"A Mind to Work" 5-14-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the power of Your grace, I choose to be dead to self and alive to Christ, as I begin this new day with You. ... "So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6). One of the most fascinating principles of the kingdom of God is that in Your sovereignty as our Creator, You have chosen to empower those You have created to rule and reign with "dominion" over Your creation (Genesis 1:26). "You have given them dominion over the works of their hands; You have put all things under their feet.... O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is Your name!" (Psalm 8:6-9). "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He has given to human beings" (Psalm 115:16). With that authority, comes responsibility; with that calling, comes the power to accomplish Your purposes as we faithfully seek the guidance of Your will and humbly depend upon the strength and wisdom of Your ways (Luke 9:1). As we choose to die to our own will and choose to submit to Your will, You give us the desire and the power to fulfill the calling You've placed in our minds and stirred in our hearts, "for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). It was in Your heart to rebuild the wall and the city of Jerusalem. So You put that desire in the hearts of Your people and empower them to accomplish Your purposes. Yet they had the choose to seek You, to depend upon You, to persevere in trusting faith with You, or not. They "rebuilt the wall" because You chose to rebuild the wall through them, because You were at work in them, enabling them both to will and to work for Your good pleasure. And at the same time, each of them had a choice to obey or not, give in to frustration and fear or not, press on in the power of Your strength and the guidance of Your wisdom or not. By Your grace, "the people had a mind to work." Lord, give me a mind to work -- to work for You, to work empowered by You, to work with the tools and weapons You've given me, and to work only at the tasks You've placed in my mind and stirred in my heart in obedience to the calling You've given me. The mind to work according to Your will and Your ways, trusting in Your guidance and Your power alone is "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). And that's the mind I ask You to form in me, a little more each day (Romans 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night 5/16, the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Phil Jackson will be leading in worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org