i have been wondering for a long while, why i have not been seeing or experiencing the power of God in my life the way i read about it in the bible or the way bible teachers talk about it. i wondered about that not just for me but for a lot of the body as a whole. i have been wondering why i do not have so much power over sin, why i am not ready when it is time to minister, why i come up short and feel like i am barely keeping my head above water in my christian life...
i think it comes back to those verses from 2 timothy i posted a few posts back. who am i living for? me and shannon listened to a bible study where the preacher was talking about how the Lord does not fill much of the church because we compromise. much of the church today is living too much like the world, not being set apart and that is what those verses are all about: sanctification. why would the lord fill a vessel that is compromising, unfaithful to him, that has ulterior motives and seeks to glorify itself? he wont...i miss so many of the chances for an abundant life the Lord has given me because i still have one foot in the world and one foot in the things of God. it really is one of the most miserable places to be, a lukewarm christian trying to balance the world and a relationship with God at the same time.
i have been reading in proverbs about the fear of the lord. the lord is giving me a little bit of a clearer understanding of what the fear of the lord really is. it is to hate evil (8:13), it is to depart from evil (3:7). it is being afraid of missing out on the fullness of God because of sin, it is being afraid of severing that relationship again. i am tired of letting the enemy keep me in bondage as he steals away my opportunities to be a vessel of honor "prepared for every good work."
what else does proverbs say? the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. wisdom is something everyone desires!!! i encourage you to read the book of proverbs and see the fruits of wisdom, they are so many and so beautiful, who would want to be a fool??? and best of all the lord delights in it!
i am not trying to condemn anyone or say anyone is a fool, i know sometimes i am, but i long for so much more and i think it will take a lot of mortifying the flesh and its deeds, a lot of hating the evil i sometimes so much enjoy, and truly be set apart for our lord but the fruits it yields are so much greater, they are everlasting!
"the Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 timothy 2:19
i think it comes back to those verses from 2 timothy i posted a few posts back. who am i living for? me and shannon listened to a bible study where the preacher was talking about how the Lord does not fill much of the church because we compromise. much of the church today is living too much like the world, not being set apart and that is what those verses are all about: sanctification. why would the lord fill a vessel that is compromising, unfaithful to him, that has ulterior motives and seeks to glorify itself? he wont...i miss so many of the chances for an abundant life the Lord has given me because i still have one foot in the world and one foot in the things of God. it really is one of the most miserable places to be, a lukewarm christian trying to balance the world and a relationship with God at the same time.
i have been reading in proverbs about the fear of the lord. the lord is giving me a little bit of a clearer understanding of what the fear of the lord really is. it is to hate evil (8:13), it is to depart from evil (3:7). it is being afraid of missing out on the fullness of God because of sin, it is being afraid of severing that relationship again. i am tired of letting the enemy keep me in bondage as he steals away my opportunities to be a vessel of honor "prepared for every good work."
what else does proverbs say? the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. wisdom is something everyone desires!!! i encourage you to read the book of proverbs and see the fruits of wisdom, they are so many and so beautiful, who would want to be a fool??? and best of all the lord delights in it!
i am not trying to condemn anyone or say anyone is a fool, i know sometimes i am, but i long for so much more and i think it will take a lot of mortifying the flesh and its deeds, a lot of hating the evil i sometimes so much enjoy, and truly be set apart for our lord but the fruits it yields are so much greater, they are everlasting!
"the Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 timothy 2:19
2 comments:
Mi piace!! A dopo!! Ciao bella!!
michelle, you are such an encouragement to me!
it was such a blessing to fellowship with your dad this weekend. we all enjoyed every minute!
i can't wait to see you in 3 1/2 days! love.a
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