A Servant of The Lord watches for Him all the time.    If there is not deliberate looking for the Lord, distraction will be the flavor of the day rather than release.    Soldier of The Cross, soon the days will be over and the choices of this life will be no more.  Today must be lived according to the Word of God.  Over and over He says we must watch and wait for Him.    There is not even a close second best.

   When you speak about the Lord, what gives you the right to be heard?    Is it because you know so much?  Is it because you are connected with others?  Is it because you are obviously gifted?    Or, is it because you are serving?  Are you moving out into the community?  Are you giving to the poor?  Are you visiting nursing homes?  Are you visiting prisons?  Are you supporting missionaries?  Are you a pillar in the local assembly?    Soldier, those who serve Him are in support of something, not against something.     Serve the Lord in prayer.  In finances.  By your words.  Make sure you are not trying to bring people to you, but that you are going to where the need is.    Make yourself available.  In prayer.  Aloud.    Today

   Remember, you are an adopted son.    When you come to Him, you do  not have to pray yourself into His favor -  you are already there.  He wants to bless you with every heavenly blessing.  And, because His best for you is higher that your concept, the thing you want may not come about.    It does not mean that you have prayed wrongly.  It does not mean that you don't know the situation. It simply means that the One who sustains the universe with His Word of Power loves you enough to give you the best.     He said He would not withhold any good thing.    Believe Him.

Soldier of The Cross, remember that while you are seeing a tremendous victory, it belongs to the Lord. It came from Him and goes to Him. He gets the Glory. One of my most treasured possessions is a note I received from Elisabeth Elliot. The note says: ". . . accolades and false accusation should be both be received in the same manner. . ." Our greatest victory will be when the Race is over and we are at His feet. Yes, you have worked hard. You have prayed hard. You have pounded the pavement and you are seeing the fruit. But remember that unless the Lord builds the house, the builder builds in vain. We do not work for temporal reward. Some of the best and most noble efforts will only see the victory in heaven. Now, we see the victory with eyes of faith. We rejoice and revel in His victory - never in something we think we have brought about. Freedom in Christ means, His is the Victory.

It is easy to assume the Lord must work within the limits of time. Soldier of The Cross, you have chosen to live the life of an adopted Son. You have said that you would put your weight down on His Word. Do you not know that He can turn things around in a second? Put away the frantic thought life. Stop trying to get everyone to agree with you. Concentrate on the things that must be done. Pray according the the Promises in God's Word and not according to either your experience, or the way things look. Leave the plan to Him. Look up and move on!

Have you learned that He can do the impossible? As an attorney I have had a number of cases that have seemed impossible. I have learned to take them to the Lord first, and in so doing, I am always reminded that I am not doing the job alone. The Bible says that is true. That when I have made the decision to serve the Lord, I follow Him. I never lead. Are you leading? Do you think it is up to you to fix things? Are you concerned that if X, Y and Z do not happen, things will fall apart? Soldier of The Cross, you have crossed The Line. You have said you would leave all behind to follow Him. You have told Him that He could do anything with your life. And, you meant it. So, let Him. It does not get you off the hook. You must still give your all and you must be a craftsman at whatever you are doing. It means that you have the assurance of things being done behind the scenes because of prayer. It means that you must set your mind on things that are above, even while the storm is beating on everything you see. God's Word is more real than the way that you feel, His Promises are far more certain than the impending threats. Tell the Lord you know He is in control. Tell Him that you know He will be faithful to his Promises. Tell the Lord you will watch and wait for Him. Tell Him aloud.

You have a choice. You can control your mouth and you can control your thoughts. That is what God says in His Word. Further, He commands it. Soldier of The Cross, anger is a cancer in the life of any Christian. The issues must be left with the Lord in prayer. It must be aloud. It must be specific. I do not believe that anyone has ever been able to confront the Maker aloud and stand on the opposite side of The Line. We have to consider that the Bible addresses anger specifically. No follower of the Lord should be harboring resentment, offense or irritation. It is assumed that even the casual reader of the Bible would agree that the text forbids a temper tantrum. Why do we have the saying "blinding rage?" Because the one who is so angry is not able to see the situation as it is. Soldier, do not indulge yourself. Go to The Word. Deal with the matter in prayer. Aloud. Do not be stubborn. Do not be defensive. Do be obedient.

Soldier, if you are asked today, are you able to state your determined purpose? Does your agenda take precedence over His?

There is ample warning. All of the books of the major and minor prophets lay out God's priorities. There can be no messing around. He is available to love and restore anyone who will look at Him and listen to Him. It does not matter what the history has been, or what the damage has been. He is available. Love has opened His arms. Love has issued the warning. Love has given His life and the date has been marked by history. Love can not compromise. But, Love will open His arms and receive the one who will rush to Him. It is never too late.

Great release is experienced by those who know that they are heaven bound. There are some who know they are saved, but there are others who live, knowing that heaven is more real than time. To those Christians, the Lord is more real than what they touch and see. The Indwelling Holy Spirit gives an assurance of salvation and opens our eyes to things that are beyond the visible. We are being prepared for heaven. Investments must be a heavenly. Those who are laying up treasures in heaven are not worried about money. They can have much and they can have little. Neither is better than the other, for they realize that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy and there is nothing wrong with investment. But in prayer, The Soldier of The Cross must be sure that he is not clinging to any of it, and that he is still praying in his daily bread. It is so easy to live as though none of the promises are true. But, they are true. No one can travel very far while carrying baggage. and, certainly no one will be taking any baggage to heaven. Make sure hands are clean and free. Lifted up in anticipation of what is to come.