All in Prayer, Armor, and Wrestling
Is what God is doing , or not doing, in your life a frustrating mystery? Do you pray for a certain thing over and over again, but it doesn't seem to be heard? How about the troubles in your life; does God's plan for you regarding them stump you? Well don't feel alone, but let's explore this.
Is your relationship with God all you have of value in your life? Have you given up self to Him, or do you think you are a bargain for God at any price? The least thought that we might be of value, of service, to the Father removes us from His hand.
Has God called you to Himself, or is He calling you this morning? By virtue of the fact that you have chosen to read this devotional lesson I would say He has. Maybe you thought you were choosing Him, but in fact He has chosen you. Does this thought surprise you, or even frighten you?
Does Jesus preach in your city? God often tells us to do a certain thing; to reach out to someone, or to establish a church in some place, but once we experience the power of that happening, we are inclined to remain there in that moment or place. How often do we get in God's way once the job is done? How often does Jesus come to take the pulpit only to find us there?
Are you holding back from opening up to God until you have perfected yourself? Are you waiting for the time when you have become perfectly pure in thought before you seek to have a relationship with Jesus? If so you will never know them. They understand what and who you are, and yet they love you despite of it, let God begin the process of reshaping you.
Are there clouds in your life, and if so what do they look like? Are they the big billowy white ones of a bright summer day? How about the thin wispy ones that stretch out as if forever? Or, are they the dark churning clouds that tower into the sky filled with lightning and ominous rolls of thunder? God is in the clouds... how does He come to you today?
My goal is to live in my faith for this particular moment. Looking into the future distracts me from the here and now, and what God has for me to do right this minute. Do you have long term spiritual plans that take up most of your time and prayer? Well, drop your sail and look at what God has surrounded you with at this particular point in time!
There is a standing argument in the church regarding whether it is better to serve God intellectually or from the heart. We have heard the arguments from each side, but in truth it matters little... what matters most is that we hear God's Word and obey.
Are you a slave to instinctive reflexes... this is a recipe for instant sin, and an avenue for our inner person, the fallen man, to bypass our faith and intellect as it erupts from our mouths. Conquering this ancient creature within each of us requires chains that only the Holy Spirit can bind with.
Do we follow Jesus for the reward of eternal life? Do we serve Him for the blessings He bestows on us? Is our fear of God because we might be judged and thrown in a pit of fire? If our answer to any of these questions is yes, then our faith is an illusion, and His love for us far less than undeserved.
Where do we look for wisdom? How about righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? Do we find them in church or bible study? Do we seek them out while plodding along a pilgrimage path in some far off country? The answer is that we find them in one place only... Jesus Christ.
Am I prepared to walk in the desert? Can I tolerate the loneliness that will test me there? When there is nothing left but myself and God, will I find I am prepared for death and to join Him? Will I accept sanctification in Christ just as His apostles did? These are questions to consider regarding our being alone and the sanctity that results from it.
Are we seeking God? Do we search day and night for Him? Praying? Reading scripture? Well stop for a moment and be still. You don't need to search for Him... He is all around you! When we realize this truth, then all that is left is to get to know Him. To understand and establish a relationship with the almighty, and His Son Jesus.
The gift of salvation through God's grace is totally of God, and has nothing to do with our earning it... but does that relieve us of all responsibility?
When I came to Jesus it was in full submission to Him, but have I served Him over all else in my life? Have I been the servant He expected me to be, or has my commitment to Him become a convenience on my part? These are my thoughts this morning, and they convict me.