Mood:  quizzical

S.

Romans 14:19,20 (AMP) So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.

You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed [ceremonially] clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats.

O.

As a result of knowing how and what to do or not to do before others, try to earnestly seek after the things that make harmony and tranquility in the souls of others (showing that we are assured in Christ's salvation, that we fear nothing from God, and demonstrating contentment with our earthly lot). Earnestly seek after the things that improve and teach morality and spiritual improvement...being construtive and showing wisdom, piety, happiness, and holiness as confirmation of God's freedom in you. 

 For teaching and promoting spiritual welfare doesn't halt a Believer's journey through life, depriving it of success. It doesn't deprive the success of God's business or accomplishments; the product of His work. Instead, EVERYTHING, in fact, is free from corruption, sin and guilt...EVERYTHING is innocent. But it is what OCCUPIES ONES ATTENTION OR THOUGHTS, destructively, that can be harmful and consume the soul. THIS is what causes humans to sin. THIS is what comes through in our actions in front of others.

A.

What consumes our thoughts is what causes us to act in the way we do. If our thoughts are destructive, ungodly and not of godly thoughts, then our actions show that. THESE are what can cause others to sin, tripping up their Christian walk. The actions of one Believer in front of another can cause a HUGE ROADBLOCK in the path, the "WAY", toward spiritual growth. Although Paul says that there is not one thing that is wrong in our actions (we are innocent in all things), it is what we let our mind be consumed on that is wrong. If our thoughts hold ANYTHING in priority over God, than THAT is what consumes our souls. Our actions reflect what our mind thinks. Others observe this in us and it causes them to question what they have believed, especially if they are a new Believer. We could cause a "ROADBLOCK" in their way, that blocks their spiritual growth and instead makes them question what is Truth. Instead, we should be a "ROAD SIGN" that points to the path and causes spiritual growth, wisdom, knowledge and a closer relationship with Jesus....all by the way that our actions reflect what is inside our minds.

P.

Father, set my soul with YOU as my priority. Help me to never put anything or anyone above You, Father. Keep me mindful of my actions before others. Don't let me be a ROADBLOCK to others, but to be a ROAD SIGN instead!

Mood:  incredulous

S.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

O.

As a result of work ceasing, and our weariness giving up to falling to sleep...and that these things grow with time....as a result of these things, the set time to abstane from these is ready and imminent. We are now to put aside these 'products/results of blindness'..the 'shade that causes blindness to intercept the Light'.

It's now the time to invest in proof of God/the Light. It's time to BE the clear evidence of God. it's time to clothe ourselves as the 'instrument of warfare' and of the 'power of understanding moral and spiritual truths'. 

A.

This scripture is saying that time has caused humanity's 'work and weariness' to grow; we think we have to work to get into God's good graces and grow more and more tired with this work as time goes on, working harder and harder and growing more and more tired. This causes us to be blinded to God's truth, obscuring our spiritual vison. But God says NOW is the time to become His proof that we KNOW morality and the Truth! Now is the time to put on that armor that helps us to fight the darkness. That armor is moral Truth! This gives evidence of God and we become that evidence. We become the Light because we hold the Light inside of us.

P.

Make me YOUR evidence, Lord! Clothe me with Your shining armor of Truth.

Mood:  lucky

S.

 Romans 11:29,36 (AMP) 

 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]

 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).

O.

The reason that God ingrained into man FINAL and UNCHANGABLE natural talents, along with the inner drive to move into action (a stirring up with excitement) by God, is for these things to be  proofs to show to humanity (give humans the oppinion in their minds) that all things and every person proceeds from Him; that all things and every person exist on account of Him (it was HIS idea); and all things and every person go toward Him, in time, place and purpose...ending in Him.

A.

God gave every human being 'talents'. He gave us 'natural abilities' as favors and unmerited gifts. We didn't earn these 'talents'. He gave them to us to make us happy and full of gratitude to Him. God truly wants us happy and satisfied as proof that He loves us.

God also gave us an 'inner drive' to use these 'natural abilities'. Have you ever noticed that when you use your 'talent' you get inner joy? God wants us ALWAYS happy. Our happiness reflects HIM!

These 'gifts' are generated FROM Him, and are in us BECAUSE of Him (His love for us), and are completed FOR (HIS purpose), His glory!

They end with HIM as the purpose of having them, giving proof to all around us that we are loved by our Father, God!

Talents? Incentive? Our happiness is His joy, because He IS the joy within us!

P.

Father, reflect Your joy through my 'talents' and incite Your action in me! Thank You for Your joy, Your gifts, Your 'stirring up' inside of me. Reflect Yourself through my joy....You make me SO happy! Never let me forget that YOU are the 'from', 'because', and 'for' of ALL my joy!

Mood:  lucky

S.

Romans 10:4 (NKJ) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

O.

Jesus, God's Anointed One, was sent for this exact purpose by God. Jesus was the Aim, Purpose, and Result of the 'perscription given by God from His logical thinking for being uncorrupted by evil'. Jesus is sent to everyone who is certain of God, relies on God and trusts in God, believing that God exists and is the Creator.

