Posted by
GrandView on Saturday, October 04, 2008 8:48:45 AM
In light of the current economic crisis in America, I thought today's (10/4) devotional from Ray Stedman's The Power of His Presence was particulary appropriate (Stedman, p. 309). The following is an excerpt:
"The trouble with so-called 'natural' thinking is that it is aways centered on self, and natural-thinking people react to their circumstances according to their feelings, mood, and emotions. When that happens to you, your range of vision is narrowed down to only those factors that are troubling you. You cannot think beyond them. When your feelings govern you, they always limit you. That is what was troubling this man [author of Psalms 73:15-28].
"He begins to see it when he comes into the santuary, into the presence of God, because there he begins thinking spiritually,. Spiritual thinking is centered on God, and the mind is in control and not the feelings. Then you are not being governed by emotions but by thought relating to facts. Thus, your vision is broadened, and you can see other things besides the one thing that is disturbing your emotions. It is made possible only when you 'enter the sanctuary'.
"How do we enter the sanctuary today? According to the New Testament, we ourselves are the sanctuary. God lives in us. To draw near to Him is to enter the sanctuary. We enter the santuary in various ways: by exposing ourselves to His truth in the Scripture; or by facing truth we have forgotten as we fellowship with other [Believers]; or by directly praying to God and changing our thinking from natural to spiritual."
"[Prayer for 4 October]: Father, teach me this same truth. Keep me from being envious of the ungodly, but help me to enter Your sanctuary and have my mind renewed by Your truth."
Now is not the time for Believers to worry about finances or the future. It is not a time to seek solace in media conduits that offer not the Hope we have in Christ. Now is the time for Believers to enter His sanctuary. We are to be a light to those in darkness. As you enter the Sanctuary, bring a road-weary searcher along.
Reference:
Stedman, R. (2006). The Power of His presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman (Mitchell, M. comp). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.