There are two things the Lord has been having me meditate on as he has been teaching me on what to teach. One is to not commit to our own understanding or perception of things. The second is our benefit of being committed to the Lord. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality” (Proverbs 3:5-8)
These things sound very elementary on the surface but not so much when we try to apply them to our life at times. When trial and struggle and challenge or unguarded word or action comes upon us what do you tend to listen to - the flesh or the Spirit of God?
Lately I am constantly reminded of Psalm 91. We will see and experience some difficult things in this life that can affect our heart if we don’t keep our focus on the Lord. Our thinking can become a plague to our lives.
How many times to do you allow what you see and hear and/or perceive to affect you? That doesn’t even include the memories that want to linger and nag at us.
What does this say about our level of commitment and obedience in our lives to the Lord?
Some might excuse themselves and say: “Well we are just human and that is what humans do” or “we are all sinners” or “There are just some things a person can’t overcome.”
Excuse me if this may seem harsh but I say this gently and in love. How stubborn, arrogant, ignorant, prideful and away from Lord in thought are we going to be? How can anyone glorify the Lord with that type of thinking? How about salt and light? (Matthew 5:13-16)
We stifle and quench the Holy Spirit when we think these ways. And the ways we think affect the heart. That is why God says to “guard your heart for it affects
everything you do.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Another version of the NLT says: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Work of the Holy Spirit can’t be done in our own understanding or will power. The noise from our focus not on the Lord makes us deaf to the will and direction of God. And God knows what resorts from that type of thinking.
Our continual foundational focus must be on the Lord. There is the strength. As a foundation of a large building goes down way underground- same must be the roots of our faith that stabilize us as we go more deeply and intimately into our Father’s love.
“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.” Proverbs 12:3
Our physical/ spiritual choice is directed by what is fed into the heart. Is the heart receptive to the Lord? Is it humble and contrite? Is it grateful to God? Is it reverent towards God? Is it surrendered and obedient to God? Does it know God’s love and know God is love? What perception and understanding is the heart living and swimming in? Is the heart quiet and still? Is the heart constantly meditating on the Lord and the things of the Lord? Is the heart’s home here or with the Lord? Where is the heart’s joy and hope in?
Men and women have done many regretful things because of their lack of commitment to the Lord and instead of bringing glory to God brought shame on themselves and hurt to others.
Think about this: just a man commits adultery by having lustful thoughts towards another woman that is not his wife and a person is a murderer at heart if they hate another person -what does that say about how important our commitment and focus on God should be?
What do you commit emotionally to -through your perception, circumstances, and understandings? Do you acknowledge God in all your ways?
What is God’s perception of you?
I believe where we perceive limitation God sees limitlessly more then we can even dare or hope for.
What do we really believe from God?
“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham’s faith, God declared him to be righteous. Now this wonderful truth- that God declared him to be righteous- wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” Romans 4:20-25
Hope faith and love.
Is your hope in God?
Is your faith in God?
Do you believe and live in God’s love?
“All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. We love each other as a result of his loving us first.” 1 John 15-18
Remember perfect love is childlike faith knowing in what Jesus has done for us and trusting in the Heavenly Father’s love for us.
This must be known not just in the head but also continually live in heart for it to empower the Christian soul.
Again it sounds elementary but who do we really let sit upon that throne in our heart at all times? Are you giving God the power to work in your life OR your "own" understanding and flesh, which enslave your life and don’t allow you to live out the potential in the freedom God has for you?
A choice in the mind and heart is more powerful then actions that follow it.
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