A.

God knows what is best for us. Through God's logical thinking, He knew that the only way we could be 'uncorrupted by evil' would be to follow His Perscription. The 'Result' of His Perscription, was Jesus. Jesus IS our 'Perscription' to being 'uncorrupted by evil'. So, HOW do we take this 'Perscription'? How do we accept and receive that 'Perscription'? By being totaly self-certain that THIS IS THE ANSWER to getting closer to God, totally relying on what God has 'logically thought out', and being unreserved in our surety in God and His ways. We take the 'trust test' with God. We totally let go and allow Him to 'catch us'. He knows best. He created us and 'logically thought out' what is our Perscription for right living; Jesus.

The results of our Trust Test? Falling right in the arms of Jesus!

P.

Father, show me how to trust in You more. I thank You that You are smarter than I am, have reasoned all things out in my life, and have given me Your Final Answer in my personal perscription to living; JESUS!

Mood:  energetic

S.

Romans 9:31,32 (NKJ) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

O.

Israel means 'Those who Prevail/rule with God'. That's US! If we haven't become 'honest, just and right', then we are pursuing the wrong 'Way'. If we are trying to 'fill up our time' with the action of being 'honest, just and right' with God, then we are being 'tripped up' and caused to sin.

We can't DO anything to be close to God.

That is why, thinking as human-beings, we try to 'fill up our time' with works, acts and deeds' that we think will get us into right standing with God. If we keep our minds and hands busy WE CAN GET INTO RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD BY OURSELVES. NOT SO! That's SATAN'S TACTICS!

Our job, as human beings, is to TRUST in what Jesus, the Son of God, has already completed for us...we rest in that...and then allow that 'resting place' to fill our minds and our actions with what pleases God. THAT is our 'occupation' and what should be filling the time and space in our lives.

A.

There is a episode of the 'Flintstones' that parallels what I see in this scripture.

A 'Boy Scout' is trying to earn badges by doing 'good deeds'. He thinks he can earn more badges by the more deeds he does. The results is that he helps the same old lady to cross the street, over and over again, even if that isn't the direction she is needing to go. He is 'forcing' a good deed in order to get his 'feel good' badge.

Did he listen to what direction she REALLY needed to go? No...he didn't ask.

Yes, he earned his 'feel good' badge, but he didn't get any closer to pleasing that old lady because he didn't ask where SHE wanted to go. He couldn't 'work' his way into her heart. He did his deed to please himself...to earn that badge and be 'known'.

Like this 'Boy Scout', we think we can fill our time and space with good deeds to get closer to God. WE CAN'T! We may look good to man and feel good about what WE did, but that doesn't get us closer to God. Jesus already did all we need to get us closer to God. And we only need to ask HIM what and where we need to do and be to please God. He'll show us the way!

P.

Father, take away the 'badge' of of self-earned good deeds. Place in my heart the faith I need to rely on what Your Son has already done in order that I'm in right standing with You. Holy Spirit, remind me to ask what GOD wants, and not what MAN wants.

Mood:  incredulous

S.

Romans 8:5,6 (AMP) For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.

6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever.
O.

If we seek God's mind and the way that HE thinks, and if we don't pursue the way a man things without God's influence, then we will carry HIS Spirit with us; His character, His personality, His power. We also will have a mind full of rest, harmony, safety and prosperity. Seeking God's mind, His Spirit, should be our preference, our #1 quest in life. If we think with the mind of Christ, we will forever be in God's favor.
A.

I know the difference in thinking 'without the influences of God's thoughts', because that's when I BELIEVE THE LIES OF SATAN! BUT when I allow God's Spirit, His mind, to take over my thoughts, I have peace and joy and I know what He is saying to me...I hear HIS THOUGHTS! I also know HIS character...and when His character, His Spirit, lives in my head, then I think the thoughts that rule my life in peace, joy and righteousness.
P.

Father, thank You for Your very own Spirit being in my head! Help me to practice and pursue continually YOUR thoughts over my own. Invade me with YOUR thinking, Father, for that is where true living is!

Mood:  incredulous

S.

Romans 7:24,25 (NKJ)

 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

O.

God's 'prescription' for us comes through His Word. God's 'prescription' is for the feeding of our minds and souls in order that they would 'grow' and not 'die'. God prescribed the Way to feeding our souls so that we could be intimate with Him, healing our souls and spirits BEFORE our soul separates from our body in death. He has shown us the 'course' on how to keep our soul alive, through His Word and His Son; the Way to keeping alive and whole in our soul and spirit so we can be eternally intimate with God...our Source.

The 'human/animal nature' of man resists God's 'prescription' (His Law). Even though God has given us the answer to being totally whole in body, mind/soul, and spirit, the sensuous nature of man resists. This is another word for 'sin'....man's resistance to God's 'prescription' for him.

The only way to be completed and possess an eternal soul/spirit is to obediently yield to God's Way...to His 'prescription' for our lives. He's God, the Creator of man, and He knows what we need; to be intimate with Him. That can only happen if we obediently yield to what He has prescribed for us. We must yield our thinking to His. We have 'animal minds'. He has THE 'Divine mind'. Our thinking must yield to His prescription. We will then become whole and complete and in intimacy with Him....TOTALLY SATISFIED!

