Why's it so hard to want God and God alone? It's sad to say this, but sometimes it's like I don't feel like He's enough. I wish for the presence of fellow humans, moreso than I desire to spend a few extra minutes alone with him, although I know that'd do wonders.
And then there's all the worry and malice that creeps into the brightest moments of one's days, snuffing out the sunshine. why? there shouldn't be. Then there's always the striving for improvement of one's life, one's values, one's faults, and struggling to understand why there's so much pain in the lives of your loved ones.
Back to square one, God is the source, the answer to all of life.
And I've to realise, I'm not going anywhere without Him.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Understanding God's Power
I doubt most of us know or understand what God's power is supposed to mean/do for our lives.
I know, in particular, that I don't understand...just because of the way I live.
For instance, I am a very fearful person. I allow my fear of just about everything to control me, to make me think too much.
Fear +++ Doubt are a packaged deal. When we are fearful as Christians, in perhaps an unconscious way, we are doubting God.
For me I feel, however, that it is not me who is doubting God...but rather my emotions. As Christians, I know that we are supposed to control our emotions...that they should be in submission to THE SPIRIT.
Romans 8:5-6 "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."
Romans 8:15 We have not received a spirit that makes us fearful slaves, but rather God's spirit.
It's easy to be afraid, but we must remember that we have God's power on our side.
Ephesians 1:19-20 "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe in him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come."
Remember that God's power which we have if we believe is THE SAME power that raised Christ from the dead, made the Earth, controls all creation.
I believe that faith is something you have to practice; it doesn't come easy. If I don't understand God's power, then I better be learning about it! I pray all of you will understand God's power for your lives and encourage others in it! Amen.
I know, in particular, that I don't understand...just because of the way I live.
For instance, I am a very fearful person. I allow my fear of just about everything to control me, to make me think too much.
Fear +++ Doubt are a packaged deal. When we are fearful as Christians, in perhaps an unconscious way, we are doubting God.
For me I feel, however, that it is not me who is doubting God...but rather my emotions. As Christians, I know that we are supposed to control our emotions...that they should be in submission to THE SPIRIT.
Romans 8:5-6 "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."
Romans 8:15 We have not received a spirit that makes us fearful slaves, but rather God's spirit.
It's easy to be afraid, but we must remember that we have God's power on our side.
Ephesians 1:19-20 "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe in him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come."
Remember that God's power which we have if we believe is THE SAME power that raised Christ from the dead, made the Earth, controls all creation.
I believe that faith is something you have to practice; it doesn't come easy. If I don't understand God's power, then I better be learning about it! I pray all of you will understand God's power for your lives and encourage others in it! Amen.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Crime to be Weak?
The April 14th devotion from Oswald Chamber's book "My Utmost For His Highest" states
"It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God's strength."
' "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden.
No power of earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.
If your life is producing only whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God's strength.'
Oswald Chambers
___________________
I think it's really hard to be constantly aware of God's strength in our lives. It's like something that we have to tap into and be conscious of. Something we have to remind ourselves of. We must condition our minds to be aware of it.
"It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God's strength."
' "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden.
No power of earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.
If your life is producing only whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God's strength.'
Oswald Chambers
___________________
I think it's really hard to be constantly aware of God's strength in our lives. It's like something that we have to tap into and be conscious of. Something we have to remind ourselves of. We must condition our minds to be aware of it.
I dont want to love??
I'm having a few problems truly loving others...because my sinful nature doesn't want to love...
What always gets in the way? That huge roadblock which is myself. I get in the way of just about everything.
If we don't love others...we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 expresses this in a compelling way. "If I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge...but didn't love others, I would be nothing." Verses 2-3
Wow...even knowing God's secret plans does not stack up to truly loving others. Imagine that.
1 John 3:16 "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters."
1 John 4:18 "...let's not merely say that we love one another; let's show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God."
I have to get more serious with this.
What always gets in the way? That huge roadblock which is myself. I get in the way of just about everything.
