Avoiding Mourning Morning requires faithful Christians to engage in Praying Prayer to eliminate Expecting Expectance in daily endeavors. As we position ourselves in our Lord's path, we must engage in Braking Brakes to align with Jehovah's Reigning Rein as it is the dominant factor in abolishing Preying Prey. Spiritually Accepting Acceptance of God's desires and plan for our lives enables us to remove sinful desires, hesitation, and shortcuts in pursuing His will. Tearing apart from or Breaking Breaks of old traditions and strongholds that try to prevent us from accomplishing our Lord's purpose in personal lives is necessary to establish a clear heavenly vision. Embracing the Word of God allows Him to bless His children at His will and permit Raining Rain to flood our lives anointing and refreshing our thoughts and mindset. "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence" (2 Samuel 22:3 KJV).
Mourning Morning
By Caroline R. SavageAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2012 Caroline R. Savage
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4685-4974-4Contents
CHAPTER ONE..............................1Praying Pray.............................3CHAPTER TWO..............................15Expecting Expectance.....................17CHAPTER THREE............................23Braking Brakes...........................25CHAPTER FOUR.............................33Reigning Rein............................35CHAPTER FIVE.............................45Mourning Morning.........................49CHAPTER SIX..............................57Preying Prey.............................59CHAPTER SEVEN............................67Accepting Acceptance.....................69CHAPTER EIGHT............................77Breaking Breaks..........................79CHAPTER NINE.............................85Raining Rain.............................87CHAPTER TEN..............................91Godly Giving.............................93
Chapter One
PRAYING PRAY
Praying to God, Jehovah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, seeking His Spiritual guidance assists us in being victorious as we faithfully pursue His will. The first book I wrote is titled ¿Uncertainties? And Reasoning. The first feedback I received was pertaining to my religious affiliation. Some people asked if I was a Jehovah's Witness. In asking why these individuals made this assumption, it was because of my reference to our Lord, calling Him, Jehovah. As a Christian, I agree with fellow Christian members (regardless of denomination) who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. My belief is that our main goal is to follow God's will, His word, commandments, and guidance in seeking His Heavenly Kingdom.
According to Romans 10:8-13, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (NIV).
As to referring to our Lord as Jehovah, allow me to share supporting Scriptural content depicting the name of Jehovah. According to Psalm 83:18, King James Version, "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." The New International Version of Psalm 83:18 reads, "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—that you alone are the Most High over all the earth."
Exodus 6:2-3 King James Version reads, "And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Exodus 6:2-3 New International Version reads, "God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them."
According to Isaiah 12:2 King James Version "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 New International Version reads "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."
According to Isaiah 26:4 King James Version, "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." The New International Version reads "Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:4).
The above Scriptures reveal that Jehovah is Lord. Engaging in prayers worshipping God, Jehovah, or Lord through His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ is heard in heaven by our Father. Jehovah is Lord, He is our God. (Additional KJV and NIV references pertaining to Jehovahjireh, Jehovahnissi, and Jehovahshalom, are located in the books of Genesis 22:14, Exodus 17:15, and Judges 6:24; respectively).
Prayer is a powerful form of engaging in spiritual warfare. The enemy desires no intervention from our Lord during their attacks on us. Realizing effective prayer is the fastest way to defeat evil forces, foes attempt to build heavy blocks in our minds to corrupt thinking patterns shackling us to believe there is no room for productivity. These barriers or strongholds weigh heavily on us lowering self-esteem, and hope, while blurring visions for eternal possibilities or avenues of escape. Allowing the negative thoughts and attitudes to control our minds and behaviors mean we are simply giving up, allowing evil forces to take over and constantly gain ground during our battle. This is not Jehovah's will as His many promises reveal that He will not only lead us into battle but also defend us. "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV).
Enemy attacks try to derail us from achieving objectives implementing views of disillusion prompting us not to wage war against them. Standing by faith, we must acknowledge our Father and know that by following His commandments and laws we can overcome any situation. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:35, 37 NIV).
