not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Discipline requires action. How has Christ framed the command for you to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved”? What do you need to do to be more?
FirstNLR Live Dead Prayer Emphasis
Thursday, April 19, 2012
DAY 14 LIVE|DEAD LEARNING
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does
not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Discipline requires action. How has Christ framed the command for you to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved”? What do you need to do to be more?
not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Discipline requires action. How has Christ framed the command for you to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved”? What do you need to do to be more?
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7 comments:
This has been something that has been on my heart for the past six months - only heightened as I read this morning's LIVE DEAD entry. I must push myself to defeat laziness, lethargy, and intimidation - the three ugly stepsisters of my old nature.
It is not that I feel I must try to "earn" God's favor or His grace. It is, however, incumbent upon me to push myself beyond the limits of my fleshly nature in order to defeat the tendency to "relax in my faith."
I have been getting up an hour earlier, eating better, exercising more, reading more, etc. The call to "be more" is a definite call I am hearing this year. I am thanful for the LIVE/DEAD experience because it has caused this determination to take a quantum leap.
Lord, as I "WORK OUT my salvation with fear and trembling", let me remember that is You who "WORKS IN me both to will and to do that which pleases the Lord."
Boo...hiss....Nobody wants to talk or hear about how they should be more disciplined. We want to swim in pools of grace and lounge on rafts of understanding. "I am so busy, I am totally overwhelmed, My life is crazy right now...God understands."
So true, He does understand, but that doesnt mean he approves with our choices of where to invest our time and energy. I think at times we want to picture God as our loving grandparent stroking our head and quietly saying, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about that, you're wonderful just the way you are!"
The call to be more is not a demand of Christ, it is His desire for us. He longs for us to make the choice to dive in, step up, go deeper...INVEST.
Lord, forgive me for being lazy in my faith. Forgive me for being a poor steward of my time, health, and energy. I desire to be "more" for YOU. Would you guide me in this quest for your glory.
"...I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24
My true nature is one of slothfulness...I am prone to sit and do nothing...I am acquainted with laziness, lethargy, and intimidation - very acquainted. In fact, I think they have taken up residence in my heart and mind.
So to say that this lesson hit me hard is an understatement! I realize through the missionaries' words that if we are called by Christ to be His own, then we are called into action and into service. We are also called out of being lazy, lethargic, and intimidated.
I am struggling with fear at this very moment and this fear has almost crippled me. I am unable to think clearly and to develop plans. Lord, I know that I am human and that there will be days when my inward nature wants to move me towards fear which then moves me into the intimidation and lethargic modes. But, God, You are able to remove my fears and replace them with Your strength and power...and in that power and strength, I am able to move and to act and to plan. I ask that You intervene in the days ahead as I really move to a place that is foreign, that is so far away from my family and friends, and that You empower me to present myself to those around me as Your workman not ashamed of the Truth and correctly handling the Word in all aspects of my daily life. I only want to be known as Your child.
Well said Melody. Thanks for sharing.
Praying today that God would replace your fears with power and fortitude. Allow God to use you according to His plan.
Being more for God - you have to be less of yourself... makes sense right in this world where it's all about me and what I do... but this is exactly what God is calling us to do. Give up our selfish desires and give everything to God. He must increase in our lives and we must decrease.
Let us all have the desire to be more for God and less for ourselves...
Interesting...like Pastor Brian, I have felt the call to "be more" for quite some time. At the beginning of the year I began to restructure my time, my priorities, my daily routine to make more room for God. It was God-ordained preparation for this Live Dead journey I didn't realize I was going to make.
Also interesting that some of the people who have my best interests at heart are the ones "fighting" against me and what I believe to be God's leading in my life. I hear things such as, "You need to rest more," or "Don't you think it's a little too much for you?" or "Hey, lighten up a little."
And, the voice inside my spirit counters with, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest," and "When I am weak, He is strong," and "The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force."
I realize that part of living dead sometimes is dying to the desires and well-wishes of those nearest me when they are contrary to God's desires and plans for me. I also realize it's okay to be misunderstood. And, mostly, that there is great, great joy in obedience!
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