Embrace the Within no. 71

"We can speak peace to our hearts, because God hath spoken peace to us….O keep that peace, by looking up to Jesus Christ every moment."

George Whitefield

There is peace in a right relationship with YHWH. That is the witness I am called to walk each day. A walk of peace in spite of and despite the world that rages around me with so many manufactured distractions and insurmountable terrors. Among all those scary and spooky realities, I have peace in the Way of the Lord. Peace is a powerful witness.

Too often I allow the passions of the situations that surround me trouble my spirit. Too often I see the spirit of a situation begin to change my response. Too often I allow the pervasive spirit of this world to redirect my path. When I recognize those influences, I need to reflect on the peace that grows out of wisdom and experience in my walk with YHWH.

I am often overcome with a spirit to rush to action when I should pause and reflect. As I walk along this path I need more time to reflect and pause. I think we all need that moment of Selah. We all need that moment to pause and reflect on what The Lord is teaching at that moment. We need a moment to pause in His presence.

Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace the spirit of division as much. Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace the spirit of pride. Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace all the passions that surround us in this world that are meant to knock us out of alignment. Maybe, just maybe, I should instead pause in His presence.

And instead of rushing, through that pause and reflection, gently embrace the spirit of the Lord. Embrace the fruits of the Ruach HaKodesh. I am reminded to look back on the words in one of the finely crafted letters of instruction that, “. . . the fruit of the Spirit [Ruach] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. And they that are Moshiach [Messiah]’s have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit [Ruach], let us also walk in the Spirit [Ruach]. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-26 NMV).

So, I am going to embrace love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control by finding the self-control to pause. Through that pause I will act in alignment with the love that I am commanded to have for my God and my neighbor that bears His image. There is joy that comes from aligning my thoughts, my nephesh, and my muchness to His peace. There will always be a long wait and a lot to suffer to help others BUT I will approach that endurance of character with the gentleness and goodness I receive from faith in the Lord. And being meek enough to know that all those character traits, all those abilities, all those gifts, come not from myself but from His grace.

Lord, help me to pause today. Help us all to take a moment in Your Presence before we get caught up in the wrong spirits.

Shavua tov. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of YHWH is now. Be a blessing to YHWH and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #MyNepheshMyChoice #ChristsLifeMatters #EmbracetheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH #GodKnows

Embrace the Within no. 70

"We run for Him—for Christ’s glory and for the honor of His name. We run for the advancement of His kingdom."

Joseph M. Stowell

There is no law but the law that comes from God. This whole idea of natural law makes no sense. Nature is filled with so many wonderfully amazing and tremendously beautiful things BUT it is also touched with the brokenness and decay and death that humanity brought into the world. Nature is not immune to the imperfection that now plagues this earth in its temporal existence.

We no longer live in the Garden. We are out here wandering in the Wilderness on this side of eternity. We can see the path to the Kingdom of God before us BUT we cannot enter into that Kingdom just yet. That does not make the Kingdom of God any less real. That does not exempt me from being an ambassador for the Kingdom right now. My admittance to the Kingdom is not a prerequisite for being a representative of The Way of the Lord here in this broken place.

I am not looking to nature to get me through this journey. Nature is fallen and broken as well. BUT one day both humanity and nature will be reconciled to that Garden again. No longer will death be a part of nature’s plan. No longer will plants wither. No longer will animals be taken for food. No longer will I have to prepare my garden for winter. I might still have to tend the plants BUT I will not have to contend with weeds and frost. It’s going to be a great time on the earth that is no longer encumbered with the weight of sin and death.

I look forward to so many adventures and conversations and reunions in that world to come BUT I focus on the time at hand. The Kingdom of God is all around us. It is in the assembly of those who follow The Way of the Lord. As His representatives at this time on this earth, we are to embody the ideals of the Kingdom for all.

Maybe that is going to take some metacognitive reflection today. Some consideration on whether I am being an ambassador of the Kingdom or just someone that thinks my salvation makes me better? Am I living love for YHWH and my neighbor? Am I looking out for widows and orphans? Am I a friend to the stranger? Am I working on living His Way?

I can’t serve two nations. I don’t have dual citizenship. I am an ambassador for the Kingdom of God.

Shavua tov. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of YHWH is now. Be a blessing to YHWH and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #MyNepheshMyChoice #ChristsLifeMatters #EmbracetheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH #GodKnows