Will You Go In?
John 20:3-8
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
Do we have a "I'll go this far but no further" mark in our walk with the Lord? It's an interesting query. We may have such a mark without even being conscious of it.
We read in John 20:3-8, how Peter and John were both heading to Jesus' tomb together. John ran ahead of Peter, but when he got to the entrance of the tomb he stopped. He simply stooped down and looked in. Then Peter arrives at the tomb. He has a different approach - he goes right in. Peter sees more than John did, because he enters. Peter sees the handkerchief that had been around Jesus' head folded and lying in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed....
Peter's action of going into the tomb helped John to also enter in after him. This caused John to see and believe...
Standing at the entrance was not enough to fill John with belief that Jesus had risen. And yet, something held him back. Then Peter came along, and by his action of going into the tomb - he paved the way for John to follow him in.
It's important for us to go all the way with the Lord. Not just for ourselves, but also for those who are watching us and who we are influencing (knowingly or unknowingly).
Let's not stop short of the finish line. Let's not let fear of the unknown keep us from going all the way.
It's when we step into the unknown and trust the Lord with our whole lives that we'll see the manifestation of His power, His goodness, and His might.
When we enter the tomb instead of standing outside and peering in, we'll see and experience what we could not previously perceive or understand.
Let's pray:
Our Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us insight into how to walk fully with You. Fill us Lord with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to walk fully trusting You and not stop short of the mark out of fear or uncertainty. We truly can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength. Let us run with endurance the entire race set before us and keep our eyes on You - our prize, until we meet You in glory. Help us to go in, Lord, in Jesus' name, amen.❤️
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Fitly Spoken
John 20:3-8
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
Do we have a "I'll go this far but no further" mark in our walk with the Lord? It's an interesting query. We may have such a mark without even being conscious of it.
We read in John 20:3-8, how Peter and John were both heading to Jesus' tomb together. John ran ahead of Peter, but when he got to the entrance of the tomb he stopped. He simply stooped down and looked in. Then Peter arrives at the tomb. He has a different approach - he goes right in. Peter sees more than John did, because he enters. Peter sees the handkerchief that had been around Jesus' head folded and lying in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed....
Peter's action of going into the tomb helped John to also enter in after him. This caused John to see and believe...
Standing at the entrance was not enough to fill John with belief that Jesus had risen. And yet, something held him back. Then Peter came along, and by his action of going into the tomb - he paved the way for John to follow him in.
It's important for us to go all the way with the Lord. Not just for ourselves, but also for those who are watching us and who we are influencing (knowingly or unknowingly).
Let's not stop short of the finish line. Let's not let fear of the unknown keep us from going all the way.
It's when we step into the unknown and trust the Lord with our whole lives that we'll see the manifestation of His power, His goodness, and His might.
When we enter the tomb instead of standing outside and peering in, we'll see and experience what we could not previously perceive or understand.
Let's pray:
Our Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us insight into how to walk fully with You. Fill us Lord with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to walk fully trusting You and not stop short of the mark out of fear or uncertainty. We truly can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength. Let us run with endurance the entire race set before us and keep our eyes on You - our prize, until we meet You in glory. Help us to go in, Lord, in Jesus' name, amen.❤️
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Fitly Spoken
❤8
Our Valuable Choice
Joshua instructed the Israelites to "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve," and then he stated: "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (See Joshua 24:15).
Everyday we have a choice of who we will serve. God? Ourselves? The devil?
Remember when you were a child and the time came to choose team members for a sports game? You wanted to be chosen. It definitely wasn't as preffered to be placed on a team. Everybody wants to be chosen.
God also wants to be chosen. It means the most to Him when we can choose anything and we choose Him. When we choose to give Him our time, our effort, our energy, our attention, and our affection.
The Bible says that Wisdom calls out to the passerby. (See Proverbs 8). There is always an invitation to us to come and spend time with the Lord. There is a table prepared for us to come and partake of.
Herein lies our choice. Will we turn into Wisdom's house, or pass on by? Our God is not forceful. He invites us to come, and then He waits and waits and waits for us.
Our choice is a precious gift. It is valuable, and it is truly our own. The beautiful thing about choices is we have many opportunities to make them. Everyday, we can choose God over other things - more and more.
