Convo with God Part 2

Another moment conversing with God.

This morning, I was in the shower and was constantly thinking about the laptop that was recently purchased and was on its way to me. My thoughts were so consumed by the idea of having something new and tangible and also at the same time bringing limitless opportunities. All of a sudden, my thoughts were interrupted.

God asked me, "Why are you eagerly waiting and counting down the days to get your laptop but you dont do that for me?"

It struck me hard that I immediately dropped my thoughts and admitted. It's true. Why would I let something that is going to waste away in this life be what my life is revolving around? I saw God's desire for me to want him more than the temporary things. So I told Him, " God, sorry. You're right. I have to make my heart right before you and not idolize stupid things like that. HAHA. Plus, You are the one that provided it anyways. I cannot cherish the gift more than the Giver."

After getting ready, I got into the car and started to listen to the radio.
After listening to Charles Stanley on 107.9 I turned it off for a second and as I left my thoughts to wander and question, I grabbed my pen, knowing how easily I forget.. and started to jot down my conversation with God.

(I advise you not to do this while driving.)

Since our natural tendency is to want control .. and how we get mad because it usually doesn't go the way we planned it.. we blame God when He's simply showing us in his mercy the truth about us... and that is we are not in control. We are not god.

Then I started to think about the iphone and how lots of people are dying to see it and have it but the more imprisoned it can make man. The more caged, imprisoned man becomes as he selectively chooses what he wants... the level of gratification.. becomes no longer gratifying cuz it all levels out to become the same... The more greener it is on the other side becomes a lifestyle that many choose when it's actually an illusion.

I realized the shorter our attention span becomes, the more picky, dependent, particular, self centered, and ultimately egotistical man becomes. The more we choose to indulge in the right now... but the less we understand that it'll lead us to self destruction.

How we refuse to confront and how we actually willingly choose to believe that avoidance is the way out when it actually leaves a more shallow, regretful life.

Risks aren't wanted because pride cannot stand failures or pain.
The value of waiting and being patient can no longer be found... which is sad because moving in the direction we are going, we will no longer understand and experience what it means to have depth in relationships and experiences. Man refuses wisdom because that means man has to be in a place of uncomfortableness where he is not in control...
And in order for us to find freedom, we must submit to truth.. BUT because man refuses to receive the truth.. he will forever be bound.

For those of you who are truly desperate for the freedom and truth, it begins with admittance. Christ then brings you to a place of no longer living for the world but leaves you in a state of rebelling against it. We begin to rebel against ourselves and our flesh.. determined to have victory in the hope of knowing that it was already overcome through Jesus Christ on the cross. Realizing this truth, sets you free. True freedom where no matter where you are.. no matter who you meet.. no matter what circumstance... you are able to walk in peace and freedom.

I desire for Christ to be the center of my life. I desire to take the reigns of my thoughts and submit before Christ so that I may walk in the freedom and peace and love that Christ has purchased on the cross for me.

John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Amen.

Fight Your Battles on Your Knees

KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 26:36-40


SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 103:19
Isaiah 40:31
Philippians 4:6-7
Romans 8:28
Acts 1:8
1 Timothy 1:18

SUMMARY:

What are you battling?
Some struggles are external—such as your finances, job, or health. Others take place within you. Internal enemies of anger, unforgiveness, or inadequacy can hinder your walk with God. How can you find victory?
Jesus set the example for us the night before His crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord prayed, “If it is possible, let this cup
pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). After seeking the Father, Jesus was willing to face the cross—even though it meant their perfect fellowship would be severed for a time. Whether you realize it or not, you are in a spiritual war. You must stand firm for your
convictions, renew your mind, and resist the Devil. How is this possible? Fight your battles on your knees and you will win every time.

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES:

A Definition
What does it mean to fight our battles on our knees? Simply this—that you and I approach our holy God and lay our petitions before Him. Rather
than saying a quick prayer before we run out the door in the morning or fall asleep at night, we must invest time in seeking the Lord’s face and
listening for His answer. I first learned this lesson as an associate pastor at First Baptist Atlanta. The church was considering
me for the position of senior pastor, but many people were opposed to the idea. They expressed their animosity in hurtful ways and sought to
manipulate the situation to assure I would be rejected. God revealed to me that in order to win this battle, I couldn’t argue with them or defend
myself. Only by giving the problem to the Lord in prayer was I able to experience victory in that very difficult situation.

