The Final Word

the Simplicity of
Life in the Lord is
Promised to all who Decide to

Follow Him as His Disciple- a

Journey from Eden by way of

Gethsemane through Calvary into

Eternal Life by the Power of the

Holy Spirit...despite all the complexities

of our lives which are blended with

suffering not of our own choosing 

by having to bear the consequences

of our fallen nature with all its

wounds / fiery distortions distilling

life through self's broken prism 

as well as when it is a byproduct of
a Wounding Process that includes

the sins of others against us..

our vows in response based on

the Enemy's accusations / lies

leading to our serious sins which can

get embedded into our ways of 

thinking / behavior / identity- that is-

our own Complicity...sinful / selfish 

decisions / attachments to this world's 

ways / ...all oriented to enthrone 

oneself in the kingdom of self...reliance /

absorption  / will / rebellion / pleasures...
me...me....me...but now our 'old self' -

encased with a 'hardness' that must 

be Pierced by His Love in order to

'free' us to 'Love as He Loves'- is like a

multi-level building which now we 

are tasked to remodel from the 

ground up into the Pattern of a 'New 

Creation' by embracing a Healing Process 

having renewed our Commitment to 

'Take up our Cross and Follow Him' ..

and thus Willing to bear whatever Price

that must be Paid to Enter that 

Bright Portal on the Narrow Road to 

Eternity's Perfect Union...
Discipleship / Growing in Holiness /
Becoming a Man / Woman of God /
Renewing our Minds / Putting to
Death the deeds of the Flesh /
Being Perfect as our Heavenly
Father is Perfect....all come down to 

One Thing...Purification of the 'old self' 

while 'Putting On' the 'New Self'..

Sanctification...Growing in Holiness...

it sounds complicated / way too difficult...

and you may say...I even have trouble 

trying to exercise regularly let alone 

thinking about the "Way of the Cross'...

remember though....we are not 'in charge' 

so therefore we don't have to figure all this 

out by ourselves...'He who Loves us" is 

'in Charge'... and 'how' He 'Brings us into

Perfect Union with Himself' is up to Him...not us...

Therefore He will 'Allow' many 'Trials'

to overshadow us 'Along the Way' -

securities taken away...relationships in

distress...health / financial challenges...

persecution...doubts / fears about the future..

so many storms of life...more than we can count...

all of which Bring our Weaknesses into the 

Bullseye of His Target Range - His

Purposeful Graces of Purification -  

at the same time we come to 'Know' His

Love and Faithfulness in ever deeper ways...

He becomes our 'Joy' and 'Peace' more and more...

we Grow in our ability to 'Trust' Him Even 

with our Very Lives...we have been Gifted 

with the Holy Spirit - Power to do what 

we cannot do on our own- as well as

'Brothers and Sisters in the Lord' to support 

each other..His Word and Teaching to

Instruct / Form / Encourage us...His Body and Blood

to Nourish us...we are Called to Follow Him 

who Promised to Never Leave Nor Forsake us...

Yes but... where is the 'Simplicity' in all

of this? Where do we even begin?  it seems

overwhelming...well...that's because it is...

it is supposed to be..it is beyond us..

left to ourselves we would all too easily 

fall back into striving / discouragement /

even Pride in our own 'accomplishments' 

instead of Humbly Thanking Him...

He Knows our weakness and is Bringing us

Closer to Himself one step at a time in 

such a Way that we can Only Rely upon Him..

it is the Secret of the Saints...those who have 

Walked before us in His Footsteps up that 

Hill where He Bore our every suffering /

sin / weakness...so that 'He could Free us'...

not... 'we free ourselves'...it is a Cleansing that
Only He Can Do...which we can Only Receive 

as we Cooperate with His Spirit in us...
How?...What does that Mean?...Ask Him...

'Present yourself as a Living Sacrifice'..

Wait upon Him...Let Him Lead...He has a 

Plan for us...Let Him Do It..Depend upon Him...

Take Time each day to Be with Him...

Be Real...Speak what we are feeling / 

thinking...ALL of it.....Listen.....And ...

By / with / in His Grace...Say His 'Final Word'...
...Yes...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Why is it important to be 'Real' / 'speak what you are thinking / feeling' in your prayer life -doesn't 

  He already know those things?  If you don't....then begin...today.

-Is it easier or harder to pray in times of difficulty? Why?

-What is the 'Secret of the Saints'?

-How does the 'Final Word' express the epitome of 'Simplicity of Life in the Lord'?

-What do 'feelings' have to do with 'Faith'?

-How is the Lord 'Purifying' you now?

-How do you find support in the midst of these challenges?

-What have you learned through your 'trials / suffering'? 

-Have you gained or lost ground in your Relationship with the Lord through you trials? How / Why?

-What do you need to do to 'keep on keeping on'?