This morning God was pressing on my heart the word "example". I think partly it was because of some kids we came in contact with yesterday while doing some urban mountain bike riding around our city. We found some spots to ride that we hadn't been before, and one of those happened to be a very low income apartment complex. As we rode, small kids started to gather around and a handful went and got their own bikes. And when I say small kids, I mean probably between the ages of 5 and 9. No parents around at all, just these little kids all running around on their own. They seemed very intrigued by the things we were doing on our bikes and at first it just seemed like just fun. But then after just a few minutes I began to hear the language these kids were using. And I must say it was quite shocking to hear kids so young cussing so bad. It was clear that this was a learned way of life for them and they were simply mimicking the words (and actions) they had heard all of their lives so far. One little guy really talking to us a lot about our bikes and was asking questions, so I had the chance to say to him, "you know, we don't cuss". The look on his face was like he had never heard someone say this in his life, and that made sense, because he probably hadn't. And the only thing he could think to say back to me was, "really, cause I do". That boy was no older than 6 years old...
The reason I felt like God is pressing the word example on my heart so much is because whether we realize it or not, we are an example to someone in our life. Someone is always looking up to you, or at you, to see how you respond to situations, act in certain situations, the things you like or dislike, the things you hold value to....and most importantly, how genuine are you? In 1 Timothy 4:12 Timothy says these words, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". It's a teaching that goes out to us all. If you're young then it let's you know you CAN still make a difference, but I think it really goes out to us all. "Set an example" it says..."in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". As I read that verse again and again I couldn't think of any areas of life it didn't hit on with just those few words. Do I hope we left an impact on those kids yesterday, absolutely. I hope they remember some guys came in and did some neat stuff on bikes, but most of all I hope they remember that we didn't act or talk like the people I see on a daily basis, that we were different.
I plan on going back to that place again, and this time I plan on telling them why we don't cuss. I want them to know that Jesus was different than the rest of the world too, and they don't have to be like everyone else they hear and see. I want them to know how much he loves them and me...and that's why I live differently, and they can too. That living in a way that pleases God is just one way of showing Him love back. It doesn't hurt to explain to people why you make the choices you do, but most of all....be an example that reflects Christ!
God, thank You for the opportunities You give us to be an example for You. Please help us remember that the lives we live reflect You....or they should. Help us to always be pointing people to You, not away from You. We should do this in our speech, our conduct, our love, our faith and our purity. Help those who have not seen the importance in this realize it today. And help them to be an example to a world who needs what we have....You! In Jesus name, Amen
Friday, May 27, 2016
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Avoiding Sin...
Have you ever looked out over a lake that didn't have one wave yet, or at least seen pictures like this. The water looks like glass, and it just seems so peaceful. The idea of there being any danger associated with that water probably doesn't even cross your mind. Now compare that to the thought of a rushing river. One where the water has the appearance of being white because the current is so strong and it is moving down stream so fast. The idea of even putting one foot in this water could seem scary. You know just by looking at it that you could be swept away and drown. But the reality is, you can drown in both of these bodies of water, one just has the appearance of being safe.
This is very much how the enemy comes at us with sin. There are certain sins that have danger written all over them, and so it is quite obvious to stay clear of them. However, what about the ones that don't? Isn't that the ones that satan gets us to be the most attracted to? For example, "the little white lie"told to "protect", or the "compliment" to that man or woman, even though your married. Or how about this one, when satan lies and tells you the "thing" you want to do doesn't have an impact on anyone but you, so just do it. Satan can disguise sins to seem harmless, but they never really are. It's his goal to make them look attractive enough to distract you in that moment and at least get you to consider it. He knows if he can get you to this place long enough, then eventually you will do it. Now go back to the 2 different kinds of water I mentioned earlier....do you know the best way to make sure you never drown in either? You just don't go near that water! That's right, you can't drown in water you never got in to begin with. And sin is the same way. You will never find someone who got in over their head by walking away from the temptation, or telling the truth instead of flirting with the lie. The best way to avoid getting in trouble with sin is to avoid the sin all together.
I'm writing this today because I just felt God was speaking to me about how too many times we (Christians) are ok with sin when it doesn't "look bad" on the outside. But I want you to know that those are the sins that satan uses to desensitize you. He wants you to become too confident that you have power over this sin, it doesn't have power over you. He wants you to continue down that "harmless" path. Let me give you an example.....Let's say a new person starts in the office. You immediately recognize they are attractive, but think nothing of it. Then a "hi" gets said in passing, then a compliment is passed back and forth, and before you know it your talking on a pretty regular basis, but you'eve never mentioned this to your spouse. Now you find out there is a company event coming up and spouses are invited. The fear that goes over you is "what if that person comes up and talks to me in front of my spouse? How will I explain this?" And it's all because you started by putting one foot in the water, when really you should have kept your distance. I know that example may be a bit extreme to some, but I hope the point came across. The enemy will make something look so innocent, and then he will turn the tables on you. He doesn't care about you, so he wants to see you go down. And he knows if he just leads you down the path with temptation, and you follow, then eventually he will get you to fall. But not if you avoid it all together!
It doesn't matter what the sin is, what matters is why are you entertaining it? If it isn't drawing you closer to God, then there is a good chance it's getting in the way of God. And that's a problem! We, as Christians, need to look at what we have become ok with. Whether you think so or not, the rest of the world is looking at what we think is ok, and when we accept it, what are we saying to them? Ask God to help you take a look at the things you are entertaining, the way you talk, the things you are ok with in this world...and then let Him show you the places where you simply got to close to the water, orthe time you jumped right in. Don't wait until your drowning to realize there's a problem.
God, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Your Word says You sent Him as a helper, so it's my prayer today that we would let His voice be louder than satan's in our lives. Give us spiritual eyes to see the danger of things BEFORE we let them have a place in our life. And give us the strength to walk away from sin, not because one looks worse than another, but simply because none of it is pleasing to You. And remind us that when we claim Your name, we are saying to a lost world "I stand for what God stands for"....and let us KNOW the seriousness of that. In Jesus name, Amen
This is very much how the enemy comes at us with sin. There are certain sins that have danger written all over them, and so it is quite obvious to stay clear of them. However, what about the ones that don't? Isn't that the ones that satan gets us to be the most attracted to? For example, "the little white lie"told to "protect", or the "compliment" to that man or woman, even though your married. Or how about this one, when satan lies and tells you the "thing" you want to do doesn't have an impact on anyone but you, so just do it. Satan can disguise sins to seem harmless, but they never really are. It's his goal to make them look attractive enough to distract you in that moment and at least get you to consider it. He knows if he can get you to this place long enough, then eventually you will do it. Now go back to the 2 different kinds of water I mentioned earlier....do you know the best way to make sure you never drown in either? You just don't go near that water! That's right, you can't drown in water you never got in to begin with. And sin is the same way. You will never find someone who got in over their head by walking away from the temptation, or telling the truth instead of flirting with the lie. The best way to avoid getting in trouble with sin is to avoid the sin all together.
I'm writing this today because I just felt God was speaking to me about how too many times we (Christians) are ok with sin when it doesn't "look bad" on the outside. But I want you to know that those are the sins that satan uses to desensitize you. He wants you to become too confident that you have power over this sin, it doesn't have power over you. He wants you to continue down that "harmless" path. Let me give you an example.....Let's say a new person starts in the office. You immediately recognize they are attractive, but think nothing of it. Then a "hi" gets said in passing, then a compliment is passed back and forth, and before you know it your talking on a pretty regular basis, but you'eve never mentioned this to your spouse. Now you find out there is a company event coming up and spouses are invited. The fear that goes over you is "what if that person comes up and talks to me in front of my spouse? How will I explain this?" And it's all because you started by putting one foot in the water, when really you should have kept your distance. I know that example may be a bit extreme to some, but I hope the point came across. The enemy will make something look so innocent, and then he will turn the tables on you. He doesn't care about you, so he wants to see you go down. And he knows if he just leads you down the path with temptation, and you follow, then eventually he will get you to fall. But not if you avoid it all together!
It doesn't matter what the sin is, what matters is why are you entertaining it? If it isn't drawing you closer to God, then there is a good chance it's getting in the way of God. And that's a problem! We, as Christians, need to look at what we have become ok with. Whether you think so or not, the rest of the world is looking at what we think is ok, and when we accept it, what are we saying to them? Ask God to help you take a look at the things you are entertaining, the way you talk, the things you are ok with in this world...and then let Him show you the places where you simply got to close to the water, orthe time you jumped right in. Don't wait until your drowning to realize there's a problem.
God, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Your Word says You sent Him as a helper, so it's my prayer today that we would let His voice be louder than satan's in our lives. Give us spiritual eyes to see the danger of things BEFORE we let them have a place in our life. And give us the strength to walk away from sin, not because one looks worse than another, but simply because none of it is pleasing to You. And remind us that when we claim Your name, we are saying to a lost world "I stand for what God stands for"....and let us KNOW the seriousness of that. In Jesus name, Amen
Monday, May 23, 2016
You Are Gifted And Talented...
Have you ever looked at someone who was extremely gifted and talented, but did not live their life for God, and wonder why they were so blessed with this talent? I don't mean that you look at them with envy or jealousy, but more like you look at them and ask yourself why God would make someone so talented if He knew they were never going to give Him the glory?
