"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His OWN glory and goodness." ~2 Peter 1:3
His power at work in me is ENOUGH! It's everything I need; not just for life here on earth, but for the pursuit of godliness too, preparing me for my heavenly home!
"Through these [His glory and goodness] He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." ~2 Peter 1:4
Because of His glory and goodness (Who He is), other gifts are given to us--His promises. These promises bring two crazy cool/humbling things into the picture:
1. An invitation. His promises invite me to be a direct part of HIS DIVINE NATURE...He IN me! He's changing me to align my soul with more of Who He is (remember from before? Among so many other things, He is GOOD)!
2. An escape. His promises also free me to flee from the corruption of this world...including the root of most corruption: evil desires (anything apart from God's holy and perfect will for me). This makes total sense when you think about it: As I'm participating in the Divine Nature, my heart, mind, and soul are being crafted to look more like my Holy and Good Father!
Mmmmmm! So so so good.
The incredible thing is we can participate in this RIGHT NOW...as in, right this second. If you are a child of the King, He has placed His power inside of y o u !! You don't need anything else. IT IS ENOUGH! Believe that this power has been freely given, claim it, and move forward in grace.
For me, I just really needed to stop and meditate/focus on the fact that His power is EVERYTHING I need. EVERYTHING. I'm still wrapping my mind around that, but as I continue to dwell on the magnitude of that statement, the Holy Spirit has continued to pour out understanding and peace, which is so amazing!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thinking Ahead
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
~James 4:13-14
For me to say, "I'm going to do this tomorrow" DIMINISHES the power that is fully God's, not mine. I can't see the future--not even a tiny bit (not a few hours, days, weeks...even a SECOND ahead)--but so often I talk and act like I can!
It doesn't stop here, though...ohhhh, get ready! :)
"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
~James 4:15-17
It's being stressed here that instead of plotting out plans for the future, think about what lies ahead with one particular thought overriding everything else--"If it's the LORD'S will!"
I realized as I was reading over this part of the passage that I'm much more prone to saying, "If it's Your will, God" when I'm talking/praying about something seemingly far off, like praying for a husband to love, care for/be cared by, respect, and serve with or kids to love, instruct, and nurture one day. I hardly ever talk about either one of those without first clarifying, "If it's YOUR will, Lord, these things will happen."
I'm quick to say that I know these events are in the future, but other things occurring in my immediate future (like the next hour, day, week, month) I am much more likely to simply state matter-of-factly what will or will not be done at different times...
...even though, really, I still have NO way of knowing if I'll even be alive to do any of it!
SUCH a wake-up call here! It's arrogant (and pride is a sin, so it's EVIL~vs. 16), to say/think that I know enough about my life to say for sure what will happen next, how it will happen, etc.! It doesn't matter if I'm dealing with the immediate or seemingly distant, my Heavenly Father is the Storyteller of my life and the ONLY ONE Who knows and sees everything that will play out for the rest of my days! I am a mist...let me not be quick to forget, especially in the hustle and bustle of routine.
Application-wise, I'm going to specifically be praying for the Holy Spirit's complete help in moving my mindset from an attitude of "I will" to "If the LORD wills, I will."
"If the Lord" first;
"I" second.
"If the Lord...THEN, I."
I'm not about to tell you I think I've got this all figured out and the road ahead of me with this new mindset is going to be a piece of cake...not a chance of that! What I CAN say is that as I begin consistently trusting the Lord verbally/mentally/spiritually to show up in all kinds of different ways using this mindset, my faith will RADICALLY grow, stretching to depths and heights I've not even dared DREAM about! How do I know? I'm trusting in the God Whose Hands hold the stars I'm looking at outside of my window right now...the One Who is near when I call...Who is with me even now...Who promises THIS:
~James 4:13-14
For me to say, "I'm going to do this tomorrow" DIMINISHES the power that is fully God's, not mine. I can't see the future--not even a tiny bit (not a few hours, days, weeks...even a SECOND ahead)--but so often I talk and act like I can!
It doesn't stop here, though...ohhhh, get ready! :)
"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
~James 4:15-17
It's being stressed here that instead of plotting out plans for the future, think about what lies ahead with one particular thought overriding everything else--"If it's the LORD'S will!"
I realized as I was reading over this part of the passage that I'm much more prone to saying, "If it's Your will, God" when I'm talking/praying about something seemingly far off, like praying for a husband to love, care for/be cared by, respect, and serve with or kids to love, instruct, and nurture one day. I hardly ever talk about either one of those without first clarifying, "If it's YOUR will, Lord, these things will happen."
I'm quick to say that I know these events are in the future, but other things occurring in my immediate future (like the next hour, day, week, month) I am much more likely to simply state matter-of-factly what will or will not be done at different times...
...even though, really, I still have NO way of knowing if I'll even be alive to do any of it!
SUCH a wake-up call here! It's arrogant (and pride is a sin, so it's EVIL~vs. 16), to say/think that I know enough about my life to say for sure what will happen next, how it will happen, etc.! It doesn't matter if I'm dealing with the immediate or seemingly distant, my Heavenly Father is the Storyteller of my life and the ONLY ONE Who knows and sees everything that will play out for the rest of my days! I am a mist...let me not be quick to forget, especially in the hustle and bustle of routine.
Application-wise, I'm going to specifically be praying for the Holy Spirit's complete help in moving my mindset from an attitude of "I will" to "If the LORD wills, I will."
"If the Lord" first;
"I" second.
"If the Lord...THEN, I."
I'm not about to tell you I think I've got this all figured out and the road ahead of me with this new mindset is going to be a piece of cake...not a chance of that! What I CAN say is that as I begin consistently trusting the Lord verbally/mentally/spiritually to show up in all kinds of different ways using this mindset, my faith will RADICALLY grow, stretching to depths and heights I've not even dared DREAM about! How do I know? I'm trusting in the God Whose Hands hold the stars I'm looking at outside of my window right now...the One Who is near when I call...Who is with me even now...Who promises THIS:
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)