According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (NIV). Resorting to prayer strengthens us as we invoke Jehovah's divine presence to remove immoral attitudes, behaviors, and temptations luring us to evil forces. We may experience a few restless nights that we are constantly Mourning Morning, not desiring to get out of bed to start another challenging day, while dreading the prospect of defeat. Remember that Deuteronomy 20:4 states, "For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory" (NIV). We should thank God for our current situation, taking care of us, and pray that He blesses us with an opportunity to live another day under His grace and mercy. Remove worries because God promises that "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8 NIV). Get some rest and enjoy sweet dreams! If it is Jehovah's will, as you awake, get up off your mat and rejoice!
Understanding that at times we experience feelings of laziness, loss, oppression, tiredness, and hindrances one must react with authority. During those moments, wisely using the remaining energy in our bodies, we should drop to our knees and "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV). Rebuke all negative thoughts not in compliance with Jehovah's will. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). Having the power to demolish strongholds, we must thank Jehovah for His assistance in devouring enemy attacks, liberating us from strongholds, and allowing us to continue operating under His grace.
Instead of engaging in gossip, acting contrary to God's desires, and adding fuel to the fire, whatever uncertainties we face let us find the reasoning in the Holy Bible. Scriptures contain fruitful information that allows us to seek God's will. Why should we not engage in ungodly activities but instead use the Word of God as doctrine? Simply stated, because God said so ... so be it, Amen! The Scripture reads "reject every kind of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NIV). According to Proverbs 9:6 "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding"(KJV) because "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10 KJV).
Let us take a minute to gossip about ourselves. Reflect upon times when things do not go our way and we are quick to temper, criticize, or proudly yell the infamous words "I told you so!" Why do we react so harshly? Taking pride in acknowledging our deception in someone's efforts, we engage in a detailed description of all the wrongdoings and how things should have been done. We preach "if it was me I would have done this." Guess what! It was not us. It is not about our will, we pursue Jehovah's will. Who are we really criticizing? Are we reaping what we sow? Was the situation that negative or are we simply acting based on an accustomed behavior? We can break the negative binding shackles preventing us from displaying the humility and understanding rooted in our Christ-like mind. "A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel" (Proverbs 15:18 NIV). Instead of blowing things out of proportion, ranting, and raving, try finding a positive outlook. Become a tool in Preventing Problems by Providing the Solution. "The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered" (Proverbs 17:27 NIV). On the flip side of the coin, when we err (and we do make mistakes), do we so flagrantly discuss it by publicly blaming ourselves telling everyone our unfortunate business? Do we display the same pride bragging about our ungodly choices in decision-making processes? Or, do we simply try to keep it under cover and hide personal actions?
Reviewing our situation as an example of a story or parable, using our Christ-like mind, what would Jesus say? Jesus' ultimate goal was listening to His Father, obeying His commands, as He continued to march to His death. Regardless of human ignorance, Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to comply with Jehovah's Word and plans, as the Scriptures reveal. Jesus' humble, loving attitude filled with words of infinite wisdom expresses forgiveness, respect, tolerance, and obeying our Lord's commands. Jesus knew of His destiny and that He was going to die. In the midst of complying with Jehovah's will, during His last supper Jesus stated "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28 NIV).
As a true believer, how can we claim to follow such a humble man entirely but when adverse situations arise we resort to common behavior? So why do we continue to "look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3 NIV). Does tearing someone down build us up? We should edify God because He deserves the praise! Psalm 119:36 states, "Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain" (NIV). Prior to articulately chastising friends, loved ones, and reminding them how many times we told them not to do something, take a deep breath. Remember how many times we were learning and made many mistakes before we ... finally got it! Of course we are not talking about anything that may cause harm to self or others, just general discussion.
