Call of the Spirit Publications

I want to give the devil a black-eye today (and everyday!)!!  Scripture says: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE”  (Matthew 11:12).

I want us to get violent today! Yes, RIGHT NOW! Let me ask you this question…if Jesus were to come back TODAY would you be caught doing the will of the Father?

Could that possibly be what Jesus meant when He said: “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)?  After all, we understand that faith begins where the will of God is known.

Our Great Commission (commandment) is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature [make disciples of all nations]” (Mark 16:15 & Matthew 28:19a combined).

Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that every one of us are to physically go, but we can: 1) PRAY; 2) Send others [partnering with someone who’s doing the going]; 3) Witness [here in America we have representations of all nations…witness with your life first, then they’ll hear your words about Christ!].

The task is simple — just live your everyday life with an awareness of: 1) God inside you and around you and 2) His all consuming desire to touch the lives of those around YOU with Him…His love…His peace…His joy, etc.

Let me just encourage you in this fact – you’re probably not going to feel like it.  You may be aching somewhere in your body (head, joints or wherever) or you may have an extremely tight schedule and no time left for anything else…“O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” was the prayer Jesus was found praying just before He went to the cross to REDEEM YOU FROM DESTRUCTION.

We need to become better at prioritizing our time and involvements.  Press through the pain of laying your life down for another!  He’s coming!  He’s coming!  He’s coming!!  That’s what the Holy Ghost is saying!

I truly and deeply love each and everyone of you!

The Lord spoke to my heart some years ago saying:

“I want you to announce to My people that they are living in the land of Goshen.”  As I have pointed out before, when the Lord speaks something to our hearts (if it’s truly the Lord) the initial revelation or understanding comes with it.  In this case the revelation being: God making a difference or distinguishing His people above others who aren’t in covenant relationship with Him.

Remember back in the book of Exodus the plagues that came on the Egyptians prior to the Israelites exiting their land?  The plague of darkness that covered the land of Egypt; a darkness so intense it could be felt!?  Let’s look at it: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may be felt.’… and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt … But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings” (Exodus 10:21-23).

The points I want to make are: 1) This darkness was so dark it could be felt.  I was granted a vision in the early part of 2003 and in the vision I saw the planet Earth covered with a thick, tar-like darkness, a darkness that could be felt!  Are you ‘feeling’ the effects of darkness around you?  Isaiah prophesied: “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” (60:2). The second point is: 2) The Lord making a difference between His people and the people of the world).  The vision continued with shafts of light (a light so bright, it resembled laser light or lightening) bubbling up and bursting forth through the darkness!  Isaiah 60:2 continues with: “But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”

The glory of God speaks of His Presence and provision.  In Exodus 33 Moses said to the Lord: “Please, show me Your glory” (v18). His response was: “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord” (v.19a).  Jehovah said His goodness was His glory, and the name of the Lord (everything He’s promised is in that name!).

Scripture also teaches there was a great transference of wealth [provision] before they left Egypt: “Now the children of Israel…asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold and clothing.  And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians…Thus they plundered the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:35-36).  “…the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22b, see also Ecclesiastes 2:26).

It has come into my heart that the exodus of the children of Israel is symbolic of our departure (what we call the rapture).  Yes, it truly happened, but I also believe it was a pattern of events we’ll experience before we leave this planet.  Not specific, like the individual judgments God passed on their ‘gods’ (the Word of the Lord has spoken to me of judging our cultures’ ‘gods’…like the carnal security found in the weekly paycheck).  That’s a whole other teaching, though.

God is making a difference in the lives of His true church (the body of Christ), and we’ll get in on it by aligning our lives with Him and the fresh Word He’s speaking to each of us daily.  “He who has an ear to hear…”

I’d like to begin by sharing a mini-vision I had some years ago. The vision was of a little country church my aunt and cousins went to.  God was really visiting them and great things were on the horizon for them.  In the vision I saw the ceiling of the building open up and what looked like a ladder stretching from Heaven to earth going right through it.  The blessings of God were coming down by way of that ladder, angles carrying them and then returning to get more.  You say, “What happened to that church?  How come we don’t hear of it anymore?”  Well, just like everything God does for and through people, the devil tries to come in and destroy the work of God.  As in this case, that church no longer exists.

