Think About Such Things

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4: 8

It is the first Lord’s Day Sunday in the month of August, and I know that it’s the holiday month for many Church organizations and servers, for example. At the end of last month, I had attended a concert in another Church denomination and I smiled to myself when the person at the microphone stated that the organist would be on holiday in the month of August, and the organ would be played by another. I smiled, because the same kinds of things happen at the church I attend. I know that the choir, the organist and quite often, the minister, go on holiday at this time. Church continues though, because there are other alternatives made to keep the sheep fed. Holidays are necessary and recommended, but where there is that which is vital, holidays are never taken.

I am talking about such vital life-saving and life-giving ways, which cause paucity, malnourishment, illnesses, undernourishment, diseases and more, if they are not faithfully kept. I refer to prayer, for example. Prayer in the Spirit, is like breathing in the flesh. If you do not breathe, you stop the flow of breath to your entire body and you will suffocate and die. There is no holiday from breathing. Likewise, if you are not in personal communication with our heavenly Father, you stop the flow of Spiritual breath to your entire heart, mind, soul and strength. The result is sure suffocation from the troubles, cares, worries, fears and anxieties which must come and will come, as long as we are in this dark world. There is no holiday from praying in the Spirit.

On this Lord’s Day therefore, we come with extra special praise and thanks, honour and glory, to our Lord, who doesn’t take holidays, in feeding us, schooling us, communicating with us and just being with us to guide and guard us. We bow before Him, as we are led through these days of August, as He wills, to receive from His ever fresh, ever green, ever bountiful and ever flowing goodness and mercy.

For the remainder of this week, we shall be, ‘island hopping’, I call it, as we will be taken to a new and different scenery, on each day. There will be difference in topic, content, interests and responses.

To all who will depend solely on the Holy Spirit, even before you begin your ‘island hopping’ of each day’s meditation, He has already begun His work in you. He has planted in you, the seed of expectation, interest, faith, and rejoicing, protecting you against every thief-stealer, who will come to destroy His already begun works in you.