Recieving From God.

It's your birthday. You get a gift. You have a choice to accept that gift or not.

You get flowers. You have a choice to accept those flowers or not.

You are offered a tuna sandwich or a slice of your favorite type of pizza. You have a choice.

The woman/or man of your dreams leans forward to give you a kiss. You have a choice to receive that kiss or not.

Did you know the same is true with "receiving" from God? It's a choice to receive from God or not.

In the past/ or even right now you might not have wanted to receive from God because you were afraid and even fearful that if God took an active role in your life- you would no longer enjoy life but the fact is that you are already receiving from God.... And life is more satisfying when God is your friend in this life.

You got air in your lungs? He made that air. He created those lungs. They go together.

You like that sunshine? How about that nice bath or shower?

It says in Matthew 5:45 God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

If that scripture didn't make sense... think about it... it will come.

Wouldn't you like to know there is more then just "existing" in this life? That God has a real purpose in your life and he wants you to receive all that he has to give to you.

So... "What can I receive from God?"

Well the obvious (the first)..... Salvation/eternity in heaven made possible by His Son Jesus Christ.

Second... how about receiving a real sense of God in your life? How about ability just not to receive but to give mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, peace, physical healing, spiritual healing to others. Even to give others that you presently or once thought didn't deserve your mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. How about that love and patience to speak peace and wisdom into a situation? How about receiving information from God to tell someone who is waiting to hear from God? How about speaking in another language you have never studied before or speak the language of angels?

Third... how about receiving and learning in God's wisdom and understanding via the Holy Spirit. To have the ability to not just feel the presence and nearness of God in your life (which is pretty awesome) but to move in God's directives to touch others supernaturally so they might come to know and have a relationship with God.

Fourth... how about the ability to give up sin, addictions and withstand the negatives tendencies that want to influence our Christian walk. How about receiving the ability to walk in the cleansing blood and Spirit of Christ knowing he is working within us everyday.

Fifth... To learn. To Step. To See.... that your purpose in life doesn't just end like an earthly position but grows as you mature in Christ.

There is more and I know I am not mentioning all the possibilities God wants you to receive but the most important thing God wants you to receive from him is an intimate relationship with him.

You may say, "Well I know there is a God. I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have received the Holy Spirit. I have some of the gifts you spoke of given by the Holy Spirit... Yet I feel I haven't received from God lately and I am feeling a little tired, dry and discouraged."

I have been there... My question to you is this: "Have you placed yourself in a place to receive?"

Are there things in life that God has put in your path but because of:
-your worries of tomorrow,
-your lack of ability, (feeling your are not qualified enough)
-your assumption of others,
-your uncertainty about the situation,
-your unwillingness,
-your cares
-your lack of interest,
- You feeling pushed into the situation... we just haven't "done" it.

If so God has good reason for that "something" to sit before you. It is not there to strike you down, make a fool of you but to build you up and encourage you.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Ask God what exactly he wants you to do with that "something" and how far he wants you to assist him in that "something".

God maybe encouraging you to do something in your church (a much more active roll or an outreach) but you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out. There maybe a family/friend situation that he wants you to assist with. Maybe God is telling you to do something simple like raise you hands during praise and worship but you have been resistant because you don't want to look silly. Maybe God has given you a word to share with the church but because you feel self-conscious you say nothing.

And because you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out - you haven't received what God wants to give you and bless you with. God wants to strengthen, encourage you, build you up but he can't do that unless you are willing to receive what he puts in front of you.

I have felt this way about mission trips and taking youth to camp but when I did finally take the step I received more then I could possibly imagine.

It seems God wants us to climb this beautiful mountain were there is this path of views and experiences but this path "isn't" to burden us but to bring us closer to him. These views and experiences may look very "uncertain" at times but as you go in humble "willingness" - you see past the uncertainty and God makes your purpose clear for that venture. He tells you when to go, stop, turn right or left.

Sometimes we put ourselves in the way of receiving from God. In God there is no useless vessel, no retirement, or age limit to receive from God.