As these 21 days come to a close the Holy Spirit is really showing me the importance of love.
Love is the most powerful force on this earth. God is love and therefore when we love we are moving fully in the power of the Lord. This is why forgiveness is so important.
Unforgiveness is like having a clogged artery. The more unforgiveness we have in our heart, the harder it is for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. This is what it means to have a hardened heart. A hardened heart cannot support the spiritual lives that we are destined to have.
But when those clogs are removed through forgiveness, we are once again filled with the Spirit. We are filled with God’s love and our heart becomes soft and pliable to His will. We are able to move in power and authority not because we are powerful, but because we have submitted to HIS authority.
But it all starts with love, and love often starts with forgiveness.
During these 21 days I have experienced some challenges, but they have all been dwarfed by the triumphs. And all of these triumphs started with love.
We quiet the mind by knowing that God first loved us so we can love Him. We can give Him our cares and worries and focus on what is happening today.
We can discern what we hear in our quiet time with one simple tool: Love. If what we hear is coming from a loving place then we know it is of God. After all, Jesus did say that loving God and our neighbors as ourselves sums up all of the law. Love is of God, everything else is not.
Once we hear from God and know for certain that it is Him who is talking we can take action. This is what allowed me to reconcile things with my mother and my friend. I know that confessing my unforgiveness and repenting to my mother is something that is in line with God’s love. I also know that repenting to my friend for how I approached him and asking his forgiveness while sharing the Gospel is from God as well.
It was all rooted in love.
Sometimes things aren’t so easy in the moment. Our minds like to make things complicated with worry and fear. As you go beyond these 21 days and continue to practice silently listening to the Lord it will become much easier.
With God, things are very simple. We are the ones that make them complicated.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 20: Forgiveness and Friendship
During these past 21 days of listening one of my longtime friends has been on my spirit. For years we have talked and debated about everything.
Oh how I love to debate!
Recently we have been having conversations about the Bible. He has gotten back into the Word and is super excited about what he has read so far. It is amazing to see how God is working in his life.
Unfortunately some folks we recently met shared some ideas that weren’t exactly in line with the scripture. These ideas made him question whether or not he should still be obeying the laws of Moses. When he brought up one of the issues while hanging out with our friends I responded to him by asking some tough questions. I asked him why he felt he should obey them. Why did it matter? The conversation didn’t go bad per se, but it definitely didn’t go as well as it could have.
The next day he sent me a text and asked if we could talk about the Word because he wanted to get some things straight about Jesus. Excited, I replied “sure!”
Then the Holy Spirit showed up again. He allowed me to feel the grief that He was feeling. When I searched for understanding as to why I was feeling this way the Holy Spirit replayed the conversation from the day before and showed me my error.
I had not responded with the love of Jesus.
Fortunately, I’d have another chance to make it right.
We talked after work and I apologized to him. I said that I should have been much more loving and not so confrontational about what he was trying to share. He forgave me! And then he also apologized for the years where I gently suggested that he read the scripture for himself or shared something I had learned but he was resistant to hearing it.
It was a wonderful call full of healing, ministry, and growth. I’m looking forward to sharing more with him in the future.
Today was a great day.
Oh how I love to debate!
Recently we have been having conversations about the Bible. He has gotten back into the Word and is super excited about what he has read so far. It is amazing to see how God is working in his life.
Unfortunately some folks we recently met shared some ideas that weren’t exactly in line with the scripture. These ideas made him question whether or not he should still be obeying the laws of Moses. When he brought up one of the issues while hanging out with our friends I responded to him by asking some tough questions. I asked him why he felt he should obey them. Why did it matter? The conversation didn’t go bad per se, but it definitely didn’t go as well as it could have.
The next day he sent me a text and asked if we could talk about the Word because he wanted to get some things straight about Jesus. Excited, I replied “sure!”
Then the Holy Spirit showed up again. He allowed me to feel the grief that He was feeling. When I searched for understanding as to why I was feeling this way the Holy Spirit replayed the conversation from the day before and showed me my error.
I had not responded with the love of Jesus.
