I must have read those verses at least ten times in the last year, and never did they hit me like a MACK truck as they did at church this weekend. D and I took our five blessings to a new church that came highly recommended by our church family at ELEVATE. We were welcomed right away by the Pastor, and were made to feel at home right away. I silently said a "breath prayer" "LORD please if this is home, let it "feel" like home to us."
When our Pastor began to speak, he started talking about Christmas Carols, and yesterday's was "Away in a Manger." The worship band sang an awesome version of the carol, and when they were done, is when I got an up close and personal look at JESUS. Even our Pastor warned us that this very message was going to be totally in our faces. I'm glad I didn't know that before hand, otherwise I might have "tried" to hide.
JESUS is NOT a part-time LORD, HE does NOT want part-time followers." Whew, hearing those words, I thought, "Surely YOU can't be talking to me LORD?" I began to think, I get up almost every morning at the crack of dawn, and sink deep into HIS word. I journal, and read, and then most days type my blog. However, HE was wanting me to know that those are all good things, however HE is more interested in seeing me walk the walk, than HE is seeing my type the talk!
YIKES! I spent the day pondering what HE was telling me yesterday, and one thing that really stood out for me was, "LORD, I want to know all of YOU. I don't want to be in the dark about any part of you. Help me to surrender." The more I thought about it, the more I thought about the area's in my life where I didn't really know HIM.
When the Pastor read what JESUS said in Matthew 7:21-23 he said it in a way as, "Hey you don't make JESUS your LORD, HE IS your LORD, you just come underneath HIS authority when you accept HIS perfect gift. HE said, JESUS isn't just the reason for the season. The reason is GOD sent HIS only SON, JESUS to be born as a little baby. This is the very reason we sing "The little LORD JESUS asleep on the hay." Away in a Manger
" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
However, HE is teaching me that HE is NOT little, HE is MIGHTY, and ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING. HE is wanting me to remember that HE died for us, to pay the ultimate sacrifice, it cost HIM everything! He went onto to say that not only did it cost JESUS everything, it cost us NOTHING, it was a debt that HE paid, that I, Heather, a sinner cannot EVER repay. However, when I received HIS perfect gift of Salvation, it cost me everything, meaning when I said YES to HIM, I said NO to me, therefore I must die unto my selfish fleshly ways, and seek HIM in everything I do, and TRUST HIM completely with unwavering FAITH.
Just typing out all these thoughts that have been going through my mind, make me cringe as I know I have most certainly NOT died unto myself in every area. I know that I still worry, get anxious, don't watch my tongue, and allow my anger to spill out into my actions. As I have stated before, I am a HOTT mess.
HIS Daily Teachings today is to remind me that where I fall short, HE is there. Ready to pick me up right where I am, and will wait for me to say, "I need YOU!" I received HIS loving reminder through a song we sang at church yesterday. While we were singing "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship, I threw my hands into the air, and surrendered once again, I asked HIM to soften my heart and break me apart as I needed HIM. I am learning that even when I "think" I have surrendered to HIM completely, HE will continue to seek me, and show me the areas that I have fallen short.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
HE is wanting me to know that in choosing to declare that HE is LORD, I must surrender completely because HE is LORD!
" I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God." Isaiah 43:12
I am learning that I, Heather, am HIS, and HE is mine. HE is the perfect gift that I have been needing. HE is there waiting for me to fully surrender so that I will know HIM completely. I must surrender as HE is LORD.
"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." 1 Peter 1:13
HE is wanting me to know that I must practice self control when it comes to my fleshly desires. HE is telling me that I must not call HIM, LORD, LORD, and then just do whatever it is I want to do. I must choose to die unto myself, and follow HIM, and ask HIM to teach, lead, and guide me every single moment of my life.
HE is reminding me once again that the reason HE paid the ultimate price was so that I would one day be able to join HIM and HIS FATHER in HEAVEN. In my humanness I tend to forget just exactly why I am here. I am learning that it's not about me having all the nice clothes I want, or eating whatever makes me happy. It's not about me speaking my mind, just because I "think" I am entitled to speak it! It's not about be right, or the winner, as in sinning there is no winning. It's not about being so tough so that no one person or thing could ever hurt me again. It's not about creating a heart of steel that has no room for compassion for the lost and the broken.
HE is teaching me that it is all about HIS love, HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS discernment, HIS wisdom, HIS forgiveness. Those are the things that I must embody, as that is what HE is all about. That is what truly makes HIM LORD. This is how I know that HE truly is LORD.
HE is wanting me to know that where I am impatient in waiting, HE will give me the patience! All I need to do is ask. In asking, I am learning that I must follow through, after all HE is telling me that HE is more interested in seeing me walk, than hearing me talk. WOW!!! How about another slice of HUMBLE PIE!
HE is wanting me to know that while I am doing what HE calls me to do in writing this blog, I am not following through with everything that I am writing about. HE is wanting me to know that because I am connected to HIM, HE knows that I am aware of the things that I need to surrender, it's just all up to me to give up my selfish ways.
This for me is hard to swallow, as I've never consider myself to be a selfish person, however in thinking in the way HE puts it, I can see that I, Heather, am a heartless, selfish sinner. I am thankful that HE paid the price for me, as I could never repay HIM.
I am learning I can however, seek HIM, walk with HIM, allow HIM to teach me, and spend each and everyone of my days that I have been given, striving to be more like HIM every single day.
LORD JESUS, create in me a desire to be like you in all of my ways. Help me to see where I have fallen short, and send your "whispers" to let me know what I am needing to do next. Create in me a heart of compassion for others, who is able to love beyond myself, and pray for the lost and the broken, as they are your children too. Help me LORD, I need you to soften my heart, and to break me apart, I need YOU to open my eyes, and to see that everything that YOU are doing for me is for my own good. Help me to remember that I am the reason for the season, as YOU were born, lived, and died for me and for my sins. Help me to remember that in receiving YOUR perfect gift, it's now time for me to give up everything, just as you did for me. Help me LORD, as when I meet you face to face and I said, LORD JESUS, YOU will say to me, "I know you." Oh how I long to hear those words from YOU. Continue to refine and renew me LORD. Continue to teach me, and show me YOUR ways. I am so incredibly in love and awe of YOU LORD, thank you for saving me. Amen.
I pray that if you have accepted HIM as your SAVIOR, that you will have the courage to declare that HE is LORD. I pray that you know that you can't make HIM the LORD of your life, as HE is LORD of your life, HE is just waiting on you to realize that! I pray that you will make the choice to surrender and get to know every part of HIM, so that one day when you say to HIM, "LORD, LORD," HE will say to you, "I know you."
Blessings,
Heather
No comments:
Post a Comment