Continuing Michael's message, he writes that according to Psalm 31:15 David prayed, “my times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” The “Keep” is the innermost chamber of the medieval castle. This is where the treasure of the kingdom was kept. When the castle was under attack, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, kept the King and Queen protected inside the “Keep.” Likewise, the heart is the innermost chamber of the soul … it is God’s dwelling place, His Holy of Holies. To guard our hearts, we must guard the gates of our minds … We must guard our eye-gate, our ear-gate, our taste-gate, and our feeling-gate. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Moderation according to the Word of God, is self-control. Humility is power under control. A wise man once said that a million wild horses cannot drag me away. For power to be effective, it must be harnessed, guided, and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Harnessing the power of God only comes with humility. I must give up the right to myself… Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” The requirement for salvation is to turn from myself and my own pride and unto Christ. Therefore, set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth… Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth shall grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
In the trials of our life, our prayer should be, “Lord what are you teaching me through this trial? O Lord, mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” In the white-hot crucible of life, with the onslaught of fiery darts in the heat of the battle and the transforming pressure of this life, my prayer is, “Lord, mold me and make me after thy will … while I am malleable, that I may not be conformed to this God-rejecting world’s mold, but that I may be transformed by the renewing of my mind … that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Pride prevents us from acknowledging that we need help. Pride says, “I can make it on my own.” Humility says, in myself I can do nothing. Prayer is the response of a humble heart. Prayer is aligning my heart with Gods heart. Humility says, “delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give the desires of thine heart.” Only then can God work within you to will and to do of His good pleasure … when our delight is His delight and when our good pleasure is His good pleasure. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Overcome evil with good.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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