Honest living

It is always easy to say that we are following God's will. That we are living according to His will and commandment. I know for a fact that it is so easy to put up a front for people to see. When we're at church we act like we ought to act. When we are away from fellow believers we tend to let ourselves slide. Then when we are alone that is when the true character and nature of who we really are is revealed. We can't put on masks, hide behind any image we want but when it comes to alone time we are who we are and WE KNOW WHO WE ARE! In those moments is when our integrity is revealed, our walls are down, and we are just us. Unfortunately there are a lot of people that are different people in this time then with others. When certain people are watching we have to be a certain way for fear of what they might say. Sounds so childish but you know what we all have our insecurities that we face daily and try and hide.

I have constantly been challenged to live a life of worship before God. It isn't easy and at times I have been ashamed to be who I am in front of others for fear of being made fun of or what have you. Then hiding behind my Christ Following mask for others to see. Knowing that my life isn't following God as closely as all would think but I keep up the fake image. Not living honest to others and being a hypocrite. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6 This is an extreme verse because to me it speaks right to the depths of who I am. That if I truly love God like I continually profess I must obey Him to show that love. When I am living my life according to His will, and doing all I can to bring Him honor and praise then I am displaying my love. However when I am constantly searching out ways to sin, and doing things against God's commands I'm not truly loving Him. It isn't for anyone else to measure us by it is a way for us to measure ourselves. We must be the ones to determine whether we are displaying His love or not. It comes in the times when we're alone and no one is watching. How are we acting, what are we thinking, what are we doing. It all is a reflection on how much we love and seek God. I know for me when I begin to notice unhealthy patterns in my life. When I'm alone and I waste my time one meaningless stuff. When I begin to make an idol out of something. When my mind begins to do everything but glorify God that is when I have to sit back and reflect to see what is going on and what needs to be done. Our life of faith is something that should never be turned on or off. It should always be reflecting and shining bright for anyone to see at any moment!

Look at your life, are you living the life that Jesus demonstrated for us in the word? Are you constantly connected with His Spirit and searching to glorify Him at all times? Are you displaying your love for God in all you do whether christians are around or not? Are you living an honest life and not hiding behind masks or walls? Or are you a different person around certain people? Is God constantly your focus or are certain materialistic things brought before God? I just encourage you to check yourself and let God check you so you know where you are in your faith and if you're not in the right spot so you may get back to where He created you to be!!

Freedom in Christ

I'd be lying if I said this has been an easy week. Each day we are faced with so many different decisions and we are forced to choose which way to turn. Will it be glorifying to God or will it bring Him grief? Will we succeed or will we fail? Right or wrong? Stress is the enemy of so many people and I am proud to say it's not a common thing for me! However last week I have had a lot of physical stress placed upon me. Running 3 times a week, working out 4 days, and then doing my normal physical/office work. It has been an adjustment for sure! Last week in my bible study we started studying 1 Corinthians and this weeks Rumination will come from that. There we so many verses that stuck out to me in that first chapter. 1 Cor. 1:8 "He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns." This is a pretty jam packed verse in my opinion. Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church here telling them that God and Holy Spirit will keep them strong. All we must do is have our faith be solidified in who God is. It all depends upon where we are in our spirits. When we choose to be a Christ Follower we are declaring that we will leave our old ways behind us. We faithfully follow God and allow His strength to carry us each and everyday. Now that's not saying that we don't do anything but when we can no longer do anything in our power we must recognize that and be willing to admit it. So many people with stress problems in this world need to recognize that we aren't meant to live life alone. We were made for relationship. Relationship with God, with other people and we must be able to be humble enough to admit we can't do everything. We will never have complete control because that is God's position. We are able to partner with Him but we never have complete control. When we can come to a point and realize all we have is from Him and faithfully relying on Him to keep us strong we will discover true freedom. Freedom granted to us from God is complete, and everlasting! We are able to find peace, live a life full of joy apart from the stress, strain, and hardships of facing life alone. God sent Jesus so that we may live a life free in Him. All the blame, guilt, shame, anything that comes from sin, Jesus came to free us from that. To hold us close to His side, to guide us, to fill us with His joy. We must keep the faith in Him, continue to pursue Him and His righteousness. Live our lives as an offering of worship to Him. When we find ourselves faced with horrible situations we must remember we aren't alone, God is aware of where we are and He's waiting for us to run to Him.

