Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)
This scripture is often preached, but how often do we really put it into practice? Do we really understand that all we literally need to do is ask our Heavenly Father and He will answer us?
Over the years I have seen women in (and outside of) the body of Christ go through the same situations over and over again. I can even remember walking around in my own cricle of dispair because I didn't fully grasp that all I had to do was ask God to bring clarity to me. Once I learned to ask for clarity, God began to quickly show me how to defeat the enemy when attacks came. In previous times I would cry, yell, lash out in frustration, etc... I did everything my flesh wanted and nothing that helped to solve the problems. When I did begin to slowly get the point, I would go to God and basically whine, as though if I whined long enough, He would feel sorry for me and deliver me. For a while, God allowed me to whine, but then He began to ask me to grow up. I could no longer behave as a child would, throwing a spiritual temper tantrum and calling it prayer. I had to get my emotions under control and go to God as the woman He was calling me to be. I had to go to Him, and ask Him to show me the root of the problem. I had to ask Him to show me how to receive a resolution to the problem. I had to learn the difference between crying out to God and simply crying. For those of you that don't know the difference.... just ask!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Oh How I Love Jesus
As a teenager, I often heard my pastor say she "loved God". I can remember thinking, "I know I believe in God, but I don't know if I can say I love Him". I remember wanting to be able to honestly say I love God. I wanted to know what it felt like to truly love God. After years of God pouring His undying, unyielding, unchanging love out on me, I know without a shadow of doubt that I not only love Him, but I am IN love with Him!
There are so many people young and old that are still unable to say they "love God". Sadly, many people do not know that there is a difference between believing in God and loving Him. Jesus said it best in John 14:23-24 (NIV) "Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
How do we know if we love Him? It's simple, do we do everything within our human ability to obey Him? The thought of disobeying God literally hurts those of us that love Him. The last thing we want to do is displease our Heavenly Father. Professing to love God and living a life that is contrary to His word do not coincide with each other. If we truly love God, we will live this life pleasing unto Him.
I can hear the doubters saying, "No one is perfect, we all make mistakes." This is correct, we do make mistakes, however, when you love God, you do not consciously continue to do the things that displease Him. You purpose in your heart that no matter come what may, you will serve Jesus. So many times we associate our works in the physical church with our love for Christ when nothing could be further from the truth. The legalistic and separatistic Pharisees were in attendance in the Synagogues, yet they remained unrepentant during Jesus' time here on Earth. Attending church services and even working/teaching in the physical church does not constitute a love for God. What matters is what you are doing in your "personal" church, your temple, your body.
Have you purposed in your heart and mind to follow Jesus? Are you striving to be the best woman you can be for Him? I believe there are people who never "do" anything in a church building that love God with all of their hearts! This is the love I was searching for. A love that is real, pure, and true. A love that I feel whenever I think on how much God loves me. To forgive me for all of my mistakes and short comings, to wash me of my sins, to bless me beyond my own imagination, to gently nudge me when I am not giving Him enough of my attention, to always encourage and nurture me, He must love me. And though I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with Him, I know that He still loves me more!!! I know there are people around me that love me as deeply as they possibly can, and yet none of them even come close to loving me as much as God does.... after all, He's the only one that died that I might live!!!
There are so many people young and old that are still unable to say they "love God". Sadly, many people do not know that there is a difference between believing in God and loving Him. Jesus said it best in John 14:23-24 (NIV) "Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
How do we know if we love Him? It's simple, do we do everything within our human ability to obey Him? The thought of disobeying God literally hurts those of us that love Him. The last thing we want to do is displease our Heavenly Father. Professing to love God and living a life that is contrary to His word do not coincide with each other. If we truly love God, we will live this life pleasing unto Him.
I can hear the doubters saying, "No one is perfect, we all make mistakes." This is correct, we do make mistakes, however, when you love God, you do not consciously continue to do the things that displease Him. You purpose in your heart that no matter come what may, you will serve Jesus. So many times we associate our works in the physical church with our love for Christ when nothing could be further from the truth. The legalistic and separatistic Pharisees were in attendance in the Synagogues, yet they remained unrepentant during Jesus' time here on Earth. Attending church services and even working/teaching in the physical church does not constitute a love for God. What matters is what you are doing in your "personal" church, your temple, your body.
Have you purposed in your heart and mind to follow Jesus? Are you striving to be the best woman you can be for Him? I believe there are people who never "do" anything in a church building that love God with all of their hearts! This is the love I was searching for. A love that is real, pure, and true. A love that I feel whenever I think on how much God loves me. To forgive me for all of my mistakes and short comings, to wash me of my sins, to bless me beyond my own imagination, to gently nudge me when I am not giving Him enough of my attention, to always encourage and nurture me, He must love me. And though I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with Him, I know that He still loves me more!!! I know there are people around me that love me as deeply as they possibly can, and yet none of them even come close to loving me as much as God does.... after all, He's the only one that died that I might live!!!
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