Thursday, October 20, 2016

Working The Word (Walking Away From Addiction Into The Sweet Arms of Jesus) I'd Rather Have Jesus

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns




Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.


“Multiplying God’s Word Around the Globe”

October 20, 2016

I’d Rather Have Jesus

Job 22:25

Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver;

1 Peter 2:6

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:7

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; 

What does the word precious mean anyway? Let’s look at some descriptions from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary…

1. Of great price; costly; as a precious stone.
2. Of great value or worth; very valuable.
3. Highly valued; much esteemed.
Does this word “precious” describe what Jesus is to you? If He is, then other things that have been concerning you will fade away when you are in His presence – amen! Today as I was worshiping the Lord, I let Him choose the songs for me as I went along singing and flowing in the Spirit at His promptings. It was a glorious time – so sweet, so precious. Why? Because He is precious. One of the songs that He brought to me was the one that bears the title of this message: “I’d Rather Have Jesus”

It was nearing mealtime, but I ignored the groaning’s of my stomach and pressed in to leave the cares of this world behind. The more I did, the greater the blessing that I received. As I was blessing the Lord with my worship, praise and thanks, He was blessing me with the richness of His presence. It was precious because He is precious.

Even though I had a busy schedule breathing down my back for the afternoon and my stomach was trying to tell me what time it was, I decided to block out all the distractions and go with my Savior. I left the earth for a while and enjoyed being in the throne room with Him where His glory dwells. Deeper and deeper I went until all else seemed to melt away. It was as if I was in a rocket that took me high above the earth.

The further from the cares of life I got, the deeper and closer I became to Jesus. I wept, I sang, I prayed and it all just flowed like the gentle playing of a harp by the heavenly host. It was a glorious time. In my mind, I felt that I have been given such victory in Jesus of late. While I used to listen more to my flesh than His sweet voice, today was a victorious day of just letting go and going with Him. As we walked and talked, I was calmed. He brought comfort and healing to my soul while my soul blessed Him.

After yesterday’s Bible study about “If only I had listened”, I think about how many times I could have drawn away to just be with Jesus rather than being concerned about the affairs of life. I think of the joy and peace I would have had. I didn’t linger in those thoughts long today. They crossed my mind. But I so enjoyed the sweet time we had and before I knew it an hour and a half had drifted by as if it were only moments.

How precious the time is that we get to be with Jesus as we walk through this life. Being with Him is the key to breaking the yokes that have bound us. Letting go of a bad habit and embracing His presence in and of itself can loose the chains that have bound us for so long. The further I go in this journey with Him, the less the things of this world really matter.

I want to encourage everyone to keep working the word of God to get free of any and all addictive behavior – whatever your vice may have been. His word works in our lives when we work it. I sit here telling you again and again because He wants you to know this. It is not Hanny talking – it is precious Jesus. He wants you to know Him. He is the word. To be with Him in a private time or worship and praise is to soak in the powerful presence of the word because Jesus is the word made flesh. He is alive and well and waiting every day to have that special sweet time with us. When we get there, it becomes so sweet that we do not want to come out.

Today, as I began my time with Him, the distractions tried to come. Things like, “What am I going to have for lunch?” or “I have a lot to get done today and the time is passing.” All of the things that try to move in and steal those precious moments have to be cast down. We have to keep pressing in. He showed me today that by taking our time and staying with Him, little by little the worldly cares will melt away and our focus will be more and more on Him. That’s where we need to be.

Be encouraged my friend. There is a way that breaks the bondage and removes every burden. Entering into His sweet presence and enjoying how precious He is can make other cares and concerns that may be “eating at us” just melt away. Working the word works when we work it. Hallelujah!






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