My True Self

SCRIPTURE 2 Cor 3:16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. OBSERVATION There is an intimacy I can only find with Jesus. Things I used to rely on in the past is obsolete, God Himself is present. Present (def): being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current: the present ruler; at this time; at hand; immediate: articles for present use; mentally alert and calm, especially in emergencies; immediate or instant. APPLICATION I can rely on God always and in all things. When stuff occurs that normally would throw me off, stop and speak with God. PRAYER Thank You Lord for Your word today! Thank You that You care! Help me to let You in on everything in my life. I need You Lord. I pray You teach me to lean into You! In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Freedom From Lies

SCRIPTURE Gal 5:16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? OBSERVATION From the book "New Day New You": Our soul (mind, will, emotions) would love to run our lives, but the Bible says we are to be led by God's Spirit. We are never instructed to be willpower-led, we are told to be Spirit-led. Willpower and discipline are important and vitally necessary to a successful life, but willpower alone won't be enough. Determination gets you started and keeps you going for awhile, but it is never enough to bring you across the finish line. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." What happens if, instead of turning first to willpower in your time of need, you turn to God instead? God releases His power into your willpower and energizes it to bring you across the finish line. Willpower does not get the credit for our success, God does. Jesus said in John 15:5 (AMP), "Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." This is one of the most important and most difficult lessons we must learn if we want to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us. APPLICATION Jesus paid an incredible price for me and wants me to rely on the power that came from His death. When I run dry, run to God for power and strength! his power fuels me to do His will! PRAYER Lord thank You for Your Word today. Lord You know my fears and anxiety when it comes to letting go of my time. I know that it stems from my childhood. There is freedom and fun when releasing my time all to You, but in my mind that's not perceived. I know that my perceptions are not the truth, but my actions show that's not what I believe. I need Your help God to enjoy Your fulfilling life. I need You to change my warp thinking to see the truth! In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Rest and Change

SCRIPTURE 1 Kings 3:9 "Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?" OBSERVATION To me in at this time of my life, I see the peace that comes by leading people or even life in this manner. There is no striving, but rather a connection to and reliance on God. Whatever comes my way, God has foreseen and made a way. His wisdom is accessible. APPLICATION Stop being carried of by life's craziness! Take time to stop and evaluate. PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You today for Your Word! Thank You for always being so timely and encouraging! Thank You for direction Lord! I pray that today's Word would not only be timely but You would help me make this a part of my life. I need Your direction and I need to change in this area of my life! Thank You Lord that You care! Help gem to obey and give me the wisdom to do so! In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Let You In

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 32:1-6 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. Count yourself lucky — God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone — my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched.

OBSERVATION
A lot of times in life I carry things/pressures on my own shoulders - not on purpose, but without thinking about it. God wants me to let it go and give it over to Him. It's an everyday letting go - having God "involved" in all of it.

APPLICATION
Stop and make God God of all my daily doings. PRAYER Lord, thank You for Your Word. I ask You to help me in the times I get so focused to let You in. Forgive me of my failures. I need You to turn me around and face You in everything. Be glorified in my life and in my failures. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Obedience

SCRIPTURE Matthew 18:1-4 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.

OBSERVATION God desires for us to keep the "basics" that saved us from eternal death the foundation of my walk with God. In my day to day life, I never should stop from reading my Bible and prayer - the foundation from which I stand firm and honor God. This is the start of my obedience!

APPLICATION Walk in obedience!

PRAYER Lord thank You for You Word! Thank You for Your faithfulness and goodness to me. Forgive me for saying things that are not honoring when I'm tired. Lord, thank You for Your love and patience. I pray You lead me and that I will follow. Help me to follow in obedience. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Running Hard

SCRIPTURE
2 Cor 13:5-7 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

OBSERVATION
Life gets very busy and that leads to distractions. I have to monitor myself on a regular basis to see how I am doing. This is so very important. A lot of times getting so busy leaves me empty on the other side - then wondering how did I get here and even worse hating life and being frustrated. This can all be "monitored". As a mature Christian I should see the signs and know that God wants me to be careful and step away from the edge. He desires for me to put Him first and seek to "run" my life evident of showing that.

APPLICATION
Be more careful of running too hard and not putting a monitor to my heart. If I do find myself running on empty, stop and seek God.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your Word today. God I need wisdom for my life when I'm surrounded by a culture running on empty. I want to be a team player God, even set the bar, but I need to place You first. I need to walk in obedience. God I ask You to help me monitor myself - give myself regular check ups. I ask for Your wisdom and direction in this. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Pure In Heart

SCRIPTURE
2 Cor 7:11-13 And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you — that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That's what happened—and we felt just great.

OBSERVATION
Purity in heart! It's always important that I keep God's "ground rules"/commandments. When His Holy Spirit calls in my heart be diligent in honoring them and fast to obedience. Follow through no matter how it feels. It's honoring God in everything and keeping Him the center. I love what it says in this scripture that it's not about who did wrong to me or what went on, but in all of that, the importance is my walk with God and keeping my heart close to Him.

APPLICATION
Keeping my heart pure in everything.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your word today. Thank You for lifting me up when I'm down and out. Forgive me Lord for my sins. I pray that You will always keep me pure in heart! Lead me Lord and help me to follow! In the Name of Jesus, Amen!