Love and worship

As a being with a body, soul, and spirit, I want to be driven by my spiritual desires (i.e., in harmony with the Holy Spirit), not by bio-physical or psychological/emotional/intellectual/professional desires.  

I think that my greatest spiritual desire is to love and worship Yahweh.  You can love someone without worshipping them, and you can worship something without loving it, but in our relationship with Yahweh, one without the other is incomplete.

Honestly, I often let my soul desires drive me. I regularly overcomit my time/effort, and I think it is because I care too much what other people think of me. I think the main reason is that I don't want to let people down.  I don't want to be a failure.  I want to be perfect by keeping everyone happy with me.

But I need to start saying "no" to a lot more opportunities so that I can focus on joining my Father in His work.  I have been distracted by so many things, none of them inherently evil, but pulling me away from joining my Father.

John 5:17‭, ‬19‭-‬20 NIV

In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." ... Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Father, I love you, and I want to work with you.  Please give me wisdom to see what I need to let go of and what I need to say "no" to so that I will have time to join you fully in the work you have for me. And the work you have for me is not too much, so you will make sure that I have enough time to rest, as well.  I need more rest. I love you.

First versus Third reality

Praise Yahweh! Through faith in Jesus, our true identity in the Third Heaven is sons and daughters of God!

John 1:12‭-‬13 NIV

Yet to all who did receive [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

In the Third Heaven, which is greater than the Second and First Heavens, we are royalty because we are sons and daughters of God!

Psalms 113:4‭-‬8 NIV

Yahweh is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like Yahweh our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.

So, if I am aware of my eternal royal identity in the Third Heaven, then I don't need to try to impress anyone in the First Heaven (i.e., here on earth).

Proverbs 25:6‭-‬7 NIV

Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. 

Father, thank you for making us sons and daughters! You are a good Father! Thank you for making us royalty!  We stand in authority and power with you.  Jesus, I want to be secure in my identity and humble in every situation, just like you.  Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me be more aware of my identity.  I love you!

Jesus is Yahweh and Messiah

In Psalm 110, King David prayed to Yahweh and Messiah; King David saw the revelation that Messiah is in Yahweh, and Messiah is High Priest and High King.

Psalms 110:1‭-‬7 TPT

Yahweh said to my Lord, the Messiah: "Sit with me as enthroned ruler while I subdue your every enemy. They will bow low before you as I make them a footstool for your feet." Messiah, I know God himself will establish your kingdom as you reign in Zion-glory. For he says to you, "Rule in the midst of your enemies!" Your people will be your love offerings. In the day of your mighty power you will be exalted, and in the brightness of your holy ones you will shine as an army arising from the womb of the dawn, anointed with the dew of your youth! Yahweh has taken a solemn oath and will never back away from it, saying, "You are a priest for eternity, my King of righteousness!" The Lord stands in full authority to shatter to pieces the kings who stand against you on the day he displays his terrible wrath. He will judge every rebellious nation, filling their battlefield with corpses, and will shatter the strongholds of ruling powers. Yet he himself will drink from his inheritance as from a flowing brook; refreshed by love he will stand victorious!

After the religious leaders and experts of the law tried to trap Jesus with arguments, Jesus quoted Psalm 110 to show that Messiah is both God and man:

Luke 20:41‭-‬44 TPT

Jesus then posed this question to the people: "How can the experts of the law say that Christ the Messiah is David's son? Haven't you read in the Psalms where David himself wrote: The Lord Jehovah said to my Lord, 'Sit near me in the place of authority until I subdue all your enemies under Your feet!' " Jesus explained, "If David calls this one 'my Lord,' how can he merely be his son?"

On the walk to Emmaus after Jesus was resurrected from death, Jesus explained that Messiah was the perfect sacrifice, revealed in the Scriptures:

Luke 24:25‭-‬27 TPT

Jesus said to them, "Why are you so thick-headed? Why do you find it so hard to believe every word the prophets have spoken? Wasn't it necessary for Christ, the Messiah, to experience all these sufferings and then afterward to enter into his glory?" Then he carefully unveiled to them the revelation of himself throughout the Scripture. He started from the beginning and explained the writings of Moses and all the prophets, showing how they wrote of him and revealed the truth about himself.

Father, your way of rescuing us from sin and death is amazing!  Jesus, you are Messiah and Yahweh, High Priest and High King, and the perfect sacrifice to redeem all humans to close fellowship with Father.  Holy Spirit, you are so humble and gentle, and you point everyone to Jesus and Father.  Yahweh Trinity, I love you.

My sins are washed away

Reading in Luke 23 about Jesus being crucified, I was reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, which is a direct contrast to what King David prayed in Pasalm 109:  Jesus was innocent, and I was guilty; but Jesus was punished so that I am clean and incorporated into His righteousness.  This blessing is multigenerational; my children are now blessed instead of cursed.

Father, thank you for your mercy.  Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness to endure such intense pain and agony in your body and soul because of your great love.  Holy Spirit, please help me grow as an ambassador of reconciliation.  I love you.