by Jim Gustafson | May 18, 2020 | Articles, Mentors Corner
David, from Psalm 27: “When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; thou war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.” — Vs 2-3. How to get this kind of perspective? We don’t know much about David’s enemies, but he had plenty. He may have been in war in the spiritual realm, maybe health, financial and relational challenges. We do know the opposition was colluding, surrounding him, intent on taking him down. The perspective of the natural man is that he needs to take on his enemies, up his game, do more and do it better, somehow muster up some courage even though it be hopeless. Or maybe the trouble is too overwhelming, he is alone and strategizing on how to fold his tent and save face. Any man would be void of confidence, filled with dread and fear, plotting his defenses and getting ready to deal with the shame of defeat. Then David makes an extraordinary statement: “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” — V 4 In the middle of facing all his encroaching enemies, certain failure and impending threat of death, David boils it down to one desire: dwell in the presence of God and meditate! What kind of man thinks like this?! The outcome is found in...
by Bob Foster | May 4, 2020 | Articles, Downloads
“Remember the morning watch.” Students like Hooper and Thornton found their days “loaded” with studies, lectures, games and bull sessions. Enthusiasm and activity were the order of the day. These dedicated men soon discovered a flaw in their spiritual armor-a small crack which if not soon closed, would bring disaster. They sought an answer and came up with a scheme they called the morning watch-a plan to spend the first minutes of a new day alone with God, praying and reading the Bible. The morning watch sealed the crack. It enshrined a truth so often obscured by the pressure of ceaseless activity that it needs daily rediscovery: To know God, it is necessary to spend consistent time with Him. The idea caught fire. “A remarkable period of religious blessing” followed, and culminated in the departure of the Cambridge Seven, a band of prominent athletes and men of wealth and education, for missionary service. They gave up everything to go out to China for Christ. But these men found that getting out of bed in time for the morning watch was as difficult as it was vital. Thornton was determined to turn indolence into discipline. He invented an automatic, foolproof cure for laziness. It was a contraption set up by his bed: “The vibration of an alarm clock set fishing tackle in motion, and the sheets, clipped to the line, moved swiftly into the air off the sleeper’s body.” Thornton wanted to get up to meet his God! The intimacy of communion with Christ must be recaptured in the morning quiet time. Call it what you want – the quiet...
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