Embrace the Within no. 155

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great and complete was its fall.”

Matthew 7:24-27 AMP

It seems like every year there are stories out of California of the homes that are swept away by mudslides. Same place, same situation, same result every year. The rains come and sweep the homes off the sides of the mountain. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called something . . . .

BUT often I do the same thing over and over in my life and expect different results. That was my way until March 2020 when the plague and lockdowns hit. I had to choose to keep doing the things my way or start changing things. At that time, God was not on my radar of concern BUT I was on His radar. I was directly in His line of influence. So, when the plague came and swept my life away, I didn’t start building again on the sand that was my life then. I started building on the solid rock of God without knowing where the journey was going to lead.

Why do I keep doing the same things and expect different results? Why do I get myself into such a rut? Why do I stick to a routine that isn’t bringing me joy and peace and abundance? Why am I continuing to build my life on sand when I can be on rock? When am I going to give God control and stop pretending I am in charge? When am I going to be obedient in all things? I pray that I give control over to God in obedience to His Will. I pray that my life is built upon His Word. I pray that all I do reflects obedience to Him. I pray that the love and peace and abundance of the Lord is manifest in my life as a witness to others. I pray that my example be a testimony to the work He can do if given the chance.

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

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

Embrace the Within no. 154

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

Matthew 7:21-23 AMP

Many will say that they knew God and did works in His name and He will declare, “I never knew you . . . you who act wickedly.” Faith is not about what you do, how much you do, casting out demons, speaking prophecy, or doing miracles. He says I need to do what He commands. I need to be obedient. And now amount of works makes up for that.

And here is where folks get all confused and start saying absurd things like works don’t matter. See, Christ said works don’t get you into Heaven so it doesn’t matter what I do. If nothing we does matter, then obedience doesn’t matter either. And Christ clearly stated what He wants. He wants my obedience. He wants my allegiance. He wants me to pray, to worship, to follow, to love only Him. He has to be the most important thing in my life.

And if I am living a life in obedience to the Way of the Lord. If I am living a life where I love God and my neighbor and my enemy, then I am going to have the actions or the works to support that life. The works are not the means to getting anything from God. The works are the manifestation of living an obedient life. And I think that I like many folks had this all wrong for some time.

I used to mistakenly think that God was all about doing the right things. If I prayed and went to church and read my Bible, then God was going to do good things for me. BUT God does not act like that. That’s how people act. I was trying to make God into me rather than making myself into Christ. And there is a lot of that idea going around still. That if I do things the right way. If I give the right amount of my time and money, if I worship in the right way, if I stay after church, if I go early to church, if I give up that, if I start doing this . . . . . It’s all treating God like He’s magic. And He is not magic. He is God. And I should be doing what I do because I love and follow Him and not because I want Him to grant my wishes or give me favors.

Why am I praying? Why am I reading The Bible? Why am I fasting? Why am I studying His Word? Why am I going to church? Why am I helping the needy? Why am I being a friend to the friendless? Why am I doing what I am doing? Is it for me to get something from God? Is it because I love God?

I pray that I will treat God like He deserves. I pray that I will show my allegiance to Him by loving Him and my neighbor. I pray that my words and actions are a reflection of Him. I pray that what I do is for His glory. I pray that through these actions of obedience to Him that I am a beacon for Him today and forever.

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

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH