From: Paul Gage
FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD DECEMBER 31, 2020
FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING, AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
December 31, 2020
Farewell 2020! Greetings 2021!
To all the Saints all over the world: May God bless you richly in this new year in accordance to how you comply with His commandments. May we, each, resolve to do all we can to have the kingdom on earth to do His will as it is in heaven. How do you think it is done in heaven?
The following is from a book entitled: "Celestial Law Book One, by Elder Harvey W. Bennett, now deceased. The book was published in 1980 and I am not sure if copies are available anywhere.
"Prayer, seasoned well with fasting, is perhaps the greatest means of expressing spiritual thoughts and desires. It remains one of the most untapped sources of spiritual energy known to man and his Creator. The blessings of peace, joy, harmony, unity , excitement for the future, and contemplation upon the potential of self as it relates to the kingdom, and a close relationship with God, is seemingly available to only a relative few. This is true, not because God only hears and responds to such a few "Chosen Ones", but it is because the greater majority of souls have not learned the essentials necessary to make their prayer life more effective and rewarding through the avenue of the attitude and act of fasting.
We may content ourselves to search the banquet floor which surrounds the spiritual banquet table, picking up "crumbs" dropped by those who sit with our Lord consuming the choicest morsels of spiritual food offered. We have not yet learned to look up and see the face of the Host, nor searched the table to see what awaits those willing to do what is necessary to be His guest.
We may be sure that somewhere around that banquet table is a vacant chair reserved for all souls ever created. The question is, "When will we come to that point in life when we will no longer be satisfied with "leftovers" and desire the rich repast with our Savior?" It depends upon our willingness to pay the cost, whatever it may be, whether it be time, effort, prayer, fasting or greater service in order for us to sit with Him. As Jesus said,"...I will sup with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20. Let us re-align our agency so that God's Spirit may direct us to our place at His table, that we may begin to live as He would desire, that our joy and His, might be full.
Saints, this is a time for each of us to look back and look forward. Back to see what we need to do to obtain Celestial Glory and forward with strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
The following was put together by the Todd Lavigne family of Ontario Canada for an early worship service at Waldo Avenue Restoration Branch on December 13. They did it by video.
PRAISE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
RELY ON HIM
ADHERE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS
YIELD TO HIS VOICE
ETERNALLY
REJOICE IN HIM
God be with you in 2021 as we continue in Fasting, Praying, Studying, and Living for the Kingdom of God, even Zion, to come soon.
Paul Gage
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