me to trust in the treasure within my heart. I am here on this earth for the sole purpose of showing You in all that I do.

In days past I have tried to take comfort in my fleshly skills. The praise of the world continually beckons me and traps me into selfish acts. But through it all You were patiently speaking to me about the inner life—the life that comes from You, Jesus. As a result I will not be content with outward appearance. I do not wish to be as a spreading tree, beautiful in foliage, but without roots. The storms of life will cause me to fall unless I am rooted in You.

Today Your treasure will go forth with me. All of Your power needed for this day will be mine by faith. Teach me to respond by turning my so-called strengths over to You. Constantly remind me that even my weaknesses can be used to reveal Your strength. I will not fall into despair nor can I be destroyed. In Your precious name. Amen.


Day 22. He is our Rest.

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:9-11a).

Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a standard for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious (Isaiah 11:10).

Lord Jesus, there is a rest that only You can give. My works are useless before You, but I can rest by faith in Your works. I was created on the sixth day and allowed to enter Your rest on the seventh. So it is today and each day.

Thank You that it does not depend upon my efforts to attain salvation. I believed in You and it was counted as righteousness. I became a new creation by the works of Your hands. And I trust Your Spirit to guide me on this new path of Life.

There is peace in Your rest. I know I am accepted and loved. There is rest in Your security. You have won all the battles, and You have secured for me a sanctuary for all eternity. Thank You that I can enjoy perfect love and fruit of the Spirit within that sanctuary. You have shown a more excellent way. That way is always in You.

Praise to Your holy name. It is the name above all other names, the name of Jesus. Amen.


Day 23. He is our Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me (John 10:14).

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20,21).

Thank You Father, for giving me Jesus as my shepherd. Oh I know that I cannot find my way without His guidance. His staff assures me of His continual presence. If I were to be lost He would search all of creation for me. He has already laid down His life for me.

My earthly ego does not rejoice in being treated like a sheep. But that concept truly describes my condition before I had found Jesus. I cannot discern truth and I cannot love in the proper way without the one great Shepherd taking me in His hands. There is comfort and warmth in His amazing grace. The new creation within me loves to respond to His gentle and persistent call.

I know that I will be led beside still waters—even in the midst of the world’s complexity. Your strength can face all issues, and Jesus will always be ready to express His life within me. He will be holding me when I am inclined to fail. And always He will be teaching me Your ways as we walk together. Let me respond in love and faith to all of Your instructions. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

.
Day 24. He is our Eternal Dwelling

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:5,6).

And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb (Revelation 21:23).

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6b).

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).

I have been blessed beyond all measure, for my eternal dwelling place is in Jesus. He is already seated at the right hand of the Father, and I am seated with him. Amazing grace, how can it be? I will spend an eternity learning at His side.

You have shown us, Jesus, that all creation is in You. Our earthly minds can not grasp this, and even the mind of Christ, that we have been given, struggles for comprehension. We marvel at all of this, but at the same time we find great comfort and joy. For we are with the One who alone matters above all others. The Father has given all honor and praise to the Son. We can do no less.

Today, Jesus, I ask that You continually remind me of my citizenship in Heaven. I am in this world but not of it. Let me not be contaminated by the world’s ways, and do not let me use the world’s standards for my daily values. You alone are the worthy one, and I thank You that I am in Jesus. Amen.


And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance, and around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty- four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads (Revelation 4:3,4).

 

                                        Back