That I May Know Him

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death"

Philippians 3:10

For the past few weeks I have been craving more of Jesus.  When I awake in the morning I long to spend time in prayer.  It doesn't matter how tired I am or not even the fact that I have may not have gotten much sleep the night before.  But I vowed that I would not talk to anyone in the morning until I have talked with Him.  Inside my heart lies this desire so hungry to know Him that it's unexplainable to many people.  I find myself turning off the television now because I want so badly to hear from God.  I want to get in the bible more.  I want to pray more.  As a matter of fact, the television is almost distinct in my home now.  The more and more I crave the Word of God, the more distant television becomes. 

I've been finding all the books that I can on Jesus.  I've been consuming my mind and thoughts with sermons that focus on drawing close to Him.  I would like to just share a few of the scriptures that have really been ministering to me lately.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer"

Psalms 19:14

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village:  and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her"

Luke 10:38-42

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled"

Matthew 5:6

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you"

James 4:8

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart"

Jeremiah 29:12-13

These are just a few of the scriptures that I have been clinging onto recently.  I pray these scriptures.  I take them into the prayer closet with me and I lay them before God.  There is something so powerful about the Word of God.  It is life to you if you just speak it out.  I know that pretty soon I will get my hearts' desire.  I'm not quitting and I'm not letting go.  My soul is parched.  Sometimes it feels as if my very heart will burst from my chest.  Through all my busy days I find myself just wanting to get alone with God.  I can't remember ever feeling this way before.  Back in the early 90's I had a wonderful experience with God.  It was during this time that the Lord laid on me a spirit of prayer such as I never had.  I walked some high heights in the Holy Spirit.  The power and presence of God was all around me.  But what He is doing now is a new thing.  I've been praying for God to really give His people a new experience; a new walk; a new dedication.  To take us back to our first love.  But that will be borne out of a true heart of repentance.  When Jesus spoke to the Church at Epesus in Revelation He told them to remember from the place they had fallen, and then to repent.  Sometimes it's hard for us Christians to do that.  To repent.  We think because we go to church every Sunday and because we shout and speak in tongues that we are okay.  We may not be on our way to hell but many of us have left our first love.  We no longer feel that what we did to get saved that we have to continue doing the same thing to stay saved.  We are in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and we must never get to the place where we are comfortable.  We must continue to hunger and thirst to know more of Jesus.  Our natural body craves water.  It craves food.  And we don't deny ourselves these things.  We should not deny ourselves to crave and hunger for Jesus.  We are in a constant tug of war with Satan.  We must never let our guard down.   We have to stand up to the devil. 

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you"

James 4:7

When I was a little girl growing up, and before I knew any better I use to think that verse was saying to run from the devil and to not put up any resistance.  I thought it meant that if I didn't pay any attention to what the devil was doing, that he would eventually just leave me alone and find somebody else to mess with.  But as I grew older I learned that to resist means "to set against" and "to withstand".  It certainly doesn't mean to do absolutely nothing  and ignore him.  We must never turn our backs to Satan.  We have to withstand him and we do that through much prayer and staying in the Word of God.  That's our armour and ammunition. 

We are living in those perilous days Apostle Paul talked about in 2 Timothy.  It's time for us to really ask God to take us back to our first love and to put a hunger and thirst in us as never before.  I'm convinced that this is the only way that we are going to make it in these last days.  I pray that each of us all find our place in God.  We have to get to know Him for ourselves.  We have to know that He will be on board through all our storms.  We need not fear anything that is happening in the world today.  Jesus is standing at the door and He's knocking.  Are we going to let Him in?  Are we craving to know Him?  Lord, please help us to know You more and more.





Walking In Forgiveness

                                                                                                                  

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.  The servant fell on his knees before him, "Be patient with me," he begged, 'and I will pay you back everything.'  The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.  But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denari.  He grabbed him and began to choke him.  'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.  His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'  But he refused.  Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.  Then the master called the servants in.  'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'  In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.  This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

