I can't think of a better title for this posting because it simply states a desire the Lord has for each and every one of us. Being able to "live life to the fullest" is a gift that the Lord bestows to His children, provided we let Him in and let Him lead. In other words, we must be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. What does this mean? I am sure we all understand by now that the root of our faith system germinates from belief. Belief in turn makes way for the Holy Spirit to do its part--deepening us, stretching us, and expanding us into dynamic creatures, fearfully and wonderfully made. To top it all off, there are no two exactly alike. Despite what you may think, we are not expected to be cookie-cutter Christians. We do not have to give up our identities and blend in with our fellow believers. We are not expected to act out our lives like puppets. If that were so, we wouldn't be living. God wants us to enjoy life abundantly as it pertains to our personal interests. What moves you? What are your passions? We can enjoy these things provided we make God the center of it, allowing Him to lead us into the adventure He has prepared for us daily.
Personally, I love the beach. If I had more time, I would spend most of my days atop the glistening, gold sand, absorbing the sun, and watching the waves crash upon the shoreline. I would wash my hands of my daily obligations and lose myself in the water-color canvas perpetually illustrated by our Maker--a splash of blue above me, a hint of seafoam green advancing and retreating at the very tip of my toes, and dark, majestic rolling hills behind me, serving as my rear-guard. There is not a safer place to be than in God's plan, perfectly positioned in the snapshot of this present moment.
Now stop. Rewind. Imagine this. I took a can of black paint and poured it all over this serene portrait. I took the paintbrush out of my Father's grip and smeared it in a cyclonic whirlwind of habitual darkness. The only thing that exists in this portrait as of now is me.
Spiritually speaking, this is how I imagine it to be if we are dead in faith. We are not truly LIVING (and I don't mean just breathing, existing, and engaging in the routine). If we let down the shield of faith, then we are susceptible to darkness. The result is tragic as many of us go on with our lives, blinded by deceit and unaware of the treasures that are stored up around us within arms reach, never touched and never opened.
Scripture states in John 11:8 [paraphrased] that the disciples questioned Jesus as to why He would return to Judea after the Jews threatened to stone him. Jesus paid no mind to their concern for He was on a mission to see Lazarus, a man whom He loved. Lazarus was ill and later we come to find that Jesus had foreknowledge of his death. Nonetheless, He is determined to make His way back to Judea, despite any opposition, as He explains to His disciples, "'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.'" (John 11:10)
Jesus is teaching His disciples, including us, that life without Him is one stumbling block after another. We are completely unaware that the lamp before our feet is much closer than we think. A former youth pastor of our church must have had this principle in mind when she named our youth group organization "ALIVE", which is an acronym for their mission statement: Always Live in View of Eternity. This one word makes a huge statement and our youth seemed to catch on pretty quickly. Like most teenaged boys and girls, they too know how to have fun. They like to plan church events and spend time in fellowship with one another. I suppose at this age you can afford to be carefree when you don't yet have the burdens of responsibility. However, one invaluable lesson our youth can teach us is that it is possible to live in the moment, being conscious that you are ALIVE, while still remaining focused on the Light.
As we read on in John 11, we find that Jesus wept for Lazarus before He raised him from the dead. I believe just as Jesus grieved for Lazarus, He too bemoans over every one of us who are dead in our faith. We carry out lives devoid of the robust and rich promise that God has offered to us just because we can't see it. Martha, Lazarus' sister, who was convinced that she would never see her brother again, warned Jesus before pulling back the stone of his tomb that the body had been dead for four days. Jesus responds by stating, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40) Jesus is insinuating here that belief is all it takes for Lazarus to be raised from the dead. If we recall earlier in this text, Jesus reveals the true purpose of His journey to Judea, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." (John 11:11) Aren't we, just like Lazarus, a friend of God? As Jesus did for him, He will also do for us. He will awaken us from the slumber of our minds and deliver us from our dead works, so that we can move forward with our lives as TRUE LIVING awaits us on the horizon.
"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." (Ephesians 5:14) On my way home this evening, I was reminded of this scripture in a rather peculiar way. I had a pair of sunglasses on that I had been wearing pretty much all day to block out the glare of the sun while I was driving. As the sun began to set, everything that was once touched by its radiant glow turned into a dated photograph, the saturation of vibrant colors faded out into a muted gray. Suddenly it hit me that I was still wearing my sunglasses. The minute I took them off, I could see clearly. The world around me wasn't at all drab, damp and dead. In fact, it was just the opposite, still thriving and full of life! I liken this scenario to the scripture I mentioned earlier. We can choose to live with our shades on, in the vapid realm we create OR we can take them off and be delivered from darkness with Christ serving as our true source of light.
Living in the fullness of Christ also means letting go of the shackles that bind us. Scripture states, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1) The enemy has proven himself successful in the area of strongholds. He knows that if we remain bound and defeated, slaves to our finances, personal addictions, and relationships, then we will never fully know what it means to live abundantly and filled with God's glory! Without even realizing it, we may be submitting ourselves to daily obsessions of various forms. It could be the way we count our calories, our jobs and careers, or the amount of time we spend in front of the internet. The list goes on. Remember, the more we fill our lives with worry, preoccupation, or idle time, the less we hear God's voice as He tries to reveal the perfectly tailored-fit plan He has for each and every one of us!
Referring back to the story of Lazarus, Jesus not only commanded him to come out of his tomb, but he also stated, "Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:44) Literally, Jesus was giving orders to the people that stood amongst Him to remove the "graveclothes", the cloth Lazarus was wrapped in. However, I can't help but think that this must be the very same command He makes in the face of the adversary every time He engages in warfare to win back our souls. It is over every bondage the enemy has successfully wrapped us up in that God declares, "Loose him, and let him go!" "He is mine!" God gives us an opportunity every minute that we are breathing to break free from our strongholds on this earth, Let Him in, and LIVE--not just in the promise of eternal life that awaits us, but today! There is so much to experience on this earth that is never uncovered all because we are too afraid to LIVE! Please, beloved readers, I earnestly beseech you, do not fall by the wayside and watch life pass you by. Whatever it takes and by whatever means, make the choice to LIVE!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Living in Harmony
Yin Yang is a Chinese philosophical concept that attempts to explain the natural order of the world. It denotes the idea that balance is a result of two polar opposite forces being present at the same time. Each one only exists in relation to the other. For example, cold is relative to hot or female is relative to male. As this idea holds some truth, scripture reveals to us an in-depth understanding of its origin.
In Genesis 1, scripture describes the process of creation, as God puts His artistic vision to the test, perfecting heaven and earth, speaking life to the rich soil, hanging the stars, moon, and sun, creating sea creatures and creatures of the land, and of course designing the mold made in His image--you and I. But before all of this, scripture reveals that God said, "'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw the light, and that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night." (Genesis 1:3-5) God knew what He was doing when He divided darkness from light. He was establishing order on the earth. Later in this chapter, scripture states that God created the lights (sun, moon, and stars). Each has a unique purpose--one rules over the day as the other rules over the night. Why? Scripture states, "...to divide the day from night; and [to] let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years." (Genesis 1:14) He knew what we would need in order to live a life devoid of chaos and confusion. With day and night set in place, there is structure, the conception of time, and there is balance in the universe. Not to mention, all of God's creation is engineered in such a way to harmoniously exist between the two.
If you think about it, throughout scripture, we are called to be the light in the midst of the darkness. Without darkness, there would be no need for light. Therefore, let us think of our place in the grand scheme of things. We stand strategically positioned as light in the dark arenas of our residences, our schools, our jobs, etc. We must think of how God has chosen us to play a part in the order of His kingdom. There will always be darkness. All that means to us is that we have to shine a little brighter!
As we continue to Genesis 2:5, we realize that rain had not fallen as of yet, therefore, the vegetation of the earth could not grow. In addition, "there was no man to till the ground". So, "a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground." (Genesis 2:6) It was then that God formed man from the "dust of the ground". Eventhough sunlight and darkness were already present, life did not form until rain fell upon the earth. This reinforces another important component of the balance of life: rain and sunlight. I find it significant that it wasn't until after it rained that God formed man. I liken rain to the trials and tests we face in life. It is during the periods of rain that our form becomes softened and more malleable. We are like putty in our Maker's hands, conducive to being transformed. Also, rain is vital for growth. As scripture states, rain was needed "before any herb of the field had grown". We mature through our rainy seasons. God uses this time to teach us invaluable lessons. We need rain just as much as we need sunshine. They are interdependent and work together for our good.