A.

My thinking has SO much to do with being 'satisfied'. God's prescription for my life is full of His thoughts and His ways. Why wouldn't the One who created me know what I need? The key to satisfaction is His 'prescription' for my life; to think HIS thoughts, to feel with HIS heart, to walk in HIS ways. These are all prescribed to me through the Bible; God's very Words. Applying HIS prescription to my life, personally, through His Word, HEALS MY WHOLE BEING...body, mind and spirit!

So, each day, I rub on and roll in His Word. I'm applying HIS PRESCRIPTION for personal satisfaction and healing...I'm APPLYING GOD'S WORD TO MY LIFE!...and my soul is being fed for life!

P.

Mood:  bright

S.

Romans 6:7,8 (AMP) For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.

O.

For he that has completed his life and has come to an end, is innocent and just from the mistakes of the living.

Beyond this statement, if we have been completed and have come to and end WITH Chirst, the 'Anointed One', then we have confidence and trust in (HOPE) that we connect to Him as to passing life in the same manner, character and actions as He did; He who is 'The Living'.

A.

I see much HOPE in this scripture! The conficence and hope that I have in Jesus, causes the 'me' inside of me to die. And through that death, I live more fully in true life. I live in the same manner, character and actions that He has...NOW...because He lives in and through me. But I must die to 'self' in order that He may live.

This scripture can also connect to us when we have a loved-one die...for that loved-one is now free from the sins of the living. They can now be considered truly free from making any more mistakes of the living. They are now considered innocent, because no more 'offenses' can be acted on, as when in the earthly flesh. They are now free from sinning.

P.

HOPE! Thank You, Father, for the Hope of Your Son! Help me to die to 'me'...complete the old me, Father...and help me to live fully through Your Son! Live through ME, Jesus! You are my HOPE!

Mood:  happy

S.

Psalm 136:25 (NKJ) Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O.

God constitutes/sets 'bread' (the 'Word of God', His Son, Jesus) as our 'Source of Nourishment' for our whole being. (physical and spiritual) This is in order that the whole person would be gladdened with 'good news', and that the 'good news' would be multiplied through us. The results: God's goodness, kindness, faithfulness and beauty would be everlasting through His creation; humanity.

A.

God's Word is for all of me, both inside and out. When I nourish myself by reading God's Word, my whole being is filled with the 'good news'. I realize that God has put this Word into my fleshly world so that in all things I can see and know His beauty; His love and kindness toward me, personally. When He touches me this way, I go through my life with His inner and outer gladness; I am thoroughly happy. What could spread His 'Good News' better than a person who glows with the joy of God?

P.

Father, You thought of everything! You knew that when You make me happy inside, it would flow to the outside for Your glory! Shine through me, Lord. Without me speaking a word, spread Your 'Good News' through me. I can not contain Your joy!

Mood:  happy

S.

Psalm 135:10-12 (NKJ) ...Who (GOD) smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

Sihon='violent anger, emotions and behaviors that ruled the 'rebeller' in man

Amorite=a rebel/ rebeller

Og=eternal, spiritual nourishment

Bashan=fruitfulness; getting wisdom/understanding

Canaan=humilitated

O.

Looking at this scripture, through a spiritual sense, this has to do with what God has done for us, spiritually. He destorys inner 'demons' and man's own ways...the 'heathen' in the 'inner-man'.

This is how I deciphered these scriptures through types, symbols and deffinitions of words:

God slayed numerous strong heathens...those who are unenlightened and don't acknowledge God. God also destroyed numerous and powerful counsels; those who were reigning the 'behaviors' of the 'rebeller' that is in the 'inner-man'/spirit. He destroyed the 'eternal, spritual nourishment' with it's wisdom and understanding that was in the fleshly part of man. He slayed all the dominions of humiliation and then He 'set' the 'Way' for a possession/inheritance for 'those who prevail with God'...HIS people.

A.

What this is saying to me is that God has conquered ALL the inner evil inside of man; the influences of satan and his co-horts. We need to feed our spirits on God's spiritual enlightenment...His Word and His Spirit!

When I was saved, accepting Jesus as the Lord of my life, my whole life changed...I was a differnet me...from the inside out. God had destroyed all those things listed above, that had influenced and 'ruled' my inner-man.

Once I accepted Jesus as the ruler of my life, God conquered all satan's influences inside of me...the ones that ruled me from my birth because of Adam's fall. (we were born with 'sin' and influences from satan automatically rule human-beings unless we choose Jesus!) I went from a 'heathen' to a 'prevailer' in a matter of seconds....because that's just the way God is. He wants me more than I want Him...when we decide He is our Lord, He possesses us, changes us, in a matter of a nano-second.

P.

Father; I thank You that You have conquered and distroyed the 'heathen' in me! Thank You that I am now called by Your name...YOUR character...help me NOT to destroy or desicrate that. Help me to Prevail with YOU as Your chosen one!