1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."
How many times have each of us decided we know more than God, and better than God for our lives? Sadly, many of us will only do part of what God instructs us to do instead of what He has fully instructed us to do. Instructions can come from hearing and reading, but what about a lifestyle of obedience that happens when we strive to not only hear, and read, but also live obediently? It often proves challenging to follow each and every Word God instructs for our lives in this fast-paced, electronically driven, social network entrenched, human touch*less* society, but whom and what we follow determines our output and outcome.
A special person in my life, always says, "God does not yell!" In other words, God is not in competition with FB, Twitter, smart phones, life, work, and whatever else may occupy and command our undivided attention. God is not going to scream above the business of our life to get our attention when our focus should remain completely fixated on Him. The Hebrew word for hear is shama. The word translated also means to listen or to obey. When we take this simple word and internalize it, it is easy to see how hearing, listening, and obedience become a lifestyle of "doing".
Recently, I have been giving more attention to a certain areas of my life. *Disclaimer* The Spirit spoke to me CLEARLY about this same situation several months ago and laid it out bare saying , “THIS is why you are where you are!” Mind you, I kept saying to myself, I wonder why this situation is the way it is...Again, the Spirit, a little stronger said, “Again, Precious, THIS is why, you are in this place.” It was not until a person, a living breathing, full-blooded person TOLD me in a not so nice way that I became aware that I had been directly disobedient to God. That broke my heart!!! I do not desire to be the person James labels a "mere hearer" and deceive myself.
Disobedience BLOCKS God's best in our lives. Period! What if Abraham was disobedient at any point in what God told instructed him to do? What if Jesus failed to do what He KNEW was His primary assignment? Sacrifices lead to death, but obedience leads to life. Has God whispered something into your spirit that He has given you instructions on? I recommend you do it, and without further delay, because obedience always leads to God's best. If you are unsure of what the first instruction are, how appropriate the acronym for the Bible is "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."
Jeremiah 7:23
Matthew 7:24
James 4:4
James 1:22
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Never Give Up
Daniel 6:16 "Your God , whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."
Daniel had an easy decision to make. He could either obey the edict King Darius issued, or continue to obey God. The road less traveled, or in Daniel's case, the lions den less entered is always full of surprises and unexpected outcomes. Of course we know what happens in one of the most famous Bible stories, but if you were Daniel, what would you have done? For that matter, what would I have done?
Don't feel pressured to answer that question, but it should at least cause us to examine our lives and wonder..."What would I do?" Daniel was able to accept whatever his end could have been because of his unwavering, undeniable, unrelenting, unmoving faith in God! Daniel knew that if there was going to be any way of escaping the mouth of starving lions, it could only come from his God. Notice, even King Darius had faith in God (v.6)! Allow me to raise the argument of how Daniel could even face such a trial. "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, as he had done since the days of his youth."
As believers, it's not considered pious to desire a meaningful and strong prayer life, it should automatically be a part of our lifestyle. Prayer, and seeking God's face should not be burdensome or cumbersome; this is not something we only need to do, but what we desire to do. If prayer is the answer, then faith is the key that opens the door to having your prayers answered. Th old saints used to say, "There is trouble in the land." Consider the world your lions den, but before you enter unprepared and uncertain of what could happen, I urge you to follow the example of our brother from long ago and seek His face.
Daniel had an easy decision to make. He could either obey the edict King Darius issued, or continue to obey God. The road less traveled, or in Daniel's case, the lions den less entered is always full of surprises and unexpected outcomes. Of course we know what happens in one of the most famous Bible stories, but if you were Daniel, what would you have done? For that matter, what would I have done?
Don't feel pressured to answer that question, but it should at least cause us to examine our lives and wonder..."What would I do?" Daniel was able to accept whatever his end could have been because of his unwavering, undeniable, unrelenting, unmoving faith in God! Daniel knew that if there was going to be any way of escaping the mouth of starving lions, it could only come from his God. Notice, even King Darius had faith in God (v.6)! Allow me to raise the argument of how Daniel could even face such a trial. "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, as he had done since the days of his youth."
As believers, it's not considered pious to desire a meaningful and strong prayer life, it should automatically be a part of our lifestyle. Prayer, and seeking God's face should not be burdensome or cumbersome; this is not something we only need to do, but what we desire to do. If prayer is the answer, then faith is the key that opens the door to having your prayers answered. Th old saints used to say, "There is trouble in the land." Consider the world your lions den, but before you enter unprepared and uncertain of what could happen, I urge you to follow the example of our brother from long ago and seek His face.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Where It All Began
Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
It is a brand new year, and like most people, you've made your resolutions. But again, like most people much of last years list may still be unresolved. What exactly is the purpose in setting out a resolution or plan? I believe there is a significant purpose in planning or purposing to do something.I once heard someone say, "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." There has to be order in everything. Look at how God created the universe, then Adam; both out of nothing, but yet with a plan in mind (Genesis 1:26). Out of all God created,and gave His stamp of "it was good" approval to, I believe His greatest accomplishment was when He created human beings in His own image.
Fellowship with God is the highest relationship any of us can have. There is also the relationship we have with ourselves, as well as others. In order to fully know who we are, we must know who God is. Why would God have taken the time and intricate thought to create us in His image? Who else did He want us to be like? Once we know and experience His love, we are able to fully love ourselves which will transcend to how we love others.
It is not good for people to be alone, and I just happen to agree there is a significant difference between being "alone" and "lonely." What is the difference between lonely and loneliness, when people spend much of their time isolated, and alone year after year? The difference is to ALWAYS remember who you are, and WHOSE you are. Who is more suitable for you than the One who holds your past, present, and future in His hands? God has something so tailored to fit His design for your life, it is going to blow your mind!!! (Ephesians 3:20) Whether you are married, or single, spend time developing a deeper relationship with God, yourself, and others. God wants to meet all your needs, and make your dreams come true! After all, you, yes YOU are created in His image; and the world is your oyster. Start 2011 off standing on your tippy toes, extending your arms out high with arms wide open and receive all that life has to offer as a child of the living God who made you in His image.
It is a brand new year, and like most people, you've made your resolutions. But again, like most people much of last years list may still be unresolved. What exactly is the purpose in setting out a resolution or plan? I believe there is a significant purpose in planning or purposing to do something.I once heard someone say, "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." There has to be order in everything. Look at how God created the universe, then Adam; both out of nothing, but yet with a plan in mind (Genesis 1:26). Out of all God created,and gave His stamp of "it was good" approval to, I believe His greatest accomplishment was when He created human beings in His own image.
Fellowship with God is the highest relationship any of us can have. There is also the relationship we have with ourselves, as well as others. In order to fully know who we are, we must know who God is. Why would God have taken the time and intricate thought to create us in His image? Who else did He want us to be like? Once we know and experience His love, we are able to fully love ourselves which will transcend to how we love others.
It is not good for people to be alone, and I just happen to agree there is a significant difference between being "alone" and "lonely." What is the difference between lonely and loneliness, when people spend much of their time isolated, and alone year after year? The difference is to ALWAYS remember who you are, and WHOSE you are. Who is more suitable for you than the One who holds your past, present, and future in His hands? God has something so tailored to fit His design for your life, it is going to blow your mind!!! (Ephesians 3:20) Whether you are married, or single, spend time developing a deeper relationship with God, yourself, and others. God wants to meet all your needs, and make your dreams come true! After all, you, yes YOU are created in His image; and the world is your oyster. Start 2011 off standing on your tippy toes, extending your arms out high with arms wide open and receive all that life has to offer as a child of the living God who made you in His image.
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