For example: maybe we reach for our phone to scroll on social media...then a quick thought comes: why not read your Bible? Right there we have a choice. Or, we feel tired and want to watch TV to "veg," but we sense our spirit wants to pray...again we have a choice. The more we choose one way or the other, the more inclined we will be to continue to make those choices. Whatever we choose, will be what is easier to choose the next time we are presented with a choice.
Just like the children of Israel, we have a choice. We must choose.
I have chosen:
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15b).
What will you choose?
Let's pray:
Father God, we praise and bless Your holy name. You are great and are worthy of all our adoration, exultation and praise. Thank You for giving us a choice. Our right to choose tells us that You want us to serve You and live for You willingly. Oh Lord, how could we live our lives for anyone else? As Peter said in John 6:68: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." We serve You willingly because we love You. You have captured our hearts.❤️ Help us Lord to choose You more and more each day. Help us to put away the things that distract us and draw us away from You. Help us to live each day on purpose with Your heart and Your Kingdom in our thoughts. May our actions reflect our desire to live for You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Joshua instructed the Israelites to "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve," and then he stated: "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (See Joshua 24:15).
Everyday we have a choice of who we will serve. God? Ourselves? The devil?
Remember when you were a child and the time came to choose team members for a sports game? You wanted to be chosen. It definitely wasn't as preffered to be placed on a team. Everybody wants to be chosen.
God also wants to be chosen. It means the most to Him when we can choose anything and we choose Him. When we choose to give Him our time, our effort, our energy, our attention, and our affection.
The Bible says that Wisdom calls out to the passerby. (See Proverbs 8). There is always an invitation to us to come and spend time with the Lord. There is a table prepared for us to come and partake of.
Herein lies our choice. Will we turn into Wisdom's house, or pass on by? Our God is not forceful. He invites us to come, and then He waits and waits and waits for us.
Our choice is a precious gift. It is valuable, and it is truly our own. The beautiful thing about choices is we have many opportunities to make them. Everyday, we can choose God over other things - more and more.
For example: maybe we reach for our phone to scroll on social media...then a quick thought comes: why not read your Bible? Right there we have a choice. Or, we feel tired and want to watch TV to "veg," but we sense our spirit wants to pray...again we have a choice. The more we choose one way or the other, the more inclined we will be to continue to make those choices. Whatever we choose, will be what is easier to choose the next time we are presented with a choice.
Just like the children of Israel, we have a choice. We must choose.
I have chosen:
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15b).
What will you choose?
Let's pray:
Father God, we praise and bless Your holy name. You are great and are worthy of all our adoration, exultation and praise. Thank You for giving us a choice. Our right to choose tells us that You want us to serve You and live for You willingly. Oh Lord, how could we live our lives for anyone else? As Peter said in John 6:68: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." We serve You willingly because we love You. You have captured our hearts.❤️ Help us Lord to choose You more and more each day. Help us to put away the things that distract us and draw us away from You. Help us to live each day on purpose with Your heart and Your Kingdom in our thoughts. May our actions reflect our desire to live for You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
❤10
Embedded Hope
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith works with hope. Hope is more than just wishing for something. Hope is something that one feels one can obtain what one is hoping for. Hope propells us forward, influences our decisions, and guides our prayers.
Hope is vital to our faith.
We hope because we have not physically attained what we hope for yet. Hope is an anchor for us.
Our hope is also something that can be fragile. If we don't guard it, we can let go of it. When we leave hope behind it hinders our faith. How do we have faith for something that we no longer hope for? When hope and faith detach from each other, there is a disconnect.
When one no longer hopes, faith fades and unbelief creeps in. Disillusionment comes also. Instead of speaking words of faith, words of emptiness, unbelief, and anger start to abound. Why anger? Because we get angry when we feel something is wrong, or didn't work for us. One may even start to question the Bible and God. It's a hard road when we let go of that so important thing: hope.
Hope is our anchor.
What function does an anchor have?
Taken from blog.getboat.com: an anchor digs into the sea bottom and resists movement. Anchors are designed to increase holding power by embedding themselves into sand, mud, or other seabed materials.