I love to mountain bike. It is the one thing my son and I love to do together. And with time we have become better at what we can do and what we are willing to try. However, I have a young friend who is good...I mean like extremely good. He actually travels and competes, and wins a lot. He has been good on anything that had wheels since he was a little kid. It's just a talent he has. The other day I was speaking to him about how his racing season has been going and as we spoke I found my myself saying to God (like God didn't already know this...), "wow, if this kid was sold out for you he could be making such an impact in the kingdom by giving you all the glory for his talent". As my day went by I came back to that thought again and again. I wasn't really questioning God as to why this kid was so talented, but I was wondering why people get blessed with a talent if they will never give God the glory for it. And later that night I felt that God had answered that question for me. I was alone when I felt like God said "let me tell you something...", and so I just sat and listened. And this is what I felt God said to me. "When people are born I bless them with a gift or a talent. I do not wait until they find more or give their life over to me, I bless them before they have even taken their first breath. It is who I have made them to be. Some discover it, and some never do. I don't take the talent away if they never give me the glory, but it does break my heart. From birth they have a choice, to either honor me with the talent and see how much more I can bless it, or use the talent just as I have given it to them and receive all the glory themselves. I do it out of love! It is my hope that they will see me in their gifts and talents....but not everyone does. But I give anyway." As I thought about this I literally pondered what I had heard from God for days. It just wowed me to think we serve a God who gives so much, even if we never give back. But then it also broke my heart for all of the talent floating around out there in this world that He has never received the glory for. And I don't mean the 5 seconds after a win when someone says "oh yeah, I want to thank God...". Even though that is always great to hear, I love it when I see a life that is being lived for Him, not just some words in a speech. And I strongly believe He loves it too!
All that we are and all that is in us is because God has blessed us with gifts and talents. We have 2 jobs, one is to tap into them and discover them, and the other is to honor Him with them and make sure He gets the glory. In Jeremiah 1:5 God spoke, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". This verse doesn't just go to Jeremiah, it goes to us all. God knew us and set us apart before we were even born. What we do with the things He has put in us to set us apart can either bring Him glory, or just bring us attention. He is a good God, and even if it is hard for us to understand, He does not take away a gift because it was used to serve self or the world. Romans 11:29 says "for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable", and even though that doesn't fit into our minds sometimes, it is not for us to understand. We will stand before Him and give an account for what we did with what we had (Romans 11:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10). So think about your gifts...think about how you use them, and who is getting ALL of the glory for them. And then take the time to thank God for trusting you with such gifts and talents even before you showed Him how you would use them. He gave because He loves you...
God, thank You for so many gifted and talented people in this world. It is my prayer today that not only would I discover all that You have put in me and glorify you with it, but also that others would discover just where their talents have come from. How different would this world be if we each glorified You with what we have been given. Holy Spirit help us ALL see God in our gifts and talents and make sure honor is given where it is due. In Jesus name, Amen
I love to mountain bike. It is the one thing my son and I love to do together. And with time we have become better at what we can do and what we are willing to try. However, I have a young friend who is good...I mean like extremely good. He actually travels and competes, and wins a lot. He has been good on anything that had wheels since he was a little kid. It's just a talent he has. The other day I was speaking to him about how his racing season has been going and as we spoke I found my myself saying to God (like God didn't already know this...), "wow, if this kid was sold out for you he could be making such an impact in the kingdom by giving you all the glory for his talent". As my day went by I came back to that thought again and again. I wasn't really questioning God as to why this kid was so talented, but I was wondering why people get blessed with a talent if they will never give God the glory for it. And later that night I felt that God had answered that question for me. I was alone when I felt like God said "let me tell you something...", and so I just sat and listened. And this is what I felt God said to me. "When people are born I bless them with a gift or a talent. I do not wait until they find more or give their life over to me, I bless them before they have even taken their first breath. It is who I have made them to be. Some discover it, and some never do. I don't take the talent away if they never give me the glory, but it does break my heart. From birth they have a choice, to either honor me with the talent and see how much more I can bless it, or use the talent just as I have given it to them and receive all the glory themselves. I do it out of love! It is my hope that they will see me in their gifts and talents....but not everyone does. But I give anyway." As I thought about this I literally pondered what I had heard from God for days. It just wowed me to think we serve a God who gives so much, even if we never give back. But then it also broke my heart for all of the talent floating around out there in this world that He has never received the glory for. And I don't mean the 5 seconds after a win when someone says "oh yeah, I want to thank God...". Even though that is always great to hear, I love it when I see a life that is being lived for Him, not just some words in a speech. And I strongly believe He loves it too!
All that we are and all that is in us is because God has blessed us with gifts and talents. We have 2 jobs, one is to tap into them and discover them, and the other is to honor Him with them and make sure He gets the glory. In Jeremiah 1:5 God spoke, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". This verse doesn't just go to Jeremiah, it goes to us all. God knew us and set us apart before we were even born. What we do with the things He has put in us to set us apart can either bring Him glory, or just bring us attention. He is a good God, and even if it is hard for us to understand, He does not take away a gift because it was used to serve self or the world. Romans 11:29 says "for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable", and even though that doesn't fit into our minds sometimes, it is not for us to understand. We will stand before Him and give an account for what we did with what we had (Romans 11:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10). So think about your gifts...think about how you use them, and who is getting ALL of the glory for them. And then take the time to thank God for trusting you with such gifts and talents even before you showed Him how you would use them. He gave because He loves you...
God, thank You for so many gifted and talented people in this world. It is my prayer today that not only would I discover all that You have put in me and glorify you with it, but also that others would discover just where their talents have come from. How different would this world be if we each glorified You with what we have been given. Holy Spirit help us ALL see God in our gifts and talents and make sure honor is given where it is due. In Jesus name, Amen
Friday, May 20, 2016
Offering Hope...Offering Jesus
With the power of Jesus we can overcome so many things in life. And for some of us there are some things in our life that used to hold us a slave to them. What is it that you have been set free from? How often do you remember that, and thank God for it? How often do you ask God to use you to help set someone else get free?
A lot of times I write about what God can do for you, ways He can change you. But today I would like to take a little different perspective. Today I would like to ask you to think about what it is that He has done for you. I'm not trying to get anyone to think of a very ugly or painful past, please understand that's not my point. But I do feel it's very important to remember where we came from. It strengthens our faith to remind ourselves how faithful God has already been to us. And it can also help keep us humble, because we have to remember where we could still be if it wasn't for God's grace and mercy. The other reason why our past plays such an important role in our relationship with God is because He may want to use it. As I've stated before, I don't think it is wise to think we can go back into something right after God has rescued us from it and try to pull others out of the same mess. There needs to be time for healing and for God to give you strength to fulling overcome that thing. Remember, there was a time when you were once held captive by it. But once we have been restored and we know God has broken those chains, we need to begin to ask the question "how can you use my past to help others". Our story never needs to stop by saying "we were healed" or "we were set free". Instead, this need to be the end of one thing and the beginning of another.
I woke up today with the lyrics "I'm no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God" running through my head. And it made me think back to the days when I was a slave to fear. I was a slave to fear and sin and doubt and so much more. But today I hear God saying the words "no longer". And because I am "no longer", I have the ability to help others be "no longer". I have something to offer them because of my experiences...and it's called hope. And that hope can only be found in Jesus. If you are no longer a slave to something, then you also have a calling on you. Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18), and today He uses people like you and me to do that. Yes, His Spirit still moves and does what only it can do, but we are the hands and feet of Jesus. So who better to use to help those that are in deep over their head in sin then a bunch of people who were once in deep over their heads too.
There is a saying to reads "experience trumps knowledge" and it some areas this is so true. You can read how to do something, or you can know how to do it because you've had to do it. For example, you can learn how to survive in the woods if you ever got lost by reading about it, or you can know how to survive because you once had to. What is your testimony? What are the words you can share that will help someone because you've been there? Who would God have you reach out to? These are all questions that I encourage you to pray about. You may be on the best walk with God now, but it doesn't mean it's always been that way. And He has someone out there that only you can relate to. Help them no longer be a slave to whatever has it's grips on them....
God, thank You for rescuing us from the endless list of things that You have, but don't let our stories end there. Help us to be Your hands and feet. Put a burning desire in us to not just be satisfied by our own redemption story, but put a passion in us to help other create their own redemption story. Help us to love those who are still entrapped by sin, and find a way, through Your love, to reach out to them. Holy Spirit, guide our steps, our words and our actions, and protect us as we reach back into what was once our mess to help a brother or sister in need. In Jesus name, Amen
A lot of times I write about what God can do for you, ways He can change you. But today I would like to take a little different perspective. Today I would like to ask you to think about what it is that He has done for you. I'm not trying to get anyone to think of a very ugly or painful past, please understand that's not my point. But I do feel it's very important to remember where we came from. It strengthens our faith to remind ourselves how faithful God has already been to us. And it can also help keep us humble, because we have to remember where we could still be if it wasn't for God's grace and mercy. The other reason why our past plays such an important role in our relationship with God is because He may want to use it. As I've stated before, I don't think it is wise to think we can go back into something right after God has rescued us from it and try to pull others out of the same mess. There needs to be time for healing and for God to give you strength to fulling overcome that thing. Remember, there was a time when you were once held captive by it. But once we have been restored and we know God has broken those chains, we need to begin to ask the question "how can you use my past to help others". Our story never needs to stop by saying "we were healed" or "we were set free". Instead, this need to be the end of one thing and the beginning of another.