In Genesis 3, scripture explains the fall of man, the moment Adam and Eve became enlightened. This is where we are introduced to the spiritual warfare that goes on between good and evil. The moment that Eve bit of the forbidden fruit and encouraged Adam to do the same was the moment that mankind's eyes were opened to the unseen truth. Satan in the disguise of a serpent had tempted Eve and won. God who learns of this, curses the serpent and states, "...I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15) This scene sets a precedence in establishing foreknowledge of the ongoing battle already occuring between good and evil. As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience, both man and woman would suffer the consequences, the greatest of all is that we are now aware of the spritual darkness in this world. The dichotomy of good versus evil perpetuates in our lives day to day. As scripture states, the enemy will attack us constantly, "bruising" our heels and in return we shall "bruise" his head. We will be forced to rise against evil daily being representatives of the good that is in this world.
Neither good nor evil mean anything without the other. If we are to boil down this concept into more relative terms, think about any turmoil you have faced. As part of God's natural order, we do not become aware of the wrong in our lives until we are aware of the good. As a part of God's creation, we are innately good, therefore, evil will constantly try to rise against us. It is imperative that we stand firm and not be moved. Naturally, good will fight back. God is good. God is in our corner. As scripture suggests, the enemy (serpent) is under our feet. He may try to nip at our heels, but the Lord has equipped us with the ability to stomp upon adversity.
Readers, let us fully understand where we stand in God's grand scheme and design. Let us walk with the fullness of knowing that we are God's creation, wonderfully made in His image. We are the light in the midst of the darkness, the sunshine in the midst of the rain, and the good that outweighs the evil. Be encouraged as the trials of life ebb and flow knowing that they too shall pass. All things in the order of God's kingdom has its reason and season! God bless!
In Genesis 1, scripture describes the process of creation, as God puts His artistic vision to the test, perfecting heaven and earth, speaking life to the rich soil, hanging the stars, moon, and sun, creating sea creatures and creatures of the land, and of course designing the mold made in His image--you and I. But before all of this, scripture reveals that God said, "'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw the light, and that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night." (Genesis 1:3-5) God knew what He was doing when He divided darkness from light. He was establishing order on the earth. Later in this chapter, scripture states that God created the lights (sun, moon, and stars). Each has a unique purpose--one rules over the day as the other rules over the night. Why? Scripture states, "...to divide the day from night; and [to] let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years." (Genesis 1:14) He knew what we would need in order to live a life devoid of chaos and confusion. With day and night set in place, there is structure, the conception of time, and there is balance in the universe. Not to mention, all of God's creation is engineered in such a way to harmoniously exist between the two.
If you think about it, throughout scripture, we are called to be the light in the midst of the darkness. Without darkness, there would be no need for light. Therefore, let us think of our place in the grand scheme of things. We stand strategically positioned as light in the dark arenas of our residences, our schools, our jobs, etc. We must think of how God has chosen us to play a part in the order of His kingdom. There will always be darkness. All that means to us is that we have to shine a little brighter!
As we continue to Genesis 2:5, we realize that rain had not fallen as of yet, therefore, the vegetation of the earth could not grow. In addition, "there was no man to till the ground". So, "a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground." (Genesis 2:6) It was then that God formed man from the "dust of the ground". Eventhough sunlight and darkness were already present, life did not form until rain fell upon the earth. This reinforces another important component of the balance of life: rain and sunlight. I find it significant that it wasn't until after it rained that God formed man. I liken rain to the trials and tests we face in life. It is during the periods of rain that our form becomes softened and more malleable. We are like putty in our Maker's hands, conducive to being transformed. Also, rain is vital for growth. As scripture states, rain was needed "before any herb of the field had grown". We mature through our rainy seasons. God uses this time to teach us invaluable lessons. We need rain just as much as we need sunshine. They are interdependent and work together for our good.
In Genesis 3, scripture explains the fall of man, the moment Adam and Eve became enlightened. This is where we are introduced to the spiritual warfare that goes on between good and evil. The moment that Eve bit of the forbidden fruit and encouraged Adam to do the same was the moment that mankind's eyes were opened to the unseen truth. Satan in the disguise of a serpent had tempted Eve and won. God who learns of this, curses the serpent and states, "...I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15) This scene sets a precedence in establishing foreknowledge of the ongoing battle already occuring between good and evil. As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience, both man and woman would suffer the consequences, the greatest of all is that we are now aware of the spritual darkness in this world. The dichotomy of good versus evil perpetuates in our lives day to day. As scripture states, the enemy will attack us constantly, "bruising" our heels and in return we shall "bruise" his head. We will be forced to rise against evil daily being representatives of the good that is in this world.