Fortunately, I’d have another chance to make it right.
We talked after work and I apologized to him. I said that I should have been much more loving and not so confrontational about what he was trying to share. He forgave me! And then he also apologized for the years where I gently suggested that he read the scripture for himself or shared something I had learned but he was resistant to hearing it.
It was a wonderful call full of healing, ministry, and growth. I’m looking forward to sharing more with him in the future.
Today was a great day.
Monday, February 13, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 19: A Testimony of Forgiveness
For the past almost three weeks I've been talking about how to listen to God, how to know it is God, and how to act on what we have heard.
Here is an example of how it has worked for me.
I grew up as a child of divorced parents. As is the case with such situations at times my parents did not get along. Over the years both parents have had some not so nice things to say about each other but it wasn't until several years ago that God really made it clear to me how much those words hurt me.
It is hard to hear bad things about a parent that you love, especially if it is coming from the other parent.
Several years ago I addressed this and other issues with my dad. We experienced so much healing from those conversations! But, until recently I hadn't addressed them with my mom.
During the past couple of weeks the Holy Spirit put on my heart that I needed to address it and that it was long overdue.
Here's how he did it.
During my prayer time he brought my mom into the forefront of my mind and highlighted to me how I had been treating her. I was not mean or rude but I had grown distant and cold, especially after those conversations about her and my dad. The more that the Holy Spirit showed me this, the clearer I saw that part of me internalized what she was saying.
After all, I not only love my dad but we also share the same name.
The Holy Spirit also showed me how the devil used this situation to drive a wedge between me and my mom. The longer I stayed silent the more resentful I became. Then I also started to think that since he is a part of me then maybe she feels this way about me too...
Of course the Holy Spirit showed me that none of these feelings were from God. It was my reluctance to address the issue that opened the door to these feelings. It was time to take action.
Over the weekend we hung out all Saturday. While we were at dinner the Holy Spirit tricked me into bringing it up!
We were talking about the things of God and I said something about how I have had to forgive a lot of people to grow in my relationship with the Lord.
So naturally she said "like who?"
"What are you going to do" the Holy Spirit said.
The Holy Spirit got me!
So I brought up the issue. I first apologized for not bringing it up sooner and for the times where I closed up or was cold and calloused to her. Then I told her that I didn't want to hear anymore about their relationship. It was the past and I'm happy to move on.
She was so receptive! She forgave me for holding onto these feelings and how it made me react to her and she was sorry for how I felt.
I felt a burden lift off of my shoulders. It was a huge blessing.
Not every situation goes this smooth. There are bound to be people that you repent to who refuse to receive your gesture of love.
That's on them. You can only control yourself.
But at the very least we can take action, take that first step of love and give the people in our lives an opportunity to love us.
Often times the people that have hurt us don't really see that they have hurt us.
By taking the first step we open ourselves up to vulnerability. This can be scary but that's OK. Do it for God. He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Even if they don't love us back we will be blessed for our obedience.
Give it a shot. It has changed my life and I'm sure it will change yours.
Here is an example of how it has worked for me.
I grew up as a child of divorced parents. As is the case with such situations at times my parents did not get along. Over the years both parents have had some not so nice things to say about each other but it wasn't until several years ago that God really made it clear to me how much those words hurt me.
It is hard to hear bad things about a parent that you love, especially if it is coming from the other parent.
Several years ago I addressed this and other issues with my dad. We experienced so much healing from those conversations! But, until recently I hadn't addressed them with my mom.
During the past couple of weeks the Holy Spirit put on my heart that I needed to address it and that it was long overdue.
Here's how he did it.
During my prayer time he brought my mom into the forefront of my mind and highlighted to me how I had been treating her. I was not mean or rude but I had grown distant and cold, especially after those conversations about her and my dad. The more that the Holy Spirit showed me this, the clearer I saw that part of me internalized what she was saying.
After all, I not only love my dad but we also share the same name.
The Holy Spirit also showed me how the devil used this situation to drive a wedge between me and my mom. The longer I stayed silent the more resentful I became. Then I also started to think that since he is a part of me then maybe she feels this way about me too...
