"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" Isaiah 40:31.

As the gross darkness increases, those who are walking in close relationship with their Lord will stand out as being 'peculiar.' The difference will not manifest in their outward appearance. The casual observer will not see anything desirable in them. What will make them different from the masses around them; will be the abiding presence of the Spirit of God... within them. They will begin to look 'peculiar'... because they are not consumed with the things that are happening, that have captured everyone else's rapt attention. Their lives do not revolve around the political, economic changes that are taking place. They are not swayed by personalities. They are being brought to the place in Christ, where they know that these things must come to pass, but these things are not the end of all things... only the instrument God is using to work 'HIS will' among men. These events only confirm what the Spirit of God has already revealed to them, that the only place of safety is found in their personal relationship with God. They have learned to reverentially fear the Lord, and to patiently wait for Him...

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee" Psalms 33:18-22.

"In your patience possess ye your souls", Luke 21:19.

Their hope is no longer in the 'arm of the flesh'...they no longer lean on their own understanding. How did this come about?

This happens today, the same way it came about in the lives of the disciples... "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" Luke 24:45.

Only the Spirit of God can accomplish this monumental task. Those who are following 'the Lamb' have learned "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" 1 Corinthians 1:19.

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" 1 John 4:17.

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" John 4:23-24.

I remember years ago wondering if we really understood what Jesus was saying in the above verses. It is not what worship leaders do with carefully orchestrated songs that are arranged in such away to "lead" the people into a "state" of worship in churches every Sunday morning. But rather it is worshiping him with our very lives.

The Lord "...desirest truth in the inward parts..."(Psalms 51:6). Let us not be as the those the Lord speaks of "this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:" (Isaiah 29:13). "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue" Psalms 5:9.

I will worship in Spirit and in Truth

Teach me discipline, to meditate on You

You gave up Your life, I must give my all to You

Remove the veil so I can see

Crush the pride that has blinded me

Forgive my hidden faults and bring the fear of God

Until Your dread's in me

Grant me grace to see my wickedness

You must increase while I become less

Keep Your servant from willful sin

So I'll stand blameless before Your throne.

['Cry For Humility' - Darren]

If our hearts desire is to walk as Jesus walked; to set the captives free; to be 'as he is in this world'... there is but one way... we must come into total agreement with God's ways.

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

We must follow Christ all the way, holding nothing back. He is our example. Man says 'do as I say, not as I do.' Jesus is the only man to ever live a pure, undefiled life. He is the only one we are commanded to follow. His every word and action are the example we are to follow.

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" John 12:49-50.

Once we fully grasp the concept that it is not about us, while it is all about GOD, then we can truly begin to follow Christ. He alone knows what lies hidden in the recesses of our hearts... that needs to be brought forth that we might be cleansed and made over in His very image. As we die to our 'old man' and begin to be transformed from within, we will be shaped into vessels fit for the Master's use... that we might be 'as he is in this world.'

Amen & Amen

Cathy Morris & Becky Hayes

11/8/2008