Our hope as an anchor is designed to resist movement. It is designed to keep us in the place of believing and having faith for what we do not yet see. Our hope embeds itself into the Word of God, and stays planted while it grows bigger (like an embryo). It then grows big enough for faith to attatch itself to. When we release that faith, we obtain what we are hoping for.
In order for our hope to stay firm, it must be embedded in the Word of God - in what the Scripture says about what we are believing for. Hoping for marriage? In Genesis 2:18, the Bible says it is not good for the man to be alone. This is a solid verse to stand on and thank God that you will not be spending your life alone, and that He has a spouse suitable for you. You plant your hope in that Word, and refuse to move. Your faith attaches to that hope in the Word. You start to obey the Holy Spirit as He guides you into preparing to meet and wed your spouse.
God is intentional with His Word and He will lead us all the way through to the promise if we'll take Him at His Word, dig in and allow our hope to grow through the Word.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Let's pray:
Father God thank You for Your Word. Thank You for hope! Thank You that our hope can live and become strong when it is anchored deep in Your Word. Thank You that Your desire and intent for us is to make all grace abound toward us and that we would always have all sufficiency in all things. Protect our hope, Lord. Strengthen us to keep hoping, believing, and remain full of faith. For we will reap, if we do not lose heart. In Jesus' name we pray all this, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith works with hope. Hope is more than just wishing for something. Hope is something that one feels one can obtain what one is hoping for. Hope propells us forward, influences our decisions, and guides our prayers.
Hope is vital to our faith.
We hope because we have not physically attained what we hope for yet. Hope is an anchor for us.
Our hope is also something that can be fragile. If we don't guard it, we can let go of it. When we leave hope behind it hinders our faith. How do we have faith for something that we no longer hope for? When hope and faith detach from each other, there is a disconnect.
When one no longer hopes, faith fades and unbelief creeps in. Disillusionment comes also. Instead of speaking words of faith, words of emptiness, unbelief, and anger start to abound. Why anger? Because we get angry when we feel something is wrong, or didn't work for us. One may even start to question the Bible and God. It's a hard road when we let go of that so important thing: hope.
Hope is our anchor.
What function does an anchor have?
Taken from blog.getboat.com: an anchor digs into the sea bottom and resists movement. Anchors are designed to increase holding power by embedding themselves into sand, mud, or other seabed materials.
Our hope as an anchor is designed to resist movement. It is designed to keep us in the place of believing and having faith for what we do not yet see. Our hope embeds itself into the Word of God, and stays planted while it grows bigger (like an embryo). It then grows big enough for faith to attatch itself to. When we release that faith, we obtain what we are hoping for.
In order for our hope to stay firm, it must be embedded in the Word of God - in what the Scripture says about what we are believing for. Hoping for marriage? In Genesis 2:18, the Bible says it is not good for the man to be alone. This is a solid verse to stand on and thank God that you will not be spending your life alone, and that He has a spouse suitable for you. You plant your hope in that Word, and refuse to move. Your faith attaches to that hope in the Word. You start to obey the Holy Spirit as He guides you into preparing to meet and wed your spouse.
God is intentional with His Word and He will lead us all the way through to the promise if we'll take Him at His Word, dig in and allow our hope to grow through the Word.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Let's pray:
Father God thank You for Your Word. Thank You for hope! Thank You that our hope can live and become strong when it is anchored deep in Your Word. Thank You that Your desire and intent for us is to make all grace abound toward us and that we would always have all sufficiency in all things. Protect our hope, Lord. Strengthen us to keep hoping, believing, and remain full of faith. For we will reap, if we do not lose heart. In Jesus' name we pray all this, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
❤11
A Heart Like Cornelius
Acts 10:1-4
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
Cornelius was a man who gave generously and prayed always. We read how his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God.
Cornelius' generosity and steadfastness caused God to respond to him in the same manner.
God moved supernaturally to reach out to Cornelius. He sent an angel to him. He sent Peter to him. God was so generous to Cornelius - as Cornelius was to God.
Psalm 18:25
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless.
As we seek God - we find Him, when we search for Him with all our hearts. (See Jeremiah 29:13).
The proportion to which we serve God, seek Him, and yearn for Him, is the direct proportion that we'll find Him, and experience His "bigness" and supernatural power in our lives.
