Morning Musings

My Bedrooms

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       We left the utility part of the house and went back upstairs. All had been cleaned up and purified down at the back of the house, and as we went past the cupboard upstairs which had been so smelly before, a bit of fresh air wafted past us. I was so pleased that I had got my Visitor to deal with those putrid things I had shoved in there!

    We went down the passage, and I showed Him the bedrooms next. “You may choose whichever one suits You the best”, I said as we went past the open doors of each of them. “Thank you very much,” He said, “I will be glad to have whichever one you tell me.” “This one has a new bed,” I said proudly, “ I’m sure You will be most comfortable here.” “Thank you,” He replied, “It will be nice to have somewhere to lay My head. When I was on earth, even though the foxes had their holes to sleep in and the birds had their nests, I had nowhere to lay my head many times. It was then that I went up into the mountain to pray to My Heavenly Father, and to gather strength to do His will. It is always My delight to do His will you know!” (Psalm 40:8)

I felt an unspoken rebuke there, just as though He knew how little time I spent doing the Father’s will myself. There were always other things I wanted to do, things which I always found time to do. “My room is just along the passage here”, I said lamely. “Oh yes,” He said, “It is good to have rest….I always like to see My children taking their rest. Especially the rest that I can give them, I tell them all to come to Me and I will give them rest, when they have worked hard and had heavy loads to bear. Especially the rest I can give with an easy conscience knowing that they have put all wrongs right and given thanks to the Father for all His goodness and mercy to them!”  (Matthew 11:28)

    I squirmed a bit at that….I knew there were many nights when my sleep was disturbed by angry thoughts and ideas of revenge! Yes, I knew they were wrong, but they were only natural weren’t they? My Visitor said quietly, as though talking to Himself, “Don’t avenge yourself, but give place to wrath, for it is written ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’ says the Lord”. (Romans 12:19)

   It was amazing how He always seemed to put His finger on some little secret that I had thought was hidden. As we turned to go downstairs again, once more He murmured as if to Himself, “I will not allow your foot to be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber or sleep!”  (Psalm 121:3-4) This thought gave me great comfort, knowing that I was in His hands!

Morning Musings

My Laundry Room.

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               There was still another room in my house that had to do with cleaning things up. This was the laundry room.  I was a bit reluctant to take my Guest into the laundry room. Sometimes there was a nasty stale smell in there as though there were clothes that had been damp and not dried properly.  But He insisted.  “I need to see ALL your house, if I’m to stay with you”, He said as we went down the passage. “You know I will never leave you nor forsake you, and I want you to willingly show Me each room in your house!”

   He must have sensed my reluctance. As we opened the door it was as bad as I had thought it might be! The damp clothes that I had been meaning to wash last week made a horrid stink as we went in. “ I meant to do the washing but somehow there were other things to do”, I muttered shamefacedly, “Things like going to Bible Study and church services”, hoping to make it sound a bit better. “Those are good things, but we are not to leave the other things undone”, He said, “I have given you twenty-four hours each day to make use of. See that you use them wisely. You don’t really need ten hours of sleep you know! Just get up earlier in the morning….I’m always waiting for you to come and see Me, no matter how early it is!”     He knew me only too well. “Oh Lord!”, I cried, “You know all my weaknesses and failings, there is nothing I can hide from You! Search my heart and show me where I’m at, and lead me to do better!” (Psalm 139: 23-24)    I realised then that He knows me through and through, and there is no point in trying to hide things from Him . What a relief to have admitted all this to Him, and to know His strength as I tried to do better!!

Morning Musings

My Bathroom.

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           “This is the bathroom”, I said proudly as I took My Guest in. Surely there wouldn’t be anything wrong in here! This was the room where there was fresh running water at all times. I never spent much time in this room, as I just did the necessary things like a quick shower. He would need to know where everything was kept though  as He would be using this room each day, I thought!

“Ah, yes,” He said, “The place where all the dirt is washed away!”       I began to squirm a little. His eyes seemed to pierce through to the very innermost parts of my being. It was almost as though He knew how little time I really spent there! He walked in to where the shower cubicle was. I glanced down at the base of the shower, and hoped He wouldn’t notice the beginnings of the algae settling in the corners. I hadn’t had time to give it a good scrub for some time.

   But alas, His glance followed mine and His piercing eyes took it all in…the grime and the scum that was accumulating through neglect. “My blood cleanses from ALL sin”, He said thoughtfully, “You just have to confess it to Me you know. That is why I died”,  He continued, “To pay the penalty of your sins”.