I woke up today with the lyrics "I'm no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God" running through my head. And it made me think back to the days when I was a slave to fear. I was a slave to fear and sin and doubt and so much more. But today I hear God saying the words "no longer". And because I am "no longer", I have the ability to help others be "no longer". I have something to offer them because of my experiences...and it's called hope. And that hope can only be found in Jesus. If you are no longer a slave to something, then you also have a calling on you. Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18), and today He uses people like you and me to do that. Yes, His Spirit still moves and does what only it can do, but we are the hands and feet of Jesus. So who better to use to help those that are in deep over their head in sin then a bunch of people who were once in deep over their heads too.
There is a saying to reads "experience trumps knowledge" and it some areas this is so true. You can read how to do something, or you can know how to do it because you've had to do it. For example, you can learn how to survive in the woods if you ever got lost by reading about it, or you can know how to survive because you once had to. What is your testimony? What are the words you can share that will help someone because you've been there? Who would God have you reach out to? These are all questions that I encourage you to pray about. You may be on the best walk with God now, but it doesn't mean it's always been that way. And He has someone out there that only you can relate to. Help them no longer be a slave to whatever has it's grips on them....
God, thank You for rescuing us from the endless list of things that You have, but don't let our stories end there. Help us to be Your hands and feet. Put a burning desire in us to not just be satisfied by our own redemption story, but put a passion in us to help other create their own redemption story. Help us to love those who are still entrapped by sin, and find a way, through Your love, to reach out to them. Holy Spirit, guide our steps, our words and our actions, and protect us as we reach back into what was once our mess to help a brother or sister in need. In Jesus name, Amen
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Power To Raise The Dead To Life
Today I just want to encourage someone to be who God has called you to be! Don't let fear of who you were stop you. Don't let fear of your lack of capabilities stop you. The same God that raised Jesus from the dead is in you. Think about that...Jesus was transformed from a physically dead being to one that that was fully alive. Don't ever allow doubt to creep in that He can't transform you. When you come to Him you are a dead man (or woman), and He will breath new life into you. Having that done in the spirit world is just as powerful as Jesus walking out of the tomb in the physical world.
Unqualified, incapable, unworthy, lacking knowledge, without courage, shameful past, scared, not strong enough.....the list goes on and on. These are the things that run through our minds when God asks us to step up to the plate for Him. And I might shock you when I say this, but they are not always lies from the enemy when you hear these things about yourself. Sometimes they are reminders of why you need God so much. Why you need to stay humble. Why you can't accomplish anything without His help and His power flowing through you.
I would rather remind myself of who I am not sometimes, and let God remind me of who I am. He reminds me that I should never feel like "I can do this on my own", because that is exactly why He had to come rescue me to begin with. I've seen what I can do on my own....no thank you. But He reminds me what I can do when I am hearing from Him, following Him, being guided by Him, and drawing from Him. He will make you qualified, capable, worthy, knowledgeable, courageous, cleansed, brave and strong...and when you remember that ONLY He can do this, then now you have become usable.
So let me encourage you and remind you with Paul's words in Ephesians 3:8, when he says "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ". Once Saul came to Jesus, he died, and Paul was born. From that moment on the only point of Paul's past what to remind him who to never be again. But God did not hold it against him, he used it to humble him. And Paul stood before people saying "I was less than all of you...in fact, less than the least of you....but it didn't stop God from using me". Powerful powerful words to remind us today that God still wants to use us!
Whatever excuse you have held onto for too long, whatever lies you have allowed stop you, whatever things cause you fear....lay them down, allow God to flow through you, and find out what He has called you to do. I promise you will not regret it. Paul spoke boldly, and Paul spoke truth...because Paul spoke with a passion from the personal experience he had with God.
God, thank You again for Your grace, mercy and forgiveness. It is my prayer today that people would walk in it in a whole new way. Not with pride, not with arrogance, but with a confidence that they are only living a changed life because of YOU! Please let that create a desire in us to spread your word boldly as Paul did. At let nothing the enemy puts in our way take away the focus that we speak with the power that You put in us...power to raise the dead to life....physically and spiritually. In Jesus name, Amen
Unqualified, incapable, unworthy, lacking knowledge, without courage, shameful past, scared, not strong enough.....the list goes on and on. These are the things that run through our minds when God asks us to step up to the plate for Him. And I might shock you when I say this, but they are not always lies from the enemy when you hear these things about yourself. Sometimes they are reminders of why you need God so much. Why you need to stay humble. Why you can't accomplish anything without His help and His power flowing through you.
I would rather remind myself of who I am not sometimes, and let God remind me of who I am. He reminds me that I should never feel like "I can do this on my own", because that is exactly why He had to come rescue me to begin with. I've seen what I can do on my own....no thank you. But He reminds me what I can do when I am hearing from Him, following Him, being guided by Him, and drawing from Him. He will make you qualified, capable, worthy, knowledgeable, courageous, cleansed, brave and strong...and when you remember that ONLY He can do this, then now you have become usable.
So let me encourage you and remind you with Paul's words in Ephesians 3:8, when he says "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ". Once Saul came to Jesus, he died, and Paul was born. From that moment on the only point of Paul's past what to remind him who to never be again. But God did not hold it against him, he used it to humble him. And Paul stood before people saying "I was less than all of you...in fact, less than the least of you....but it didn't stop God from using me". Powerful powerful words to remind us today that God still wants to use us!
Whatever excuse you have held onto for too long, whatever lies you have allowed stop you, whatever things cause you fear....lay them down, allow God to flow through you, and find out what He has called you to do. I promise you will not regret it. Paul spoke boldly, and Paul spoke truth...because Paul spoke with a passion from the personal experience he had with God.
God, thank You again for Your grace, mercy and forgiveness. It is my prayer today that people would walk in it in a whole new way. Not with pride, not with arrogance, but with a confidence that they are only living a changed life because of YOU! Please let that create a desire in us to spread your word boldly as Paul did. At let nothing the enemy puts in our way take away the focus that we speak with the power that You put in us...power to raise the dead to life....physically and spiritually. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Maintenance Required
Have you ever been going along in your car and you get a warning on the dashboard that either says the words "maintenance due", "maintenance required", or some symbol lights up to let you know that something needs done? Have you ever pushed your body to hard and woke up the next day sore from what you did. In both of these cases you may not say something is "broken", but you know that if you just continue throughout your day and ignore these warnings things could definitely get much worse. Our Christian life is very much the same way. Unfortunately we don't get something so vivid as a warning light, but if you know the voice of the Holy Spirit, then you know He will let you know when an area of your life is getting into the danger zone and may need some maintenance.
Learning to ignore warning signs is one of the worst habits you can ever develop. Putting something off for "one more day" can lead to some very big problems, and this does not just stand true for man made things. As Christ followers we can be going along through life with the best of intentions, but we start to let things that are important in keeping us close to God slip little by little. And that nudge from the Holy Spirit that you feel deep down inside is God's early warning system to us. Letting our quiet time with God become less and less. Allowing ourselves to watch shows or movies that we know send a bad message. And turning on the radio just to "have noise in the background", but not caring about the lyrics that are being fed into your minds. All of these are things that the enemy wants to sneak into your life as he hopes you get too busy, too tired or just to ignorant to realize that you are slipping back a little in your walk with God. And these are just a few. The friends that we keep in our life, and the things that we either stay ok with, or become ok with, are also big indicators that our Christian life may need some maintenance. All of these things can easily become the things that are pulling you away from God if you choose to ignore their impact on your life.
There are companies out there that exist for the sole purpose of offering maintenance to you before you actually need it. The term is called preventative maintenance, and the point of it is to stay on top of things before they need fixed. An oil change for your car. Getting your tires rotated and your breaks changed. These are all things that will cause a breakdown on the road one day if you don't take care of them. And again, our walk with Jesus is very much like this. Asking God to search your heart, and point out areas of your life that need some preventative maintenance is one of the wisest things you can choose to do to show the enemy that you will not become blind to these areas in your life. Show him you will not be one that just lets things slip. And you will protect the relationship you have with Jesus. The Holy Spirit will search you and speak to you about your life, but it doesn't just have to stop there. Having an accountability partner is another thing that you can put in place to keep yourself walking in the truth. And if you have struggled with certain sins in your past life, then having filters in place to make sure those things don't tempt you again is another wise thing to apply to your life. The bottom line is this, satan isn't going to take a break from trying to distract you or get you to step out of God's will, so it would be foolish to think you can just set things on cruise control and just forget about them. Be diligent in how you live for God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth".
Don't be the guy or gal that is sitting on the side of the road with a busted engine because you ignored a $30 oil change....and don't be the one who sits and wonders "how did I get here" in your walk with Jesus, when you remember how good it used to be. Be purposeful, be mindful, be careful...and most of all, but open to God's correction. These are the things that can help you keep up with the maintenance in your Christian life and not end up broken and beat down by the enemy.
