Standing Firm, Part 1

Standing Firm, Part 1
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Reading Friends,
On the next 4 Wednesdays will be sharing a NEW series from Roy called Standing Firm. May it encourage and strengthen you in your faith.
-Marina

...

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord…” (Philippians 4:1).

Amy Carmichael, in her book Thou Givest…They Gather, quotes the following from M. Coillard on the subject of spiritual conflict and trials–

“It is a desperate struggle with the prince of darkness, and with everything his rage can stir up in the shape of obstacles, vexations, oppositions and hatred, whether by circumstances, or by the hand of man.”

Amy Carmichael then adds these words, “Each of us has a part chosen for us by the great Captain and measured out for us…each one is given just one thing to do whatever happens, and that is to stand firm.”

Standing firm is a disposition of the will, an attitude of the heart, and a conviction of the spirit. It is something we carry within us whether we are moving or standing still, speaking or remaining silent, joining with others or standing alone. It is the motivating response of faith and obedience. It has been heard in the words of Moses, “Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord,” in the words of Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” in the words of Peter, “We must obey God rather than men,” and in the words of Jesus, “I have finished the work you gave me to do.”

In these times, standing firm remains an important posture of spiritual victory as we continue to take our God-given place and remain faithful to what He has called us to do.

#standingfirm #standfirm #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow 

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

My Morning Prayer: A Benediction

My Morning Prayer: A Benediction
-Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table

 

This is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth (John 17:3 NLT).

Father, we pray this for our friends near and far away...

May you continue to hear His voice more clearly, know His heart more deeply, rest in His care more fully, trust His faithfulness more completely, walk His pathway more confidently, know His presence more intimately, and be blessed by His favor more abundantly.

May You grant this, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

#prayer #benediction #mymondayprayer #roylessin #aplaceathistable #meetinginthemeadow

This prayer is based on "A Benediction" by Roy Lessin, adaptation by Marina Bromley. ©2023 Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

The Holy Spirit Book: One Holy Spirit, Many Ministries

The Holy Spirit Book: One Holy Spirit, Many Ministries -Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow The Holy Spirit had many ministries in the life of Jesus. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was indwelt by the Holy Spirit His entire life, and at the Jordan River, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit when the Spirit descended upon Him. It was this particular ministry of the Holy Spirit that would equip Jesus for the next three plus years of completing the work God called Him to do. If Jesus himself —the Son of God— needed to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to do His Father’s will, then how much more do we need the same anointing power? “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 NKJV Jesus told us of three distinct ways that the Holy Spirit would minister in the lives of believers. He told us that the Holy Spirit would be with us. This is His promise of spiritual companionship. “The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 NKJV He told us that the Holy Spirit would be in us. This is His promise of spiritual intimacy. “The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 NKJV He told us the Holy Spirit would come upon us. This is His promise of spiritual power—when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NKJV Even though the disciples received the life of the Holy Spirit within them, they still had not received the power of the Holy Spirit upon them. This is why Jesus told them to wait for His promise to be fulfilled before they went into the world as His witnesses. This happened to them on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 1 and 2). Like the disciples, it is important for us to have both the Scriptural understanding of Jesus’ promise as well as the personal experience of receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit on our lives. Although each of us will serve God differently, according to His specific will for our lives, each of us needs to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve Him effectively. APPLICATION: How is your life impacted as a result of the Holy Spirit dwelling with you...being in you...coming upon you? Considering how vital the ministry of the Holy Spirit is in our lives, how can we learn to be more responsive to what He has been sent to do?  © 2017, 2023  Roy Lessin, The Holy Spirit Book. Used with permission, all rights reserved. #theholyspiritbook #theholyspirit #learningabouttheholyspirit #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

Guided

Guided
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The God you trusted in the past,
is the One who’s faithful still.
Trust Him now with all your heart, 
to be working out His will.
There’s nothing that you’re facing,
which takes Him by surprise.
All the things concerning you,
have not escaped His eyes.
His hand has been your covering,
through every circumstance.
Everything will work for good,
nothing is by chance.
Let your faith abide in Him, 
His hand will clearly lead.
You will find His promise true, 
to meet your every need.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8 NKJV).

#guided #GuidedbyGod #GodPromises #roylessin #roylessindevos #devotional

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

My Morning Prayer: Your Greatest Treasure

My Morning Prayer: Your Greatest Treasure
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley

Your Greatest Treasure
-Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV).

You may not have a lot of money, but you have incredible wealth. You may not have an abundance of things, but you possess more than you could ever ask or think. God has placed within you the greatest treasure anyone can ever possess—it is the life of Jesus Christ. He has freely lavished upon you a treasure house of good things that you can freely give away to others.