Neither good nor evil mean anything without the other. If we are to boil down this concept into more relative terms, think about any turmoil you have faced. As part of God's natural order, we do not become aware of the wrong in our lives until we are aware of the good. As a part of God's creation, we are innately good, therefore, evil will constantly try to rise against us. It is imperative that we stand firm and not be moved. Naturally, good will fight back. God is good. God is in our corner. As scripture suggests, the enemy (serpent) is under our feet. He may try to nip at our heels, but the Lord has equipped us with the ability to stomp upon adversity.
Readers, let us fully understand where we stand in God's grand scheme and design. Let us walk with the fullness of knowing that we are God's creation, wonderfully made in His image. We are the light in the midst of the darkness, the sunshine in the midst of the rain, and the good that outweighs the evil. Be encouraged as the trials of life ebb and flow knowing that they too shall pass. All things in the order of God's kingdom has its reason and season! God bless!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Joy Awaits You
"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)
Imagine waking up to a knock on the door. You are at first a little leary about opening it. In the midst of your hesitation, your heart pounds inside your chest, almost drowning out the sound of bare knuckles rapping on wood. You finally decide to get up and walk towards the door, the only thing separating you from the potential intruder. You squint one eye, staring into the peep hole and out into the sun-drenched landscape before you. You notice there is not a single person in sight. Seemingly harmless, you decide to unlock the door. Just before you step outside, you are met by a sudden gust of wind, blowing through your hair, caressing your cheek, and easing past you, whistling a wild romantic ride of melodic variation and modal interchange.
No more than a moment later, a surge of joy rushes through your bloodstream and into your arteries, quickening your heartbeat as it starts to skip in half-second intervals. You begin to choke on laughter and your eyes fill with tears as you embrace this experience of elation. It tickles your soul and arouses your senses. You are now very aware of the world around you. You push past the entryway and embark on a voyage of discovery. Your sole quest is to absorb every minor detail. You notice now the rapid movement of the short-spanned wings of a hummingbird. You detect the shrill of chanting voices in the park across the street. "1, 2, 3" they shout over a game of hop-scotch. You taste the salty beads of sweat that fall from your hairline and trickle down your brow. You smell barbeque pits gorged with burnt charcoal, boasting of summer's arrival. You breathe in and then pause. You place your fingertips around the hot metal of your doorknob as two paths lay before you: walk back into the "wilderness" and forget today's excursion or continue on with your day, allowing joy to rest upon your shoulders as the mantle God has prepared for those who will share His word.
Joy awaits God's children. We just have to remember to leave the door open to let it in, allowing it to dwell amongst us, within us, and even on us. As we wear joy, we are being strong representatives of how good and faithful God is in our lives. Remember we are a walking testament of His unconditional love.
Let us also remember that each and every day is uniquely created for us. As we learn to experience joy in our lives, God will unravel His peculiar and awesome mysteries, wrapped up in tiny packages. Let us leave nothing unnoticed, even the minor details. For in what seems insignificant, God has something great and valuable to show us if we would open our hearts and allow joy to play its part.
Stay encouraged, readers! God bless you!
Imagine waking up to a knock on the door. You are at first a little leary about opening it. In the midst of your hesitation, your heart pounds inside your chest, almost drowning out the sound of bare knuckles rapping on wood. You finally decide to get up and walk towards the door, the only thing separating you from the potential intruder. You squint one eye, staring into the peep hole and out into the sun-drenched landscape before you. You notice there is not a single person in sight. Seemingly harmless, you decide to unlock the door. Just before you step outside, you are met by a sudden gust of wind, blowing through your hair, caressing your cheek, and easing past you, whistling a wild romantic ride of melodic variation and modal interchange.
No more than a moment later, a surge of joy rushes through your bloodstream and into your arteries, quickening your heartbeat as it starts to skip in half-second intervals. You begin to choke on laughter and your eyes fill with tears as you embrace this experience of elation. It tickles your soul and arouses your senses. You are now very aware of the world around you. You push past the entryway and embark on a voyage of discovery. Your sole quest is to absorb every minor detail. You notice now the rapid movement of the short-spanned wings of a hummingbird. You detect the shrill of chanting voices in the park across the street. "1, 2, 3" they shout over a game of hop-scotch. You taste the salty beads of sweat that fall from your hairline and trickle down your brow. You smell barbeque pits gorged with burnt charcoal, boasting of summer's arrival. You breathe in and then pause. You place your fingertips around the hot metal of your doorknob as two paths lay before you: walk back into the "wilderness" and forget today's excursion or continue on with your day, allowing joy to rest upon your shoulders as the mantle God has prepared for those who will share His word.