Of course the Holy Spirit showed me that none of these feelings were from God. It was my reluctance to address the issue that opened the door to these feelings. It was time to take action.
Over the weekend we hung out all Saturday. While we were at dinner the Holy Spirit tricked me into bringing it up!
We were talking about the things of God and I said something about how I have had to forgive a lot of people to grow in my relationship with the Lord.
So naturally she said "like who?"
"What are you going to do" the Holy Spirit said.
The Holy Spirit got me!
So I brought up the issue. I first apologized for not bringing it up sooner and for the times where I closed up or was cold and calloused to her. Then I told her that I didn't want to hear anymore about their relationship. It was the past and I'm happy to move on.
She was so receptive! She forgave me for holding onto these feelings and how it made me react to her and she was sorry for how I felt.
I felt a burden lift off of my shoulders. It was a huge blessing.
Not every situation goes this smooth. There are bound to be people that you repent to who refuse to receive your gesture of love.
That's on them. You can only control yourself.
But at the very least we can take action, take that first step of love and give the people in our lives an opportunity to love us.
Often times the people that have hurt us don't really see that they have hurt us.
By taking the first step we open ourselves up to vulnerability. This can be scary but that's OK. Do it for God. He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Even if they don't love us back we will be blessed for our obedience.
Give it a shot. It has changed my life and I'm sure it will change yours.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 18: Acting on Your Dreams part 2
Now that we have a list of things that we can do about the things that God has shown us how do we know what to do first?
We ask the Holy Spirit to show us.
Here is a prayer that you can say that may be helpful in guiding you in the right direction.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you and praise you for being the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the author of all creation. We know that just as you knew Jeremiah before you formed him in the womb, you knew us and had a purpose for us as well. Please reveal to us the next steps we should take in obedience to your will. We want to follow you as our shepherd and we trust that you will safely lead us to the promised land you have specifically designed for our lives.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
After you pray this prayer go into quiet time in the same way we have practiced for the past 18 days. Listen and allow God to lead your prayer.
Just let go and give God the control.
Remember the lessons of discernment. Anything that you see that is rooted in love is of God. Whatever you see that is not rooted in love is not of God.
This is exciting! We are well on our way toward supernatural transformation!
We ask the Holy Spirit to show us.
Here is a prayer that you can say that may be helpful in guiding you in the right direction.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you and praise you for being the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the author of all creation. We know that just as you knew Jeremiah before you formed him in the womb, you knew us and had a purpose for us as well. Please reveal to us the next steps we should take in obedience to your will. We want to follow you as our shepherd and we trust that you will safely lead us to the promised land you have specifically designed for our lives.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
After you pray this prayer go into quiet time in the same way we have practiced for the past 18 days. Listen and allow God to lead your prayer.
Just let go and give God the control.
Remember the lessons of discernment. Anything that you see that is rooted in love is of God. Whatever you see that is not rooted in love is not of God.
This is exciting! We are well on our way toward supernatural transformation!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 17: Act on Your Dreams
During the last couple weeks of prayer and silent time God has reminded you of times past when you used to dream of doing the desires of your heart.
What were those dreams? What are the dreams that you have for your life right now? It is important that we hold onto these God given dreams and work them out faithfully in out lives.
God wouldn't show us the dreams if He didn't want us to live them out.
So today write down all of these dreams. During your quiet time ask the Holy Spirit to bring these desires of your heart to your memory.
After you have written them out order them from most to least important to you. Then with the top three write down three things you can do right now to pursue each of those dreams.
In the end you should have nine courses of action that you can take toward fulfilling the dreams that God has put on your heart.
Tomorrow we will ask the Holy Spirit which steps we should take next...
Friday, February 10, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 16: I Love You
Do you have a hard time giving voice to your emotions?
This is the next challenge for this week of action.
Reflect back on the people that popped in your head during your quiet time. Is there anyone that you love that you haven't seen in a while? Maybe there is someone in your life daily who you haven't said "I love you" too in quite sometime.
