A friend of mine said this today, and I liked it, so I wanted to share. I also feel like it pertains to where I am right now, spiritually and physically, and where I want to be.
"It is better to be in the center of God's will and be in a war, than outside of God's will and in a peaceful pasture."
Although the very opposite seems to be more comfortable and inviting, it is a trap for me that leads to complacency and stagnancy. The Word of God says that we are in the midst of a battle, and to think that I can ever just cruise along unscathed is a daydream. Jeremiah 29:11 says,
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 25, 2008
My Way Or The High Way
When was the last time you prayed "Lord God, Your will be done" and really meant it? This is a difficult prayer for me. From what I've read, if I truly want God's will in my life, it means giving up things that could be making my life very comfortable and convenient right now. In fact, this is the prayer that Jesus prayed only hours before He was hanging on the Cross. And He knew where the path lead. Paul prayed that the "thorn in his flesh" would be taken away, but God had other plans. When Jesus told Peter what kind of death Peter would die, our Lord said, "I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (John 21:18).
When I pray this prayer, "Lord, Your will be done," do I really want God's will above my own, natural, of-the-flesh desires? I have to ask myself some questions.
What is there in my life that I know God wants me to pursue less, in order that I may know Him more?
What things are there in my life that are getting in the way of spending time with Him daily in prayer and in His word?
Are there sins I must confess? Habits I must turn over to His strength to break?
Are there attitudes that I must put away because they are selfish and hurtful to others?
Do I seek God and reflect on His Word when I make decisions and choices throughout the day?
God's will is in His Word. When I am struggling to know God's will for my life, I must read His Word, love His Word, seek His Word, pray His Word, and listen to Him. The answer may not be "Yes, you should quit your job," or "Yes, you can have a new car," or even "Yes, you should go on that mission trip." None of these things are necessarily bad choices in themselves, but do we really wait and listen for God's reply?
It may be, "Obey my commands. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do all things without complaining or disputing. Rejoice always. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
My fist instinct is "oh, okay, yeah I get it, now please answer my REAL question, Lord." Or "all right God, that's all well and good, but now I'm going to go ahead and do whatever it was I wanted to do anyway."
However, through reading His word and obedience, our other questions are anwered. Not only that, but God wants so much more for us! Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
C.S. Lewis says brilliantly, "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us..."
Infinite joy sounds better to me than a new wardrobe for sure...
When I pray this prayer, "Lord, Your will be done," do I really want God's will above my own, natural, of-the-flesh desires? I have to ask myself some questions.
What is there in my life that I know God wants me to pursue less, in order that I may know Him more?
What things are there in my life that are getting in the way of spending time with Him daily in prayer and in His word?
Are there sins I must confess? Habits I must turn over to His strength to break?
Are there attitudes that I must put away because they are selfish and hurtful to others?
Do I seek God and reflect on His Word when I make decisions and choices throughout the day?
God's will is in His Word. When I am struggling to know God's will for my life, I must read His Word, love His Word, seek His Word, pray His Word, and listen to Him. The answer may not be "Yes, you should quit your job," or "Yes, you can have a new car," or even "Yes, you should go on that mission trip." None of these things are necessarily bad choices in themselves, but do we really wait and listen for God's reply?
It may be, "Obey my commands. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do all things without complaining or disputing. Rejoice always. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
My fist instinct is "oh, okay, yeah I get it, now please answer my REAL question, Lord." Or "all right God, that's all well and good, but now I'm going to go ahead and do whatever it was I wanted to do anyway."
However, through reading His word and obedience, our other questions are anwered. Not only that, but God wants so much more for us! Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
C.S. Lewis says brilliantly, "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us..."
Infinite joy sounds better to me than a new wardrobe for sure...
Friday, February 8, 2008
Like a Bird
I just love this image of a person being set free through Christ. We were once captive by Sin and Death, and Jesus gives us life!
Psalm 124:7-8 "We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
1 Corinthians 15:54-56 "When the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that it written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory, 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Psalm 124:7-8 "We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
1 Corinthians 15:54-56 "When the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that it written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory, 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Rich
A preacher man I heard the other day mentioned this observation:
Jesus was born in a borrowed barn, fed a few thousand with borrowed food, paid his taxes with money He didn't have, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt of a donkey, died on a cursed cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. He came from all the richness of heaven and became poor so that we might know True Riches.
"For your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9
How often do I take for granted all that God has blessed my life with? His own Son didn't even have a place to lay his head, and I have a roof over my head every day. And beyond that, I have a home for eternity in heaven, because Jesus gave up heaven and became poor, so that the world can know what life truly is. Praise Him!
Philippians 2:8-9
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every dame, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus was born in a borrowed barn, fed a few thousand with borrowed food, paid his taxes with money He didn't have, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt of a donkey, died on a cursed cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. He came from all the richness of heaven and became poor so that we might know True Riches.
"For your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9
How often do I take for granted all that God has blessed my life with? His own Son didn't even have a place to lay his head, and I have a roof over my head every day. And beyond that, I have a home for eternity in heaven, because Jesus gave up heaven and became poor, so that the world can know what life truly is. Praise Him!
Philippians 2:8-9
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every dame, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
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