Joy awaits God's children. We just have to remember to leave the door open to let it in, allowing it to dwell amongst us, within us, and even on us. As we wear joy, we are being strong representatives of how good and faithful God is in our lives. Remember we are a walking testament of His unconditional love.
Let us also remember that each and every day is uniquely created for us. As we learn to experience joy in our lives, God will unravel His peculiar and awesome mysteries, wrapped up in tiny packages. Let us leave nothing unnoticed, even the minor details. For in what seems insignificant, God has something great and valuable to show us if we would open our hearts and allow joy to play its part.
Stay encouraged, readers! God bless you!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Living Out an Attitude of Prayer
This evening I took a vacuum to my shabby gray rug and decided to write about it. Let me describe to you in detail the order of events. First, I plugged it in. Then, I turned it on. Ok, I am only kidding. I will save you from boredom and fast forward to the part where I decided to clean it out! I noticed after shaking the filter a few times over the trash can, that it was not entirely clean. So, I removed the filter from the contraption holding it in place, peeled away left-overs we had the night before (Jaden is a messy eater), and then swiftly attempted to replace it back into its rightful compartment. After some tarrying, I realized it wouldn't budge. This filter had a mind of its own, I tell you, and at the present moment it decided to take the night off! As I tried one more time to snap it back into place, it flung from my fingertips and hit the pristine white floors I cleaned earlier today. Whatever I missed in that filter just laid there before me in what seemed to be a trash heap of decomposed cheerio particles and hair...long story. Anyway, I dropped down to my knees to clean it up, using a dust pan and a sheet of brawny paper towels. The eyes of that lumberjack with the flannel shirt and weird comb-over smiled at me almost mockingly as if to say, "You've got your work cut out for you, dont you? Good thing you've got Brawny paper towels!" Frustration swelled up within me, but as I settled into the moment, I glanced down and realized that the succession of events that just transpired was God's way of getting me right where He wanted me. I was on my knees and in an attitude of prayer. If I would have just accepted His invitation earlier today, I wouldn't have had to hit the floor before looking up.
This scenario reminds me that sometimes we go through life missing out on sweet invitations the Lord signs, seals, and delivers right to us, hoping we would accept. We may neglect Him, forget to R.S.V.P, or hit the snooze button until our fingers ache, but let me remind you, brothers and sisters, He is also a God that waits for no man. He may nudge us a few times as friendly reminders, but I implore you to be no farther than an ear's shot of His call. For when we become so consumed with our routine, pride steps in and will pull the rug right out from under us. A person who is proud believes that he or she has got it figured out. They don't need to be down on their knees because they've esteemed themselves much higher than that. But, there is something called gravity, that will bring us back down to reality. Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." God will let us hit rock bottom because it is there He has our full attention. We have nowhere else to look, but up! "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, who will bring me down to the ground? Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,' says the Lord." (Obadiah 1:3-4) This scripture reminds us that He can and will force us down to our knees if He has to! There is good news, however, if we choose to be receptive. We can make a choice today to live out a routine of prayer, making ourselves an altar before God, on our knees and on our face, offering up our praises, prayers, and petitions. This is how we commune with our Father.
As a dutiful daugher, I plan on accepting the invitation to spend quality time with my Papa every chance I get. He desires more from us than just being the Sunday morning church-goer. Let's be daring and live beyond the routine as the bold generation God has created us to be! Remember, we are prayer warriors for His kingdom. Now is the time to start acting like it! I know I need to! I pray you do the same.
God bless you, brothers and sisters....
