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!