"Spending Time With Jesus"

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  Acts 4:13

"...they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  What was it about these disciples that made the people notice and acknowledge that they had been with Jesus?  Was it their ability to heal the sick?  Was it their preaching?  Was it the wisdom in which they answered the questions?  Was it their boldness to share the gospel?  All of the above.  The fact that they had spent time with Jesus was recognizable.  The same should be said of those of us who profess to be Christians.  People should be able to say that we have been with Jesus because of what they see and hear in us.

Sadly, most people don't see Jesus in those who profess to be Christians.  The reason is clear-- they profess to know Him but never spend time with Him.  We all know that whoever you spend the most time with has the greatest influence in your life.  The Bible even tells us to choose our companions carefully because hanging out with the wrong people will corrupt good morals.  Why?  Because of their influence. 

If you spend time with Jesus, it will be evident.  You won't have to go around telling people you do, they will know it.  But this doesn't happen "haphazardly".  It doesn't happen by spending time with Him only when you are in trouble or have a problem you need Him to solve.  This happens by spending time with Him day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.  It happens by keeping the fellowship with Him open all time.  It happens by constant communion with Him.  Spending time with Him is not something you can take or leave.  Spending time with Him is not negotiable-- or shouldn't be.  Spending time with Him is our lifeline and it is what causes people to believe what we profess about our relationship with Him.

Have a great day.  People will take note that you have been with Jesus, but only if you are spending time with Him.    

"Choose To Fight Or Not"

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ".  2 Corinthians 10:7

When I am going through a spiritual, mental or emotional battle, and fear is coming against, worry is trying to take hold of me, bitterness and self-pity are wanting to control my thoughts, I have a choice.  I can either choose to give into it, or I can choose to war against it.  I either succumb to it, or I go to war against it.

To every battle there is an outcome.  It is either one of victory or defeat.  If we choose to do nothing-- not fight-- then we will surely be defeated and brought under the control of whatever is warring against us.  If we choose to fight, we will be victorious and overcome it. 

I know how it is to do nothing and let it defeat me.  When my emotions are being fought against and I do nothing, I wind up in a "mess".  All I want to do is cry, be left alone, run and hide, get defensive or get even.  That is not life, that is defeat.  Jesus came to give us abundant life.  He has provided all things for us that pertain to life.  Through His own victory at the cross He has given us the victory over every enemy that comes against us.

From experience also, I know that if I will make the choice to fight then this will not last.  My emotions will be brought into check.  My mind will regain peace.  Joy will begin to flood my heart.  I find that the more and more I choose to fight against it, then I spend less and less time being dominated by it-- the battle time gets shorter. 

Sometimes we don't "feel" like fighting.  Sometimes we want to "enjoy" the self-pity, anger, etc.  Sometimes we want to "stew" in it.  But that is dangerous.  It is like sitting in a chair with a ticking time bomb in your lap.  It will eventually explode.  Then you will really have a problem.  We have to make the choice to get past our feelings. We have to make the step of faith to come out of it.  We do that by drawing near to God.  We do it by calling upon Him for help.  We listen to the voice of Holy Spirit.  We renew our minds with the Word of God.  In doing so, we are fighting a good warfare.  We are fighting one that we are already guaranteed to win.

Have a great day.  When you are in a spiritual battle, you can either choose to fight and win or give in and let it conquer you.   

"Loaded With Benefits"

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah".  Psalm 68:19

Even before I got out of bed this morning, I was aware of many benefits and blessings that the Lord has already sent my way.  For instance- I woke up.  I have a roof over my head.  I have my husband lying beside me.  My house is warm.  I have all my senses working properly.  I am healthy.  I am not laying on a bed of affliction.  I have my right mind, etc.  But should I have woken up this morning without any of these things, I would still be loaded with benefits and blessings,

According to the dictionary, a benefit is an advantage or profit gained from something.  Many employers give their employees benefits.  It comes with the job automatically.  But there are others that are bonuses and are earned for a job well done.  Serving the Lord, loving Him and living your life for Him-- in His service and building His Kingdom-- has tremendous benefits.  The Lord's benefits are given to us automatically.  There are some that are conditional, but for the most part we don't have to earn them, they are given by grace.  

You may not could have named some of the benefits that I did this morning, but He still loads you with benefits none the less.  The real benefits are not tangible.  They are not physical.  They are not material or financial.  The greatest benefit is eternal life.  Another benefit is having access to go to the Lord in prayer asking for your need to be met.  Some other benefits are peace, strength, grace, wisdom, joy, love, direction, power and faith to name a few.

When you look around and think there aren't any/many benefits to serving the Lord, think again.  When you look at what you don't have and feel like He hasn't given you any benefits, look again.  They are there.  You have been loaded with them.

Have a great day.  The benefits you receive from serving and loving the Lord will load you down.    

"Imprisoned Heart"

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" Proverbs 4:23

Yesterday we talked about having a united heart-- undivided to fear the Lord.  This morning, I feel impressed to talk about our hearts again. 

 

There are so many things that vie for our hearts.  Fleshly desires want to captivate them.  Some people want to steal them.  Mammon wants our hearts.  The devil wants to destroy our hearts.  So, we not only have to protect them from those things that would try to take them away from us, but we have to be on guard for those things that would want to hold them captive and make our hearts its prisoner.

Some of the things we have to be on guard for that want to take our hearts prisoner and hold them hostage are bitterness, unforgiveness, self-pity, anger, resentment, condemnation, false religion, guilt, jealousy, hate, envy, malice, etc. (plus many more I haven't named).

If these aren't dealt with, they will hold your heart in a prison as long as you allow them to.  They will not only hold it prisoner but turn it into something that it wasn't intended to be and unrecognizable-- stone. 

There is only one sure way to keep your heart.  Give up claim to it.  Turn it over to the Lord and let Him take full possession of it.  Does this mean that these things won't come again to try to reclaim it?  No, but it is much easier to keep from giving in when you realize it doesn't belong to you anymore.  So, when these things come to take your heart prisoner again, simply put out a sign that says, "This heart does not belong to me anymore.  You will have to go to the owner-- Jesus".

Have a great day.  There are so many things that want to destroy, possess and imprison our hearts.  But when we give up ownership of our hearts to Jesus, they can't. 

"Unite My Heart"

"Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name".  Psalm 86:11

"... unite my heart to fear thy name".   I have prayed this more times than I can count.  It is because our hearts tend to be swayed and persuaded easily.  We tend to want to follow the crowd.  We gravitate to the things that appeal to our flesh.  We want to go in the direction of whatever is the latest fad or most popular thing in the world around us.  Our affections seem to shift constantly.  I was telling a friend the other day-- in the area of home décor-- that my taste changes pretty regularly.  One day I like the rustic décor.  Next week I may be leaning toward something more contemporary.  This is something we seem to do in all areas of life.  We go from one desire to another. 

If we aren't careful the same thing will happen in our relationship with the Lord.  We will be pulled between Him and what our flesh wants.  We will be pulled toward what is "vogue" at the moment.  We will be pulled toward the opinion of others.  We will be pulled to mammon, material blessings, self-desire and the lusts of our flesh. 

Do you feel yourself drifting away from the Lord? Are you being pulled between Him and other things?  Are worldly things consuming your thoughts, time, energy and finances?  Do other things have priority over Him in your life?  Then you should be praying this prayer as well.  Unite my heart-- that is-- bring all the areas in my heart into agreement.  Make all the areas of my heart place You first and on the throne.  Help me not to have a divided heart but instead love and fear You with all my heart.

Have a great day.  Is your heart divided between the Lord and other things?  Pray for a heart that is united to fear His name.