My Morning Prayer
-Marina Bromley

My Heavenly Father, You have provided MORE than I could ever ask or think. Thank You for each provision You have given me, each opportunity, each gift, each chance to use that gift that You have freely given. Forgive me for my selfishness as I continually ask for more...more stuff, more things that are not necessary. Father, help me to place You firmly on the throne of my heart. Don't let me put anything beside You! I want to worship only You—not culture, not popular opinion, not my words or songs. I don't want my voice to be heard if it is crowding out Your voice. Teach me to know Your Word in my heart, and how to give away this treasure house of good things, that I may freely give Your love away to others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

#mymondayprayer #yourgreatesttreasure #aplaceathistable #devotional #prayer #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow 

©2023 Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo and prayer by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

The Holy Spirit Book: A Prayer: The Power of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Book: A Prayer: The Power of the Holy Spirit -Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

 

JESUS, what a perfect work You have done, what a perfect SAVIOR You are, and thank you for sending the perfect Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT. Thank You that the HOLY SPIRIT has come, not only to be with me and to live in me, but also to fill me and empower me to serve You. I know that without the HOLY SPIRIT’s presence and power You could not have pleased the FATHER, done His will, and completed the work He sent you to do. Help me to realize how dependent I am on the HOLY SPIRIT day by day, and moment by moment, and help me to do His will today and every day. Amen. © 2017, 2023 Roy Lessin, The Holy Spirit Book. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

The Ten Most Powerful Things in the Universe That Can Revolutionize Your Life

The Ten Most Powerful Things in the Universe That Can Revolutionize Your Life 
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

1.     The Power of the Blood of Jesus – nothing else can cleanse you from sin. (1 John 1:7)

2.     The Power of the Gospel – nothing else can save your soul. (Romans 1:16)

3.     The Power of the Cross – nothing else can deliver you from yourself. (Romans 6:6)

4.     The Power of the Word – nothing else can bring you transforming truth. (John 17:17)

5.     The Power of God – nothing else can keep you from evil. (Matthew 6:13)

6.     The Power of the Holy Spirit – nothing else can make you like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

 7.     The Power of the Resurrection – nothing else can give you eternal hope. (1 Peter 1:3)

8.     The Power of Prayer – nothing else can move the hand of God. (Matthew 21: 22)

9.     The Power of Grace – nothing else can make you completely sufficient. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

10. The Power of Faith – nothing else can keep you till the end. (1 Peter 1:5)

©2003, 2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

 #changeyourlife #tenmostpowerfulthings #revolutionizeyourlife #scripture #whathesaid #godpromises #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

My Morning Prayer: The Rest of Faith

My Morning Prayer: The Rest of Faith
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley

 The Rest of Faith
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14 NLT).

What should your faith do in response to what is yours today? Receive! What should your faith do in response to what will be yours another day? Rest!

As you wait upon the Lord, wait with a thankful heart, not a complaining one; with a peaceful heart, not a striving one; with a confident heart, not an uncertain one; with a patient heart, not a hasty one.

You do not need to try to manipulate your future. God is able to fulfill all that He has promised. As you wait, continue to pray, continue to trust, continue to believe, continue to hold hope in your heart, continue to obey, and continue to rejoice evermore. You have a God who cannot and will not fail!

My Morning Prayer
-Marina Bromley

Father God, my prayer list is long, and before I whisper a request, You know the answer. You promise to supply more than I can ask or think, and I believe You. Help me to hold on to Your promises, as outlined in Your Word, as I approach Your throne. Increase my faith, not just to boldly request things that matter to me or those I care about, but to trust You with Your answers to those prayers. Teach me to wait, trust, believe and hold hope in my heart. Encourage me to obey, and always to rejoice! You will not fail! Help me to rest in Your victories! In Jesus' name, amen.

©2023 Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

#aplaceathistable #roylessin #mymondayprayer #meetinginthemeadow #prayer #devotional 

The Holy Spirit Book: The Meaning of Spiritual Power

 

The Holy Spirit Book: The Meaning of Spiritual Power -Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow There are two important Greek words that are used in Scripture to help us understand the meaning of spiritual power. One word used for power is found in Matthew 10:1. It is the word exousia. “And when he had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power (exousia) against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matthew 10:1 KJV Exousia means having the power of authority. A policeman who is able to stop moving traffic on a busy street is an example of the power of authority. The policeman does not have the physical strength to stop the traffic, but because he represents the law of the land, and because he is backed by the police force, he can direct the traffic to stop or to go. The other Greek word that is used for power is dunamis. In English, this word can be translated as “dynamo” or “dynamite.” This word is found in Acts 1:8. “But ye shall receive power (dunamis), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 KJV In this passage, Jesus was not speaking about the power of authority, but the power of might, strength, enabling, equipping or boldness that would be upon and within the lives of those gathered in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. Receiving the Spirit’s power would bring a dynamic change into each life. Jesus did not say that receiving the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit was optional. He said that it was essential for them to be His witnesses. Their witness to the world was to be more than a witness to His life on Earth and His death on the cross; it was also to bring witness to His resurrection, His ascension, and His glorification at the right hand of the Father. Their lives were also a witness to the promised gift of the Holy Spirit that would equip them for service. © 2017, 2023 Roy Lessin, The Holy Spirit Book.  #theholyspiritbook #holyspirit #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #spiritualpower

 

APPLICATION: Why do you need spiritual power to be Christ's witness? What kind of witness would you be without it?

Jesus Said…

Jesus Said…
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Jesus said, “I Am…

The way - Not a way. Not one of many ways. Not the shortcut way. Not the detour way. Not the misleading way. The only way! The holy way. The righteous way. The straight way. The narrow way. The way-home way.

The truth - Not an opinion. Not a point of view. Not a possibility. Not, “I have the truth”, but “I am the truth.” True truth. Uncompromising truth. Kingdom of God truth. Light truth. Morally right truth. Absolute truth.

The life - Not temporary life. Not a mediocre life. Not a purposeless life. Not a shameful life. Not a phony life. Eternal life. Fullness of life. Meaningful life. God pleasing life. Reality life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The Jesus way to God is God's way to God. No other door gives entrance to the Father’s house, to the Father’s provision, to the Father’s fellowship, and to the Father’s blessing.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6 NKJV).

#jesussaid #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #john14.6 #john14

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Roy Lessin. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

My Morning Prayer: Love Found A Way

My Morning Prayer: Love Found a Way
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley, Meeting in the Meadow

Love Found A Way
-Roy Lessin

And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith (Philippians 3:9 NKJV).

I came with my struggles and found Your peace,
I came with my bondage and found Your release.
I came with my burdens and found Your care,
I came with my loneliness and found You there.

I came with my weakness and found You strong,
I came with my sadness and found Your song.
I came with my questions and found You true,
I came with my old ways and found things new.

My Morning Prayer
-Marina Bromley

Heavenly Father, no matter where I find myself, I know that You have me there for a purpose and plan. Take my struggles, bondage, burdens, loneliness, weakness, sadness, questions, and old ways and replace them with Your presence. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and crowd out my insecurities with the confidence of my salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son.

As I awake each morning and lay my head down each night, remind me of the things I have found in You. You are the remedy to my illnesses, the strength to my weakness, the answers to my questions. Give me courage to look in Your Word, the Bible, to find Your promises which are true. I belong to You, and Your promises are for me, for my lifetime and beyond. I can rest assured in You. In Jesus' name, amen.

#prayer #mymondayprayer #devotional #devotion #lovefoundaway #godslove #roylessin #marinabromley #meetinginthemeadow #godspromises #aplaceathistable 

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Excerpt from the devotional A Place at His Table, Roy Lessin, DaySpring. Photo and prayer by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

The Holy Spirit Book: A Prayer; The Purpose of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Book: A Prayer; The Purpose of the Holy Spirit
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

 

LORD, have your way with me. I want to walk in the HOLY SPIRIT, and walk with the HOLY SPIRIT in surrender, in dependency and total trust. I place no confidence in my flesh—in my own resources, in my own strength, or in my own understanding. I lay aside all the things in my life that are about me and my own way. I take up my cross to follow You; I depend on the HOLY SPIRIT to be like You; I receive from the HOLY SPIRIT all I need to live for You, this day and in all my tomorrows. Amen. © 2017, 2023 Roy Lessin, The Holy Spirit Book. Used with permission, all rights reserved. #theholyspiritbook #biblicalteaching #roylessin #dayspring #setapartkc #theholyspirit #prayer

The Foe

The Foe
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

There is a voice that comes to you
with whisperings so near;
Cunning and deceptive words,
are spoken in your ear.
The reason why this happens
is obvious and clear-
To take you into bondage
and bind you up with fear.

Reject each word that comes to you,
and here’s the reason why;
It’s spoken by your enemy,
who’s voice is called ‘the lie’.
Be strong and courageous,
no reason to be shy;
Resist him now in Jesus’ name,
and bid him a goodbye!

Goodbye my foe,
It’s time to go,
Flee in Jesus name…
You are a defeated foe,
Goodbye, in Jesus’ name!

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7 NKJV).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1Peter 5:8-9 NKJV).

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#thefoe #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.