God, thank You for the words of wisdom in Your Word. Help us to apply them to our lives so that we are doing things to stay close to You. Help us to be humble enough to see and admit when we have allowed things to slip, and help us to do the necessary things to get back where we need to be. Always doing what needs to be done so that You get the glory...In Jesus name, Amen
Learning to ignore warning signs is one of the worst habits you can ever develop. Putting something off for "one more day" can lead to some very big problems, and this does not just stand true for man made things. As Christ followers we can be going along through life with the best of intentions, but we start to let things that are important in keeping us close to God slip little by little. And that nudge from the Holy Spirit that you feel deep down inside is God's early warning system to us. Letting our quiet time with God become less and less. Allowing ourselves to watch shows or movies that we know send a bad message. And turning on the radio just to "have noise in the background", but not caring about the lyrics that are being fed into your minds. All of these are things that the enemy wants to sneak into your life as he hopes you get too busy, too tired or just to ignorant to realize that you are slipping back a little in your walk with God. And these are just a few. The friends that we keep in our life, and the things that we either stay ok with, or become ok with, are also big indicators that our Christian life may need some maintenance. All of these things can easily become the things that are pulling you away from God if you choose to ignore their impact on your life.
There are companies out there that exist for the sole purpose of offering maintenance to you before you actually need it. The term is called preventative maintenance, and the point of it is to stay on top of things before they need fixed. An oil change for your car. Getting your tires rotated and your breaks changed. These are all things that will cause a breakdown on the road one day if you don't take care of them. And again, our walk with Jesus is very much like this. Asking God to search your heart, and point out areas of your life that need some preventative maintenance is one of the wisest things you can choose to do to show the enemy that you will not become blind to these areas in your life. Show him you will not be one that just lets things slip. And you will protect the relationship you have with Jesus. The Holy Spirit will search you and speak to you about your life, but it doesn't just have to stop there. Having an accountability partner is another thing that you can put in place to keep yourself walking in the truth. And if you have struggled with certain sins in your past life, then having filters in place to make sure those things don't tempt you again is another wise thing to apply to your life. The bottom line is this, satan isn't going to take a break from trying to distract you or get you to step out of God's will, so it would be foolish to think you can just set things on cruise control and just forget about them. Be diligent in how you live for God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth".
Don't be the guy or gal that is sitting on the side of the road with a busted engine because you ignored a $30 oil change....and don't be the one who sits and wonders "how did I get here" in your walk with Jesus, when you remember how good it used to be. Be purposeful, be mindful, be careful...and most of all, but open to God's correction. These are the things that can help you keep up with the maintenance in your Christian life and not end up broken and beat down by the enemy.
God, thank You for the words of wisdom in Your Word. Help us to apply them to our lives so that we are doing things to stay close to You. Help us to be humble enough to see and admit when we have allowed things to slip, and help us to do the necessary things to get back where we need to be. Always doing what needs to be done so that You get the glory...In Jesus name, Amen
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Be An Encourager!
Let me start today's blog off with a question....Are you an encourager? Now let me explain what I mean by that, and then ask you this question again. Are you the type of person who would tell someone that God has no limits, and neither should their faith? Or are you the type of person who has to bring everything down to a realistic, and sometimes discouraging level? When or if someone brings something to you that they are trusting God to do in their life, are you one of the first people who will say "absolutely, let me join you in praying for that"? ....Are you an encourager?
God's Word tells us that we are to encourage one another, but it doesn't just stop there. It also tells us not to do the opposite. We are NOT to tear each other down. Ephesians 4: 29 tell us "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs...". And then it goes on it verses 31-32 to say "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." You see God knew that as Christians we would need each other. We would need our brothers and sisters in Christ to lift each other up. He knew we would face rejection from the world, and sometimes even those that are close to us. So He expects us to lift each other up...to encourage one another. But He also knew that if we allow the things in verse 31 to settle into our hearts, then there is no way we can be the encourager that He wants us to be.
Envy is one of the tools that satan uses the most to stop us from encouraging someone else. I mean, if we pray for that person and their faith is strengthened and their blessing comes before ours, the how will that affect us. Well, it should affect us by being happy for them. We should be so full of joy that they are drawing close to God and seeing the evidence of that in their life. But this is often when the enemy begins to speak the lies into our mind that prevent us from truly being joyful for them, or towards them. And if you want to know what God thinks of envy, then just do a word search on it and see all the scriptures that come back. Bottom line is, God expects us to be happy for one another. Be encouraging to one another. And NOT to compare our lives, our blessings, and our walk to one another. He knows when we can get past those things, then our hearts can be the at place He needs them to be. And with that He can build us up to be encouragers!
When you choose to walk with Jesus you will already have enough people not understand "the new you" that God transforms you into. And some of them may not want to accept who God is changing you into, or have anything encouraging to say about it. So let's take the time and the effort to lift each other up. Find someone today that needs to hear that God loves them, God hears their prayers, God sees their struggles....but most of all...God cares, and so do you! And if you are that person that needs to hear a word of encouragement, then let me end with this. God loves you enough to never quit on you, so don't quit on Him. Keep praying about that thing. Keep praying for that friend or family member. Keep letting Him correct you and direct you. And keep drawing closer to Him. And on the days when this just seems harder, keep drawing from His strength. You are not alone, You have Him and millions of brothers and sisters who stand with you.
God, thank You for the love You have for us. Help us to take Your love and Your joy and spread it! Help us to step out of ourselves and encourage others. Holy Spirit, teach us how to be encouragers and show us how much it can change and impact our way of thinking and the condition of our heart when we truly show encouragement for one another. In Jesus name, Amen
God's Word tells us that we are to encourage one another, but it doesn't just stop there. It also tells us not to do the opposite. We are NOT to tear each other down. Ephesians 4: 29 tell us "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs...". And then it goes on it verses 31-32 to say "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." You see God knew that as Christians we would need each other. We would need our brothers and sisters in Christ to lift each other up. He knew we would face rejection from the world, and sometimes even those that are close to us. So He expects us to lift each other up...to encourage one another. But He also knew that if we allow the things in verse 31 to settle into our hearts, then there is no way we can be the encourager that He wants us to be.
Envy is one of the tools that satan uses the most to stop us from encouraging someone else. I mean, if we pray for that person and their faith is strengthened and their blessing comes before ours, the how will that affect us. Well, it should affect us by being happy for them. We should be so full of joy that they are drawing close to God and seeing the evidence of that in their life. But this is often when the enemy begins to speak the lies into our mind that prevent us from truly being joyful for them, or towards them. And if you want to know what God thinks of envy, then just do a word search on it and see all the scriptures that come back. Bottom line is, God expects us to be happy for one another. Be encouraging to one another. And NOT to compare our lives, our blessings, and our walk to one another. He knows when we can get past those things, then our hearts can be the at place He needs them to be. And with that He can build us up to be encouragers!
When you choose to walk with Jesus you will already have enough people not understand "the new you" that God transforms you into. And some of them may not want to accept who God is changing you into, or have anything encouraging to say about it. So let's take the time and the effort to lift each other up. Find someone today that needs to hear that God loves them, God hears their prayers, God sees their struggles....but most of all...God cares, and so do you! And if you are that person that needs to hear a word of encouragement, then let me end with this. God loves you enough to never quit on you, so don't quit on Him. Keep praying about that thing. Keep praying for that friend or family member. Keep letting Him correct you and direct you. And keep drawing closer to Him. And on the days when this just seems harder, keep drawing from His strength. You are not alone, You have Him and millions of brothers and sisters who stand with you.
God, thank You for the love You have for us. Help us to take Your love and Your joy and spread it! Help us to step out of ourselves and encourage others. Holy Spirit, teach us how to be encouragers and show us how much it can change and impact our way of thinking and the condition of our heart when we truly show encouragement for one another. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Despair Must Go!
Despair means "the complete loss or absence of hope". Some think despair is a feeling. Some may even say it's a season you are in. But I want to challenge you today to think of despair as one of satan's demonic spirits that was sent to you during a time of trouble, to strip you of hope. To get you to believe that your particular situation IS hopeless, and that God has forgotten about you.
If despair is a place you have come to in a situation you are in, then I want to encourage you today to think of it as something that you have the power to tell to go away. I'm not talking a power because you dug down deep within and "found your inner strength" like we hear from the world so often. But I am talking about a power that you can find in your weakness where you cry out to the One that can completely change your situation. I want to encourage you today to dig into God's word if the enemy is trying to speak despair over your situation or your life. Read Psalms 30 and see how David chose to deal with a time in his life when the enemy wanted him to think things were hopeless. He chose to do things that are the opposite of the way the world thinks. He chose to praise God. He chose to cry out to God. And he chose to have the attitude of "this is for now, but this is not forever". (verse 5)
Today I simply wanted to challenge you and encourage you to look at your situation differently. Change your mindset from "this situation I'm in has me", to "God has me while I'm in this situation". Instead of feeling hopeless, know that your hope is in God. And when it feels like there is no way out, ask God to open your spiritual eyes, open your heart to be obedient to Him, and then open doors for you. If you don't get your mind and your heart "reconditioned" first, then you may not even see the doors that God opens up for you...or you may be stubborn or untrusting to walk through them. Trust is the key to allowing God to move in your life. Trust that there is a way out. Trust that He sees what you cannot. And trust that if you stay faithful in the rough times, then He will carry you through, and that faith will be increased.
Please know that I speak from experience when I say this....As God moves in your life and makes changes to your situation, not only will He help you, but He will make a way for you to help others. So as your cry out to Him about where you are and how badly you need Him, also cry out that He would use you to reach those who have lost their hope. Be like a pitcher that gets filled up only to be poured out, and then filled up again. May people see that your situation may not have changed yet, but something in you has. And then be ready to tell them what that something is...or better yet, who it is.