This scenario reminds me that sometimes we go through life missing out on sweet invitations the Lord signs, seals, and delivers right to us, hoping we would accept. We may neglect Him, forget to R.S.V.P, or hit the snooze button until our fingers ache, but let me remind you, brothers and sisters, He is also a God that waits for no man. He may nudge us a few times as friendly reminders, but I implore you to be no farther than an ear's shot of His call. For when we become so consumed with our routine, pride steps in and will pull the rug right out from under us. A person who is proud believes that he or she has got it figured out. They don't need to be down on their knees because they've esteemed themselves much higher than that. But, there is something called gravity, that will bring us back down to reality. Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." God will let us hit rock bottom because it is there He has our full attention. We have nowhere else to look, but up! "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, who will bring me down to the ground? Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,' says the Lord." (Obadiah 1:3-4) This scripture reminds us that He can and will force us down to our knees if He has to! There is good news, however, if we choose to be receptive. We can make a choice today to live out a routine of prayer, making ourselves an altar before God, on our knees and on our face, offering up our praises, prayers, and petitions. This is how we commune with our Father.
As a dutiful daugher, I plan on accepting the invitation to spend quality time with my Papa every chance I get. He desires more from us than just being the Sunday morning church-goer. Let's be daring and live beyond the routine as the bold generation God has created us to be! Remember, we are prayer warriors for His kingdom. Now is the time to start acting like it! I know I need to! I pray you do the same.
God bless you, brothers and sisters....
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Matters of the Heart
Everything about God is beautiful, including His heart. I imagine the experience of retreating in His love much like walking into a room full of snow white and blood red roses. If we are made in the image and likeness of Him, then shouldn't our hearts be the same? Ephesians 5:2 states, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." So, what sacrifices could we make unto the Lord that would produce a sweet-smelling aroma? If you look at the commencement of this scripture, you will find that it calls us to "walk in love". As believers, we are called to be doers. When we walk in love, we are responding to the directions of the heart. God is the conductor. Walking in love means we are acting in love, we are serving, and we are extending a hand to one another. Then our walk becomes a light sprint, a jog, until soon we are willing and able to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1b). We will get our heart rate up to the point that it flutters at every opportunity to partake in a good work or good deed.
Referring back to Ephesians 5:2, Christ sacrificed Himself for us, and we are challenged to do the same. We can sacrifice our hearts unto the Lord by walking in love and into that room full of roses. Each good deed and every thoughtful word spoken is written on the vein of a rose petal. Now picture God as He plucks each petal off of the stem. He draws it to His nose, breathes in, and grins. I imagine these words like dew drops dripping from His lips, this is a "sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:22)
God finds something uniquely special in His children that is measured beyond our beauty, brilliance, or brawn. That uniquely special something is our hearts. I imagine Him like a seamstress, pulling out His measuring tape to measure the depth, width, and length of our inner-being as He prepares us to fulfill the next promise He has for our lives. If we size ourselves up with Him, we might find that our hearts may be a little bloated (for lack of a better term). What must we do? It is essential that we lose a few pounds! We need to let go of deep-rooted issues. We need to pray over and release those matters of the heart, such as pride or other strongholds that have latched on, prohibiting us to enter into the fullness of God's promise.
Sometimes it's imperative we go under the knife! This spiritual surgical procedure is known as circumcision. Scripture states, "...circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit..." (Hebrews 2:29b-c). We can ask God to circumcise our hearts, which involves a sanctification process that removes spots or blemishes and cuts back the dead and unfruitful areas that were once rooted deep within our hearts. In place of it a new root system will have room to grow, grounded in love. Its dimensions are equivalent to the measure of God's love for us. In Ephesians 3:17-19, Paul prays "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." If we are cognizant of how deep, how long, and how wide Christ's love is for us, it should be with ease that we project the same love unto Him, unto others, as well as unto ourselves. If we allow circumcision (or pruning) to take place within our hearts, we are sure to see results! Scripture states, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
The heart is the gatekeeper of our souls. That is why it is imperative that we examine and cross-examine it with a fine-tooth comb to see what resides within this vital component of our spiritual make-up. Think about it. Before we were born-again as new believers of Christ, we had to accept God into our hearts by confessing that Jesus is Lord. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). It is through our hearts that our souls are saved. In our infancy in Christ, God checked the preparedness of our hearts to receive the indwelling of His Spirit. Acts 15:8 states, "So God who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit". The heart is the catalyst in the biggest decision you can make in your life--whether or not to believe.
Once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, we are not automatically transformed, however. We are still a work-in-progress, God's labor of love. We are reminded through scripture that it is the awakening of the heart that propels us to progress in our walk with God. Ephesians 4:17-18 states, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart". Some key points I would like to address regarding this scripture are:
1)That we should "no longer walk in the futility of our minds". In doing so, we are met with the challenges of opposing beliefs and teachings. We become like "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4: 14a). If we become prideful and choose to rely on our own knowledge, we find ourselves "alienated from the life of God", "having our understanding darkened" by confusion.
