17th February 2021

Checking into God's Presence...  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:7-15 What a great blessing to receive this New Season of Lent! Attached to the blessings is also a lesson that comes with God’s simple rule: Love the Lord, love one another and also follow through on everything that God tells us to do. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1 Therefore "hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 Therefore, we should celebrate this Ash Wednesday, and the whole of the Lenten Season as a period of somber reflection on our past misdeeds. Going forward, we must be able to replicate Jesus Christ's attributes not only by observing the 40 days of Lent marked by the desires to fast, both from food and other festivities before the Easter. Joel 2:13 states; we must “rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” And so we must be prepared to trust, emulate, absorb, cherish and observe Christ principles not for this Season of Lent alone, but throughput our lifetime. Thank You, Lord, for working on our behalf with Your mercy to bring us to the new Season of Lent. We pray You will empower us to choose and trust You in accordance with Your directives. Give us the power to release every person that has wronged us from the bondage of hatred conceived in our hearts. We also plead You will help us forgive them without any condition attached to the act. In return oh Lord, let this New Season of Lent open Your doors of mercy filled with great opportunities, favour, and blessings. Let them lead to greater achievements of divine breakthrough, healing, long life, peace and comfort in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen Http://testimony-times.blogspot.co.uk Just Checking into His Presence...