This week look at the area's in your life that could be stronger, the area's that you need freedom in. Lay it out before God, and ask Him to bring freedom. Lay it down and walk away without picking it up again. He wants us to give Him complete control, when we ask Him to take something away we must willingly give it to Him for good. So Give Him your stress, or your daily worries, life's problems. Allow Him to speak into that and guide you on the path to freedom in Christ!!

Make Up Your Mind

Once again I am simply writing this as something the Lord has been speaking to me in my own personal quiet time. I just like everyone is a sinner undeserving of the love, grace, mercy, and life God offers me. However it is through Jesus that I am able to experience all these wonderful gifts. I am seen as righteous when I stand in the presence of God. HOW EXCITING!! One thing the Lord has been speaking to me is the fact that our life of faith is a choice. We can either choose to obey and serve Him or we can choose not to. It really is that simple. Consequences occur when we choose not to but God will respect our decision to not walk with Him. Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. We either choose to live according to our fleshly desires or in the Spirit. There is a quote I like that says: Change your thoughts and you change your world. - Norman Vincent Peale. That is so true and it speaks right into this verse perfectly also. All we do is determined to what we set our minds to. When we set our minds to do something we are able to do it. A determined mind is unstoppable. However we must be wise with what we set our minds to do. When we are only concerned with ourselves, consumed with pride and selfishness we are living in the flesh and that leads only to death. There are so many things in this world that can distract us, and keep our minds occupied on unhealthy things. We must set our minds upon the Spirit, allowing God to have access to all we do. We must submit ourselves to Him and His will, doing only what He desires. I have been in this place, it is not a constant thing with me because I am human and I am tempted to veer off the path of righteousness. However I have experienced the life and peace that the Spirit gives and it is indescribable. Living every moment in the perfect will of God is just amazing. Satisfaction is found, Joy, peace are all experienced. It is quite incredible!! Our hearts and minds control so much of what we do so when we submit these two to the authority of God we are openly saying to Him that He is welcome to do as he wishes. The only way to live is to set our minds upon the Spirit. We are slowly killing ourselves each time we decide to lose focus on God and turn from His ways. It isn't only us that are effected either, we are able to slowly draw others around us into our fleshly mind set. That is why it is so important to surround ourselves with people that will encourage us to grow closer to God.

This week just think what do you allow in your life that is a fleshly desire. What are you setting mind upon? Is it the flesh or is it the Spirit? What kind of fruit are you bearing for others to see. Are you encouraging others in their relationship with God or are you slipping away and taking others with you?? It is all about just refocusing your mind to the Spirit and the amazing life God has for those that choose to deny everything and live a life of faith in Him.