God, I know there are people who will read this today that are feeling hopeless and scared. Please God send Your peace to them today. I pray they would cry out to You in the midst of their situation, and I pray You would move on their behalf. Bring back the hope that is missing and help them to hear Your voice in the chaos that the enemy is trying to bombard them with. I thank You God that I have experienced Your help and Your healing when I cried out, and I can testify to Your greatness. So it is my cry out today that satan would be crushed and more testimonies would be created right now...today...and YOU would receive ALL of the glory for it. In Jesus name, Amen.
If despair is a place you have come to in a situation you are in, then I want to encourage you today to think of it as something that you have the power to tell to go away. I'm not talking a power because you dug down deep within and "found your inner strength" like we hear from the world so often. But I am talking about a power that you can find in your weakness where you cry out to the One that can completely change your situation. I want to encourage you today to dig into God's word if the enemy is trying to speak despair over your situation or your life. Read Psalms 30 and see how David chose to deal with a time in his life when the enemy wanted him to think things were hopeless. He chose to do things that are the opposite of the way the world thinks. He chose to praise God. He chose to cry out to God. And he chose to have the attitude of "this is for now, but this is not forever". (verse 5)
Today I simply wanted to challenge you and encourage you to look at your situation differently. Change your mindset from "this situation I'm in has me", to "God has me while I'm in this situation". Instead of feeling hopeless, know that your hope is in God. And when it feels like there is no way out, ask God to open your spiritual eyes, open your heart to be obedient to Him, and then open doors for you. If you don't get your mind and your heart "reconditioned" first, then you may not even see the doors that God opens up for you...or you may be stubborn or untrusting to walk through them. Trust is the key to allowing God to move in your life. Trust that there is a way out. Trust that He sees what you cannot. And trust that if you stay faithful in the rough times, then He will carry you through, and that faith will be increased.
Please know that I speak from experience when I say this....As God moves in your life and makes changes to your situation, not only will He help you, but He will make a way for you to help others. So as your cry out to Him about where you are and how badly you need Him, also cry out that He would use you to reach those who have lost their hope. Be like a pitcher that gets filled up only to be poured out, and then filled up again. May people see that your situation may not have changed yet, but something in you has. And then be ready to tell them what that something is...or better yet, who it is.
God, I know there are people who will read this today that are feeling hopeless and scared. Please God send Your peace to them today. I pray they would cry out to You in the midst of their situation, and I pray You would move on their behalf. Bring back the hope that is missing and help them to hear Your voice in the chaos that the enemy is trying to bombard them with. I thank You God that I have experienced Your help and Your healing when I cried out, and I can testify to Your greatness. So it is my cry out today that satan would be crushed and more testimonies would be created right now...today...and YOU would receive ALL of the glory for it. In Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Afraid Of What You're Missing
As I was seeking God on what He wanted me to write about today, He brought me back to something my kids used to do when they were little. And as I remembered this I also remembered that it wasn't just my kids that did this....it's a lot of kids.
Do you remember as a kid not wanting to take naps? Or if you have children, them not wanting to take a nap? Or how about the reaction you would get when you would say those dreaded words to them at the end of the night, "it's time for bed". Oh man, sometimes you might as well just delivered the worst news ever to them if you said the words "nap" or "bedtime". And why was this? Was it because kids hate the idea of sleeping or resting? Not really. In fact, I remember specifically asking one of my children one time "what is it you hate about taking a nap or going to bed", and their answer to me was one I didn't expect. They said, "I hate what I'm missing when I'm asleep and you guys are awake". Hmmm, I had never thought about this before. He said "sometimes I can hear you guys still up doing stuff and it sounds fun, but I missing out on it"....And this is exactly what God reminded me of today as I was asking Him what I was to write about. We can't be afraid of what we are missing out on when we step out of the world and closer to God.
The other day when some of us were praying with someone in our deliverance ministry I had told this person we were praying with "be careful not to flirt with temptation". The topic that brought this up was God saying in Revelation 3, "...because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth". And we were discussing how tempting it is to keep one foot in the world and one foot with God. This is not a place of hot or cold, and will cause "lukewarm" Christians that are being mentioned in this verse. Most of the time when someone lives this life it is not because they "want" to sin, or keep sin in their life. But instead it is because, just like my child, they are still afraid what they will miss out on if they truly walk away from the ways of the world. Flirting with sin, or flirting with temptation, will never get you to a good place with God. It is like saying to Him, "I know You have a lot to offer me, but it still doesn't look quite as attractive as what the world offers". And sadly enough that is because you are still buying into the lies of the enemy. What the world has to offer you will eventually end up getting you hurt if you continue to flirt with it. It is not about what you are missing out on when you choose to step out of the world's ways, but about all that you gain with God. It is not about living a restricted life, but one of freedom. It is not about rules, but about love. God knows the world is full of pain, and that is why He desires for you to quit walking that middle ground and draw close to Him.
It's not often the I reference The Message translation of scripture, but sometimes it just says it in a way that hits you right in the face. So today I want to us it to show you what is said in 2 Timothy 2:20-22. It says "In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God."
Today I am calling people to stop worrying about what you will miss out on if you truly step away from the middle ground, and instead focus on all that God can do for and with you when you draw closer to Him. It is not the rest or the sleep that a child hates, but it's the idea of stepping away from all the things they can hear that "sound fun" during their time of rest. But every good parent knows that the rest is what they need. God is our good parent, and He calls us away from stuff because He knows it is what we need. Don't accept things in your life simply because the rest of the world does, but instead realize, just like it says in The Message, some container are used to serve fine meals and other to take out the garbage. Don't let the world tell you what kind of container you are, let God show you!
God, thank You for the warnings that You present to us in Your Word. Help us to not overlook them. Holy Spirit guide people away from the things they have been hanging on to and show them it's not about what they will be missing when they fully come to you, but it's about ALL that they gain. Create in us hearts that love what you love and hate what you hate to keep us in full alignment with Your will for us. In Jesus name, Amen
Do you remember as a kid not wanting to take naps? Or if you have children, them not wanting to take a nap? Or how about the reaction you would get when you would say those dreaded words to them at the end of the night, "it's time for bed". Oh man, sometimes you might as well just delivered the worst news ever to them if you said the words "nap" or "bedtime". And why was this? Was it because kids hate the idea of sleeping or resting? Not really. In fact, I remember specifically asking one of my children one time "what is it you hate about taking a nap or going to bed", and their answer to me was one I didn't expect. They said, "I hate what I'm missing when I'm asleep and you guys are awake". Hmmm, I had never thought about this before. He said "sometimes I can hear you guys still up doing stuff and it sounds fun, but I missing out on it"....And this is exactly what God reminded me of today as I was asking Him what I was to write about. We can't be afraid of what we are missing out on when we step out of the world and closer to God.
The other day when some of us were praying with someone in our deliverance ministry I had told this person we were praying with "be careful not to flirt with temptation". The topic that brought this up was God saying in Revelation 3, "...because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth". And we were discussing how tempting it is to keep one foot in the world and one foot with God. This is not a place of hot or cold, and will cause "lukewarm" Christians that are being mentioned in this verse. Most of the time when someone lives this life it is not because they "want" to sin, or keep sin in their life. But instead it is because, just like my child, they are still afraid what they will miss out on if they truly walk away from the ways of the world. Flirting with sin, or flirting with temptation, will never get you to a good place with God. It is like saying to Him, "I know You have a lot to offer me, but it still doesn't look quite as attractive as what the world offers". And sadly enough that is because you are still buying into the lies of the enemy. What the world has to offer you will eventually end up getting you hurt if you continue to flirt with it. It is not about what you are missing out on when you choose to step out of the world's ways, but about all that you gain with God. It is not about living a restricted life, but one of freedom. It is not about rules, but about love. God knows the world is full of pain, and that is why He desires for you to quit walking that middle ground and draw close to Him.
It's not often the I reference The Message translation of scripture, but sometimes it just says it in a way that hits you right in the face. So today I want to us it to show you what is said in 2 Timothy 2:20-22. It says "In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God."
Today I am calling people to stop worrying about what you will miss out on if you truly step away from the middle ground, and instead focus on all that God can do for and with you when you draw closer to Him. It is not the rest or the sleep that a child hates, but it's the idea of stepping away from all the things they can hear that "sound fun" during their time of rest. But every good parent knows that the rest is what they need. God is our good parent, and He calls us away from stuff because He knows it is what we need. Don't accept things in your life simply because the rest of the world does, but instead realize, just like it says in The Message, some container are used to serve fine meals and other to take out the garbage. Don't let the world tell you what kind of container you are, let God show you!
God, thank You for the warnings that You present to us in Your Word. Help us to not overlook them. Holy Spirit guide people away from the things they have been hanging on to and show them it's not about what they will be missing when they fully come to you, but it's about ALL that they gain. Create in us hearts that love what you love and hate what you hate to keep us in full alignment with Your will for us. In Jesus name, Amen
Friday, May 6, 2016
Reaching Even One...
How much different would today look to you if you knew that you only had today to tell someone about Jesus? If we literally started our day by saying to God, "I know that you have someone for me to reach today, and today may be my only chance I get to do it...so lead me to them." Would that make today have a completely different feel to you than any other day this week? But better yet, let me ask you this...why aren't we thinking that way?
