Embrace the Within no. 141

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!”

Matthew 6:22-23 AMP

Our focus in life, our sight should find its focus, in the light and not the darkness. Earlier in the sermon I am called to be “the light of the world” while within these lines I am called to see the light. I can’t be the light if I am focused on things that are not the light. Other focuses dim my light and lessen the intensity with which I show the world the Truth.

I need to look at where I am going. I can’t look to the left or the right or even behind me and expect to get where I want to go directly. Looking in all other directions is going to get me off course and maybe even stumbling and walking in weird patterns or circles or swaying off course. BUT focusing on the opposite of what I want, closing my eyes to the destination and making myself blind to the path I need to walk . . . well, that is going to fill me with darkness instead of light.

It sounds so basic when it gets explained, however, I often know what is right and true and righteous and I would rather look somewhere else. Life is full of distractions that will turn my eyes off the path. I can look to the left or the right at what my neighbor or friend or enemy is doing. I can look behind me into my past at the things I used to do. Or I can close my eyes completely to The Truth and walk around blindly even though I know His Way.

How will I know when I am on the right path? How will I know when I am veering off the path? How will I know when I am looking behind me? How will I know when my eyes are closed? It is as simple as getting my heart checked out.

I need to ask some serious questions about the state of my heart daily. Is my heart healthy? Am I walking with the love of the Lord in my heart? Am I doing what is right for God and others? When my heart is healthy, I am walking in the light and reflecting that light to the world. When I am in darkness, I know that I am doing wrong because the Spirit will guide me to know that I am doing wrong.

I get to choose every day whether I listen to my selfish heart or I walk in the light. I pray that today I do a better job of walking the path of light. I pray that my focus is straight ahead at my goal of being a better Ambassador for Christ. I pray that my focus on the light helps better reflect the image of Christ in my daily life. I pray that I show His Light to the world.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

Embrace the Within no. 140

“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21 AMP

I don’t watch the news BUT I can never get it out of my life. It’s always there. And in the news recently there have been a number of robberies of some sort of jacket in the D.C. area. Folks are literally stealing winter jackets off of folks at gunpoint. That is definitely not storing up treasures in Heaven BUT we can rob ourselves of the joy of our walk with the Lord by constantly worrying about earthly possessions.

For years I have been saying, “You support what you love.” And that is a truth I have walked for a long time now. I do not have time or energy to place into something that I don’t love. And that started with me stopping being a walking commercial for what I didn’t like and being a constant reminder of what I do support. I am not taking the time to complain about what I am against, when I am busy supporting what I love. And I would much rather be positive than be negative. There is enough negativity in the world without me adding to the pile.

So, what do I love? Where do I spend my time? Where do I spend my money? What do I support? What makes my eyes sparkle when I talk about it? What makes my entire face glow when I get into a story about it? What do I go out of my way to make time and space for doing? What is important in my life?

I hope for you there are many things that fall into those categories BUT the most important thing to love is God. Without God, none of those other things I love exist. Loving those things only occurs because God loved me enough to create a reality where those things are as well. God gave me the ability to love my family, my friends, and my enemies. So, it is vastly more important that I thank Him and love Him for that. And if I love Him, then I better make sure I make time for Him.

He deserves all my time because He gave me all my time. So, every time I get a spare minute anymore while waiting in line, I spend time with Him. When I am sitting down and waiting, I spend time with Him. Making a conscious decision to say something to God whenever I can is important to refocus on who I love. I want a relationship with Him so I do kind of need to talk to Him. And I should kind of want to talk to Him?

Life is busy. Life is messy. And life has folks looking to steal your joy with or without a gun. BUT God is always there. And if we love Him, then we will make time however we can.

I pray that I make more time for God today. Whenever I can find a moment to read, pray, or fellowship, I will take that opportunity to build my relationship with Him. I will work on being a better communicator with Him and work on being better at showing Him love. Without His love, I am unable to show Him love.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH