For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6.

That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 106: The joy of His resurrection predicted. Psalm 40:2-5: He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay. And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count. And, John 20:20: And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the LORD.

The third Scripture verse cited above is from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and I love what he wrote: “If the Son of God has been born into my human flesh, then am I allowing His holy innocence, simplicity, and oneness with the Father the opportunity to exhibit itself in me? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint. God’s Son is born into me through the direct act of God; then I as His child must exercise the right of a child – the right of always being face-to-face with my Father through prayer. Do I find myself continually saying in amazement to the commonsense part of my life, “Why did You want me to turn here or to go over there?” ‘Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” (Luke 2:49). Whatever our circumstances may be, that holy, innocent, and eternal Child must be in contact with His Father. Am I simple enough to identify myself with my LORD in this way? Is He having His wonderful way with me? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now – no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.”

That may sound extreme until we truly realize how much hurry and anxious reasoning have been such a big part of our life here in this hectic, noisy world that crowds out by design any time spent in quiet with Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. And yet, the most beautiful moments of my life have been those not rushed. How can we begin to comprehend the incredible life that is? We have life because God created life. That we are His we can only begin to comprehend as we spend time with Him. And as we begin to apprehend His love for us and be with Him in trust and hope, the way of this world makes less sense because we see it for the confusion it is steeped within. Oppression, violence, lies, greed become painful and not routine. And these words, too beautiful to be rushed – For you have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God. I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.

***GUIDING HANDS May the guiding hands of God be on my shoulders, may the presence of the Holy Spirit be on my head, may the sign of Christ be on my forehead, may the voice of the Holy Spirit be in my ears, may the smell of the Holy Spirit be in my nose, may the sight of the company of heaven be in my eyes, may the speech of the company of heaven be in my mouth, may the work of the church of God be in my hands, may the serving of God and my neighbor be in my feet, may God make my heart His home, and may I belong to God, my Father, completely. The Lorica of Fursa (AD 597-650).***