Here is my challenge to you. Pray again and ask God about these people and Choose at least one of them to express your love to. You can express your love through physical touch like a hug or nice words, an act of service, a gift or quality time.
The key is to show them love how you think they want to receive it, not just how you are comfortable giving it.
Don't delay! Try to do it today if possible. It doesn't have to me a masterful grand gesture. It is the thought that counts.
Do not expect anything in return! Just do it because you love them. That is all the reason you need.
Thank you God for showing us through loving others what it is like to be loved by you.
This is the next challenge for this week of action.
Reflect back on the people that popped in your head during your quiet time. Is there anyone that you love that you haven't seen in a while? Maybe there is someone in your life daily who you haven't said "I love you" too in quite sometime.
Here is my challenge to you. Pray again and ask God about these people and Choose at least one of them to express your love to. You can express your love through physical touch like a hug or nice words, an act of service, a gift or quality time.
The key is to show them love how you think they want to receive it, not just how you are comfortable giving it.
Don't delay! Try to do it today if possible. It doesn't have to me a masterful grand gesture. It is the thought that counts.
Do not expect anything in return! Just do it because you love them. That is all the reason you need.
Thank you God for showing us through loving others what it is like to be loved by you.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
21 Days of Listening Week 3 Time to Act - Day 15 - Forgive
James 2:26 NKJV
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Hey folks!
I hope that you are now getting better at quieting the mind and knowing if what you are hearing is from God.
Now it is time to put God's words into action.
Over the past two weeks has God told you to do some things? Maybe there has been a person ringing in your mind that you need to forgive. Maybe there was a long lost dream of your childhood long forgotten that the Holy Spirit brought back to your memory. Whether it was a dream or forgiveness or something that didn't make sense, God definitely put some actions on your heart.
These actions are what will help us move in the direction that God wants us to go.
Take some time to look at your notes for the last two weeks or write down all that you can remember God telling you to do.
This is your plan of action.
Put them in order from easiest to hardest and get started! Over the course of this week I'll give you some examples of people who did what God told them to do and the amazing things that happened as a result of daring to obey.
Acting in agreement with God will change your life.
Forgive
I don't have to be an Old Testament prophet to know that over the past two weeks of quiet time and listening you thought of at least one person that you need to forgive.
Yes THAT person.
So let's pray together for a breakthrough here.
I pray that we have the courage to forgive that person or those people who have hurt me. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives me the strength and courage that I need to face my feelings truthfully. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I know that You have commanded me to not only love my neighbors but also my enemies; but I also know that I cannot love my enemies with my own power so ask you, God, to help me. I want to be free to hear You more clearly and live life more abundantly.
I thank you God in advance for healing my heart through forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
This prayer will be the first step in our action plan. By praying in response to what God has shown us we are actively engaging in a true relationship with Him.
After you pray, listen to what God says and shows you. This will guide your next step.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Hey folks!
I hope that you are now getting better at quieting the mind and knowing if what you are hearing is from God.
Now it is time to put God's words into action.
Over the past two weeks has God told you to do some things? Maybe there has been a person ringing in your mind that you need to forgive. Maybe there was a long lost dream of your childhood long forgotten that the Holy Spirit brought back to your memory. Whether it was a dream or forgiveness or something that didn't make sense, God definitely put some actions on your heart.
These actions are what will help us move in the direction that God wants us to go.
Take some time to look at your notes for the last two weeks or write down all that you can remember God telling you to do.
This is your plan of action.
Put them in order from easiest to hardest and get started! Over the course of this week I'll give you some examples of people who did what God told them to do and the amazing things that happened as a result of daring to obey.
Acting in agreement with God will change your life.
Forgive
I don't have to be an Old Testament prophet to know that over the past two weeks of quiet time and listening you thought of at least one person that you need to forgive.
Yes THAT person.
So let's pray together for a breakthrough here.
I pray that we have the courage to forgive that person or those people who have hurt me. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives me the strength and courage that I need to face my feelings truthfully. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I know that You have commanded me to not only love my neighbors but also my enemies; but I also know that I cannot love my enemies with my own power so ask you, God, to help me. I want to be free to hear You more clearly and live life more abundantly.