Follow the Leader

Something that the Lord has really been showing me lately is the importance of obedience. I am by far NOT the most obedient person you will ever meet. I have a sense of wanting to ignore rules or just not caring due to the fact it causes me to have to change my ways. I am stubborn, and selfish. I am only able to admit this because of the work God has done in my life. It is not something I am proud of to have to admit these things that I am, but the fact that I can admit them means I am aware of who I am and where God has taken me. Living a life of faith as a Christ-follower is not an easy thing to do. It is a constant battle day in and day out knowing I should live one way but wanting to enjoy the past sins that have been a part of me for so long. It says in Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. We must make a conscious decision each day whether or not we will allow Holy Spirit to guide us. When we are guided by Holy Spirit our lives reflect that guidance. Our nature is to fall into sin, if we were able to conquer sin ourselves Jesus wouldn't have died for us. It is in my human nature to desire to do evil, it sounds so bad to say that but when you reflect upon it your eyes will be opened to the truth. Sure I can do good things and many people would say I'm a good person. However below the surface there are always thoughts, qualities, and sin that if I didn't decide to suppress they would be shown. When Holy Spirit leads us we are able to honor God, live a life of praise to Him. Bring Him glory in our speech, actions, and thoughts. Our desires become those that are upon the heart of God. Although we have the natural desire to do what places a barrier between God and us we have a choice we must make. Build a wall of separation or follow the Spirit and allow God transform our lives. It is all about faith and the amount we apply in this area. When we set our hearts, minds, and spirits on the things of God and faithfully believe Him for all He says He is, we'll see great and awesome things. However when we believe with just a little bit, we'll only see a little bit of who God is. We must have ridiculous faith, not willing to allow anything to hinder it. Nothing to stop our belief in God and to press into Him for all He is. We have the ability to control how much God works in our lives. When we submit to Him, and faithfully trust our entire being to Him He is able to work without restrictions. He honors our decision whether we want Him in every area of our lives or out of it. He won't stop calling us to Him but He will not control anything in our lives when we don't surrender it to Him. I am as close to God as I can be at this moment............Think about it. Is that true for you? Are you as close as you can be to God right now? If you reply no I would love to know your thoughts why you would say that. However let me tell you how I know I am as close to God as I can be right now. I am only as close to God as I want to be. If I want to be closer than I pursue Him more, I spend more time getting to know Him. I only know Him as well as I want to. So when I have faith that cannot be quenched and I am eagerly pursuing God with all I am I am allowing myself to fall deeper into relationship with Him!! When I decide to allow my sinful nature to control my life instead of Holy Spirit I am still as close as I can be to Him because I am choosing to walk away from Him so I can experience what I want to experience apart from Him. It is a decision that I make each moment of everyday. Whether I will submit to Him or submit the the world and my human nature.

This week I again challenge you to look into the depths of who you are. Recognize your desires that are of God and what are not. Submit yourself to His Lordship and allow Holy Spirit to lead you on God's righteous path. He desires to bless us and to lead us into a beautiful life. We must submit and place all our faith in Him!

Jesus' Promise

Each day we are faced with a million decisions that we must make. Some seem harmless and others though they may not seem all that important can have an effect on the rest of our lives. We can choose to do something and in an instant it can change the whole course of our lives. Something God has really been laying on my heart is to truly live out my faith. To not be ashamed of who He is, what He's done in my life and to walk out what I profess. It is so important to live a life according to God's word and standard. In John 16:1 Jesus says: "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling." It is so encouraging to me that Jesus speaks these words. The fact that it is a promise to us that His words will keep us from stumbling in our faith. That is why I think it is so important to read the Bible. It is our guide to a life that is acceptable to God. He gives us direction for our everyday walk of faith. When we can study the word and apply it to our lives it causes so many positive things to happen. It puts us in a better place to hear from the Lord, causes us to have deeper relationship with Him, we begin to have His characteristics in our life. Such as seeing people with love and desiring to meet their needs out of service to God. We become stronger and not fall into temptation as easy because the word is embedded into our hearts. We walk in the freedom that is given to us from God. Our days are centered around Him and His will for our lives. Jesus came to give us freedom from our sin, however we must embrace that freedom. We have to take the steps to walk in the freedom. We must turn from our ways that lead us to sin. Set our minds on the things of God, surround ourselves with Godly people. Another important thing that I feel is imperative to every Christ-Follower is to be connected to a church. Fellowship among other believers is critical to growth. It is a great way to encourage one another and also to have accountability with one another. We are called to have fellowship and be accountable to one another. I have to say I absolutely love the church family God has placed around me. Always encouraging and eager to lift me up in prayer when I am struggling. Jesus lays out a path we are to follow and by submitting to Him daily and walking along side Him we are able to faithfully serve Him. He guides us by His words and by placing His angels and other servants around us.

I encourage you today and this week to just read the word. Pray and seek God's direction in your life. Take time to be silent before Him and listen to the words that He wants to speak to you. Cling to the promise that He has given us that is found in John 16:1. He is here so that we can walk, or even run this life of faith and not stumble!! Take time to get right with Him and to experience His power in your life!!