#38 Children of The Light Heartbeat(27 Jan 2017)
Dear…
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Ezra 8:23
The Bible is replete with this truth, that God is Sovereign and He indeed answers prayers asked in His will.
Life for many of us professed believers is dotted with unanswered prayers, for more often than not, we asked for things aligned to our will rather than our Lordś.
Prayer is not a shopping list, but rather committing to take time to rest and abide in our Lord, to engage in a conversation that might start from our finite mind, and eventually progressing to a heart to heart talk as His Spirit lead us.
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Luke 4:4
The Word of God truly matters, not because it is a depository of great wisdom, but rather, the Word is God. As I immersed myself in reading, pondering and meditating upon the Word of our Lord, His Spirit ministers to me. I am sanctified, my heart realigned and my spirit emboldened and empowered to move forth His way.
Still the imperfect me, there are many a times I dash through the Word of our Lord like a quick bite of breakfast. This will be an exercise in futility for my heart was not with our Lord. We must learn to be still with our Lord.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 23:37
This being the start of the Rooster Year, an apt verse Matthew 23:37 might seem. But today, my thoughts are on the willing rather than the unwilling.
The unwilling will include those who do not believe. As well as those who believe but never moved beyond that to following the leading of the Holy Spirit. We do not work for our salvation but we must work on our salvation.
The thought that our good Lord impressed upon me was this, as determined followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, how does one sense and respond to the still quiet voice of the Lord our God?
For those of us of older vintage, you might have seen how a mother hen leads her flock of chicks. The latter often wandering off instead of staying in line as the matronly hen leads. Yet often than not, cluck it might but it is in its active mothering of the chicks to ensure that they do not stray too far that personifies the love of the mother hen for her brood.
I noticed that through the discipline of taking even more time with our Lord these past one year, distracted as I often can be. I do look forward to the discipline of being in His presence. And I truly believe I sense His prompting that ever more distinctively. And there are times where in my disobeying our Lordś leading, I paid the corrective price for my own folly.
Yet more importantly, God might desire our willing response. But knowing that we are imperfect, He does and will always divinely intervene to bring us back in line, before greater damage is self inflicted upon ourselves.
God indeed knows our every heartbeat. And as spirit eyes are opened to witness His wonderful grace for us, one cannot help but respond with a heartfelt gratefulness that He truly loves us
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
27 Jan 2017
An Afterthought - Silence
(Movie trailer - Silence)
Is God prescience? Yes as always. Thatś the thought that crossed my mind as I watch the short trailer on this Martin Scorsese movie on Christianity in 16th century Japan. A history of persecution that I have become quite familiar with these past 5 years since our Lord led me to Japan. Is God bringing me deeper into Japan, a place I will be most of next week?
Why was God silent in the face of a determined extermination of the Christian faith back in 16th Century Japan?
(The cross - Jesus in China part 1)
Why was God silent in the years of persecution in Communist China?
Where men and women of faith both in Japan and China held their faith despite the huge costs.
Much as this sharing speaks about hearing and responding to the distinct prompting of our good Lord.
There are also times where God seems to have gone off the air, not seeming to care about our difficult circumstances.
Would we be like the faithful men and women in Japan and China who seek Him even more in His Words and in prayers and praise?
Holding on to the truth that He is Sovereign and He loves us and He is not just refining us but protecting us.
