Selfless

1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


If we KNOW that He hears us- WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


We know because we are asking ACCORDING to HIS WILL. As long as we ask according to HIS will He hears us and will grant our petitions.


Yes, yes, and yes, this has been my focus lately but I think it needs to be. When we pray we have to pray according to God's will, not our will. CAN we do this? Seriously, can we do this? We get so caught up in our own will we scarcely can pray for God's will. We are so incredibly self-centered that whenever we pray we put self into it to the point we are asking God to do our will. Answer our prayers, which in truth are HIS prayer if it is for HIS will, yes?


God's will and our will, this is what it's all about-- bending our will to God's, submitting our will to God's, surrendering our will to God's will, giving up self to God. Can we do this? Can we? We who are so incredibly wrapped up in our selves, can we give that up to God? It's easy to say yes, but so very hard to do. In fact it's impossible for us to do, and only possible for our Savior to do for us.


Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever


The Comforter abiding with US forever.


Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.


It is NOT ye that speak BUT the Holy Ghost!


We will need to speak, we will be required to speak and when that day comes we won't be the one speaking, why? We won't be the one speaking because the HOLY GHOST will be speaking THROUGH us. God will be speaking through us. For it is NOT YE that speak. We will be a vessel to be used by God. This is a moment of complete self-surrender. God speaking through us, not us speaking- no self involved whatsoever, us being used by God. So amazing! So wondrous!


Is it any wonder that over and over Jesus' example is one of serving others? He spent all of His ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven while healing multitudes, tending to all those around Him. Jesus didn't stay in one place but journeyed to bring His message to many. The healing and preaching went hand in hand. The giving was a CONSTANT message to us. The Son of God was NOT selfish. Every time He healed someone that was time He gave to them, His time, His love. We must remember Jesus was human- Jesus became tired and hungry just as we do. The work He was called on to do wasn't easy. Just imagine how much energy it took from Him to be so in demand working so incredibly hard. It's too easy for us to believe that He had endless stores of energy, but He had our FLESH, and any one with our flesh body has the same needs we have. Seriously, this is something we don't consider enough. Our Savior was our example in all things and He knew when He needed to rest, He knew when He needed to eat, He knew when He thirsted, He knew when He needed to be alone to pray. Jesus had physical LIMITATIONS! Too many shake their heads to that, believing that because He was a God He didn't have to feel things the way we feel things- they're wrong! Jesus EMPTIED Himself and became HUMAN. Jesus relied upon His Father just as WE have to rely upon our Heavenly Father.


The example of our Lord is something we need to hold up every single day. Our Savior's selflessness, pure selflessness!


By His grace may we become selfless, through Him may we become selfless, so selfless that the Holy Spirit will be able to completely use us, speaking through us when that day comes.


In His LOVE!

Amen.