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| Photo by Jeff Johnson |
We often don’t think about how our thoughts -control our actions or how they help us to receive help and guidance from God or not.
God is only a thought away but it’s amazing how far that empowering thought can be from us at times if we aren't including God in our thoughts.
Vinegar by itself does nothing in a bottle but put some baking soda in with it and watch that mixture overflow the confines of that bottle. We are like that vinegar and God is like that baking soda- alone our thoughts stay stagnant but with God we grow past the confinements of our understanding.
King David wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever…”
Jesus said, “He that believes in me, as the scriptures says,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Ever felt on edge, wary, fickle, frail, frustrated, burdened? I have….
At times we can be our worst enemy.
So for those times, I have asked God to help me write some things down to help me regain and stand in the balancing rhythm of God’s presence, bringing moral -“LIFE” to my soul.
Jesus said to love God with all your heart, all your soul
and all your strength (ability) but the only way I have found to have this
“ability” is to surrender my heart to God in all matters of life which fits
well with the words from book Zechariah.
“It is not by force nor by strength, but my Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.
In other words, “Let go…”
The Apostle Paul learned it’s not by one’s strength or sure determination but an acceptance of “ones weakness” that allows God’s power to rest upon them… “For my grace is sufficient.”
(Repeat sentence if it hasn't sunken in.)
As I reflected on these passages written by Paul, I have gotten a sense of freedom and a certain contentment- he didn’t try to wrestle everything but had God use what came as an opportunity for God to show himself stronger and brighter and mightier then the circumstance.
Paul was driven to practice the art of losing the part of “himself” that hindered him from experiencing the liberating fullness of Christ. In Paul’s mind, the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ and the promises that came with those things could not be out done- so knowing this he surrendered his “hindering life” for Jesus’ sake.
Do you remember Jesus saying, "to find life one must lose it for his sake"?
I find this “losing” of ones self is a continuous thing- and I have found that the “tender responsive heart” is handicapped from God’s leading and greatness in our life when we close ranks on ourselves -by accepting schemes and ideas that tire, wear, mundane, burden, assume and think we are in some kind of control. For WHERE is the renewing power of the Spirit of Christ going to work and move if the space God wants to use is already taken up by our own faulty understanding?
2 Corinthians says, “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
When we do this "we make room" to receive the necessary things from the
Spirit to make the soul abound and overcome.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In being reminded of our supernatural birth in Christ Jesus to now- it is vital that our created souls be continuously "yoked" to the Spirit. For our souls were specifically created to experience a fulfilling life in the Spirit of God.
Colossians says, “Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
We know the new self is created by the Spirit of God. We need this engagement of the Holy Spirit daily or we may suffer a very shortsighted, drab existence, hindered not only by our understanding but whatever might come. The things of life are no different then what anyone else goes through but it’s in WHO you and I focus in that gives moral to our soul.
With God- he helps us unfold and fold our thoughts in a godly manner.
Knowing Jesus’ Lordship over our lives gives us this settling affect in our soul- strengthening our inner man like tapping the weakening bubbles out of a substance.
In art school I often saw the havoc of air bubbles in ceramic pieces- causing vessels and pieces to shatter and crack in the firing process.
It is not different in us… God is the potter, he is the author and finisher of our faith- and he knows what “air bubbles’ to rid us of so we will make it through the firing process of this life. Knowing this we look to Him to strengthen the inner man.
Psalms says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Galatians says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
2 Peter says “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need to for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you and caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.”
Doubt can even become evil for not addressed. That is why it’s important not only to believe but ask God to help us overcome our doubt... so that the edginess, worry, fickle, frail, frustration and burden will not reign over our hearts but God who brings moral.
Like a commander bringing moral to his soldiers before battle… this is what Jesus wants to do for us daily. That we may “not” go out in the world with some kind of dread but go out with cheer and vigor and hope!
“For if God is for us, who can be against us?”
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