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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

begin a new work in me...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think that one of the things I love most about walking with God is that He is continually teaching me. He is continually growing me up spiritually. There is always more knowledge to glean. More of Him to discover. More of His power to tap into. More of me to decrease.

I read a quote by Oswald Chambers that said, "Begin to know Him now, and finish never."  That spoke so loudly to my heart that I wrote it on an index card and carry it in my bible.

We can never be so learned in the things of God that we know all there is to know. There will always be something more that He longs to show us. There will always be new things that He desires to reveal to us. But we have to be open and receptive to His timing and His will.

In our passionate pursuit of Him, we have to yield to our Father. That's not always an easy thing to do. I can be impatient in my quest for desiring more of His Presence in my life. I want things now and sometimes God has things for me to learn before He is ready to take me to the next level of my walk. There may be things in my spiritual life that need to be refined before God can entrust me with more.

He has shown me this past month that I need to be more focused on satisfying Him. Too many times I realize I am trying to satisfy my flesh when I need to be crucifying it instead. My goal needs to be bringing my Savior glory. Is He the one that I am pleasing? Is He the one that my words honor?

"I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4)

Just as Jesus knew that His life had to bring glory to the Father, I know that God deserves and expects the same out of my life.

I learned this past month that I need to allow God to continue to mold me and change me into what He desires for me to be. I need to be seeking more desperately to reach my full potential in Him. I need to read the Word more passionately. Study the scriptures more intently. Embrace my prayer life more greedily.

I want more. I need more.

"And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

I've learned that there is no place we can go and be hidden from God. He is always there. He is there in the good times and the bad times. He is there in our praises and in our despair. He is in our weakness and our strength. God is always right there, ready to reach down and minister to our hearts and our needs.

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:24)

And what is God showing me now? Nobody is beyond the reach of God's infinite grace. Oh, praise You, Jesus, for this.  I am so thankful that we are all within grasping distance of God's mighty Hands. We are never too far out of His reach. He is always there, ready to rescue. Ready to receive. Ready to restore. When He hears our humble cry of confession, repentance or surrender, He is there.

"And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return unto me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7)

I seek to go to a higher place with my Lord. I desire to walk more intimately with my Savior. I want a heart that yearns deeply for the things of Christ. I want to bring Him glory in all that I do, to be focused on satisfying Him and Him only.

I am ready for Him to begin a new work in me. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, go wherever he leads and follow Him all the days of my life.

Seeking Him with a new passion,
Beth

19 comments:

Aliene said...

Hi Beth, I have the same desire and have been examining my heart. The little chorus we sing says it all:
I want more of Jesus
More and more and more,
I want more of Jesus
More than I've had before.
I want more of Jesus
So I'll give Him more of me.

Have a blessed day!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Yes and Amen...knowing Him more! My hearts cry also.

Loren said...

Begin to know HIM now, and finish never!
OHHHH I LOVE that!!! I am guilty of the same ~ satisfying my flesh ~ and I too have asked the Lord for forgiveness and awareness to change that! Only through the Power of the Holy Spirit can I be pleasing to HIM!

And with the love and encouragement of friends who are "like minded" :) Love you Beth! Thank you for being one of those friends!

Anonymous said...

I love that God says He will come to us in the desert. We all have our own desert places, and God's grace is able to penetrate each one of us!

You're right about understanding the fullness of God -- it will never end! I'm glad we are both trying to know our God together!

secondofwett said...

Hi Beth,,,thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging words. It means a lot to me.

Yolanda said...

Oh Beth, it is like you are residing inside of me right now. While I know that I am not perfect, and will NOT be this side of heaven, I truly and deeply desire to allow Him to have all of me and His word to be applied to my life. That I leave changed for the better every single time from spending time in His presence.

That others will come to know Him, because of what He is doing in me.

That seeking Him more, abiding in Him to receive His unmeasurable peace, to be found bringing glory to Him....oh that is my heart's desire.

Lovingly-

Kathleen said...

You're in good company, sister. I can almost hear Isaiah saying again: Here I am; send me!

The process of growth is so amazing. We never arrive. And the more we learn, or the more we experience Him, the more we realize how much we don't know; and how much more of Him we desire.

Simply amazing.

Gret post!
Kathleen

Nana Jul said...

Thank you LORD, for showing me and growing me! Even in the craziness of constant change, even in the midst of sickness, even in the seemingly endless maze of life...show us, grow us..never give up on us! In Jesus mighty name I pray...Amen!
May we always be thirsty for more of Jesus! Awesome post Beth...thankyou!
Love,
Julie

Dawning Inspiration said...

I'm realizing that God is growing me up, too - as I mature spiritually He teaches me more! Thankfully!

Unknown said...

Your blog and the comments from others is very thought provoking and true. Thank you for posting this.
God Bless all that you do in His Name. - Nita

NanaNor's said...

Beth, All I can say is AMEN to this. Powerful; I loved that no one is beyond His grace. So reassuring.
Hugs and much love.
Noreen

achildoftheking said...

Amen, Praise God... I love it.. I love the Lord!

Jeanette Levellie said...

This is my heart's desire also: less of me and more of Jesus. Thanks for the sweet and poignant reminder, dear one.

Jen

Stephanie M. Page said...

Oh! Yes! He is always teaching, leading, revealing...and the greatest and best prayer we can pray is for his glory! yes yes!

Beth in NC said...

Oh friend, the scripture that has been in my heart for 2011 is DENY YOURSELF, pick up your cross and follow Me ...

I have been working on the "deny myself" part especially.

I'm with you! I want to draw closer. I want to be a sweet aroma to my Lord!

Love & hugs to you!
Beth

NanaNor's said...

Hi Beth, I read this yesterday and loved it as much as today!!!
I've high lighted you today on my blog so drop on by dear friend.
Love you sis.
Noreen

Anonymous said...

Sister Beth

I thank God that He keeps chipping away at the pride in my life and continues to conform me into the image of His beloved Son. It's a never ending process this side of heaven.

Praise His Holy Name!!!

~Ron

Sherri said...

Just adding my AMEN !!

pam said...

It seems to be the season. I'm hearing things from all sorts of people that I haven't heard since the 70's and those were CRAZY Jesus freak years that rooted and established many of us. I'm realizing that we need to be a church of the New Testament....living the grace, no longer the laws. Pressing in...may your abiding with Him grow sweeter and sweeter.