Morning Devotional and response . . .

Nothing of the old Life!

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17

Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.

My Utmost For His Highest - 10/23/2012 - Oswald Chambers

My response:
Abba, I begin today in confession, I have several prejudices. There I’ve said it, and acknowledge it. I have surrendered much to you but I’ve held on to a few. Forgive me, even these must be given up if I’m to follow you. Some of these prejudices are found in the pain of my existence and treatment of others and yes, the advantage other have that I don’t, you don’t care where or what they are, you call me to total surrender. O that it would be as easy as saying the words, and walking away, jesus I need you here, come Lord jesus in the power of your Holy spirit. Lord these prejudices I can name, and see the the injustices; I feel the pain and want there to justice. Cleanse my heart oh God. and take this and these pains I want removed from my heart and life. Thank you for being God even here.

Lord, the old life with its prejudices must die, you have given me the ability to put them to death in love. Love empowered by your Holy spirit presence; work in me and on me, I want and need you here. How long must I remain captive to that which isn’t like you? Where I am jealous of another because you have gifted them as you have or blessed them to beo or obtain and I don’t or didn’t receive that from you. Envy doesn't stop at the door of this christian life. Forgive me my sin in prejudice against unions, and certain political parties and whites, the gifted, etc. I am a sinner, trying to hold on to my prejudices and justifying them because of the injustices of others. O forgive me Lord! I’ve hated and felt justified in my hatred, forgive me. You died for these as well as myself.

I have no better claim to holding on to my prejudice than any other sinner. come, O come Holy spirit and cleanse me of that I hold as a ‘right,’ because of the wound that is so old and deep.

I thank you for beginning your new creation in me. I want healing not only for me, but them as well. Their prejudices have hurt and wounded them as well, but they may not know it. Open our eyes together and help us to love each other, respect and honor each other, and build into the lives of each other. May we by you the Holy Spirit overcome the known and even unknown prejudices of our lives. Far too many of my brothers and sisters can’t see the prejudices we carry into daily life. Forgive us and help us, we need you so very much.

Help me, cleasne me and continue to remove the gloomy outlook, my old attitudes towards things and people, where lust is removed and my self interest is denied, and I’m no longer sensitive to the ridicule of others. Come lord Jesus, I need your Spirit in power present in every moment of my life. Abba, I trust you, I thank you for my daily bread and so much more. Thanks you for the influence you’ve given that I don’t know about. I thank you for this new life in Christ. AMEN!!!