I thank you God in advance for healing my heart through forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
This prayer will be the first step in our action plan. By praying in response to what God has shown us we are actively engaging in a true relationship with Him.
After you pray, listen to what God says and shows you. This will guide your next step.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
21 Days of Listening Week 3: Time to Act
James 2:26 NKJV
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Hey folks!
I hope that you are now getting better at quieting the mind and knowing if what you are hearing is from God.
Now it is time to put God's words into action.
Over the past two weeks has God told you to do some things? Maybe there has been a person ringing in your mind that you need to forgive. Maybe there was a long lost dream of your childhood long forgotten that the Holy Spirit brought back to your memory. Whether it was a dream or forgiveness or something that didn't make sense, God definitely put some actions on your heart.
These actions are what will help us move in the direction that God wants us to go.
Take some time to look at your notes for the last two weeks or write down all that you can remember God telling you to do.
This is your plan of action.
Put them in order from easiest to hardest and get started! Over the course of this week I'll give you some examples of people who did what God told them to do and the amazing things that happened as a result of daring to obey.
Acting in agreement with God will change your life.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 14: Reconciliation
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24
Yesterday I talked about forgiveness. This is the other side of that tough coin of love: Reconciliation.
Another thing that has plagued my quiet time in the past is knowing that someone has an issue with me. This is the kind of thing that can tear you up inside, especially if it is someone that you really care a lot about.
If you are stubborn like me, then I'm sure you have experienced this.
Have you ever had a falling out with someone, but for whatever reason you didn't want to resolve the issue? Usually both people are somewhat to blame. After all it does take two to tango. But when I was in those situation where I felt that the blame was less than 50% mine I would hold my ground and wait for the other person to apologize before I would even consider trying to reconcile.
This ended up being another form of bondage.
Instead of hearing from the Holy Spirit about the things I was praying on (my life's purpose, open doors for new opportunities and the like) the Holy Spirit constantly put these people on my mind. It wasn't until I rediscovered the verse above while I was stubbornly planted in unforgiveness that I finally understood it.
Some relationships cannot be reconciled. It takes two to faithfully do that. But what we can do is apologize for our part of the fault between us. This way we have done our part to make the relationship whole. If the person doesn't respond in kind that is ok. That's between them and God. Either way it is worth it. At the very least you will do good by extending them an olive branch of love. At most you will regain a friend or loved one.
So while we cannot fix every broken relationship on our own, we can say "I'm sorry".
Those two words go a long way.
Food for Thought: Is there anyone that you need to apologize to? Why haven't you done it already? Does it make sense to initiate an apology with this person?
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24
Yesterday I talked about forgiveness. This is the other side of that tough coin of love: Reconciliation.
Another thing that has plagued my quiet time in the past is knowing that someone has an issue with me. This is the kind of thing that can tear you up inside, especially if it is someone that you really care a lot about.
If you are stubborn like me, then I'm sure you have experienced this.
Have you ever had a falling out with someone, but for whatever reason you didn't want to resolve the issue? Usually both people are somewhat to blame. After all it does take two to tango. But when I was in those situation where I felt that the blame was less than 50% mine I would hold my ground and wait for the other person to apologize before I would even consider trying to reconcile.
This ended up being another form of bondage.
Instead of hearing from the Holy Spirit about the things I was praying on (my life's purpose, open doors for new opportunities and the like) the Holy Spirit constantly put these people on my mind. It wasn't until I rediscovered the verse above while I was stubbornly planted in unforgiveness that I finally understood it.
Some relationships cannot be reconciled. It takes two to faithfully do that. But what we can do is apologize for our part of the fault between us. This way we have done our part to make the relationship whole. If the person doesn't respond in kind that is ok. That's between them and God. Either way it is worth it. At the very least you will do good by extending them an olive branch of love. At most you will regain a friend or loved one.
So while we cannot fix every broken relationship on our own, we can say "I'm sorry".
Those two words go a long way.