May the Lord give us grace to search for Him and live for Him as Cornelius did, in Jesus' name, amen!💗
- Fitly Spoken
Acts 10:1-4
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
Cornelius was a man who gave generously and prayed always. We read how his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God.
Cornelius' generosity and steadfastness caused God to respond to him in the same manner.
God moved supernaturally to reach out to Cornelius. He sent an angel to him. He sent Peter to him. God was so generous to Cornelius - as Cornelius was to God.
Psalm 18:25
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless.
As we seek God - we find Him, when we search for Him with all our hearts. (See Jeremiah 29:13).
The proportion to which we serve God, seek Him, and yearn for Him, is the direct proportion that we'll find Him, and experience His "bigness" and supernatural power in our lives.
May the Lord give us grace to search for Him and live for Him as Cornelius did, in Jesus' name, amen!💗
- Fitly Spoken
🙏9❤4🔥1
The Word Uncovered
I was recently given a Word study to do on the verses below. I don't know what I was expecting, but it really arrested me. It arrested me in the best possible way.
We can read scripture and take it quite lightly. We can pass by it without finding out what the scripture is compelling us to do. The Word of God is amazing. It has step-by-step instruction of how to live for God free and unencumbered - if we only will obey it's commands. Let's take a look...
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32, are “how-to” forgive verses. The first part: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice,” must be done in order to fulfill the second part:
“be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Any one of these things: bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, etc.. can cause us to be in a state of unforgiveness. Yet removing these things from our lives with repentance, will free us to forgive.
Let's break down what these “stand in the way of forgiveness” things are, and what we must put off in order to forgive:
Bitterness: gall of bitterness. (RememberJesus was given gall on the cross. He tasted bitterness for us, so that we could have freedom from bitterness. He went through the most bitter of situations for us).
Bitterness is bitter root producing bitter fruit.
Bitterness comes from resentment at being treated unfairly, from anger, and from disapointment that has been given time to fester.
Bitter things can taste bad and bitterness inside of oneself will make other things become tainted and “taste bad.” It's hard to enjoy good things when you are bitter, because bitterness infiltrates everything in your life. Bitterness is poison.
Wrath: Violent passion, agitation of soul, violent emotion.
Anger: to teem, swell up, something the beholder considers wrong, internal motion, like a fruit swelling with juice.
Clamor: crying, outcry, screaming (shrieking), extremely boisterous, like a wounded person emitting "unearthly" (non-human) types of sounds.
Evil speaking: defamation, evil report, slander, detraction, petty criticism, speech injurious to another's good name, reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty.
Malice: ill will, desire to injure, wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws. An evil, vicious disposition and a malicious disposition (character) that fosters and fondles evil habits.("malignity") Inevitably showing itself in acts of deceit (treachery). Characteristic of " 'evil-mindedness' that puts the worst construction on everything."
Phew!
Now let's look at what we must put on in order to forgive and live free:
(Be) Kind: to show oneself useful. Expresses active goodness that meets real need with gentle grace. It is more than a pleasant disposition; it is benevolence that takes concrete form. Helpfulness in civic life, kindness to steadfast love. “Love is patient, love is kind.” A complementary pair—long-suffering that endures provocation and kindness that proactively blesses.
Kindness listens before speaking, offering counsel seasoned with grace. (See Colossians 4:6).
“Unusual kindness” opens doors for the gospel; (See Acts 28:2). compassionate deeds authenticate proclamation.
Proverbs 25:15 notes that gentle patience breaks resistance. Pair it with kindness.
James 1:27 calls for visiting orphans and widows; kindness moves beyond sympathy to tangible service.
Tenderhearted: Well compassioned, sympathetic. Gut-level sympathy.
Forgiving: freedom, deliverance, liberty. Dismissal, release, pardon. Something sent away. Releasing someone from obligation or debt.
- Fitly Spoken
I was recently given a Word study to do on the verses below. I don't know what I was expecting, but it really arrested me. It arrested me in the best possible way.
We can read scripture and take it quite lightly. We can pass by it without finding out what the scripture is compelling us to do. The Word of God is amazing. It has step-by-step instruction of how to live for God free and unencumbered - if we only will obey it's commands. Let's take a look...
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32, are “how-to” forgive verses. The first part: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice,” must be done in order to fulfill the second part:
“be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Any one of these things: bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, etc.. can cause us to be in a state of unforgiveness. Yet removing these things from our lives with repentance, will free us to forgive.