The Reasons
Why should we fight our battles on our knees? First, it is the biblical pattern. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s servants falling on their
faces before the Lord. For instance, Hezekiah prayed before leading his army to war, and Daniel knelt in prayer even though it meant being thrown into the lion’s den. Second, when we turn to the Lord, we are no longer battling on our own.We’ve engaged the help of the Sovereign of the universe (Ps. 103:19). He is omnipotent—all powerful; omniscient—all
knowing; and omnipresent—present everywhere. No one else on earth can help you more than He can. God acts on behalf of those who wait on Him—spend time in prayer to Him and trust in Him (Isaiah 40:31).
Third, prayer connects us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost, the disciples weren’t ready to preach the gospel to the world—
even though they had walked with Jesus for three years (Acts 1:8). If you have trusted Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. We cannot accomplish anything for God apart from the power of the Spirit.

The Results
What can you expect if you fight your battles on your knees? You will have comfort, confidence, and assurance. There is nothing more powerful than having the Creator of the universe on your side. The Father encourages us. When we spend time one on one with Him, His Word and His Spirit lift us up. Prayer gives believers insight we can get no other way. On our faces before Him, we have the clearest view of the challenge ahead of us. Talking with the Lord changes our focus. The enemy wants us to dwell on our problem— how we can defend ourselves or get revenge.
Victory, however, is found in turning our eyes to God, the One who controls all things. He blesses those who are willing to trust and obey
Him (Isa. 40:31). You will have serenity. Believers who turn their burdens over to the Lord have supernatural peace even when situations and circumstancesdon’t change (Phil. 4:6-7).

The Process
How can you fight your battles on your knees? Set aside time to be alone with God. Find a quiet place and devote yourself to the One who has the greatest ability to help you. Listen quietly. The Lord desires to have
an intimate relationship with each one of His children. But you will never know Him better unless you are willing to take the time to listen
for His voice. Expect God to bring up other issues in your life. Before He responds to your cry for help, He may want you to deal with rebellion,
unforgiveness, or bitterness in your life. Until you repent and surrender to the Lord, sin will keep you from experiencing God’s best and stop you
from enjoying a close relationship with Him. Remember that in a battle, there can be only one general. Freely express your desires, but don’t expect God to take orders from you. As you surrender to His guidance, He will engage His supernatural power on your behalf. Know that battles are God’s tools. One of the most important lessons the Father has taught me is to see all adversity as coming from Him. This truth will protect you from bitterness, resentment, and hostility towards those who wrong you. Let me explain. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (emphasis added). In a battle, you and I may lose money, pride, or control over a situation. But if the struggle brings us to the point of total surrender to the Lord, we will always win— spiritually speaking.

CONCLUSION:
What are you battling today? Does it seem as if God doesn’t see your pain or understand your heartache? Let me assure you that He knows exactly what you are going through. Go before the Father today and pray, “Lord, I don’t want anything in my life that displeases you. Take my bitterness, resentment, and anger. I give You this battle, and trust that You will turn it for my good in Your way and in Your timing.” My friend, you cannot lose fighting on your knees. Once a day, fall on your face before God and worship Him for who He is. Release your problems to almighty God, and you will findvictory every time.

Charles Stanley
intouch.org

Look again and think

January 27, 2010
Look Again and Think
Do not worry about your life . . . —Matthew 6:25
A warning which needs to be repeated is that "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

"I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . ." Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, "What are your plans for next month— or next summer?" Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

-Oswald chambers

Sanctification

January 15, 2010
Do You Walk In White?
We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life —Romans 6:4
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a "white funeral"-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a "white funeral," a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him.

Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being "baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3 ).

Have you had your "white funeral," or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, "Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God."

"This is the will of God, your sanctification . . ." (1 Thessalonians 4:3 ). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that "white funeral" now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.

-Oswald chambers

Does my Sacrifice live?