So just because the vision didn’t come to pass fully, does that mean it wasn’t from God?  No.  Visions and revelations that come from God are His will concerning the things they’re about, but the cooperation of the people involved will determine whether they come to pass or not.  God has a great plan for all of our lives.  Our cooperating with Him will determine it’s success.  Let me go out on a limb here.  I believe Adolph Hitler was called to be an evangelist.  The gifting to convince people was there, only the devil came in and capitalized on it, using it to destroy millions of lives instead of saving them.  Only when a heart is truly devoted to God can the gifting within it be used for His glory.

Now I’ve got you wondering (possibly) what you’ve been called to do.  Well let me ask you this question: first and foremost, are you delighting yourself in the Lord?  Pursuing Him daily with no other agenda?  If so you have a promise from Him that He will give you the desires of your heart.  Another way to say it is: He will put desires in your heart from His as you delight yourself in Him.  What do you like to do?  Or, what do you find yourself doing a lot of with pleasure?  With pleasure?  Yes, with pleasure!  Jesus said He came to give us a life to enjoy and that His yolk was easy and His burden light.

In his day Paul’s companions could have judged that Paul really missed it.  That he was out of the will of God.  Read in his second letter to the Corinthians the things he endured (4 & 11), yet he called them “light afflictions” (4:17).  In short, a demon was sent from Satan to beat him up, to get him to stop spreading the Gospel (which includes all the good news of God’s involvement in our everyday lives).  When he prayed, asking for the removal of this trouble, the answer came, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (12:9).  Allow me to paraphrase: “My power and all of the tools I’ve given you to use are enough for you to conquer AND ENDURE (get through to the victory).”  That’s grace!  God’s strength and ability enhancing our weaknesses (inability to produce results) to enjoy the quality of life and victory He enjoys!

I named this encouraging word “Go Back” because I’m hearing the Spirit of God calling us to go back to the dream or vision we may have had at one time but have allowed to slip away.  Maybe things haven’t turned out the way we thought they would, so we’ve gotten discouraged and given up.  Perhaps all hell has broken out against you and the pressure to quit has been too great!  Jesus said the devil comes for the Words’ sake to choke it out of our lives and prevent it from maturing.  Yes, the black and white on paper we call the Bible, but also the Word God has spoken to your heart concerning His will for your life.  The devil can’t prevent the Word from coming to pass, but if he can talk you out of “continuing therein unto,” then he has nothing to worry about.  Let’s return to our first love and passionately pursue Him and His will for our lives!

A lot of times the Lord will speak some things to me to encourage me, and then as I mull it over in my spirit and mind I understand that it would be a blessing to others as well.

So here is what He said to me: “It’s time to shake off the shackles of condemnation that sinks you into the valley of death!  If you’ve committed sin and have truly repented before Me of it—it’s gone!  Keeping your attention on it by remembering it, rehearsing it and beating yourself up over it weighs you down and hinders you from running your race.

“The devil would have you think that you’ve messed up and lost ground, but I would have you know that true repentance keeps you in stride—and your heart, which is after Me, is what I look at.

“Yes, lay aside the sin, but also every weight that so easily ensnares you.  A weight is anything that is designed to hinder your walk with Me and the race I’ve called you to.  My Spirit will deal with you as you pray and open your heart to Me concerning what you should lay aside.

“If from within the deep your peace is not disturbed, then don’t trouble yourself about it (nor let anyone else trouble you, including the devil or his self-appointed judges that are in your life).

“I love you so much!  And I need you whole and unhindered in this hour!”—Abba

OUT OF THE ORDINARY

I count it a great privilege to stir you up and encourage you to get out of the boat of worldly comfort and same-ole same-ole!

Just take a moment right now and ask the Lord if there’s a little something out of the ordinary you can do for Him today…maybe say a brief prayer for someone (you know it’s not the lengthy sermon-prayers that God hears, it’s the word-based / faith filled ones).

Try something new…approach God on the line of our covenant (what He’s said and requires) rather than how you may feel about a thing.

It’s the little acts of obedience (here a little, there a little) that will add up to the big picture of His overall plan for planet earth.

He probably isn’t going to ask you to start a world-wide outreach, so don’t panic.  Just be a light of His glory to the corner of the world you’re in.  If that means interrupting your busy schedule for a few minutes, then do it, He’ll make up any lost time.

Become eternally minded…meaning, weigh each day in the balance of eternity with the knowledge that the time is coming (very soon!) when we will give an account for what we did with what He gave us, our talents, time and money.

If you even remotely think that God is impressing you to do something that’s never been done before—do it!  He’ll always give you the grace (empowerment) to do His will!!

The first Wednesday night of this year (1-04-2006), the word-of-the-Lord came unto me saying: “I want My people to return to their first love.” When I shared this with our church, the Lord continued by saying: “Like in the beginning of your walk with Me when you would approach My Word with tears in your eyes and had to wipe them away to read.  Or when the pastor or some preacher would say, ‘Turn to such-n-such,’ and your heart would leap with excitement to hear what the scripture and preacher had to say!  Not with, ‘Oh, I’ve heard that one before,’ then your mind leaves the service and goes shopping somewhere.”

As I’ve pondered this thought, I’ve been reminded every day of the exercise I used to do over twenty years ago (if you’ve never heard of doing this, it’ll be great for you to start!), that exercise is: take the two prayers in the book of Ephesians Paul prayed for them, and pray them for yourself replacing ‘you’ and ‘your’ with ‘my’ and ‘I’, etc.

I won’t type them in their entirety, but I’ll start you off and then you and the Holy Ghost can take it from there.

The two prayers are found in Ephesians 1:17-23 & 3:14-21. They go something like this: “That the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of His calling” (that’s 1:17-18a).  I’ve italicized the changes.

Chapter three would be the same: “…that He would grant me…that Christ may dwell in my heart” (from vv. 16 & 17).

You can do the same with Colossians 1:9-14: “…that I may be filled with the knowledge of His will.”  These are powerful prayers the Spirit of God inspired Paul to pray and record for us.  They stir up the spirit of faith and open our hearts and minds to receive directly from God His plans that He has for us (Oh, I better quit before I start preaching!).

In closing, I want to say a little more about having a prophetic voice in this hour.  A prophetic voice is simply one that speaks the heart of God on any matter.  The under-lying message will always exalt the Lordship of Jesus and it will minister faith to the hearer.  We all are instructed to stir up love and good works in each other as we see the Day of Christ approaching.  That’s done by the prophetic voice; a word in due season.  As we meditate the scriptures, allowing the Word of Christ to dwell in us richly, receiving the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, we all can speak what the Father is saying in this hour and His glory will be released through each one of us!  [Now you did it, you made me get to preaching!!]

I dearly love every one of you!  You want to shout?  Read Psalm 20!  In His Love.  Mike.

Recently our Pastor asked for those who are willing to join together with him for the breakthrough unto the next level we were all sensing, by fasting and praying. Not that fasting provokes God to do something, but the denial of the flesh positions us to hear from God His direction and helps us to align our lives with what He already wants to do (and is doing); just like turning a camera lens to bring into focus the image you’re wanting to take a picture of, or tuning in a radio station on an older-type radio.

I immediately began to ask the Lord to direct me what it was He wanted me to fast.  Before I get into His response I’d like to clarify the true meaning of fasting.  As I said earlier, fasting is denying your flesh of something.  But it’s not just the denial (or stopping something) that fully defines fasting, it’s what you do in its place as well.

Let’s look at Isaiah 58: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke…share your bread with the hungry…bring to your house the poor…cover the naked…THEN  your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily…the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard…(when) you call, the Lord shall answer… ‘Here I am’ … IF you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness…your darkness (gloom) shall be as the noonday.  The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought…” (verses 6-11).  The rest of that chapter is wonderful as well, but I think you get the picture.

If you really think about it, this sounds a lot like the ministry of Jesus (which we are in and a part of).  So what did the Lord speak to me?  This could be a personal word, but I believe the entire Body of Christ could stand to practice this as well: Live a fasted lifestyle!  Yes, keep the dictates of the flesh under the control of the real you (the hidden man of the heart – the spirit man).  Paul said: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).  Actually, it would be good to read from verse 19 on to get the whole thought.

Are we in the last of the last days, or not?  Do you think we can continue with the same old school of thought and activity?  Is God doing any changing to conform to our lifestyles so His work can get done?  In order to be a part of a drastic move of God, we must make some radical and drastic changes in our own lives.

So why is this teaching called “Fast Unbelief”?  Because, that’s the most common thing we all need to ‘tighten-up’ on and get rid of in our lives: unbelief.  To tap into the power of God it takes faith and the opposite of faith is unbelief.  Let’s not make Jesus look very hard to find faith when He returns!

“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4).

The Lord has placed it on my heart in recent times that we all must prioritize our lives and activities each day we live.

What do I mean by that?  I mean we must reevaluate everything we’re involved in: work, hobbies, church (yes, we all have our place in the Body of Christ and in order to be the most effective in the purpose of God, we must accurately be in place putting our hands to what He has designed and desired for us to do), etc.  Asking ourselves: “Is this God’s plan for me?”

