When people GIVE us advice, we react much differently than if we had ASKED for their advice. Advice that is GIVEN, is usually unwanted and based on opinionated, faulty historical and scientific logic to PERSUADE US to a certain way of thinking and reacting. When we ASK for advice, it becomes PERSONAL, a RELATIONSHIP full of TRUST; and we LISTEN from the depths of our SPIRIT. Do we read the Bible for historical and scientific logic, Genesis to Revelation, and get nothing. Maybe we are not reading from NEED. Do we expect to hear GOD'S VOICE in the Scriptures? Does this ADVICE penetrate our Soul? Do we respond and listen to GOD (Prayer)? Then, do we rest in the total silence of HIS LOVING PRESENCE? "That we should seek GOD...and find HIM", Acts 17:27. Do we treat reading the Bible like going to the dentist? We put it off and put it off, UNTIL THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE? THEN WE LISTEN.
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Did the last CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY you heard sound like a county and western song? "My pickup is reprocessed", "my dog died" and "my spouse left me". Was it a "TIME" (This is about me: I, ME) TESTIMONY or was it, "the SPIRIT the one who testified because the SPIRIT is the Truth" (1 John 5:5-8)? Did the TESTIMONY draw you close to GOD, did it give you HOPE or was it "JUST ANOTHER SAD SONG"? Could a TESTIMONY be in the Blessed life we live in Faith when others know our circumstances? Isn't the GREATEST TESTIMONY the one that lets the HOLY SPIRIT within us spontaneously speak GLORIFYING GOD? GOD IS ALIVE, HE HAS FORGIVEN ALL SINS, JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD WHICH MAKES ALL BIBLICAL PROMISES TRUE! WHAT ELSE COULD BE SAID OR LIVED?
The rain falls from the Heavens; does it JUST HAPPEN? The elements in the Universe are naturally decomposing and self destructive; and yet the Universe is sustained; did it JUST HAPPEN? Flowers quietly appear; did it JUST HAPPEN? Jeremiah 14:22, "Who among you in all your vanities can cause rain? Or can the Heavens give showers? Are YOU not HE, O LORD our GOD?....YOU have made all things". Have you ever found yourself in Church where all thoughts of the world disappeared; and you didn't want to leave; DO YOU THINK IT JUST HAPPENED?
How can someone "ruin our day"? How can someone be so "selfishly vain" as to think they can "impose their will or opinion" upon us? Could it be that their "Resolve and Foundation" upon self, anger and unhappiness is GREATER than our "Resolve and Foundation" of Gratefulness, Thankfulness, JOY and Love? "Every man's work shall be made manifest...and the FIRE shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Corinthians 3:13-16). As soon as we begin to dread something or someone, IT OR THEY, OWN US! As soon as we begin to make excuses for NOT MEETING SOMEONE ELSE'S STANDARDS; THEY OWN US! When we are Humbly Grateful, Thankful and Filled with Love we are GOD'S. IT IS OUR CHOICE WHO WE BELONG TO TODAY.
Does our heart "change" because we have a "twinge" of conscience, or a "little" anxiety at the thought of judgement or even our "academic" awareness of hell? Do we remain in a relationship that is threatening. For our hearts to "change permanently" we will experience "CONVICTION". CONVICTION is not guilt or shame over sin; nor the fear of Divine punishment; or even the mere knowledge of right and wrong. CONVICTION is being convinced of the TRUTH about ourselves and the TRUTH about GOD. LOVE PRESENTS TRUTH by bringing us into the PRESENCE OF GOD where we are LOVED INTO CONVICTION. We are humbly and painfully convicted by THE GOD IN US, SEEING THE GOD BEFORE US. When we stand in the presence of GOD we are immediately overwhelmed by our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5). ARE WE LOVED INTO CONVICTION?
Are our words meaningless, (Ecclesiastes 12:8)? When we preference our statements with, "I'll tell you the Truth"; the TRUTH IMMUNE SYSTEM is alerted. The words that follow this preface cannot be trusted. Believers and Un-Believers have this TRUTH IMMUNE SYSTEM. It exposes the intentions of the Heart. When someone makes a hurtful statement followed by, "JUST KIDDING"; they're not just kidding. The emotion behind "I DON'T CARE", means they do care. Do we say what we mean and DO WE MEAN IT IN LOVE? I'M NOT JUST KIDDING.
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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