DOES MY SACRIFICE LIVE?
"And Abraham built an altar . . and bound Isaac his son." Genesis 22:9 This incident is a picture of the blunder we make in thinking that the final thing God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, viz., sacrifice our lives. Not - I am willing to go to death with Thee, but - I am willing to be identified with Thy death so that I may sacrifice my life to God. We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this blunder, and the same discipline goes on in our lives. God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having - viz., life with Himself. It is a question of loosening the bands that hinder the life, and immediately those bands are loosened by identification with the death of Jesus, we enter into a relationship with God whereby we can sacrifice our lives to Him. It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a "living sacrifice,"  to let Him have all your powers that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus. This is the thing that is acceptable to God. -Oswald Chambers

Unconditionally Forgiving Others

by Nancy Missler

King's High Way

There's a huge difference between simply knowing that we possess God's Life in our hearts and actually experiencing it in our lives. The key to being able to do this, moment by moment, is understanding how to surrender ourselves to the Lord. This process is what we have been exploring over these last several months in Personal UPDATE. The steps we are learning are not ones that I have made up or that I saw in some "self-help" psychology book. These are the actual steps that the priests took in Solomon's Temple in order to deal with their sin and be reconciled to God. And, they are the same steps we must take each time we quench God's Spirit. The essential steps are:

1) Recognizing, acknowledging and experiencing our ungodly thoughts and emotions as they come in.

2) Confessing our sin and self, choosing to "turn around" from following them and unconditionally forgiving anyone who has wronged us.

3) Giving over to God all that He has shown us that is not of faith, and...

4) Reading God's Word and replacing the lies with the truth.

Isaiah 24:15 reminds us that we are to "glorify [or reflect] the Lord in the fire..." And going through these steps, moment by moment, is the only way we can do this. Thus far in Personal UPDATE, we have studied the first step and part of the second. This month, let's continue exploring how we unconditionally forgive those who have hurt, betrayed or wronged us.

Unconditional Forgiveness

There are really two parts to forgiveness: first, our relationship to God; and second, our relationship to the other person. The primary reason we must forgive is because God commands it in Scripture. Mark 11:25-26 tells us, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any: that your Father also, Who is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father, Who is in heaven, forgive your trespasses."

The next reason we are to forgive is to be able to reconcile with the other person. When we choose to unconditionally forgive them, we will be clean before the Lord, and we can know He will then give us the Love we need for that other person. The only way we can genuinely love those that have wronged us is by unconditionally forgiving them (or releasing them to God) and then, becoming an open vessel for God's Love to flow. If we don't do this, Scripture tells us what will happen - the enemy will get an advantage in us (2 Corinthians 2:11).

So, there are at least four good reasons why we must forgive others: 1) God says so in His Word. 2) Our relationship with Him will be quenched if we don't. 3) We won't have His Love flowing through us if we choose not to. And, 4) The enemy will get an advantage in us if we won't obey.

Now, if that other person comes to us and asks forgiveness, then our relationship with him has a wonderful chance of being healed and we can end up even closer than we were before. If, however, that other person never repents and never comes to ask our forgiveness, then there will be a breach in our relationship and only God's wise Love can operate. The Bible exhorts us, however, that we are still to love them wisely. In other words, we are still to be an open vessel for God's Love to flow through us to them.

An Example: "Only When They Come to Me First"

I once knew a young Christian woman who was completely unwilling to forgive her friends for the unkind things they had done to her. The girl used to say to me, "Only when they come to me first and ask my forgiveness, will I ever forgive them. Never, until then." She was angry, not only at her friends, but also at God for allowing these things to have happened. Now, what these young people had done to this young woman was wrong and she was justified by worldly standards to be hurt and angry. But, God's Word tells us that we must be willing to unconditionally forgive whatever that other party has done to us, regardless of whether they ever ask our forgiveness or not.

In other words, our choice to unconditionally forgive releases God to work, not only in us, but also in them. When we don't forgive, we not only are being disobedient to God's Word, but we are also opening ourselves up for the enemy's arrows. As far as I know, this young woman is still waiting for her friends to come to her and still unwilling to forgive them until they do. The last time I saw her, she physically had turned into a bitter "old" woman. The sad part is, she is only 30 years old! It's interesting because we reflect on the outside the baggage that we carry around with us on the inside. And how the enemy has reveled in this young woman's bondage of unforgiveness. Her friends were not his prisoners, she was! And all because she refused to do what God's Word says, unconditionally forgive those who have wronged us and love them wisely with God's Love.