Food for Thought: Is there anyone that you need to apologize to? Why haven't you done it already? Does it make sense to initiate an apology with this person?
Monday, February 6, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 13: Forgiveness
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
Matthew 5:43-44 NKJV
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
One of the things that used to plague my quiet time was anger.
Sometimes I didn't even know what I was mad about. I would just have these flashes of negative emotions that would send my mind on tangents that distracted my quiet time.
When I tried to push it away or ignore it, it just got louder. I had to figure out some kind of solution.
What I did was I asked God to reveal the source of these feelings and instead of trying to repress them I actually listened to them.
Facing my feelings changed my life.
If your quiet time is filled with anger then this time of our journey with silence can really help you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the truth of how you feel.
When that truth is revealed ask Him to help you forgive. There is no wrong that is beyond forgiveness no matter how bad it was. We just have to remember that this is true only with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Question to ponder: Are you constantly in a state of anger? Who are you refusing to forgive?
Matthew 5:43-44 NKJV
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
One of the things that used to plague my quiet time was anger.
Sometimes I didn't even know what I was mad about. I would just have these flashes of negative emotions that would send my mind on tangents that distracted my quiet time.
When I tried to push it away or ignore it, it just got louder. I had to figure out some kind of solution.
What I did was I asked God to reveal the source of these feelings and instead of trying to repress them I actually listened to them.
Facing my feelings changed my life.
If your quiet time is filled with anger then this time of our journey with silence can really help you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the truth of how you feel.
When that truth is revealed ask Him to help you forgive. There is no wrong that is beyond forgiveness no matter how bad it was. We just have to remember that this is true only with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Question to ponder: Are you constantly in a state of anger? Who are you refusing to forgive?
Sunday, February 5, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 12: The Blessing of Conviction
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
Matthew 5:29 NKJV
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
One thing that the Holy Spirit will do in your quiet time as well as any time during the day is convict you.
I'm not talking about guilt. There is a difference.
Guilt keeps us in bondage. It implies judgment for not living up to a standard. Conviction on the other hand liberates us by merely point out our wrong doing to encourage us to be more Christlike.
The difference between guilt and conviction is grace.
Grace means that we can be forgiven. After all, that's the whole point to Jesus right? When you are guilty nothing can change that. There is no truth in guilt for those who believe in Jesus.
If you are plagued with guilt then odds are it is because you have not asked for forgiveness or given forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. Forgiveness is the source of freedom. It is the ultimate expression of love.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help. You can say this prayer.
God, please help me to forgive all who have wronged me; including myself. Please reveal the truth of those situations and show me the next Christlike step I should take. Please also forgive me for any wrongs I may have done to anyone else and help me to ask them for forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, Amen
This is a great way to open your prayer time! It starts you off from a position of spiritual freedom.
Jesus came to set us free. We do not belong behind the prison bars of guilt.
Matthew 5:29 NKJV
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
One thing that the Holy Spirit will do in your quiet time as well as any time during the day is convict you.
I'm not talking about guilt. There is a difference.
Guilt keeps us in bondage. It implies judgment for not living up to a standard. Conviction on the other hand liberates us by merely point out our wrong doing to encourage us to be more Christlike.
The difference between guilt and conviction is grace.
Grace means that we can be forgiven. After all, that's the whole point to Jesus right? When you are guilty nothing can change that. There is no truth in guilt for those who believe in Jesus.
If you are plagued with guilt then odds are it is because you have not asked for forgiveness or given forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. Forgiveness is the source of freedom. It is the ultimate expression of love.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help. You can say this prayer.
God, please help me to forgive all who have wronged me; including myself. Please reveal the truth of those situations and show me the next Christlike step I should take. Please also forgive me for any wrongs I may have done to anyone else and help me to ask them for forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, Amen
This is a great way to open your prayer time! It starts you off from a position of spiritual freedom.
Jesus came to set us free. We do not belong behind the prison bars of guilt.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 11: Worry is Not from God
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34
During your quiet time does your mind ever get overwhelmed with worry?
I know that mine does.