Let’s go a little deeper.  We’re all aware of warfare, it touches each of our lives every day; and I’m convinced we’ll never see an end to it in this lifetime.  On the battle field the soldier is completely focused on what he’s doing there.  He’s not juggling between this activity and that, his total being is involved in the goal of warfare; defeating his enemy and establishing what he’s gone to war for.  He’s been enlisted to accomplish a job for his country and government.  To be most effective, a good soldier cannot even touch with his thought life what’s happening elsewhere; the economy, job lay-offs and so on, his focus must be the ‘job’ he has been enlisted to do.

We who are in the Body of Christ have been enlisted as well.  Our Lord and Master has given us instruction to occupy until He comes (see Luke 19:13).  The term ‘occupy’ in this reference is a military term and it means to maintain possession and control of a place.  Jesus has already conquered the realm of darkness and made an open show of them. In fact, through death He rendered powerless, entirely idle and useless the devil, who had the power of death (see Colossians 2:15 [NKJV] & Hebrews 2:14 [WNT] also Strongs).  He has already taken possession and control, our job is to maintain what He has already accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection.  We are His Body, He’s the head, but we are His hands, feet and so forth.  Now we’ve been commissioned to go and do His works. To better put it: we are called to be ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven (see 2 Corinthians 5:20).

An ambassador is a diplomatic official and resident representative of another kingdom or country.  They have full authority to act in behalf of the kingdom they are from.  Paul wrote, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20a).  Then Jesus, before He ascended into Heaven, commanded His disciples to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mark 16:15 & Matthew 10:8).

My question at this point is why don’t we see more of our job-description being lived out?  Could it be (at least one of the reasons) that we have been entangled with the affairs of this life?  Our own little empire?  ‘Us four and no more’?  While those around us are suffering the effects of the fear of death Jesus died to release them from!?!?

I’m not pointing any fingers, we’ve all been guilty of being internalized and ‘what about me?’ plagued.  So much so that we’ve come up with every excuse in the book why we shouldn’t invade somebody else’s space and get into their business about their need for a Savior.  After all, it wouldn’t be politically correct to announce there’s only one true God and He “commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:30b-31a).

Don’t be weighed down by these words, let them lift you unto action.  I’m not saying we must quit our jobs, leave our families and launch out into the world to preach the gospel.  Let your life preach the goodness of God right where you’re at.  Just make sure your attitude and focus are that of identifying with Christ and what He’s asking (requiring) of you this last hour.  The Great Day we all long for is coming (soon) and we’ll have to give an account for the things we’ve done while in these bodies of ours.

Here’s some helpful things to think on:  “you are not your own, you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20).  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20a).  “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).  Lastly, Paul wrote, “For though I am free from men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more” (1 Corinthians 9:19).  These will untangle any life!  Bless you!

As I was coming home this morning (12/20/05) after dropping my children off at school, fellowshipping with the Lord, an urgency arose within my heart. I received this revelation: God is raising up an army, but it’s not like we may have thought before; this army was bloodied and bruised — but determined! This army was an army filled with and motivated (DRIVEN) by LOVE!

This army had seen some battles. And they knew that the battles weren’t going to end any time soon. So, instead of giving up and quitting — they just kept pressing forward!!

You see, the devil knows his time is short and he’s focusing his attention primarily on those who have determined to obey God and fulfill His purpose on this earth.

We must have the mind-set that no matter what comes our way, WE WILL DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER (that’s the “Setting your minds on things above”)!  Just because some kind of sickness or disease has come to get you to throw up your hands and quit is no reason or excuse to do so!  I know you’re hurting, but I’ve been commissioned to stir you up to press forward: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works (that’s doing God’s will and the strength to do it; love), not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (that’s so important; meeting with your own company[family], those of like precious faith, strengthening each other…unto), as the manner of some, but exhorting one another, AND SO MUCH THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY (return of the Lord) APPROACHING!” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

I’m not saying we shouldn’t stand against sickness or anything else the devil throws at us, for: “(we overcome) him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of (our) testimony, AND (WE DO) NOT LOVE (OUR) LIVES TO THE DEATH!” (Revelation 12:11).  If the enemy can keep us occupied running around putting out a bunch of fires, we’ll be too busy to do the work of God!  He knows his time is short and he’s frantically trying to stop this love-army from advancing…I’d rather split Heaven wide open beaten-up, bloodied and bruised, carrying with me the Master’s reward (souls, lives mended and restored by the power of God) than to split hell wide open having given up and quitting!