Now, I agree that sometimes it seems almost impossible to forgive what another person has done to us. But this is just another place where we can choose to trust God for His supernatural wisdom and Love. Remember, we don't need to feel our choices, we must simply be willing to make them. They're called "faith choices" or "non-feeling choices." God then, in His timing and in His way, will align our feelings with what we have chosen and perform His Word through us. In other words, if we totally give ourselves over to Jesus and love Him, He will enable us to genuinely forgive and love others. II Corinthians 2:10 tells us, "to whom ye forgive any thing, I [Paul] forgive also; for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ." In other words, because of what Jesus has done for us, we can extend that same unconditional forgiveness to others.

Again, Picture a Triangle

Picture the process of forgiveness like the triangle: We are on the bottom left-hand side of the triangle; God is at the top; and that other person we are trying to forgive is on the bottom right-hand side of the triangle. We choose to unconditionally forgive that other person, which then releases him to God and cleanses us; God then gives us His Love and His forgiveness for that other person; and prayerfully he will eventually be convicted, come and ask our forgiveness. In the meantime, however, we are free to go on with our lives, and continue to love as God would have us. Always remember that our hurt feelings will only heal after we have made the appropriate faith choices to forgive and release that other person. Not before (Matthew 18:28-35)!

An Example: Wounds from Our "Friends"

As Christian brothers and sisters, Scripture tells us that we are "to love at all times (Proverbs 17:17)." Now, this doesn't mean sticking our heads in the sand and never taking a stand if someone we know is doing something out of line. It does mean, however, and Scripture confirms, that if we hear something bad about someone or we see them doing something ungodly, we are to go to them and ask them about it, "speaking the truth in love," (Ephesians 4:15).

Not too long ago, someone I love very much heard an evil report about me, but rather than come to me and ask if it was true, she believed the gossip and angrily told many others. When I found out what she had done, I was crushed. This friend not only did not come to me when she first heard the rumor, she never repented of her own error when she found out the truth.

Therefore, I was left with a choice. I could choose by faith (because I certainly didn't feel like it) to unconditionally forgive her, thereby reconciling myself to God and opening a way for Him to work in her; or I could hold on to my "justified" unforgiveness (because what she did was wrong), create a breach between God and me and end up giving the enemy another handle, or hideout, in me.

The Lord showed me that one of the reasons this recent incident was so very painful, was that I still had some buried debris (unforgiveness) over our bankruptcy experience many years ago, where other Christians had maliciously gossiped and slandered us. This latest incident was just the catalyst that triggered much deeper, hidden roots of bitterness in me. Now, I thought I had dealt with all these things years ago, but the Lord showed me that deep wounds like this often take longer periods of time to heal - i.e., for our feelings to align with our choices. God also showed me that if there is more debris in the hidden chambers of our soul over a certain situation, He will allow our emotions to again be stirred up, so that these hidden things can be exposed and we can take the proper steps to deal with them.

This was exactly what He was doing in me through this incident. Deuteronomy 7:20 affirms this, "The Lord thy God will send the hornet among them, until they who are left and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed." I suppose if God brought up all our deep-seated hurts at once, we probably would not be able to handle it. But, our God is gentle and kind and His timing is always perfect.

Our Lord's Example

The Lord tells us over and over again in Scripture that unconditional forgiveness is a vital part of all our relationships. A true loving relationship is one that doesn't require any explanations and where we always have the assurance of receiving the benefit of the doubt (1 Corinthians 13). A true Christian friend is one who forgives (7 x 70) and shuns any form of betrayal. Oh, how the Christian body needs more of these genuine love relationships.

Now, if we are at fault in a situation and we seek God's face, often He will have us go back to the person we offended and ask his or her forgiveness. Remember, however, that each situation is different. Sometimes seeking and receiving God's forgiveness in our own hearts and minds will be enough. At other times, God will have us physically go and ask for the other person's forgive�ness. In each instance, we must always pray and seek God's will. The Lord not only promises to tell us what to do, but He also promises to give us the Love and strength we need to be able to do what He requires.

It goes without saying, however, that we must continue to be wise and always seek God's will. One woman I know went to a friend who had hurt her and told her that she forgave her for what she had done. Well, the accused lady was horrified because she was not even aware that there was a problem. Thus, the woman's verbal forgiveness did more harm than good and drove a wedge even deeper into their relationship. The general rule is: If you are at fault in a situation, always seek God's will as to whether or not He wants you to go and ask forgiveness of the other person. If the other person is at fault, unconditionally forgive them and lay it down at the cross. Don't go and tell them that you forgive them. It only makes matters worse, especially if the person involved wasn't even aware there was a problem to begin with (as in the above incident). Just take care of the matter between you and the Lord and then, go on and love them wisely with God's Love.

