May the LORD help us to grow in maturity

May the LORD help us to grow in maturity, train us and give us knowledge, wisdom and revelation by our constant practice to distinguish both good and evil. For not everything that looks good, sounds good and feels good is true.

Sanctify us in the truth, LORD, for Your Word is truth.

Send out Your light and Your truth, O GOD. Let them lead us, let them bring us to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling. In JESUS’ Name, Amen.

JESUS said in John 7:17-18, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding,” Job 12:13.

“With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his,” Job 12:16.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect,” Romans 12:2.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:6-10.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” 1 Timothy 4:1.

“… evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived,” 2 Timothy 3:13.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind,” James 1:5-6.

“…. every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already,” 1 John 4:3.

“… the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him,” Revelation 12:9.

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Let us aim at what is honorable!

Let us aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man, ¹
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. ²
For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. ³
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. ⁴
I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. ⁵
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ⁶
Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. ⁷
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ⁸
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ⁹
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰

¹2 Corinthians 8:21, ²Proverbs 15:3, ³Job 34:21, ⁴Psalm 89:14, ⁵Jeremiah 17:10, ⁶Romans 12:17-18, ⁷Romans 14:18-19, ⁸1 Thessalonians 5:15, ⁹Hebrews 12:14, ¹⁰1 Peter 3:9.

 

~ Jill MacKillop

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