2) The only way to true enlightenment (or awakening of the mind) is through our hearts, faith unseen. Scripture states that the Gentiles walked in the "blindess of their heart". In other words, they walked by sight and not by faith. If our heart is blind, we are not able to walk in God's love or take His directives. We will never know what true faith means.
As a work-in-progress, how can God use us? The answer to this is simple. God looks at the heart first and foremost. He can work out everything else. The Bible is rich with inspiring stories of how God used the lowliest servant in a mighty way. Esther was an orphaned Jew whom God enthroned, alongside of King Ahasuerus, as his queen, ruling over 177 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Her story is remarkable as it depicts the course of events that took place leading up to and after her strategic positioning in the kingdom. She found the king's favor because she found the favor of the Lord. He exalted her and knew that she would be worthy of the title. Her heart for the Lord is evident when she chose to use her strategic positioning to spare the lives of the Jews. God knew her heart and then placed the call on her life.
When we are first introduced to the virgin Mary, Luke exposes the condition of Mary's heart after being met by the angel Gabriel. Scripture states, "she was troubled at his saying" (Luke 1:29a). What did the angel Gabriel say that troubled Mary? "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28a). Wow! What an honor that must have been to hear those words! Why would Mary be "troubled" by this rather than flattered? I believe Mary was troubled because her heart was humbled. She states in Luke 1:48, "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed." God saw the humbleness of her heart and exalted her in such a way that generations upon generations later still identify her as the "blessed" virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
As we continue to read further in Luke 1, Mary states, "He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly." (Luke 1:52) Referring back to Ephesians 4, Paul reminds us that the Gentiles are removed from God because of the "blindness" of their hearts. In the same way, the proud are also removed from God by the "imagination" of their hearts. There is nothing that God can use in the heart of a person that believes he can do all things himself. God will put down the proud to make him (or her) see with his (or her) heart that he (or she) is nothing without Him. Adversely, He will exalt the lowly so that He can receive the glory!
If you ever begin to doubt that you are not smart enough, strong enough, or rich enough to work in God's kingdom, guess again! He is hiring and the interview process involves an examination of the heart. The Lord spoke to Samuel when it was time to anoint the new king of Israel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) In any other circumstance such as this, the young man the Lord was referring to, would have been overlooked. He was tending the sheep and was the youngest of his brothers. However, God knew that David was a man after His own heart. So, "the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13a). David would later be called the greatest king that ever ruled over Israel.
In conclusion, dear readers, let me remind you that our hearts are the gateways to our souls. Let us be mindful of what we allow to enter. Let us also open the eyes of our heart to walk in love and in an attitude of faith. Let us examine our hearts the way that God would, removing anything unfit or unclean in His sight. And as we are of humbled hearts, lowly in His presence, be prepared for exaltation! The Lord is going to use you in a might way! It is all for His glory!
Referring back to Ephesians 5:2, Christ sacrificed Himself for us, and we are challenged to do the same. We can sacrifice our hearts unto the Lord by walking in love and into that room full of roses. Each good deed and every thoughtful word spoken is written on the vein of a rose petal. Now picture God as He plucks each petal off of the stem. He draws it to His nose, breathes in, and grins. I imagine these words like dew drops dripping from His lips, this is a "sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:22)
God finds something uniquely special in His children that is measured beyond our beauty, brilliance, or brawn. That uniquely special something is our hearts. I imagine Him like a seamstress, pulling out His measuring tape to measure the depth, width, and length of our inner-being as He prepares us to fulfill the next promise He has for our lives. If we size ourselves up with Him, we might find that our hearts may be a little bloated (for lack of a better term). What must we do? It is essential that we lose a few pounds! We need to let go of deep-rooted issues. We need to pray over and release those matters of the heart, such as pride or other strongholds that have latched on, prohibiting us to enter into the fullness of God's promise.