“Oh Lord”, I cried, “I DO believe it! Help me to keep this room in my heart cleaner by daily confession. I promise to get into all the corners with the brush and get rid of everything that grows into sin!”      He smiled at me, and said, “My child, this is why I came to earth and died for you. My Father was in the work with Me you know, I and My Father are One”. (John 10:30)

     What comfort that gave me! I vowed that I would clean it out after every shower that I had. Never again, would I be caught out like this!!

Morning Musings

My Upstairs Cupboard.

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My Upstairs Cupboard

    As we walked through the house downstairs, I began to notice a faint smell. Going up the stairs, it became stronger, and Jesus said, “Do you notice that horrid smell? What’s in this cupboard, it seems to be stronger here!” I hadn’t intended saying anything to Him about that cupboard. I knew there were things in there that weren’t too good, and I didn’t want Him to know that I was hiding them there. But He had noticed this cupboard, and said, “Something must be dead somewhere. I think it’s in here”. As soon as He said this, I knew what He was talking about. This cupboard, was only a small one, and it was where I put things I hadn’t dealt with. I always kept telling myself that I would clean it out one day, but somehow that day never came. I always made sure the door was kept locked because of these things that I didn’t want anyone else to know about. Certainly, I didn’t want Christ to see them! I knew they were dead and rotting things left over from the old life, but  I wanted to keep them just in case I wanted to look at them again. Things like those pornographic pictures I had downloaded off the computer, and the suggestive jokes that I thought I might need one day. Then there were all the letters about those shady deals I had done some years ago too….I wouldn’t want Jesus to know about them!

He stopped outside the door and the smell got stronger and stronger. He pointed to the door. I was angry. That’s the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, and the living room,  and now He was asking me about a cupboard of all things!

 I thought  to myself, “This is too much. I’m not going to give Him the key. He doesn’t need to know what’s in here!” “Well,” He said, reading my thoughts, “if you think I’m going to stay up here on the second floor with this smell, you are mistaken. I will go down to the porch.” When I saw Him start down the stairs, I remembered the verse that says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”, and I though how awful to be separated from God and not have Him hear my cries for help! (Psalm 66:18)

When one comes to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense Him withdrawing His fellowship. I had to give in. “Alright, I’ll give You the key,” I said sadly, ‘but You will have to open it up and clean it out. I haven’t the strength to do it.”

“Just give it to Me,” He said. “and tell  me to take care of that cupboard  and I will.”     With shaking fingers I passed the key to Him. He took it, and opened the door. The smell that came out was awful! But you know, He took out all the things that were rotting there, and threw them away. After He had cleaned it all out, He painted it. It was  done in  a  moment’s  time. I  remembered  again, how that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Oh, what a victory and release to have all that dead stuff out of my life! He is the only One Who can do that for us! I was now able to truly say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” ( 1 Corinthians 15:57)

Morning Musings

My Study.

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      The next  room we went into was the study, and the library. I likened this room to my mind, after all, it was where I did all my serious thinking as well as relaxing. This room is quite a small room and has very thick walls. It’s  a very important room to me. It was actually like the control room of the whole house. Jesus came in with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, and saw the magazines lying on the table, and  the pictures on the walls.

    As I watched Him looking around I started to feel very uncomfortable. Strangely, I hadn’t felt self-conscious about this before, but now that He was there looking at these things I was embarrassed. Some books were there that His eyes were too pure to look at. On the table were a few magazines that a Christian had no business reading. As for the pictures on the walls – the imaginations and thoughts of the mind – some of these were shameful.

     Red-faced, I turned to Him and said, “Master, I know that this room needs to be cleaned up and made over. Will You help me make it what it ought to be?”

“Sure!” He said. “I’m glad to help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with Scripture and think about it day and night. As for the pictures on the walls, you will find it hard to control these things, but I have something that will help.” He gave me a full-size picture of Himself. “Hang this in the centre of the  wall of your mind,” He said.

    I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centred upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to back away. So He has helped me to bring my thoughts under His control. In fact whenever my mind is drawn to these things now, I have found that repeating out loud, “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses me from ALL sin!” immediately chases those thoughts away (1 John 1:9). Truly, God’s  Word will immediately put one’s mind back on the right track and send the enemy fleeing from bringing  you further temptation.

Morning Musings

My Dining Room.

