Morning by Morning, December 19 - Faithful Obedience from Spiritual Encounters Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me into all You have for me today, for I am Yours and You are mine (Song of Solomon 6:3). ... “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:18-25). Mary had faith to believe. And so did Joseph. She was called a “favored” woman; he was called a “just” man. And both were willing to have a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of plans for their lives based upon their spiritual encounters. Mary had a visitation from an angel of the Lord (Matthew 1:26-27). Joseph had a dream of a visitation from an angel of the Lord (Luke 1:20). Both responded to their spiritual encounter with courage, obedience, and faith. The “favored” and the “just” were faithful and true because of a personal, spiritual encounter arranged by You. They placed an incredibly high value on the spiritual realm, on what they perceived to be spiritual encounters, with spiritual direction and spiritual discernment, that would not only alter their lives, but also all of our world. May we have more courage and obedience and faith in the spiritual dimension of our lives, with a spiritual hunger, with spiritual discernment, for the spiritual encounters of our lives. I’m thinking of Your Word, expressed through the Apostle Paul, of this very perspective: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Yes, Lord. May we have “the mind of Christ.” Like Mary and Joseph, may we have spiritual discernment and faithful obedience in response to our spiritual encounters with you, that we may see and hear and embrace in our hearts the things which You have prepared for us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you embrace the spiritual dimension of your life, with spiritual discernment and spiritual direction through the Holy Spirit of the Living God, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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