Let's break down what these “stand in the way of forgiveness” things are, and what we must put off in order to forgive:
Bitterness: gall of bitterness. (RememberJesus was given gall on the cross. He tasted bitterness for us, so that we could have freedom from bitterness. He went through the most bitter of situations for us).
Bitterness is bitter root producing bitter fruit.
Bitterness comes from resentment at being treated unfairly, from anger, and from disapointment that has been given time to fester.
Bitter things can taste bad and bitterness inside of oneself will make other things become tainted and “taste bad.” It's hard to enjoy good things when you are bitter, because bitterness infiltrates everything in your life. Bitterness is poison.
Wrath: Violent passion, agitation of soul, violent emotion.
Anger: to teem, swell up, something the beholder considers wrong, internal motion, like a fruit swelling with juice.
Clamor: crying, outcry, screaming (shrieking), extremely boisterous, like a wounded person emitting "unearthly" (non-human) types of sounds.
Evil speaking: defamation, evil report, slander, detraction, petty criticism, speech injurious to another's good name, reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty.
Malice: ill will, desire to injure, wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws. An evil, vicious disposition and a malicious disposition (character) that fosters and fondles evil habits.("malignity") Inevitably showing itself in acts of deceit (treachery). Characteristic of " 'evil-mindedness' that puts the worst construction on everything."
Phew!
Now let's look at what we must put on in order to forgive and live free:
(Be) Kind: to show oneself useful. Expresses active goodness that meets real need with gentle grace. It is more than a pleasant disposition; it is benevolence that takes concrete form. Helpfulness in civic life, kindness to steadfast love. “Love is patient, love is kind.” A complementary pair—long-suffering that endures provocation and kindness that proactively blesses.
Kindness listens before speaking, offering counsel seasoned with grace. (See Colossians 4:6).
“Unusual kindness” opens doors for the gospel; (See Acts 28:2). compassionate deeds authenticate proclamation.
Proverbs 25:15 notes that gentle patience breaks resistance. Pair it with kindness.
James 1:27 calls for visiting orphans and widows; kindness moves beyond sympathy to tangible service.
Tenderhearted: Well compassioned, sympathetic. Gut-level sympathy.
Forgiving: freedom, deliverance, liberty. Dismissal, release, pardon. Something sent away. Releasing someone from obligation or debt.
- Fitly Spoken
❤4🥰2
There is stunning revelation in these verses. Even if we just embraced this one: long-suffering that endures provocation and kindness that proactively blesses - we would live a life free from unforgiveness.
Father God, help us to repent and turn away from our sin if we've disobeyed You in "putting away from us these things," and grant us more grace to receive Your Word with meekness and willingness of heart to do all it says and to walk in the ensuing freedom that obedience to Your Word brings, in Jesus' name, amen.🙏❤️
*Definitions taken online from Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, and Search Assist (for bitterness feelings).
- Fitly Spoken
Father God, help us to repent and turn away from our sin if we've disobeyed You in "putting away from us these things," and grant us more grace to receive Your Word with meekness and willingness of heart to do all it says and to walk in the ensuing freedom that obedience to Your Word brings, in Jesus' name, amen.🙏❤️
*Definitions taken online from Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, and Search Assist (for bitterness feelings).
- Fitly Spoken
Telegram
Fitly Spoken
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11
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Acknowledgement
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
The Bible instructs us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways. How do we do that? Well, the first part of the verse needs to happen first. First we trust in Him with all our hearts, and then we purpose to not lean on our own understanding.
What we lean on is what we believe can support us. We lean on what we trust. We lean on what we believe will guide us correctly. If we are instructed to not lean on our own understanding, then whose understanding do we lean on? The Lord's. Through His Word we find the understanding/wisdom we need for all aspects of life. We must lean into the Word.
Practically, this can look like, when a situation arises that needs an answer - instead of problem-solving in our minds, we take the Word of God and search for the instruction we need there - first.
When we approach the Word of God - the Bible first before trying to solve the problem ourselves, we affirm that our whole heart is trusting in the Lord, and not in ourselves.
Now comes acknowledgement.