St. Matthew 18:23-35

This parable ministers to me most when I begin to walk in a spirit of not wanting to forgive someone.  I remember a few years ago I had a quarrel with one of my coworkers.  I became angry at her because I had walked into the company break room where she and others were sitting and I'd said hello.  Either she answered me very low or didn't answer me at all.  Whatever the case I told myself that that was the last time I speak to her.  I stuck to my guns and didn't speak to her for over a year.  Our animosity fueled the fire so much that I also stopped speaking to her husband, her sister, and anyone that she had close contact with.  We would be in the same room together and none of us were speaking to each other.  Needless to say, it was a miserable environment.  I vowed that I would never forgive her.  I would never again speak to any of them!  But God's words began to speak clearly to me.  "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins"  Matthew 6:14  Though I clearly heard God speaking to me I still rebelled.  I knew that it would take God to truly touch my heart to forgive my coworkers.  But it didn't happen overnight.  In my heart I truly wanted to forgive this woman but my flesh kept rebelling.  It was during the summer not too much later after that when I was compelled to seek God in a time of fasting and prayer.  And during this time the Lord changed my heart and put in me a spirit of forgiveness.  Ten days later I felt like a new person.  I felt something had really changed inside of me.  I remember seeing the same woman in the bathroom after this and just saying simply "hello" to her.  I saw something lifted from her.  She said hello back to me and we made up right there.  We hugged each other and vowed to never let something ever come between our friendship again.  I also made up with her husband and sister.  She told me a day later that when I spoke to her that she felt something lifted off her.  She felt such freedom.  And I did as well.  All of the resentment and strife that we'd had was instantly healed.  And we never let anything else come between our friendship.

When we forgive others we truly free ourselves from much heartache and misery.  It breaks yokes and allows us to move on with our lives.  Unforgiveness traps us.  It keeps us bound down and enslaved.  It opens the door to many more sins and the devil knows this.  No wonder Jesus taught us to forgive.

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins"

St. Mark 11:25-26

When I think of the price that Jesus paid for me it makes it easier for me to walk in forgiveness.  If you're in a position today where you have to forgive someone take this into consideration.  And remember that you can never really move forward until you have come to peace with forgiving that person.  Some hurts are worse than others  There will be instances when you will have to really allow Jesus to help to see you through all the pain and hurt that someone may have done to you.  I'm not going to stand here and say that will be an easy task because I know that it isn't.  But it will truly make you feel better to get it out of your system and then just move on.  Don't be fooled by the devil that it can't be done and that you can never forgive someone.  If it wasn't possible then Jesus wouldn't have told us that we must forgive.  I've seen some people so bitter and vow that they will never forgive someone for what they did to them.  They say that they will go to their grave hating that person.  And in many cases they do.  They end up worrying and walking in so much anger and bitterness that they end up with a stroke or heart attack and die as a cause of that hate.  It may not be easy but give that load and burden to Jesus and He will heal all the hurt and pain.  

(Jesus forgives all our sins when we repent)

 

When I think of the price that Jesus paid for me and how many things that He has forgiven me for it truly helps me to walk in forgiveness.  I'm sure that I will be faced with many more opportunities that I will have to forgive others who are indebted to me.  There will be times when you will have to as well.  But we can't do it in our own strength.  We truly need Jesus to help us.  And He will.  Go to Jesus and ask Him to help guide you when someone has wronged you.  Ask Him to remove all the bitterness, anger, and resentment out of your heart.  You may be fuming when you pray this, but Jesus truly will help you.  He has been there for me when people who I thought would never hurt me, did.  He will be there for you as well.  He doesn't want us held back by walking in unforgiveness.  Let Him lead and guide you today.

PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL (PART 2)

"And He came out, and went, as He wont, to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him.  And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him"

St. Luke 22: 39-43

When we pray according to the Father's will, we will always find that His strength awaits us and He will give us peace in our prayers that He will answer us in accordance to what's best for us.  We may not understand right away, but we will be at peace in the process of His working.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world; but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

Romans 12: 1-2

We know that it's the Father's will for us to live and completely serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  He seeks not a sacrifice of goats and bulls anymore, but a mind void of worldly living and total obedience to Him.  We won't go wrong when we pray according to His word and walk in obedience to what it says.  (Psalm 119:105)  How wonderful it is to know that when we pray according to His will that God will be delighted to answer our prayers.

PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL (PART 1)

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us:  And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him"

I John 5: 14-15

Sometimes we can ask God for things that are out of His will.  I know that I have done this many times.  I have wanted and desired for things that were not good for me.  In many of these instances I did not get what I asked for.  I'm so thankful.  Prayers went unanswered and at the time of the asking I didn't know why, but the LORD showed it to me by and by.  That's why it's so important when we pray and ask for anything, we must do it according to the Father's will.  Sometimes that may not be easy to do, but it is a necessity.

As a child I did not always get everything from my parents that I asked them for.  They were my parents and they knew what I needed and could handle much better than I did.  Though I pouted and wanted to have things my way, my cries and tantrums didn't work.  It's the same with our Heavenly Father.  He always knows what's best for us.  He is an omnipotent, sovereign God.

