We not only have a heavenly father who sympathizes with our weaknesses but lived a life of obedience — no matter what it cost Him. In order to live a life of obedience, like Jesus, we must know God is love. We must truly know His character. But, we must also have an eternal view. We must understand that though the Spirit is willing, our flesh is weak. May we stay connected to His heart and be empowered by His Spirit through prayer each day. May we not forget or overlook the cost of truly following Jesus but the glory that will come later.
Lord, give us a willing Spirit. Not one that is hesitant or unsure, but strengthen our hearts to trust that what you ask of us has ultimate good in mind because you are good. Forgive us for the times we have chosen self because of fear, pride, or a misunderstanding of your heart. Reveal yourself to us in greater measure. We trust that what you’ve asked of us, no matter what that may look like, is eternally good and won’t fade away like the things here on earth. Thank you for being the perfect example but loving us enough to remind us of your compassionate heart. Let our heart posture be one of reverence for you above all else. In Jesus Name, Amen.
What a gift to have God’s Word within our grasp! The words that came from His mouth that spoke galaxies into existence is the same word that will soon bring us a new heaven and a new earth where only righteousness dwells. His Word that holds the stars in its place is the same word that knows the number of hairs on our head and sustains us through every season. Rejoice in the gift of His Word this morning. There is nothing more refreshing, faith building, and transformative then being in His Presence!
🌿The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. Psalms 33:6 CSB
🌿The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3 CSB
The other day I had a super long day. I went out in the woods to just be with the Lord. I pulled up to the place where I felt his leading to stop and got out of the car. I heard his gentle prompting to look up.
Before me stood this tree.
He spoke to me that this is us as believers as we try to live life without Him. It’s our life when we do what we think is best rather remaining in Him. This is the life of a believer who only hears the word and does not do the word. This tree is a representation when we choose self over choosing Him.
–Lifeless –Fruitless –Dead Men Walking –Only Taking The Appearance of What God Has Meant For Us To Be
I pray we as the Body of Christ become a people who follow Him, no matter the cost. I’m so thankful for mercy and grace for the times we miss it. But I’m so very thankful His love does not leave us in the same place.
🌿So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:21-25 NLT
🌿Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. John 15:4-8 CSB
🌿Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28 CSB
In my morning devotional I saw this quote and it reminded me of the sweet rest that Jesus died to give His children.
So often, especially now a days with social media, we can fall into the comparison trap. Whether we fall into comparing ourselves to others or maybe we feel that we haven’t yet reached that level of success we thought we should be at. We end up heavy burdened, overloaded, schedules busy with an empty heart, and void of what is truly important.
Jesus didn’t die so we could strive for greatness here on earth or be the best of the best. His plan wasn’t for us to have a full schedule of what seems to be godly activities but empty of His presence that comes from the mountain. Jesus died so we would no longer strive but simply abide. It was to have fellowship with us. It was and still is, relationship that He desires.
Let us not get so busy that it takes away what is most important. May we not miss the mark by viewing and chasing worldy success rather than reaping an eternal reward. Let our heart posture be understanding and living from the place of what is most important in the heart of the Father.
Being One With Him — Resting In His Presence By Knowing & Trusting His Character — Trusting That It Really Is Completely Dependent On Him — Surrendering It Isn’t Dependent On Us — Knowing He Will Finish What He Started —
Our king’s pace isn’t the world’s pace and hustle culture is not kingdom culture.
He gives His beloved rest.
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalms 127:1-2 NLT
I have never felt more home in Louisiana. I know many are not happy with the snow, but I can’t help but say thank you to Lord this morning. I have been asking him to bring me closer to Him and to have more of an awareness of his ‘loveprints’. Bringing a snow storm down to Louisiana is not only unexpected but revealed beauty in the midst of a storm. Holy Spirit has had me mediating on Isaiah 55 this week and I can see why very clearly today.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. ”This is the Lord’s declaration.“ For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” -Isaiah 55:8-11 CSB
Things don’t go always as we plan or expect and life can bring a storm we never expected. What we can trust is that He is good and that He cares for us. It may not feel like it as we go through the storm. He can feel coldhearted and it may feel like we will slip and fall. However, His heart has never been more turned towards us than this moment right now. He won’t allow us to slip. If we invite Him in, he may just show us beauty where we least expected it, right in the middle of the storm.