Acknowledgement is very important. In Oxford Learners Dictionaries, acknowledgement is given a definition of: an act of accepting that something exists or is true, or that something is there.
We hear many acknowledgements today. Acknowledgement that we live and work on such and such a land that is unceded territory. Acknowledgement denotes honor, and it expresses that something or someone worthy of proclaiming and mentioning.
The Holy Spirit is such a One. When we acknowledge Him and invite Him into our everyday lives; He comes. He will not push His way in, but if He is acknowledged, noticed and invited, He will come. He will help us in every capacity. As much help as we desire, He will give us. The blockage comes on our part, when we think that we don't need Him in certain areas.
A simple example: there are days where what I'm going to wear to work is the last thing I thought of, and now I'm facing my wardrobe with only a few minutes to dress before I have to leave. And so I pause and pray something like: Holy Spirit, I acknowledge You in this moment. I don't know what to wear. You know how this day will go, and the clothing I need for my work day. Please help me choose what to wear, amen. And He does!
What I'm endeavoring to relay, is that He is right there. He's standing by our side. So many times we ignore Him and rush on our way, but if we would pause and acknowledge Him, He will direct us aright - even in the simplest things.
The key? To acknowledge Him in all our ways before we rush on our way. This also helps us to walk humbly before the Lord when we acknowledge our dependency on Him. My friends, it is life changing to walk with the Lord in this way. It removes the burdens and the uncertainty. It cultivates a beautiful relationship with the One Who promised to never leave us or forsake us - and He truly never will. Our part is to acknowledge Him, And we'll come to realize that He was there all the time.
Will you join me in a prayer?
Lord, we come before You humbly and in awe of Who You are. That You would walk with us so intimately fills us with wonder. Who are we that You are mindful of us? And yet, You care so deeply for us. Help us Lord to acknowledge You in all our ways. Help us Holy Spirit. Nudge us gently if we've run off on our own, to pause and ask for Your guidance first. Draw us to You more and more until our first thought when we wake up is of You and our last thought before we close our eyes to sleep. Thank You for being such a loving, intentional Lord of our lives. We acknowledge You and we love You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
The Bible instructs us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways. How do we do that? Well, the first part of the verse needs to happen first. First we trust in Him with all our hearts, and then we purpose to not lean on our own understanding.
What we lean on is what we believe can support us. We lean on what we trust. We lean on what we believe will guide us correctly. If we are instructed to not lean on our own understanding, then whose understanding do we lean on? The Lord's. Through His Word we find the understanding/wisdom we need for all aspects of life. We must lean into the Word.
Practically, this can look like, when a situation arises that needs an answer - instead of problem-solving in our minds, we take the Word of God and search for the instruction we need there - first.
When we approach the Word of God - the Bible first before trying to solve the problem ourselves, we affirm that our whole heart is trusting in the Lord, and not in ourselves.
Now comes acknowledgement.
Acknowledgement is very important. In Oxford Learners Dictionaries, acknowledgement is given a definition of: an act of accepting that something exists or is true, or that something is there.
We hear many acknowledgements today. Acknowledgement that we live and work on such and such a land that is unceded territory. Acknowledgement denotes honor, and it expresses that something or someone worthy of proclaiming and mentioning.
The Holy Spirit is such a One. When we acknowledge Him and invite Him into our everyday lives; He comes. He will not push His way in, but if He is acknowledged, noticed and invited, He will come. He will help us in every capacity. As much help as we desire, He will give us. The blockage comes on our part, when we think that we don't need Him in certain areas.
A simple example: there are days where what I'm going to wear to work is the last thing I thought of, and now I'm facing my wardrobe with only a few minutes to dress before I have to leave. And so I pause and pray something like: Holy Spirit, I acknowledge You in this moment. I don't know what to wear. You know how this day will go, and the clothing I need for my work day. Please help me choose what to wear, amen. And He does!
What I'm endeavoring to relay, is that He is right there. He's standing by our side. So many times we ignore Him and rush on our way, but if we would pause and acknowledge Him, He will direct us aright - even in the simplest things.
The key? To acknowledge Him in all our ways before we rush on our way. This also helps us to walk humbly before the Lord when we acknowledge our dependency on Him. My friends, it is life changing to walk with the Lord in this way. It removes the burdens and the uncertainty. It cultivates a beautiful relationship with the One Who promised to never leave us or forsake us - and He truly never will. Our part is to acknowledge Him, And we'll come to realize that He was there all the time.
