My lazy self
Sunday’s Monday
This has been an astounding week for me, in as much as I was able to have lunch with a new acquaintance and soon to be friend. I witnessed God answering prayer this week in one of my sibling’s health and realized in the scheme of things just how good God has been to our little dysfunctional family. Pat and I were able to attend the visitation of a man of God and speak with the wonderful family he left behind. God is good!
I have been drawn to the subject of confusion and faith this week. I found myself in a couple situations and conversations involving different people and honestly, I don’t think they have a clue of what this life is meant to be. Jesus tells me in John 10:10 (NIV), The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. The thief has convinced some (who have been saved) that once saved always saved will get them into heaven and how they live is of no consequence. I am not seeking a debate on this statement today however, I am asking people in the faith to open their minds to the confusion that Satan has used to steal their joy and kill their hope. They choose to live by the falsehood that today is as good as it gets, and it is no better than yesterday or the day before that. Jesus said in John 14 (ESV), “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. I believe this to be a full life for me! I live in joy when my heart is not troubled and I’m at peace which is a great thing for me. One of the things which God gave me in all of this is, Ephesians 2:10 (ESV), For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. I am created to do God’s Good Work!!! I have faith (believe) in this to be truth and through Jesus Christ align my life to example His goodness. Satan has sold multitudes fire insurance (get saved, live like hell and go to heaven), seducing them by appealing to their lazy side all the while stealing one’s joy in living on planet earth. He removes any hope of tomorrow being so much more than today and the peace of placing one’s head on a pillow at night, without worry and dread of tomorrow. My pastor asked me a question a long time ago and it went something like this; why would you wait till death to experience heaven, when you can enjoy heaven on earth today? I am told in 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. I discovered many years ago, I’m not the sorry mess which Satan paints in my mind, the world is not out to get me, and these ugly habits can be overcome. All these insinuations are WMD’s (weapons of my destruction) used by Satan to conflict what God says about me, they’re to confuse what I believe, and secure my soul for hell. However, in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV), 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. God has made provision to feed my (our) mind, fill my (our) spirit and boost my (our) where-withal with divine power to defend my (our) knowledge of God. God gifted me early on with the common sense to recognize, I can’t actively participate in that which I do not know. Ergo, He introduced me to Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV), 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. For me this scripture is self-exclamatory, cut and dried if you will for those who are truly seeking God and not simply seeking fire insurance. A great measuring device here is my attitude! Do I have the type attitude that I look forward to packing when on vacation or going to bed at night and looking forward to waking with my attitude? Am I thankful and grateful more than sad, sorry and mad? I often find my lazy self-falling prey to Satan’s devices but thank God, the Holy Spirit has always come to my rescue. Lord I am grateful to you!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
COMMENTS WELCOME…pal249@hotmail.com…10/07/2018