Are you with me?  Be encouraged, He said He would never leave you nor forsake you!  The pain doesn’t change the FACT you are healed by the stripes of Jesus, just don’t focus your attention on it—His grace is sufficient, to resist, yes; but also to endure!   It’s almost Supper time, don’t give up now!

Beloved: I heard myself asking this question (regarding the church): “Do you think He’ll raise you (us) up before He takes you up (into heaven)?”  Then the thought came to me regarding Revelation 1:10: “I heard…a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”  I think Jesus is speaking to His body pretty loudly in this hour things meant to prepare us for the ‘catching away’ (rapture).

Then some very stern corrections and directions were given to the Church in the verses to follow.  Chapter four verse one continues: “And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place…’”

I believe the Spirit of God is saying right now that we must first come up to where the Lord is, receive whatever correction we may need, then get our marching orders to go forth in the earth, doing the will of the Father, preparing the way for the return of the Lord.

“Where is the Lord?” you may ask.  For some it’s a secret.  But for those who will hear; He’s at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.  The Throne Room of God is open for us to come boldly, that we may receive grace to help in this hour of need.

He’s coming back for a glorious Church, but I don’t think that means we’ll be absolutely perfect in everything.  If we’re a people striving to get it right, pressing in to God for the oil to fill our lamps that we may shine brightly with Him, the Glory He supplies will make up for where we lack in our imperfections!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

When I was a child and we went on vacation, my mother used to have several checklists she would use prior to our leaving the house. A checklist is a tool used to help remember important things to do or take care of. It helps you organize events or just your daily activities in order to ensure everything necessary is taken care of.

She would write things down like “be sure to stop the mail” or “lower the water-heater temperature before leaving.”  She would even make a list of items needed for the trip.

Why do I mention all of this? Because, we Christians (the true body of Christ) are about to leave this planet and the Lord has given us some check-lists in His Word that are necessary for our preparation to leave. Not only are they necessary to get us ready to leave, but they will enable us to experience some of Heaven while we’re still here waiting to go.

Resurrection Life

Scripture teaches that we, the believer in Christ, have been raised from the dead by the same resurrection power God the Father used to raise our Lord Jesus from the dead. That power is the Holy Spirit Himself and the book of Galatians gives us a couple of checklists that contrast our new life in the spirit as opposed to the old nature of the flesh.

These two lists are often called “the fruit of the spirit” and the “works of the flesh”. They both are indicators that help us distinguish which realm we’re operating in. Such as: the re-created human spirit, filled with the life of God (the Holy Spirit), will evidence love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Whereas, the carnal (fleshly) person will evidence adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness (morally unrest-rained), idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries.

–WOW–

That’s some pretty explicit stuff!!  Paul further wrote: “those who practice such things (the works of the flesh) will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21b).  It might be better said this way: “those who are living this kind of life-style won’t be inheriting the kingdom of God.” He said practice, not something you’re struggling with and standing against!  If you have no concern over the sin in your life, I dare say the conviction of the Spirit isn’t present with you, “(for) if you are without chastening (correction that comes from the Father)…then you are illegitimate and not sons” (Heb. 12:8).  That’s the book!!

Another checklist found in the book of Colossians gives us a break down of idolatry (which is anything that’s put before God [one of the thou-shalt-not’s]). “Therefore put to death your members (carnal/fleshly desires) which are on the earth: fornication uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colo. 3:5).  These instructions are not meant to weigh us down, but to help us recognize which realm we’ve been operating in.

Paul himself declared his struggle with his flesh and how he kept doing the things he didn’t want to do, and gives us the answer to living free of the carnal nature. “Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God—through Jesus Christ, our Lord …for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death…If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above (what things? the promises of God which will enable you to be a partaker of the divine nature), where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God…For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ (who is our life) in God” (Romans 7:24b-25a, 8:2 & Colo. 3:1[2 Peter 1:4], 3 & 4a).

Love

The greatest checklist in the Word of God is found in 1st Corinthians 13: “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly.  Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]” (1Corin. 13:4-8a  Amplified Bible). There’s a checklist for you!

I often refer to the Word of God as “the owners manual for life.”  After all, the ‘Manufacturer’ left it for us to know how it works.  If we’ll use these (and others in the Word) to order our lives by, then Jesus will be manifested to the world and glorified.  It’s not too hard, after all, you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you!