Will you join me in a prayer?
Lord, we come before You humbly and in awe of Who You are. That You would walk with us so intimately fills us with wonder. Who are we that You are mindful of us? And yet, You care so deeply for us. Help us Lord to acknowledge You in all our ways. Help us Holy Spirit. Nudge us gently if we've run off on our own, to pause and ask for Your guidance first. Draw us to You more and more until our first thought when we wake up is of You and our last thought before we close our eyes to sleep. Thank You for being such a loving, intentional Lord of our lives. We acknowledge You and we love You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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Don't Waste Your Trials
Acts 28:3-5
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
Apostle Paul had just endured a tumultuous storm on the seas described in Acts 27:20 as: Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Paul had warned that the voyage would not go well and yet was ignored. He was on the ship in the first place because he was wrongfully accused and was being sent to Rome for judgement. He then escaped the ship with his fellow prisoners and started being helpful by gathering sticks for a fire....and was bitten by a snake.
Accusations, tossed in the sea, shipwrecked, and then bitten by a snake - all because he had preached the gospel.
I want to point out here that Paul was in the will of God. I also want us to notice how Paul responded: he shook the snake off - and suffered no harm.
He didn't wail and fall on the ground saying: "I can't take this anymore. I'm constantly rewarded evil for good..." No, he just shook it off. And because of this, the natives were open to hear what he had to say about the gospel, and received much freedom in their lives.
Our greatest trials can be our greatest testimonies to those watching - if we walk steadfastly through them - trusting in God all the way.
Trials and hardships do not change the truth that God is good. If we allow Him, He will turn difficult situations in our lives into springboards for blessings and miracles.
Remember Paul and Silas when they were beaten and bound in prison? (See Acts 16). They spent their time there praying and singing praises to God - and the other prisoners were listening. Then a miracle occured - and everyone's chains were loosed. Then the keeper of the prison and his entire household got saved.
If we only pray for God to save us from hard situations, we may miss the magnitude of how many others He wants to effect and gather into His Kingdom through our trial, as we trust in Him. It's not difficult for God to get us out of hardship. But can we trust Him and endure with praise and thanksgiving on our lips so that He can bring many to freedom along with us?
Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can.
Let's pray.
Father God, thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit. Thank You Holy Spirit for giving us the strength and ability to endure even the toughest of situations. Thank You that as we walk in obedience to You, You are working all things out for our good. Thank You that our trials can become an avenue for many to see Your glorious working power and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ for themselves. Thank You Lord, that no hardship is wasted when we serve You faithfully no matter what we're seeing in front of us. Because You remain the same, we also can remain steadfast, faithful, and completely trusting in You to finish Your perfect work in our lives. We thank You, and pray all these things in Jesus' name, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Acts 28:3-5
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
Apostle Paul had just endured a tumultuous storm on the seas described in Acts 27:20 as: Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Paul had warned that the voyage would not go well and yet was ignored. He was on the ship in the first place because he was wrongfully accused and was being sent to Rome for judgement. He then escaped the ship with his fellow prisoners and started being helpful by gathering sticks for a fire....and was bitten by a snake.
Accusations, tossed in the sea, shipwrecked, and then bitten by a snake - all because he had preached the gospel.
I want to point out here that Paul was in the will of God. I also want us to notice how Paul responded: he shook the snake off - and suffered no harm.
He didn't wail and fall on the ground saying: "I can't take this anymore. I'm constantly rewarded evil for good..." No, he just shook it off. And because of this, the natives were open to hear what he had to say about the gospel, and received much freedom in their lives.
Our greatest trials can be our greatest testimonies to those watching - if we walk steadfastly through them - trusting in God all the way.
Trials and hardships do not change the truth that God is good. If we allow Him, He will turn difficult situations in our lives into springboards for blessings and miracles.
Remember Paul and Silas when they were beaten and bound in prison? (See Acts 16). They spent their time there praying and singing praises to God - and the other prisoners were listening. Then a miracle occured - and everyone's chains were loosed. Then the keeper of the prison and his entire household got saved.