Sometimes it's imperative we go under the knife! This spiritual surgical procedure is known as circumcision. Scripture states, "...circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit..." (Hebrews 2:29b-c). We can ask God to circumcise our hearts, which involves a sanctification process that removes spots or blemishes and cuts back the dead and unfruitful areas that were once rooted deep within our hearts. In place of it a new root system will have room to grow, grounded in love. Its dimensions are equivalent to the measure of God's love for us. In Ephesians 3:17-19, Paul prays "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." If we are cognizant of how deep, how long, and how wide Christ's love is for us, it should be with ease that we project the same love unto Him, unto others, as well as unto ourselves. If we allow circumcision (or pruning) to take place within our hearts, we are sure to see results! Scripture states, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
The heart is the gatekeeper of our souls. That is why it is imperative that we examine and cross-examine it with a fine-tooth comb to see what resides within this vital component of our spiritual make-up. Think about it. Before we were born-again as new believers of Christ, we had to accept God into our hearts by confessing that Jesus is Lord. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). It is through our hearts that our souls are saved. In our infancy in Christ, God checked the preparedness of our hearts to receive the indwelling of His Spirit. Acts 15:8 states, "So God who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit". The heart is the catalyst in the biggest decision you can make in your life--whether or not to believe.
Once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, we are not automatically transformed, however. We are still a work-in-progress, God's labor of love. We are reminded through scripture that it is the awakening of the heart that propels us to progress in our walk with God. Ephesians 4:17-18 states, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart". Some key points I would like to address regarding this scripture are:
1)That we should "no longer walk in the futility of our minds". In doing so, we are met with the challenges of opposing beliefs and teachings. We become like "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4: 14a). If we become prideful and choose to rely on our own knowledge, we find ourselves "alienated from the life of God", "having our understanding darkened" by confusion.
2) The only way to true enlightenment (or awakening of the mind) is through our hearts, faith unseen. Scripture states that the Gentiles walked in the "blindess of their heart". In other words, they walked by sight and not by faith. If our heart is blind, we are not able to walk in God's love or take His directives. We will never know what true faith means.
As a work-in-progress, how can God use us? The answer to this is simple. God looks at the heart first and foremost. He can work out everything else. The Bible is rich with inspiring stories of how God used the lowliest servant in a mighty way. Esther was an orphaned Jew whom God enthroned, alongside of King Ahasuerus, as his queen, ruling over 177 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Her story is remarkable as it depicts the course of events that took place leading up to and after her strategic positioning in the kingdom. She found the king's favor because she found the favor of the Lord. He exalted her and knew that she would be worthy of the title. Her heart for the Lord is evident when she chose to use her strategic positioning to spare the lives of the Jews. God knew her heart and then placed the call on her life.
When we are first introduced to the virgin Mary, Luke exposes the condition of Mary's heart after being met by the angel Gabriel. Scripture states, "she was troubled at his saying" (Luke 1:29a). What did the angel Gabriel say that troubled Mary? "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28a). Wow! What an honor that must have been to hear those words! Why would Mary be "troubled" by this rather than flattered? I believe Mary was troubled because her heart was humbled. She states in Luke 1:48, "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed." God saw the humbleness of her heart and exalted her in such a way that generations upon generations later still identify her as the "blessed" virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
As we continue to read further in Luke 1, Mary states, "He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly." (Luke 1:52) Referring back to Ephesians 4, Paul reminds us that the Gentiles are removed from God because of the "blindness" of their hearts. In the same way, the proud are also removed from God by the "imagination" of their hearts. There is nothing that God can use in the heart of a person that believes he can do all things himself. God will put down the proud to make him (or her) see with his (or her) heart that he (or she) is nothing without Him. Adversely, He will exalt the lowly so that He can receive the glory!
If you ever begin to doubt that you are not smart enough, strong enough, or rich enough to work in God's kingdom, guess again! He is hiring and the interview process involves an examination of the heart. The Lord spoke to Samuel when it was time to anoint the new king of Israel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) In any other circumstance such as this, the young man the Lord was referring to, would have been overlooked. He was tending the sheep and was the youngest of his brothers. However, God knew that David was a man after His own heart. So, "the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13a). David would later be called the greatest king that ever ruled over Israel.
In conclusion, dear readers, let me remind you that our hearts are the gateways to our souls. Let us be mindful of what we allow to enter. Let us also open the eyes of our heart to walk in love and in an attitude of faith. Let us examine our hearts the way that God would, removing anything unfit or unclean in His sight. And as we are of humbled hearts, lowly in His presence, be prepared for exaltation! The Lord is going to use you in a might way! It is all for His glory!
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