On the other side of the coin, as friends and loved ones accomplish something beneficial and display personal God-given talents, do we just as articulately go into specific details to acknowledge and thank God for such a performance, gift, or talent He displays through the individual? Maintaining an even balance in relationships is essential just "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17 NIV). Let us engage in mutual, productive, discussions using Jesus' teachings as instructed by our Heavenly Father. Remember "each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another" (Romans 14:12-13 NIV). Let us practice what we preach, conduct an honest reality check, and seek areas of improvement to purify actions, heart, and thoughts.
In dealing with each other, let us maintain positivity. Out of love and in a humble manner, we can share concerns pertaining to current activities. To reinforce performance, we should also Thank God for loved ones as they progress in accomplishing great things to edify our Lord. The enemy will try to devour us and prey upon those who derail from Jehovah's word. Effective prayer, reading our Lord's word, edifying Him, and spending quality time with God strengthens our knowledge and understanding of how to remain Standing in Authority. Whatever personal weaknesses we encounter, remove pride, biases, and seek God's help. According to James 2:1, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism" (NIV) and Romans 2:10-11 adds "for God does not show favoritism" (NIV).
Dealing with others requires us to display ethical and spiritual behavior using our Christ-like minds, appreciating, embracing, and respecting God's diverse, divine creation.
Pushing the limitations of our boundaries by seeking fleshly desires versus sewing the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) results in serious consequences such as not receiving our Lord's blessings and mercies. I believe at one point in time, we all did experience some type of shortcomings or were disobedient to God. I know I have! God provides us with resources to learn from our mistakes, remedy behavior, and serve as His ambassadors. We can improve those faults through spiritual awareness, spending intimate moments with Jehovah as we ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7-8) to receive His discernment. During prayer, we can share our requests with God. He already knows exactly what is wrong with us. We need to confess it with our mouths to admit our wrongdoings. Take a moment to search your heart and mind for flaws and talk to God about improving those areas. Know right now He is listening as we ask Jehovah to "Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications" (Psalm 86:6 KJV). Believing our omnipotent God has the power to grant requests emanating from a pure heart, in the name of Jesus, consider prayers answered. We must start adjusting our attitudes and behavior to embrace future blessings.
Using parables, Jesus encourages His disciples to always pray and not surrender (Luke 18). Considering occurrences in our life as examples, we can also engage in effective, honest prayer. Pray continuously, engage in thanksgiving to Jehovah, knowing that He will show us favor in His time. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:9 NIV).
Chapter Two
EXPECTING EXPECTANCE
The Scripture reads "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:34 NIV). How many times do we accomplish a deed and expect something in return? Not a heartfelt "thank you" but a huge recognition or praise. Some individuals may take care of others or give willingly but anxiously expect something in return. Others may assist you and find it necessary to tell everyone what he or she accomplished seeking praise. In giving, we must give from the heart ensuring our action is pleasing to the Lord. All the praise and glory goes to Jehovah! Seek God for discernment while trusting and believing that He will respond in His time. Do not doubt Him, be patient, and do not straddle fences while awaiting a response. "That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:7 NIV). Constantly engaging in thanksgiving and praising God regardless of circumstances solidifies spiritual positions in the pursuit of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Individual levels of spirituality reflect current stages in expecting expectance of return on investment. Do we bless others with gifts from the heart or do we expect something for ourselves? Do we buy or donate a gift for someone then feel the need to inform everyone else in the world of what we did? Is the praise ours or Jehovah's? According to Matthew 6:2-3, "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others ... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (NIV). Jehovah will reward deserving individuals whenever He has the desire to do so.
Giving from the heart is important. A smile, sincere thank you, laughter, embrace, or appreciation transcends deeper emotionally and lasts longer than materialistic possessions. Do not misunderstand me, I do enjoy opening a gift or two, but it is not a requirement. At times based on the situation and economy we may have to become the Little Drummer Boy ... I have no gifts to bring ... just me and my drum ... singing songs of praise! The knowledge of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and expecting everlasting life is an expectance I can patiently wait for.
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Excerpted from Mourning Morningby Caroline R. Savage Copyright © 2012 by Caroline R. Savage. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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