Here is what happened to me the other day. I was relaxing on the beach in Hawaii after praying and just being quiet with God when all of the sudden my mind was flooded with random thoughts. I was thinking about things that I needed to do at work, finances, catching my flight back home; all things that caused me worry.
But of course they didn't need to cause me worry in that moment. I wasn't due back at work for another day and of course they would be fine without me. My finances are what they are. I have a budget and a plan that will take me in the right direction. My flight home was over five hours away. I had plenty of time to catch my flight after having a massage and a relaxing breakfast. I was not pressed for time at all.
Since none of these things should have caused me worry in that present moment then why was I worrying?
This is another way that the enemy tries to break up our relationship with God. He tries to appeal to our nature (I have historically being a worrier) to break up our quality time with God.
Jesus told us that we don't have to worry. Just as he cares for the birds of the air He will care for us even more.
Any time you feel any negative thought or emotion then it is not from God. God will convict us to do right when we are wrong but this isn't negative. This is correction.
Paul summarizes the difference between the things of God and everything else very well in Galatians chapter 5:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34
During your quiet time does your mind ever get overwhelmed with worry?
I know that mine does.
Here is what happened to me the other day. I was relaxing on the beach in Hawaii after praying and just being quiet with God when all of the sudden my mind was flooded with random thoughts. I was thinking about things that I needed to do at work, finances, catching my flight back home; all things that caused me worry.
But of course they didn't need to cause me worry in that moment. I wasn't due back at work for another day and of course they would be fine without me. My finances are what they are. I have a budget and a plan that will take me in the right direction. My flight home was over five hours away. I had plenty of time to catch my flight after having a massage and a relaxing breakfast. I was not pressed for time at all.
Since none of these things should have caused me worry in that present moment then why was I worrying?
This is another way that the enemy tries to break up our relationship with God. He tries to appeal to our nature (I have historically being a worrier) to break up our quality time with God.
Jesus told us that we don't have to worry. Just as he cares for the birds of the air He will care for us even more.
Any time you feel any negative thought or emotion then it is not from God. God will convict us to do right when we are wrong but this isn't negative. This is correction.
Paul summarizes the difference between the things of God and everything else very well in Galatians chapter 5:
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Any time we are feeling any of those fleshly things then we know it does not come from God. Any time we are feeling the fruit of the spirit then we know that it IS from God.
This will help you in your quiet time with God. When you feel or hear negativity trying to elbow its way in ask the Holy Spirit for the fruit of the Spirit. Those negative feelings will melt right away.
This will help you in your quiet time with God. When you feel or hear negativity trying to elbow its way in ask the Holy Spirit for the fruit of the Spirit. Those negative feelings will melt right away.
Friday, February 3, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 10: We are Blessed
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount talking about those who are blessed.
When we go down the list it seems quite striking. I don't think that I'm the only one who has thought to themselves "am I any of those people that Jesus called blessed?"
Under our own power of course we fall short, but with God's help we become exactly who God always intended us to be. We are transformed by faith.
Sometimes people look at new Christians with frustration and disdain. How can this person be a Christian when they are still acting this way or doing the same things they did before. Often times the enemy tries to whisper these things to us in our quiet time as well. He will try to highlight our shortcomings and suggest that they define who we are.
We are not what we have done in the past, we are what we believe.
It is what we believe today that shapes our tomorrow. So what happens if we mess up today? That's what Jesus is for. His sacrifice gave us the grace that we need to become brand new.
Jesus fills the gap between our imperfection and God's perfect standard.
So if during your quiet time you hear bad thoughts about yourself do not receive them! God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. And the Holy Spirit will work with us here in the world to walk in the fullness of our new, blessed nature.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount talking about those who are blessed.
When we go down the list it seems quite striking. I don't think that I'm the only one who has thought to themselves "am I any of those people that Jesus called blessed?"
Under our own power of course we fall short, but with God's help we become exactly who God always intended us to be. We are transformed by faith.
