I like Scriptures. They are positive. They bring JOY! If we practice them, we will walk in great health, peace, and prosperity in our souls.
Scripture is beautifully-written, indeed the most beautiful writing in existence. Some may argue with that, but that’s OK by me. I will always contend that God is the best Author of all. In fact, He created you and He created me.
He is so creative! God created us in His image, meaning we are creative too (wow, how humble of Him to allow us to share this remarkable trait!) Creativity is an amazing quality, a powerful force, yet our Father found delight in sharing it with us… I believe it’s an intrinsic quality in every human being. Just think of some of the most creative people you know: Didn’t their art inspire you? Draw you in? Touch some deep part of your heart and soul? That’s God shining through them!
God is also light. That means He does not — indeed, cannot – deceive. He is honest through and through. WOW! Can you imagine never having bad motives? Never pretending to be something/ someone you’re not OR misleading someone that you had pure intent when really you wanted glory, affirmation, money, status, power, or some other self-seeking desire? Not Him. He is pure of heart, pure of mind, pure of intention. I’m reminded of the Scripture describing a man named Nathanael as one “in whom there is no guile”. Jesus is described the same. That’s exciting to me that Jesus Himself qualified Nathanael’s character as a man without guile. Exciting because IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US! One of my deepest, most heart-felt goals is to be a person in whom there is no guile. That is my plea for my husband and my fellow church members. I know God can do this in us — He can make us people of pure intent, pure heart, pure motivations. But note the key word: pure. To be pure denotes a purifying experience that burns away impurities. I believe holiness is one of God’s chief goals and works in His people.
I wonder… do we tremble at the thought of Him?
Do we bow in humility when presenting our requests at His throne? Do we realize we’re bowing before the Maker of heaven and earth? Wow! I know I forget that more often than not, and that needs to change.
Repeatedly it’s been burning in my heart that my heart needs help. God, I often seek my own glory…. my own comfort…. friendship with man instead of friendship with the Man. I seek the wrong things. I stay busy instead of staying still. And I repent — but do I really? Because my history keeps repeating itself.
But then You intervene. And suddenly I’m doing things I never dreamt I’d be doing! Or old habits that clung to me for far too long begin fading away!!!!!!! SUDDENLY, as in the blink of an eye, I am FREE to be …. You? No no, You IN ME. YOU IN ME — the unique expression of You as only I, Your unique creation, can be. WOW!
How magnificent and wonderful and beautiful this creation is! I am at times in awe of who I am when You show up in me. But when You don’t, all I tend to see are vainglorious attempts at winning praise and affection. Half-hearted attempts at, well, anything. Emotion-led living. Judgmental thoughts, a sharp tongue, and that ugly demon pride.
But You in me — that is a sight to behold! That is where glory emits from my being….. because You peek Your head out and are free at last to use my feeble hands, my weak knees, my limited resources to do Your unlimited work! To achieve the impossible. To reach the ‘unreachable’. To push harder and longer and endure well past my breaking point. You, Sir, can do anything. Through me. Yes, even through me.
Most of us are well aware of our shortcomings. But I like what my pastor said recently — if we as the Body of Christ operate together (as one), we don’t have to experience the pain of our weaknesses. We don’t have to suffer on behalf of what each individual is limited to, not only because we all have CHRIST IN US (“the hope of glory”) but also because we can lean on Christ in each other to get us through. And Christ is a beautiful thing, indeed the beautiful One.
But we must let loose our dead nature for the alive Christ to burst forth! Our flesh only drags us down and keeps us — where else? — but on earth. Taking on Christ’s nature and removing our dead selves allows us to soar in the heavenlies with Him.
Christ, who is our peace….
He is our peace. He keeps us there, in peace, and at peace with one another. He is the Keeper of the Peace and the Bringer of the Peace! When we link arms and join hands, we are emulating Christ Jesus.
So what are we waiting for? Why don’t we dive into the Scriptures? Why don’t we — ahem, ME! — stop wasting time and FOCUS instead on Him, on His words to us, on what He may wanna teach us?
Why are we scared? He only wants to remove the dead, whittle away the impurities, bumps and lumps! He is making us beautiful, truly beautiful, what every woman longs to be (and every man longs to be near).
John 8:12: Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I Am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Don’t we want the LIGHT OF LIFE? Don’t we want Him to illuminate our soul, riddled with passionate lusts that the heathens are controlled by, and bring peace and healing there? Don’t we want Him to rise up in our spirits and spread love, glory, humility and wholeness wherever we go?
Do you want to touch the blind — and them see?
Do you want to comfort the brokenhearted — and bring healing to their loss?
Do you want to snatch the hell-bent from the flames?
Do you want to cooperate with our Father in the greatest Redemption story ever told?
Then what are you waiting for? Go. Do it :) Just don’t do it alone. Take Him with you — and invite other people to share the journey. For our spirits are willing but our flesh is weak. Let our kind Father’s Holy Spirit illuminate His word to you, one verse at a time, and see how your spirit comes alive. See how He bursts forth and overcomes even your fleshly temptations, your temperament’s failures, your habitual behavior. He can, has, and will continue to conquer all.
