FMF February 25

God is never distracted. Every time I look at Him, He is looking at me. So when I pray, I will fall on my knees, and with my hands lifted, I will praise You.

Feb. 21: The Lord's pray begins and ends with worship. 
Worship is
a prayer of professing who God is: Our Father who is in heaven,
a prayer of admiration of God: Hallowed be Your name,
a prayer of expectation: Your Kingdom come,
a prayer of submission: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,
a prayer of supplication: Give us this day our daily bread,
a prayer of confession: And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors, 
a prayer of subjection: And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil, 
a prayer of recognition: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen. 
The Lord's pray begins and ends with worship. 

February: But
You have heard, but 
Here is what Jesus says about personal relationships from the Sermon on the Mount.
v. 21 You have heard, 'You shall not commit murder,' but I say that everyone angry with his brother shall be guilty. (short version) Remember, you are forgiven of your many trespasses, so be reconciled to your brother. 
v.27 You have heard, 'You shall not commit adultery,' but I say that to look at another in lust has already committed adultery. Mediate on God's Word, redirect your thinking, and stop before it becomes problematic. 
v. 33 You have heard, 'You shall not make a false vow (lie) but fulfill your vow to the Lord,' but let your words be true.
v. 38. You have heard, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but I say I do not take personal retribution, let justice (Law) deal with lawbreakers or the unjust. The Mosaic law was one of limitations. It was a type of measured grace. 
v. 43 You have heard, You shall love neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemy. 
Jesus came not only to fulfill the Law but also to show the context of the commandment, correct the corruption of the Law, and show how grace was to be applied. 
We are to stand firm against evil and trust the legal system that God ordained for justice; we don't seek personal revenge, knowing that vengeance belongs to God. The but in the Sermon on the Mount clarifies the Law and how to apply grace as we walk by faith. 

God expects us to love and find a way to love. 
How much to love? God's love is a resource that never runs dry. 

Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen: Stop the spiraling of toxic thoughts. 

1. Your thoughts produce actions that echo out into eternity.  We cannot shut down but must operate within our God-given purpose. We have the power to think like Jesus because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. You are not a victim of your thoughts. EX: Jennie describes Paul as a religious terrorist.

2. List of enemies and weapons: Noise vs Silence
Stillness comes in letting go. 
Sometimes we are overwhelmed, our faith shaken, 
sometimes we are just tired and need rest,
sometimes we have lost our way, darkness overwhelms.
Despite our circumstances, God calls us to him. PS 23
Take an intermission and rest.
A respite brings clarity. 

3. Stillness comes in letting go.
Let go of insecurities: Romans 8:1-2 
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” 
Let go of the fight: Exodus 14:14 
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Let go of doubt, ask for help: Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Let go of resentment: Colossians 3:15 
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Let go of worry: 1 Peter 5:7 
"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you"

4. Quiet is when I can hear myself think. 
Quiet is silence around me, rest from busyness, undisturbed quiet time, sitting outside in the cool of the evening.
Quiet is not complaining, ruminating, sorting out precious thoughts and memories, unscrambling my thoughts.
Quiet is waiting for the Lord to speak and for me to listen. 

5. The mind set of the spirit yields: spiritual consequences, life, peace, discernment, forgiveness. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can raise me up.

6. Pray for awe in my life. God has an abundance of joy and delight for us—in this life. 

7. Intentionality=Focus. Remove the time-consuming clutter in my life. Intentionality and gratefulness (humility) are choices we can make to fight the enemy and stop our spiraling thoughts. Think on these things: whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence, worthy of praise. 

8. This is our thought process. Andrew Murray: Humility is perfect quietness of the heart, when all around is trouble, I can go the Father, kneel, and step in a deep sea of calmness 

9. I can do all things through Christ Jesus. 

10. God has called us to joy, to have hope and to persevere.