If we don't love others...we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 expresses this in a compelling way. "If I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge...but didn't love others, I would be nothing." Verses 2-3
Wow...even knowing God's secret plans does not stack up to truly loving others. Imagine that.
1 John 3:16 "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters."
1 John 4:18 "...let's not merely say that we love one another; let's show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God."
I have to get more serious with this.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
It's not my responsibility to ASSESS others
Like all human beings, I want to be treated right. In this desire, sometimes I forget about the way that I have treated others. I forget about the ways in which I may have been impatient, angry, rude, ignorant, and inconsiderate with them. I usually forget because it's all about me, right? My pride is colossal.
Sometimes in our attempt to have others get it right, to correct what we perceive to be the inconsiderate behaviour of others, we forget our simple obligation to love.
I do wish I could remember to love DESPITE...but sometimes I think why doesn't s/he treat me in this/that way...how come they don't understand that this/that hurts my feelings? In this/that situation, I wouldn't do that to them. I forget to love DESPITE...
Romans 13: 8 "Owe nothing to anyone--except your OBLIGATION to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you fulfill the requirements of God's law."
I realize that I always validate the way I feel. Yes, my feelings may have weight and impact, but I have an even bigger duty...I have been called to LOVE. This duty outweighs all of the other feelings I may feel in my daily life.
This calling is immense and is a huge responsibility. God has called me to this high purpose and I must honour it. It is a huge and hard obligation to deal with, but I must continue to try nonetheless.
I realize it is not my responsibility to constantly assess where others have gone wrong. Yes, I should correct a brother or sister that has gone astray or is acting in such a way that they undermine God's word (so long as that person identifies themselves as a believer in Christ), but I must assess my pride. Sometimes I realize a concentration on how people have hurt me, what they are doing to undermine me and my feelings may be a direct result of pride in my life. Are they really doing anything wrong? Perhaps they do not interpret their behaviour as wrong...and I quickly jump to conclusions.
My task is to be a lot more patient in how I deal with others. I must fight the urge to constantly correct and assess others.
I'm trying my best not to judge others, especially those who are non-believers. We must fight this.
A good way to go about changing one's behaviour is thinking simply..."Okay God doesnt want me to feel this way..."
We must remember to KEEP...the MAIN THING THE MAIN THING...! And this is Jesus Christ and his death for us!
Imogen
Sometimes in our attempt to have others get it right, to correct what we perceive to be the inconsiderate behaviour of others, we forget our simple obligation to love.
I do wish I could remember to love DESPITE...but sometimes I think why doesn't s/he treat me in this/that way...how come they don't understand that this/that hurts my feelings? In this/that situation, I wouldn't do that to them. I forget to love DESPITE...
Romans 13: 8 "Owe nothing to anyone--except your OBLIGATION to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you fulfill the requirements of God's law."
I realize that I always validate the way I feel. Yes, my feelings may have weight and impact, but I have an even bigger duty...I have been called to LOVE. This duty outweighs all of the other feelings I may feel in my daily life.
This calling is immense and is a huge responsibility. God has called me to this high purpose and I must honour it. It is a huge and hard obligation to deal with, but I must continue to try nonetheless.
I realize it is not my responsibility to constantly assess where others have gone wrong. Yes, I should correct a brother or sister that has gone astray or is acting in such a way that they undermine God's word (so long as that person identifies themselves as a believer in Christ), but I must assess my pride. Sometimes I realize a concentration on how people have hurt me, what they are doing to undermine me and my feelings may be a direct result of pride in my life. Are they really doing anything wrong? Perhaps they do not interpret their behaviour as wrong...and I quickly jump to conclusions.
My task is to be a lot more patient in how I deal with others. I must fight the urge to constantly correct and assess others.
I'm trying my best not to judge others, especially those who are non-believers. We must fight this.
A good way to go about changing one's behaviour is thinking simply..."Okay God doesnt want me to feel this way..."
We must remember to KEEP...the MAIN THING THE MAIN THING...! And this is Jesus Christ and his death for us!
Imogen
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