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          From there we went into the dining room, the room of appetites and desires. I spent a lot of time and hard work here trying to satisfy my wants. I said to Him, “This is one of my favourite rooms.  I am quite sure You will be pleased with the food we eat!” He sat down at the table  with me and asked, “What is on the menu for dinner?”  “Well,” I said, “my favourite dishes are money, academic degrees and stocks, with newspaper articles of fame and fortune as side dishes.”  Those were the things I liked – secular meals.       When the food was put in front of Him, He said nothing, but left it on His plate uneaten. I said to Him, “Master, don’t You like this food? What’s the matter?” He said, “I have food to eat that you do not know of. If you want food that really satisfies you, you must do the will of the Father. Stop seeking the things you want, your own desires, and satisfaction. Seek to please Him. That is the food that will satisfy you.” (John 4:32, 34)     It was there at the table, that He gave me a taste of the joy of doing God’s will. How full of flavour it was! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies. As I began to delight myself in Him and His things, I found my desires were changing, and He gave me every one of them!!  (Psalm 37:4)

Morning Musings

My Living Room.

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   I had invited Jesus Christ into my heart in all sincerity, and was so excited at the thought of  Him being with me all the time. Everything was going to be just wonderful now that He was with me every day! I couldn’t wait to show Him around. The first room we entered was the living room. Now my living room is my favourite room, depending on the time of the day it is! But it is the room where I can relax and be myself. It isn’t always particularly tidy, but it has a nice homey feeling. As Jesus looked around He said, “This is indeed a delightful room. Let’s come here every day and talk together”.

    Well, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ every morning. He said, “I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and we will start the day together.”

     So every morning, I would go downstairs to the living room. He would take a book of the Bible from the case, and we would read  it together. He would unfold to me God’s wonderful truths, and my heart sang as He shared the love and the grace He had toward me. These were wonderful times.

But after a while, this time began to be shortened. I began to miss days now and then. Urgent matters would crowd out the quiet times of conversation with Jesus.

    I remember one morning rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way. I passed the living room and noticed that the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself,  “He is my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as my Saviour and Friend, and yet I am neglecting Him.” I stopped, turned, and shame facedly went in. With downcast glance, I said, “Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?”

“Yes,” He said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost, I value your fellowship. Even if you cannot keep the quiet time for your own sake, do it for mine,”

   The truth that Christ wanted my company hadn’t entered my head. I hadn’t realised  that He wanted me to be with Him and might be waiting for me! In fact, I had often wondered if my prayers were doing any good, and then I remembered how He has told us to always keep praying, and to never stop doing this ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 25).

    I realised then that the enemy of our souls does everything in his power to keep us too busy to have our prayer time, and he has even whispered in my ear, “You don’t pray very well, and it’s a waste of time doing it”. But God showed me the other side of the coin when He says, “My Spirit also helps you in your weaknesses. Even if you don’t know how to pray very well, He will make intercession for you with groanings which cannot be explained”  (Romans 8:28).  Once I realised that, I went ahead and prayed just the same, no matter how feeble it seemed. So now I make sure that I don’t leave Him alone in the living room of my heart, but to see that I give Him the first minutes of each day….this time with Him is infinitely worth  it!!

Morning Musings

My Heart is my House.

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      I came across this story the other day of our heart being like a home for God. It was written just as if Jesus  was walking through our heart with us as though it was a house. In fact, the Bible bears this thought out. In the book of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read, “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? You have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”.

    We tend to forget that what we do with our bodies is what reflects to those watching us….if we make even the smallest slip up, it gives them a chance to point the finger. There is no mercy for the believer who does wrong, and as it was said to David when he got Bathsheba pregnant, “You have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord  to blaspheme, and because of this, the child also that is born unto you shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:14)

     For a building to be strong, it must have a good foundation, as well as be properly built. These things don’t just happen, they have to be properly prepared, so we must see that our foundation is strong, stable and level. We have to see that it is built on what the Bible tells us…..

 In Ephesians 2:19-22, we read…..  “Now you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you are also built together into a habitation of God through the Holy Spirit”.

     And so as we go through each room together, I suddenly see it as He sees it all, and I see what needs to be altered, things to be got rid of, and other things added that I had no idea of before. I find that as I begin to delight in Him and what He wants for me, so my desires  change to what He wants to give me, and I find that all that I want is what He gives me! (Psalm 37:4)

    So our house is built strongly on a good foundation, and we have been living in it for a while. Now we have invited the Lord to be with us in our home, so we will see just how this works out as time goes by…….the house is good and strong, but what have we put in it???? We will find out in the weeks to come.

See what God has to say to YOU.