Receive God's Forgiveness

Along with understanding how God wants us to forgive others, it's also imperative that we receive by faith God's forgiveness for whatever sins we may have committed. Again, 1 John 1:9 confirms that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [all] our sins..."

If you have trouble believing and receiving God's forgiveness, I would suggest making a list of all the Scriptures you can find on forgiveness, putting them on 3 x 5 cards and reading them over and over again. By faith, choose to believe what those Scriptures say. Remember, we walk by faith, not by feelings. God, in His perfect timing, will align our feelings to match what we have chosen to believe and we will begin to experience His forgiveness in our life: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13)."

Many women have written me about the horrible sexual abuse they received as children. One dear woman named Jan not only wrote me her own story, but confirmed, over and over again, that the steps we are now learning really work. Another woman wrote, "How awesome it has been since I have begun to do this. Making the choice to do what God wants even when I don't feel like it, has helped me tremendously. I didn't know you don't have to feel willing, but just be willing!"

These women, and many others who have written, have been set free to a degree that most of us will never comprehend. And, if it works for them, how much more will this process of cleansing and unconditional forgiving work in our everyday lives. The story in Matthew 18:23 - 35 is a very appropriate place to end.

Keep on loving

Keep on Loving

The Weekly Walk

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." - 1 John 4:7

If obeying God's command to love one another depended on me, I'd be in a bad way. You would be too. But happily, we're not the ones who are doing the loving. First John 4:7 gives me hope: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God."

"Beloved, let us love one another." Literally the verb tense in the original language means, Let’s keep on loving one another. Let's don't do it for an hour or for a day. Let's don’t do it for a week or for a month. Let's do it until the day we die. God's kind of love goes on and on. We're not perfect, but God is changing and growing all of us. God's kind of love builds history together. Let's love . . . wait, let’s keep on loving one another.

"Beloved, let us love one another." What a great exhortation. What strife cannot be stalked by love? What pride cannot be pummeled by love? What conflict cannot be crushed by a supernatural, sent-from-heaven love? That’s why the verse says, "For love is from God." Chemistry is good, but that's not what God’s love is about. We all need true friends, but God's love goes farther than that. His love is a supernatural love, a love that you and I are not capable of doing ourselves. Love does not come naturally to us. What's natural is to hate when you're hated, to attack when you're attacked, to hurt others when you yourself have been hurt. But to love is to give back something different than what you receive in these situations.

Have you observed how often God puts opportunities right in front of us that call us to do what's not natural? I've got the natural thing down, but loving deeply requires God. A genuine conversion experience always precedes a supernatural love. We just don’t have that kind of love ourselves. How great that we are God's.

James MacDonald

Do I wear the marks of a Christian?

Do I Wear the Marks?

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." - 1 John 5:13-15

Are you a Christian? How do you know?

You're not a Christian because you say you are anymore than you're in Cincinnati because you know how to get there. Being a Christian is not about knowing how to become a Christian; it's about knowing you are one.

If you don't have a mane; if you don't have sharp teeth; if you don't have a long tail - you're not a lion no matter what you say.

If you don't have tires; if you don't have a motor; and if you don't have a steering wheel - you're not a car no matter you say.

If you can't carry a tune; and if you can't hit a note; and if your singing doesn't bless people - stick to the shower, because you're not a soloist no matter what you say.

In the same sense, Christians have fruit; they have characteristics; they have evidence; they have identifying marks.

John said in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." You can have the assurance that you're saved. You don't have to wonder - just ask yourself, "Do I have the identifying marks?"

The book of 1 John repeatedly explains the distinguishing characteristics of followers of Christ. No one has them perfectly, but look at your life and ask yourself if you're increasing in these marks:

Am I loving more deeply? Not perfectly, but increasingly...

Am I obeying more faithfully? Not perfectly, but increasingly...

Am I living authentically? The Christian life is not a charade. I'm not wearing a mask. I'm not acting like I'm something I'm not. My heart is very tender to the Lord and He's growing me. That's part of being a real Christian.

When you see these marks in your life, and you know that you long to know Him more and be passionate about doing what pleases Him increasingly more in your life, then your heart swells with assurance. You belong to Him.