Every decision we make today could lead us to someone that God wants us to witness to, or away from them. I don't say that to lay some huge pressure on your shoulders. But I do say it to bring a little bit of reality into the picture. Sometimes we can become so consumed by our own world, our own goals, even our own issues, that we forget that God put us here to tell others about what He has done for us in our own lives. And the reason we may only have today to do it isn't necessarily because we may not have tomorrow on this earth (even though that is a realistic possibility), but it might because either they won't, or God lined up this encounter because you are never going to have an audience in front of this person again. Yep, that might actually mean that God would have us witness to, or reach out to, a perfect stranger. I mean, if God could use Moses to set an entire nation free, then yeah He might just use you today to set one person free.
If you know even the smallest thing about the bible, then you know that one of things we are told to do is "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation..."(the great commission). But please don't buy into the lie that this is a "job" for everyone else. This is not just for the pastors or the leaders of the church. This was for you and me! This was Jesus telling us to make this a part of our daily lives...a part of who we are. One day at a time, one person at a time....but go reach people!
The other day a pastor I love to listen to was talking about getting outside of ourselves. And I guess my word today goes right along with that. I want to encourage you to ask God to help you actually see past yourself today and think, "who is the one person that I only have today to reach?" And then ask Him to prepare your mind, your heart and even your words for that encounter. Because if there is one thing I can promise you about God, it's this....If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. That phrase has a lot packed into it, but part of Him bringing you through it is because you have spent the time with Him allowing Him to prepare you for "it"....mentally, spiritually and even physically preparing you for whatever He has for you to do. Just like I have quoted before in past blogs....on an airline they will always tell you, "in the event of an accident, put on your oxygen mask first before you help someone else". Why is this? Because you can ONLY help them, when you yourself are prepared to offer help. So be prepared...and the go help someone today!
God, please prepare us today to be able to offer help to others. Fill us up emotionally and spiritually to be able to give away what has been given to us...the hope, the love, and the chance to live forgiven and free for the trap of sin. Holy Spirit help us step outside of ourselves today and look for the opportunities You have for us to witness to someone....then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do so. Help us to have the mindset that reaching even one person today IS going out into the world to preach Your good news. In Jesus name, Amen
Every decision we make today could lead us to someone that God wants us to witness to, or away from them. I don't say that to lay some huge pressure on your shoulders. But I do say it to bring a little bit of reality into the picture. Sometimes we can become so consumed by our own world, our own goals, even our own issues, that we forget that God put us here to tell others about what He has done for us in our own lives. And the reason we may only have today to do it isn't necessarily because we may not have tomorrow on this earth (even though that is a realistic possibility), but it might because either they won't, or God lined up this encounter because you are never going to have an audience in front of this person again. Yep, that might actually mean that God would have us witness to, or reach out to, a perfect stranger. I mean, if God could use Moses to set an entire nation free, then yeah He might just use you today to set one person free.
If you know even the smallest thing about the bible, then you know that one of things we are told to do is "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation..."(the great commission). But please don't buy into the lie that this is a "job" for everyone else. This is not just for the pastors or the leaders of the church. This was for you and me! This was Jesus telling us to make this a part of our daily lives...a part of who we are. One day at a time, one person at a time....but go reach people!
The other day a pastor I love to listen to was talking about getting outside of ourselves. And I guess my word today goes right along with that. I want to encourage you to ask God to help you actually see past yourself today and think, "who is the one person that I only have today to reach?" And then ask Him to prepare your mind, your heart and even your words for that encounter. Because if there is one thing I can promise you about God, it's this....If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. That phrase has a lot packed into it, but part of Him bringing you through it is because you have spent the time with Him allowing Him to prepare you for "it"....mentally, spiritually and even physically preparing you for whatever He has for you to do. Just like I have quoted before in past blogs....on an airline they will always tell you, "in the event of an accident, put on your oxygen mask first before you help someone else". Why is this? Because you can ONLY help them, when you yourself are prepared to offer help. So be prepared...and the go help someone today!
God, please prepare us today to be able to offer help to others. Fill us up emotionally and spiritually to be able to give away what has been given to us...the hope, the love, and the chance to live forgiven and free for the trap of sin. Holy Spirit help us step outside of ourselves today and look for the opportunities You have for us to witness to someone....then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do so. Help us to have the mindset that reaching even one person today IS going out into the world to preach Your good news. In Jesus name, Amen
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Living Too Close To The Problem
In the town I live in there is a company that manufactures paper. The company has been around about as long as anyone can remember...and so has the smell that it produces. During the production of paper wood is turned to pulp and that pulp is turned to paper. (I realize I just simplified a process that is probably way more complex than that...but just go with me) And during this transformation an odor is create that is quite pungent. The only thing I can relate it to on certain days is a very strong sulfur smell, at least to me that is how it comes across. And because the company has been around so long, and offered some of the best paying jobs in our town, people often refer to the odor as the smell of money. Now the interesting thing about all of this is that once you have been in our town long enough you almost don't smell it anymore. I say almost because some days are definitely worse than others. But for the most part you really do forget the odor is even there. However, you let a visitor come in from out of town and this will be the first thing they ask you about our town.."What is that awful smell?" And a lot of the time we laugh and explain it....
This morning God was speaking to me about our natural and spiritual lives. How we can tend to put up with things in our life that He does not want there. And one of the reasons this happens is because we become desensitized to whatever that thing is. We can even become very comfortable with it. Whether it be sin, something that has too high of a priority in our life, or just something that is taking up to much of our time...it can become almost impossible for us to see because we are to close to the problem. Just like the odor in our town, we don't smell it most days because we are too close to it and we're so used to it being there. This is not a good thing. Becoming desensitized (or too comfortable) with an issue in our life is exactly what the enemy would love for us to do. It's much like living with a pain for too long. Just because you have become used to the pain doesn't mean something isn't really wrong. The pain is the indicator and just because you have learned to ignore it does not mean that problem has gone away...or isn't getting worse. For this reason it is SO important to be in God's word daily, be in a time a prayer with Him, and allow Him to put people in your life that can speak openly and honestly to you about your life. People who are themselves at a great spiritual place with God. People on the outside can a lot of times see things that you can't. They aren't living with the problem, or so close to the problem that they have become blind to it. So it stands out to them.
God will also give you spiritual eyes if you ask Him, and let Him. But like I have said many times, out of His great love for you He will not force Himself upon you. However, I can tell you this from my own experience....if you claim His name, and you claim to be a follower of Christ, but you hold tight to certain sins and a destructive lifestyle, He will only tolerate that for so long. Sometimes He will allow you to get into situations that blow the doors off of your secret sin, or He may send someone along to completely call you out on it. When this happens you really have a few options. One, you could ignore it all and continue to live so close to the issues that you stay blind and desensitized by them. Two, you can become angry at God or the person who is tying to love you and help you. Or three, you can see God in the situation and fall on your face before Him and see that is out of pure love that He is trying so hard to rescue you from this destructive life you have become so used to. I realize that when this happens pride HAS TO take a back seat and you must allow humility to take it's proper place. Your flesh will hate this feeling, but this is where God heals and restores the most. Don't fight it!
God really is a God of love...more love than we can wrap our heads around. Sometimes that love is gentle, and sometimes, like a good parent, it may feel like tough love. But we must not forget that nobody else in our life has died, or sent their son to die, just to show us love and give us the choice to show love back. If God is nudging you about a "smell" in your life that He can't stand, don't just continue to live with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cleanse your life of ANYTHING that is not pleasing to God. He can help you get out of situations, get out of relationships, fight off desires, see the truth and most importantly...receive forgiveness for whatever it is...IF you don't reject Him!
God, It is my prayer today that people would become aware of their surroundings. Please open their eyes, minds and hearts to Your truth. Holy Spirit bring forth awareness to anything we have become comfortable with in our life that is not pleasing to God. Then give us the courage, wisdom and strength to remove it from our life. Your word says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do ALL THINGS through Christ....help us to believe that and live that out today. In Jesus name, Amen
This morning God was speaking to me about our natural and spiritual lives. How we can tend to put up with things in our life that He does not want there. And one of the reasons this happens is because we become desensitized to whatever that thing is. We can even become very comfortable with it. Whether it be sin, something that has too high of a priority in our life, or just something that is taking up to much of our time...it can become almost impossible for us to see because we are to close to the problem. Just like the odor in our town, we don't smell it most days because we are too close to it and we're so used to it being there. This is not a good thing. Becoming desensitized (or too comfortable) with an issue in our life is exactly what the enemy would love for us to do. It's much like living with a pain for too long. Just because you have become used to the pain doesn't mean something isn't really wrong. The pain is the indicator and just because you have learned to ignore it does not mean that problem has gone away...or isn't getting worse. For this reason it is SO important to be in God's word daily, be in a time a prayer with Him, and allow Him to put people in your life that can speak openly and honestly to you about your life. People who are themselves at a great spiritual place with God. People on the outside can a lot of times see things that you can't. They aren't living with the problem, or so close to the problem that they have become blind to it. So it stands out to them.
God will also give you spiritual eyes if you ask Him, and let Him. But like I have said many times, out of His great love for you He will not force Himself upon you. However, I can tell you this from my own experience....if you claim His name, and you claim to be a follower of Christ, but you hold tight to certain sins and a destructive lifestyle, He will only tolerate that for so long. Sometimes He will allow you to get into situations that blow the doors off of your secret sin, or He may send someone along to completely call you out on it. When this happens you really have a few options. One, you could ignore it all and continue to live so close to the issues that you stay blind and desensitized by them. Two, you can become angry at God or the person who is tying to love you and help you. Or three, you can see God in the situation and fall on your face before Him and see that is out of pure love that He is trying so hard to rescue you from this destructive life you have become so used to. I realize that when this happens pride HAS TO take a back seat and you must allow humility to take it's proper place. Your flesh will hate this feeling, but this is where God heals and restores the most. Don't fight it!