Sometimes people look at new Christians with frustration and disdain. How can this person be a Christian when they are still acting this way or doing the same things they did before. Often times the enemy tries to whisper these things to us in our quiet time as well. He will try to highlight our shortcomings and suggest that they define who we are.
We are not what we have done in the past, we are what we believe.
It is what we believe today that shapes our tomorrow. So what happens if we mess up today? That's what Jesus is for. His sacrifice gave us the grace that we need to become brand new.
Jesus fills the gap between our imperfection and God's perfect standard.
So if during your quiet time you hear bad thoughts about yourself do not receive them! God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. And the Holy Spirit will work with us here in the world to walk in the fullness of our new, blessed nature.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
21 Days of Listening Day 9: Who are We?
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This is who Jesus says we are. We are the light of the world. Through our love we shine light in the darkness of a world filled with selfishness.
In my quiet time sometimes I hear the contrary. My mind wanders to the bad things I have done and then I hear that I am not worthy, not good enough or even that I am a bad person.
If Jesus says that we are the light of the world then how can what my mind says be true?
It is not.
This is the first step in our discernment. We have to know that we are the light of the world, not because we are perfect but because God is with us providing the fuel for that light.
The light that others see is the Holy Spirit moving in our lives.
So as you continue to work on being silent remember this fact. And when you hear ideas that try to beat down your self esteem know that they do not come from God.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This is who Jesus says we are. We are the light of the world. Through our love we shine light in the darkness of a world filled with selfishness.
In my quiet time sometimes I hear the contrary. My mind wanders to the bad things I have done and then I hear that I am not worthy, not good enough or even that I am a bad person.
If Jesus says that we are the light of the world then how can what my mind says be true?
It is not.
This is the first step in our discernment. We have to know that we are the light of the world, not because we are perfect but because God is with us providing the fuel for that light.
The light that others see is the Holy Spirit moving in our lives.
So as you continue to work on being silent remember this fact. And when you hear ideas that try to beat down your self esteem know that they do not come from God.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
21 Days of Listening Week 2 - Day 8: Discernment
This Week's Reading: Matthew Ch 5-7
Hey everyone!
If you are still with me after the challenge of quieting the mind then bravo!
If not it's OK. We have 14 more days to grow together.
So now we will try to answer a question that I'm sure you have been asking yourself for the last week.
Where are all of these voices coming from that are in my head?
Well there are three simple answers. All of that stuff jumbling around in your mind is either from your own head, from God, or from the devil.
Yes it is that simple and no that is not crazy.
The important thing to understand is what is from God vs. what is not from God. We can understand this by understanding the heart of God through the scripture.
So for the rest of this week we will continue to read from Matthew 5-7. There is much more to the heart of God but Jesus summarizes it well here.
In short, everything rooted in loving God and others comes from God; everything else is not from God.
With God there is no room for selfishness.
So during your quiet time try to think about the things that cross your mind. Do they make you afraid? Do they focus you on what you lack or what someone else has? Are you thinking about how you can be better to others?
In the next seven days the Holy Spirit will make himself clear. You will experience His love like never before.
Start with at least five minutes and let's see where God takes us.
Hey everyone!
If you are still with me after the challenge of quieting the mind then bravo!
If not it's OK. We have 14 more days to grow together.
So now we will try to answer a question that I'm sure you have been asking yourself for the last week.
Where are all of these voices coming from that are in my head?
Well there are three simple answers. All of that stuff jumbling around in your mind is either from your own head, from God, or from the devil.
Yes it is that simple and no that is not crazy.
The important thing to understand is what is from God vs. what is not from God. We can understand this by understanding the heart of God through the scripture.
So for the rest of this week we will continue to read from Matthew 5-7. There is much more to the heart of God but Jesus summarizes it well here.
In short, everything rooted in loving God and others comes from God; everything else is not from God.
With God there is no room for selfishness.
So during your quiet time try to think about the things that cross your mind. Do they make you afraid? Do they focus you on what you lack or what someone else has? Are you thinking about how you can be better to others?
In the next seven days the Holy Spirit will make himself clear. You will experience His love like never before.
Start with at least five minutes and let's see where God takes us.
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