Days of prayer renew things that have gathered some cobwebs. In my heart a reminder: The bottom line, God knows it all and is still in control of it all. Liking it, or not liking it, must not determine the level of our commitment of obedience to Him. Our actions, our words as believers should demonstrate we are seeking to glorify Him, as we follow the examples of Jesus. The one sure place to know what those examples really are – The Holy Bible. Study it for the wealth of knowledge God has given us. How to survive, with love, in a world of chaos. If you’ve had the news on at all in the last year you know that is a major task we are faced with.
The world is full of professing Christians that seem to bear little of the fruit of the Spirit. Am I guilty of that? Sadly, I shouldn’t wonder about that, I should know, but here I am, asking. The reality is, when we don’t demonstrate the fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness) how is anyone to understand the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Understand the fullness of a relationship with Almighty Father God? Understand the depth of love that led Jesus to sacrifice himself for us, so we could be with him in eternity?
God is a loving God and a just God. Accountability is required. A judgement Day is coming. Personally, I want and I need to know that the one I’ve dedicated my life to is all powerful, all loving, and expecting me to follow, for my own well being, the directions found in the Bible.
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8 NKJV
We all have fallen short of the glory of God. Good news is, we don’t have to stay there. We may have the same challenges, the same heartaches, but in the midst of any or all of it we have a Friend that stands right there with us, through it all. He offers not only grace, but mercy. He will, if we ask, keep us on track, or get us back on track.
In today’s online devotion, one of our pastors talked about returning to our first love. I’d been thinking of that earlier in the week. Keeping close to the joy we once had in doing the Lord’s work. Trusting Him. Believing Him. Returning to what we had walked away from.
The world is not what it was yesterday. Last week. Last month. Last year. Change seems to be speeding up faster and faster. If my foundation is not solid in Christ, the speed of chaos could either blow me away, or crumble the weak foundation I might have made for myself.
I can’t do the things for the Lord that used to bring me such joy. It’s not physically possible. But I can be kind. I can smile. I can share what He has done in my life. I can love. I can forgive. It doesn’t seem a lot, but I feel his smile each time I step outside of myself and am obedient to doing what He has shown me to do.
Some days are very hard. He knows that. Didn’t he have a Gethsemane moment? But there is hope. This life, this world, is not home. Hanging on to that, knowing what lies ahead, is a game changer.
Sharing a few words to myself on this day of reflection reminding me whose I am, and whose I am not. Be blessed my friends. – Vicki