Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. I am reading about guarding our hearts against lust and the beauty of the grace and strength that is provided in Jesus alone and not in our efforts or methods. That being said we still have to work our faith practically. I was reminded it is the little daily compromises that lead to future bondage. I was challenged to remember my eyes and my mind are actively obeying my heart. They don't operate in an isolated vacuum. They obey me. So i must command them to obey God. I don't have to look at every guy who walks by with a nice body, or is attractive. Nor do I need to let sinful thoughts linger. "My mind and my eyes must obey Jesus. They belong to Him now" . They are no longer instruments in the service of sin, but they are in the Redeemer's Hands now. They can and they must obey God. Romans 6:11 "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.
Rom 6:13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."
#disciplined bygrace
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Be still
Today is supposed to be my day of rest. I said that for Tues, wed, and Yesterday; today I mean it. What is so hard about resting? Why do we feel the need to busy ourselves until our own body just says it is enough. I have not been sleeping well lately, so many cares, and yet this morn I felt the Lord was say "be still and know that I am God" (psalms 46:10). Not you but ME!Even though that should bring a whole lot of comfort and peace it did not. My anxieties just display yet again how much I do not trust God to be the "GREAT I AM". My foolish so called wisdom believes I could somehow do a better job of being God if I had more control. What vain thinking! The very fact that I am restless, and lack peace and feel frustrated is because I am trying to play God. CEASE STRIVING! I hear the Spirit say and be confident, rest assured, that God is everything he says he is...all knowing, all wise, all powerful, the essence of good, trustworthy, holy, perfect, in control, love, etc. So to my troubled heart: Peace, be still! From, God.
Fear Not!
I was just so excited this morning for many reasons. I have just been shocked by the love of God. He knows just what you need to hear. So today I heard a sermon on fear. My whole life fear has dictated my decisions and consumed my thinking. One thing that has been on my heart is when the Word says "fear not, for I am with you". The reason not to fear is wrapped in what we believe about God. What does it really mean that God is with us and that He is for us. Why should that bring us comfort? When I think of who God is in light of the anxieties I face, or even my personality I realize hoe self centered my fear is. It is just a vain attempt to disobey with an excuse. God tells us that fear is not from Him, but what he does give is power, love and a sound mind. All the earth is the Lord's in its fullness. He is controlling everything. This same God in his perfect love casts out all fear and doubt and we escape the wrath that is due to us. We are freed up to be bold and courageous and live...For His Glory! So who scared?! I choose not to be.
Issues of the Heart
God has been teaching me some sobering lessons about my deceitful, sinful heart, and how important it is to abide in him. He is also gracious and kind to lead us to repentance when we stray, and even intentionally try yo give our hearts away to lesser things. My life does not belong to me so that includes my heart (emotions, will, thoughts). So why am I so so quick to give it away? I like the song from mercy me " I'm covered by a love divine, child of the risen Lord. To hear you say this one's mine, my heart is spoken for." Man just to let these words soak in as the Lord constantly declares his love for us and it is sealed by his covenant promise to never leave or forsake us. God calls us to guard our hearts with all diligence, it is not ours to give away, we can't even understand our foolish hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). Oh the lies we believe that cause us so much grief and frustration, but truth is so bomb as it sets us free to live abundantly and obediently. #lovintheonewhopursuedmewithislovefirst
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