Embrace the Within no. 113

"Growth [is] the only evidence of life."

John Henry Newman

To be still is to be dead. Standing still in my faith is the quickest way to end up spiritually dead. How did I ned up making a journey of faith three years ago? Decades of being still in my faith. Decades of slowly sliding away from the truth because I wasn’t fighting to keep my faith. Decades of slowly letting my temple become a mess. Allowing that temple to get dirty, remain unrepaired, and break and crumble.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As I physically fell apart, I mentally fell apart, and I became less of a temple. So, I started getting my mind and body right and the spiritual part found a place to begin repairs. I used to think that physical fitness was, like mental and spiritual health, a game of comparisons. If I was doing better than most Americans, then I was doing good enough. BUT there are no comparisons with humans that are going to allow me to be better. The only comparison that I needed to work on was my comparison with what Christ says. And Christ doesn’t want me to be a spiritual mess, He doesn’t want me to be an emotional mess, and He doesn’t want me to be a physical mess either. And being healthy by comparison isn’t going to cut it in the Kingdom.

I have a perfect comparison to work out that will take me this side of eternity to work. I mean if, as Paul writes, “We are the temple of the living God”(2 Corinthians 6:16). Then I should be working on making a temple that is a worthy palace for the one true God, a worthy home for the perfect God. How else am I going to manifest the fruit of the Spirit?

'For this cause wee also, since the day wee heard of it, cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisdome, and spirituall vnderstanding, That ye might walke worthy of the Lord, and please him in all things, being fruitefull in all good workes, and increasing in the knowledge of God, Strengthened with all might through his glorious power, vnto all patience, and long suffering with ioyfulnesse, Giuing thankes vnto the Father, which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saintes in light, Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenesse, and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne, In whome we haue redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, Who is the image of the inuisible God, the first begotten of euery creature. '

Colossians 1:9-15 GNV

Grace and Shalom this week. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of the Lord is now. Be a blessing to the Lord and others.

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

Embrace the Within no. 112

"Whatever is your greatest joy and treasure, that is your heaven and your god."

Charles Spurgeon

Father,

There is so much for which to be thankful. And for all those things for which I am thankful, You deserve the glory. You allow this great creation to exist. You create a path through the way of the world to salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. You have known me from the beginning. You know my walk this side of eternity and my walk beyond. I am thankful for the daily walk of sanctification that allows me to grow closer to You.

I embrace being an ambassador for your Kingdom. Let me walk as a better ambassador for Your Kingdom this week than the week before. Help me walk in the Way of the Lord better each day. I give You the authority to lead with Your Way and Truth and not my way each day.

I pray for those that are struggling with physical, mental, and spiritual suffering. Specifically I pray for my friend to be made physically, mentally, and spiritually whole. Place Your hand of healing and protection over her. I pray for my brother’s family and that You will provide the physical healing that is needed in this time of their need, I pray for the hearts of my family members that need physical, mental, and spiritual healing and that You bring your grace and sanctification into their lives. I pray for the physical healing of my brother’s family and that You bring wholeness to their being that You created. I pray for reconciliation during this holiday season and that You will move hearts and minds to show your grace and mercy to each other. And finally I pray for my heart and body. That you will make me better physically and spiritually.

Help us all find Your reassuring Spirit. Bring us all peace and comfort. I pray that Your grace and forgiveness fall upon us all as we work out Your Truth.

I pray for those uncertain of the future. Those that are worrying about the situations and obstacles created in the way of the world. Help them to see that there is a Way that You provide through this broken and fallen world of humans. Give them the peace and joy that comes from Your Grace.

Forgive me for my failures. As I work out Your path this side of eternity, I am not perfect. I am working each day to become a better ambassador of Your Kingdom BUT I don’t have it all worked out. I stumble, I fail, and I fall BUT You keep allowing me time to work out sanctification through grace and peace. And I am thankful for that patience. That even though I fail You quite often, You do not stop working on making me better.

Allow me to forgive both myself and others for failing. Often I set unrealistic expectations for myself and the lives of others. We are only saved by Your grace and I can only work within the limitations of my understanding. Allow me the Wisdom and Truth to walk more in Your Way.

Thank you, Father.

Amen