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising.  Thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways"

Psalm 139: 2-3

If God formed us then surely He knows everything there is to know about us.  Sometimes though we think we know more than God and try to rationalize in our minds why we deserve something when we really have no idea why we want certain things.  For many years I felt isolated and that God didn't want me to be as happy as my friends because they all had families and stable careers.  I started to crave marriage because I wasn't getting any younger and felt I should be married by a certain age.  Even though I did eventually marry later in life, there were many years prior to that when I can remember having feelings of envy against people I knew who had loving spouses and nice homes.  The LORD knew that I wasn't ready for marriage and that it was only one of my many lusts of the flesh.  I can see clearly now why my prayers for a mate were not immediately answered.  God knows our future and He always knows what's best for us.  That's why it's so important to pray, "Lord, let thine will be done in my life.  You know best what I need.  Help me not to walk in the lust of my own flesh, but according to what You will."

HOLD FAST UNTIL THE END

"But he that shall endure until the end, the same shall be saved"

Matthew 24:13

This morning during my walk, I noticed something about my dogs.  They are all so gung ho and antsy in the beginning of my walk, and can usually be found nearby.  But, as I continue to walk for 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes they have long since retreated to the back porch of home, or to some shady area to cool off.  They couldn't hang with me until the end.  They started out with me, but gave up somewhere along the way.

On this journey there will be many that will start out with you.  They will have good intentions of finishing, but because of the strain of the journey, they will quit.  The storms and trials of life becomes unbearable.  Instead of pressing on to attain the goal set for the race, they give up because it gets too hard.  The LORD is looking for those soldiers who will endure until the end.  Those who are steadfast and hold firmly in their faith in Him.

Let's be real, things will get difficult.  The road will get rocky.  People who you once trusted to be there for you will walk away.  Friends will become enemies.  Will you want to give up?  Yes!  Will there be pains and sorrows?  Yes!  Will you feel that you are in this alone sometimes?  Yes!  But, be like-minded as the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

I don't know how many times I've sat and cried and the words wouldn't come.  All I could do was lift my eyes and soul up to the LORD and He calmed all my fears and rejuvenated me for the journey.  Just as He sustained the prophet Elijah when he fled from the wrath of evil Jezebel who was having all the prophets killed, and Elijah having to flee for his life to the wilderness, God sent an angel to give him food and water because, the LORD said, "Elijah, the journey is too great for you."

When I pray and read the Word of God, I don't care what I might be going through at the time, God always comes through.  When people who started with you change and suddenly become your enemy, take courage and hold on to a God who never changes.  Listen and obey when He speaks to your heart.

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent:  has He said, and shall He not do it?  or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

Numbers 23:19

Hang in there, fellow soldiers.  Don't give up now.  Your greatest victory lies just up the road ahead.  Keep looking unto Him who is the Author and Finisher of your faith.  Amen!

TAKE YOUR BURDENS TO THE LORD

There's an old spiritual hymn, written by Charles A. Tindley, called 'Leave It There', that I really love.

Leave it there, leave it there

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;

If you trust and never doubt,

He will surely bring you out

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Troubles abound in this world that we live in, and man are at a loss for words in how to handle them.  But, we serve a God that knows all about our pains and sorrows.  All we have to do is come to Him.

There will be times when you may not know which way is up and which way is down.  Problems will arise, and there will seem to be no end to your storms.  In those times of distress, call upon the Lord.  Many times I have experienced deep heartaches.  Friends were nowhere to be found.  Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where only God can help us.  Though people may really mean well, there are some pains that only God can heal.  The writer of this Psalm probably was in that place.

"In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me" (Psalm 120:1) KJV

Distress is described as extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.  Some of us know all too well what extreme pain and sorrow feels like.  There will be times in our lives when we find ourselves in this place.  Then is the appropriate time to give it to the Lord.  Put your full confidence and faith in Him.  You are not alone in your suffering, though the devil would have you to believe that you are.  He is a liar and the father of lies.  Jesus cared enough to give His life on the cross.  He bore all of our pains and sorrows.  Put down all of those heavy loads, and stop trying to carry them all by yourself.  Take all of your burdens to the Lord, and leave them there.  

THE LORD WILL BLESS AND KEEP YOU

"The LORD bless you, and keep you.  The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.  The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,and give you peace"

Numbers 6:24-26

My mother taught me from a very young age about Jesus Christ.  I don't remember many days growing up that I didn't have a relationship with Him.  There has been some highs and lows, but one thing that has always remained constant is my love for Christ.  As I grew older that love only deepened as I learned to lean and depend upon Him more.  I was thinking this morning after prayer that if I could pass anything along to someone else it would be to tell them that we all can have this relationship with Jesus.  The LORD is no respecter of persons.  When you sit and read the Word of God just know that He wants to bless and enrich you with His presence and power.  He wants to meet your every need.

I have been so blessed in my life to have been taught from a child about Jesus.  My mother often taught her children at home about how to live for God and we had bible study many of  a nights.  She took us to church and we had to sit there and listen to the word of the LORD.  We had street revivals and could often be found in the homes of other saints who were also instrumental in teaching us.  Even my neighbors across the street preached to us on many occasions.  I had a reverential fear of God that kept me from so much of the evil and trouble around me.  Then to top it all off my mother took us to a church in Macon, Georgia (Jackson Temple Holiness Church) and I was introduced to one of the most influential women who was ever in my life, the late Prophetess Mother A.B. Jackson.  My life was never the same after that.  These two women has played such a vital part in my life and they're the reason why I now live for Christ.

I want to pass this along to the ones that follow me.  You see, you too can know this same Jesus.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"  John 3:16  That includes you, whoever is reading this today.  The LORD loves "you" and cares about "you".  He will not put you down and cast you out because of your past.  He doesn't care how many times you may have messed up and now feel that your life is worthless.  You are worth the price that was paid with His blood.  "The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart and saves such as be of a contrite spirit"  Psalm 34:18.  Are you feeling alone, rejected, oppressed, cast aside or just plain miserable?  Are you constantly wondering, 'Does anybody even care about me and my feelings?'  Well I will have you to know that yes, someone does care and His name is Jesus.  We truly have a friend in Him.  He is one that will never let you down.  He will go with you always.  He offers to you today eternal life.  He offers to you peace that passes all understanding.  He wants to save and restore you today.

All you have to do is say from this day, "Lord Jesus, I want You to come into my life.  I repent from all my sins by confessing to You right now that I believe that You died on the cross to remove all my sins.  LORD, I accept that promise.  Lord Jesus, I believe that I am now saved.  In Your holy name right now Lord, amen"

Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer of confession you are now saved.  Find a good bible based church and start letting the Lord enrich you with His wisdom and knowledge.  Start reading the Bible to develop your own personal relationship with Jesus.  You will then notice your life will be more empowered and richer.  You have made the most important decision that you will ever make in your life.  

I would love to hear from you.  Drop me an email at dailymannafromheaven@gmail.com. I want to keep you encouraged in this journey.  You can check out my daily blog at this link:  http://dailymannafromheaven.blogspot.com/  

May the LORD ever continue to keep you is my prayer.

In His Service,

Minister Lora L. Williams

THE LORD IS WITH YOU

The Word of God is so powerful.  I read this passage of Scripture many times while I was going through chemotherapy.  I will never forget the day that I visited my oncologist for the first time.  I went in the office, along with my husband and sister, fully expecting to be told that I would just have to have a few additional lymph nodes removed, and that I would only need radiation.  But, after I left the office I can't remember being more scared in my life.  I would need aggressive chemotherapy.  

I lost all consciousness at that moment, and tuned out everything else the doctor was telling me.  My biggest fear was upon me.

I can only describe this moment as one of total disbelief.  I felt so helpless.  When I was alone in the car with my husband I just burst out crying.  He held my hand as my cries turned into prayers.  "Lord, I'm giving this to you.  I know that You spoke to me the other day while I was on my knees in prayer.  I know that You're not going to let me down.  O Lord, just give me strength".   A few moments later I felt the peace of God.  He lifted the heavy burden of the moment off me.  "I'm your God", He spoke to me.  "I'm your God."

In our times of storms there will be a battle of fear and faith.  No one can prepare you for moments like this, but if you're a believer in the Word of God it will surely substain you.  What got me through my cancer ordeal was reading the Bible and standing on what it said.  It was easy to be scared, and there were times when the devil screamed in my ear that I was facing a hopeless battle.  He constantly tried to get me to go against the Word of God.   "Don't be afraid, My Child," the Lord kept telling me.  "I'm your God, and I'm with you."

Isaiah 41:10 became so real to me.  The Lord revealed His faithfulness and power to me more than He'd ever done in my entire life during my cancer ordeal.  I want to encourage you today that He's with you.  He wants to be 'your God.  If you are dealing with circumstances that are out of the doctor's hands, it is not out of God's hands.  Whatever you are going through, just know that He loves you, and all things happen for a reason in our lives.  Use this time as an opportunity to get closer to Him, and allow Him to be your God.  He has promised to strengthen and uphold you.  The Lord is faithful to His Word.