God really is a God of love...more love than we can wrap our heads around. Sometimes that love is gentle, and sometimes, like a good parent, it may feel like tough love. But we must not forget that nobody else in our life has died, or sent their son to die, just to show us love and give us the choice to show love back. If God is nudging you about a "smell" in your life that He can't stand, don't just continue to live with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cleanse your life of ANYTHING that is not pleasing to God. He can help you get out of situations, get out of relationships, fight off desires, see the truth and most importantly...receive forgiveness for whatever it is...IF you don't reject Him!
God, It is my prayer today that people would become aware of their surroundings. Please open their eyes, minds and hearts to Your truth. Holy Spirit bring forth awareness to anything we have become comfortable with in our life that is not pleasing to God. Then give us the courage, wisdom and strength to remove it from our life. Your word says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do ALL THINGS through Christ....help us to believe that and live that out today. In Jesus name, Amen
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Just Show Up
What does it take to be used by God? If you have had God use you in a powerful way before, then you may know the answer to this. If you have not, then I hope today's blog opens your eyes, your mind, and your heart.
So many times people long to be used by God, and then they wonder why they aren't. And I am not suggesting by today's blog that they are doing something "wrong", but I am suggesting that it may be time to do something different. I think the number one thing that God needs from us to be used by Him is just a willingness to "show up". So many times we sit back and wait for God to drop something in our laps before we go out to do anything for Him. But I firmly believe that if you show up for Him, then you will be surprised at what happens. So you may be asking yourself right about now "what does He mean by show up?". I'm at church, I'm in a bible study or small group, and I'm praying before I got to bed... All of these things are great, and they definitely should help you grow, but be careful that they have not just become a part of your routine, or more social times in your week. By showing up for God I really do mean setting aside time when you would normally, or could be, doing something else. Even sleeping. Maybe God is looking for something that requires more discipline on your part before He lays and assignment on your heart. Maybe He has more to tell you or teach you, and He is asking for some quiet time with you before He can do that. For each of us the "showing up" part can look different. But I can promise you with certainty that when we show up for God, He shows up for us!
That other thing that might be required is some "change". I know that can be most people's least favorite thing to hear, but it's true. The reason change may be required before God starts to use you is because God sees something that not everyone else sees, He sees inside of us. And He sees that whether we like it or not. But there is a big difference between God looking inside of you, and you inviting God to look in side of you, and do some searching and pointing out. God knows the things about us that even we have a hard time being honest with ourselves about. He knows if we have a pride issue, He knows if deep down inside we are trustworthy, He knows if we are insecure.....He knows. And He knows that that list can go on and on. But the beauty is, He doesn't need you to be 100% changed before you can be used, because a lot of that change will happen while you are being used. But what He does need is again that willingness. He needs to see that our hearts have changed enough that we are willing to let Him teach us and change us, even as He uses us. He needs to see that we are willing to let Him put us in circumstances that will change us. Over the last 2 years I have been in several situations where I thought "I' showed up to help someone, only to find out that in the end, I was the one who received so much. God is funny like that. He will let you think one thing, and then in the end you will stand in awe of what He really did. But again, the reason He is able to do this is because He saw the willingness of your heart, and you showed up.
Sometimes when I write what God puts on my heart it is because of some of my own experiences that He has brought back to me, and then sometimes it's just because He tells me what to write. I never worry about IF someone will get something from what I write today....I just show up and let Him do the rest. Please let me encourage you to do the same. He will use you to change lives....and your own life will be one of those that get changed in the process. YOU are usable by God! If the enemy has been telling you otherwise, then rebuke that lie now and ask God what you can do to show up for Him today. Let Him search you, and be willing to let Him change you....then be ready for an amazing adventure as He begins to use you.
2 Corinthians 8:11-12 "Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have."
God, I don't know how You do it, but You find a way to use us. We are such a flawed and messed up people, but You use us to do Your work. Thank You for that! Thank You for constantly showing us we are more than we realize when we let the power of Jesus Christ flow through us. Holy Spirit, please speak into lives today and let them know what they need to do to be used by God, and then use them to change lives. In Jesus name, Amen
So many times people long to be used by God, and then they wonder why they aren't. And I am not suggesting by today's blog that they are doing something "wrong", but I am suggesting that it may be time to do something different. I think the number one thing that God needs from us to be used by Him is just a willingness to "show up". So many times we sit back and wait for God to drop something in our laps before we go out to do anything for Him. But I firmly believe that if you show up for Him, then you will be surprised at what happens. So you may be asking yourself right about now "what does He mean by show up?". I'm at church, I'm in a bible study or small group, and I'm praying before I got to bed... All of these things are great, and they definitely should help you grow, but be careful that they have not just become a part of your routine, or more social times in your week. By showing up for God I really do mean setting aside time when you would normally, or could be, doing something else. Even sleeping. Maybe God is looking for something that requires more discipline on your part before He lays and assignment on your heart. Maybe He has more to tell you or teach you, and He is asking for some quiet time with you before He can do that. For each of us the "showing up" part can look different. But I can promise you with certainty that when we show up for God, He shows up for us!
That other thing that might be required is some "change". I know that can be most people's least favorite thing to hear, but it's true. The reason change may be required before God starts to use you is because God sees something that not everyone else sees, He sees inside of us. And He sees that whether we like it or not. But there is a big difference between God looking inside of you, and you inviting God to look in side of you, and do some searching and pointing out. God knows the things about us that even we have a hard time being honest with ourselves about. He knows if we have a pride issue, He knows if deep down inside we are trustworthy, He knows if we are insecure.....He knows. And He knows that that list can go on and on. But the beauty is, He doesn't need you to be 100% changed before you can be used, because a lot of that change will happen while you are being used. But what He does need is again that willingness. He needs to see that our hearts have changed enough that we are willing to let Him teach us and change us, even as He uses us. He needs to see that we are willing to let Him put us in circumstances that will change us. Over the last 2 years I have been in several situations where I thought "I' showed up to help someone, only to find out that in the end, I was the one who received so much. God is funny like that. He will let you think one thing, and then in the end you will stand in awe of what He really did. But again, the reason He is able to do this is because He saw the willingness of your heart, and you showed up.
Sometimes when I write what God puts on my heart it is because of some of my own experiences that He has brought back to me, and then sometimes it's just because He tells me what to write. I never worry about IF someone will get something from what I write today....I just show up and let Him do the rest. Please let me encourage you to do the same. He will use you to change lives....and your own life will be one of those that get changed in the process. YOU are usable by God! If the enemy has been telling you otherwise, then rebuke that lie now and ask God what you can do to show up for Him today. Let Him search you, and be willing to let Him change you....then be ready for an amazing adventure as He begins to use you.
2 Corinthians 8:11-12 "Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have."
God, I don't know how You do it, but You find a way to use us. We are such a flawed and messed up people, but You use us to do Your work. Thank You for that! Thank You for constantly showing us we are more than we realize when we let the power of Jesus Christ flow through us. Holy Spirit, please speak into lives today and let them know what they need to do to be used by God, and then use them to change lives. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Let God's Grace Be Contagious
How many times have you gone to God with the same question that Peter had in Matthew 18...."God, how many times do I have to forgive someone?" Except most of the time we probably already have a face or a name when we go to God with that question. The thing I love about the way Peter asked this is that it truly is the way we go to God a lot of the time, not just with the question, but also with the answer. Peter says "how often should I forgive my brother who has sinned against me? Up to seven times?" Don't we do that exact same thing? We almost hope that if we make the suggestion to God, then He will just agree with us. But rarely, if ever, does this work. God doesn't think like us, respond like us, or let us off the hook that easy. Jesus replies with a number, but not because it was supposed to be the exact answer. I think it was more for the shock value to the question. As if to say "oh you think seven is enough...well how about multiply that by 70!" I really don't think Jesus was saying "after they have wronged you 490 times you don't have to forgiven them anymore", I think he was just saying that you just keep forgiving.
Matthew 18 has always been one of my favorite and least favorite passages because of the story that gets told. That was just me being very real with that statement right there because it is a reminder to me of exactly how we can be as humans most of the time. We seek grace from God, but we forget to give it to others. We seek forgiveness from God, but we feel entitled to hold grudges towards people. We long for God's mercy, but please don't expect if from us. The story in Matthew 18 is the one where Jesus tells them that the Kingdom of heaven is like a King who was settling accounts with his servants. He had a servant who owned him a lot...and I am sure in those times it was a LOT. The bible says it was ten thousand talents. And just as the master was about to have the man, his family and all that he had, sold to repay the dept, the man begs for the master to have patience and promises to pay it all back. The master, moved by compassion, does decide to forgive this man of the whole dept, and sets him free. Then it goes on in 28-34 to say "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him."
This story is not just a reminder of how we should be, but it is also a reminder of how important it is to God that that we show the same kind of compassion on others that He shows to us. Often we hear this story without the last verse of Matthew 18, which says "“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Not sure how much more blunt Jesus could have been, but to me He is saying that we will receive from God what we give to others. And again in Mark 11:25 Jesus said "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." I don't take this as a suggestion, I take it as a commandment. One that we, as Christ followers, must take more serious. God is a God of love, grace, mercy, patience and forgiveness. If we are to show the world who God is, then what a better way to start then to be these things toward others when they least expect it. Let God's grace be contagious in your life....
God, thank You for Your unending forgiveness toward us. It is so hard to wrap our minds around...to think of the grace and mercy You show us even on a daily basis. Please help us to offer this to others. Help us to be as much like You as we can be in this area of our life so people who may not know you, can experience You through our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Matthew 18 has always been one of my favorite and least favorite passages because of the story that gets told. That was just me being very real with that statement right there because it is a reminder to me of exactly how we can be as humans most of the time. We seek grace from God, but we forget to give it to others. We seek forgiveness from God, but we feel entitled to hold grudges towards people. We long for God's mercy, but please don't expect if from us. The story in Matthew 18 is the one where Jesus tells them that the Kingdom of heaven is like a King who was settling accounts with his servants. He had a servant who owned him a lot...and I am sure in those times it was a LOT. The bible says it was ten thousand talents. And just as the master was about to have the man, his family and all that he had, sold to repay the dept, the man begs for the master to have patience and promises to pay it all back. The master, moved by compassion, does decide to forgive this man of the whole dept, and sets him free. Then it goes on in 28-34 to say "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him."
This story is not just a reminder of how we should be, but it is also a reminder of how important it is to God that that we show the same kind of compassion on others that He shows to us. Often we hear this story without the last verse of Matthew 18, which says "“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Not sure how much more blunt Jesus could have been, but to me He is saying that we will receive from God what we give to others. And again in Mark 11:25 Jesus said "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." I don't take this as a suggestion, I take it as a commandment. One that we, as Christ followers, must take more serious. God is a God of love, grace, mercy, patience and forgiveness. If we are to show the world who God is, then what a better way to start then to be these things toward others when they least expect it. Let God's grace be contagious in your life....
God, thank You for Your unending forgiveness toward us. It is so hard to wrap our minds around...to think of the grace and mercy You show us even on a daily basis. Please help us to offer this to others. Help us to be as much like You as we can be in this area of our life so people who may not know you, can experience You through our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Overcoming The Flesh, Satisfied By God
Yesterday during worship time at church I felt God begin to speak a message to me. Some of it came during the song that we were singing, and some of it was Him bringing the words to a devotional I had done earlier that week back to me. And I stood there in awe as the creator of the universe began to knit these two things together to give me this message...
The song we were singing was 'Reign Over Me" by Dustin Smith. And in part of that song we sang the words "You're all that I want, All that I've ever needed. You satisfy every longing in me". As we sang this I felt God pressing the question (to all of us), "Do I really satisfy your every longing?". I felt like He was saying that we can sing those words when we are standing before Him on Sunday morning and truly "want" to mean it, but then Monday comes... In fact, then Monday thru Saturday comes, and sometimes it even happens as soon as we get out of church on Sunday. What I mean by that is it doesn't take long before something starts to pull at our flesh and create desires in us that are not looking toward God to be satisfied. And those desires don't necessarily have to be sinful, they just have to get in the way of what God wants. Please don't get me wrong, I believe we server a God who wants us to enjoy life. I fully believe He delights in our joy. But I don't think we delights in us chasing "things" that make us happy. Especially when those things either begin to fill a longing in us, or get in the way of our time with Him. For example, you might have a favorite show or activity in the evening, but God might be calling you to spend that time with Him. Would you need to take into consideration that you would have to give that "thing" up if that was the exact time He wanted with you, or would you just go spend that time with Him? When our spirit begins to line up with His spirit, then our longings begin to line up for His purpose for us. However, our flesh is always going to try to fight that. It is in those times that have the opportunity to show God that we are not driven by our fleshly desires, and we really do want to let Him satisfy out every longing.
The thing I read earlier last week that God had brought back to me was about gold. When gold is found it is not where you might expect it. It is in the dirt, among other rocks and sand. It is not found in a pretty place and it not instantly perfect gold when it's found. It is full of impurities because of the environment it has been in. It is not until the goldsmith works with that gold and begins to refine it that it starts to really have it's value. You see gold is full of impurities and the only way to get rid of those it to heat it up to a very high temperature and let those impurities rise to the top. The goldsmith will then scrape the "stuff" that has risen to the top off, leaving the left over gold more pure. However, this is not a "one and done" process. This may have to be done several times in order for this gold to be fully purified. Each time the heat is applied, more impurities will rise to the top and can be scraped away. And each time the gold is made more pure.....God works with us in a very similar fashion. He finds us and He pulls us out of the world we are living in. He sees our worth even when we (or anyone else) can't yet. But God wants to put us through a process of purification, just like the gold. But we have to allow this process to take place. Unfortunately we tend to bail out to soon when the heat begins to get turned up around us, and the process doesn't get to do exactly what God wanted it to. He will allow situations to happen that bring our impurities to the top...even those fleshly desires. Then He will scrape them away, if we let Him. And each time we allow Him to work in us and on us like this, He leaves us better than He found us. Closer to Him, and noticeably changed! With desires that line up with Him...
If you know you struggle to allow God to "satisfy your every longing", then maybe He wants to refine you and allow some of those impurities to rise to the top so HE can get rid of them. Don't let this process create fear in you, it is always God's desire to leave us better than He found us, and to draw us closer to Him. And trust me when I say this world has nothing to offer that even comes close to comparing to what God has for you. So spend some time with Him, get honest and very real with Him, and let Him search you fully and get honest and real back with you. I promise you won't regret it.
God, thank You for finding us and pulling us up out of the places that You do. Thank You that you want to refine us, You want to be the reason our souls feel satisfied, You want relationship with us. Please Holy Spirit help us to put our fleshly desires in their proper place and seek You above anything and everything in our lives. And let the changes that God does in us speak louder than our words so people will see the difference, and want what we have with You God. In Jesus name, Amen.
The song we were singing was 'Reign Over Me" by Dustin Smith. And in part of that song we sang the words "You're all that I want, All that I've ever needed. You satisfy every longing in me". As we sang this I felt God pressing the question (to all of us), "Do I really satisfy your every longing?". I felt like He was saying that we can sing those words when we are standing before Him on Sunday morning and truly "want" to mean it, but then Monday comes... In fact, then Monday thru Saturday comes, and sometimes it even happens as soon as we get out of church on Sunday. What I mean by that is it doesn't take long before something starts to pull at our flesh and create desires in us that are not looking toward God to be satisfied. And those desires don't necessarily have to be sinful, they just have to get in the way of what God wants. Please don't get me wrong, I believe we server a God who wants us to enjoy life. I fully believe He delights in our joy. But I don't think we delights in us chasing "things" that make us happy. Especially when those things either begin to fill a longing in us, or get in the way of our time with Him. For example, you might have a favorite show or activity in the evening, but God might be calling you to spend that time with Him. Would you need to take into consideration that you would have to give that "thing" up if that was the exact time He wanted with you, or would you just go spend that time with Him? When our spirit begins to line up with His spirit, then our longings begin to line up for His purpose for us. However, our flesh is always going to try to fight that. It is in those times that have the opportunity to show God that we are not driven by our fleshly desires, and we really do want to let Him satisfy out every longing.
The thing I read earlier last week that God had brought back to me was about gold. When gold is found it is not where you might expect it. It is in the dirt, among other rocks and sand. It is not found in a pretty place and it not instantly perfect gold when it's found. It is full of impurities because of the environment it has been in. It is not until the goldsmith works with that gold and begins to refine it that it starts to really have it's value. You see gold is full of impurities and the only way to get rid of those it to heat it up to a very high temperature and let those impurities rise to the top. The goldsmith will then scrape the "stuff" that has risen to the top off, leaving the left over gold more pure. However, this is not a "one and done" process. This may have to be done several times in order for this gold to be fully purified. Each time the heat is applied, more impurities will rise to the top and can be scraped away. And each time the gold is made more pure.....God works with us in a very similar fashion. He finds us and He pulls us out of the world we are living in. He sees our worth even when we (or anyone else) can't yet. But God wants to put us through a process of purification, just like the gold. But we have to allow this process to take place. Unfortunately we tend to bail out to soon when the heat begins to get turned up around us, and the process doesn't get to do exactly what God wanted it to. He will allow situations to happen that bring our impurities to the top...even those fleshly desires. Then He will scrape them away, if we let Him. And each time we allow Him to work in us and on us like this, He leaves us better than He found us. Closer to Him, and noticeably changed! With desires that line up with Him...
If you know you struggle to allow God to "satisfy your every longing", then maybe He wants to refine you and allow some of those impurities to rise to the top so HE can get rid of them. Don't let this process create fear in you, it is always God's desire to leave us better than He found us, and to draw us closer to Him. And trust me when I say this world has nothing to offer that even comes close to comparing to what God has for you. So spend some time with Him, get honest and very real with Him, and let Him search you fully and get honest and real back with you. I promise you won't regret it.
God, thank You for finding us and pulling us up out of the places that You do. Thank You that you want to refine us, You want to be the reason our souls feel satisfied, You want relationship with us. Please Holy Spirit help us to put our fleshly desires in their proper place and seek You above anything and everything in our lives. And let the changes that God does in us speak louder than our words so people will see the difference, and want what we have with You God. In Jesus name, Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)