If we only pray for God to save us from hard situations, we may miss the magnitude of how many others He wants to effect and gather into His Kingdom through our trial, as we trust in Him. It's not difficult for God to get us out of hardship. But can we trust Him and endure with praise and thanksgiving on our lips so that He can bring many to freedom along with us?
Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can.
Let's pray.
Father God, thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit. Thank You Holy Spirit for giving us the strength and ability to endure even the toughest of situations. Thank You that as we walk in obedience to You, You are working all things out for our good. Thank You that our trials can become an avenue for many to see Your glorious working power and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ for themselves. Thank You Lord, that no hardship is wasted when we serve You faithfully no matter what we're seeing in front of us. Because You remain the same, we also can remain steadfast, faithful, and completely trusting in You to finish Your perfect work in our lives. We thank You, and pray all these things in Jesus' name, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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How Abraham Believed
Romans 4:20
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
Doubt, which culminates in unbelief, causes us to waver at the promises of God. So how do we escape this? How do we stand firm - rooted and grounded on the Word of God in the face of uncertainty?
By strengthening our faith. By giving glory to God.
Let's look at the term waver, as found in The Britannica Dictionary.
Waver: to go back and forth between choices or opinions : to be uncertain about what you think about something or someone.
What causes us to "go back and forth between choices?" Our feelings can cause us to fluctuate if we adhere to them. Circumstances that arise that do not look promising can also cause uncertainty in our minds.
When we are able to be moved by "emotional, stormy weather," (remember the house built on the sand - found in Matthew 7:26-27) it can cause us to waver. When our decisions are based upon what we are seeing, it can cause us to waver. When our trust is not complete in our God who gives us the promises; we can waver.
Abraham had opportunity to waver. He had years of opportunity. Yet, the scripture says that he did not waver at God's promise to him. Abraham had nothing to stand on but God's promise. He had no "proof" that it would come to pass except for his belief and trust in the Lord that He was faithful to perform it. Abraham's "work," was to believe. Believe and keep believing without deviating. We see the process that that belief took to become realized in Abraham's life. It grew and grew and eventually became solid. But before he didn't waver, we see how he did waver: He hearkened to his wife's voice and tried to have a son through a means that made sense to him and her. At that point his body was still able to give seed and produce a child. Yet, when the promise of God came to fruition, Abraham's body was stated as "already dead," and Sarah's womb was also "dead." (See Romans 4:19). The promise fulfilled would be by God's miraculous doing alone.
How did Abraham go from a place of wavering and trying to help God's promise "hurry up," to patiently and securely trusting God to bring it to pass?
The Bible says that Abraham was "strengthened in faith, giving glory to God."
We give glory, honour, and recognition to the one that deserves it upon a completed work. Yet Abraham gave God glory before he saw the finished work, because he believed it was finished - even before he had the promised child in his arms. How did he do this?
Our answer is found in the next verse: And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (Romans 4:21).
To become convinced of something is to go through a process: weighing evidence, reading reports, and listening to testimonies. The Bible says that Abraham became "fully convinced." Herein is our key.
When doubt is finally washed out, unbelief becomes belief. Every argument against the promise being fulfilled has finally ceased. How does this occur? Through the strengthening of our faith.
How do we strengthen our faith?
By reading, listening to and speaking what the Word of God says- over and over and over, until our minds are renewed to think like the Word and we become fully convinced that it is true - and that it is true for us.
We see this principle at work in Abraham's life. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. Whenever Abraham said his name or heard his name being spoken - the meaning of his name was proclaimed: "Father of many nations, or a multitude."
We see what method God chose to "convince" Abraham that His promise to him would be fulfilled. He placed the promise in his name. Our name is something we speak over and over and that others also speak over us continually. Abraham heard his name: "Father of many nations," he spoke his name: "Father of many nations," and he began to give God glory for the fulfilled promise. He became strengthened in faith. And then the day came, when through this process, he became fully convinced.
- Fitly Spoken
Romans 4:20
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
Doubt, which culminates in unbelief, causes us to waver at the promises of God. So how do we escape this? How do we stand firm - rooted and grounded on the Word of God in the face of uncertainty?
By strengthening our faith. By giving glory to God.
Let's look at the term waver, as found in The Britannica Dictionary.
Waver: to go back and forth between choices or opinions : to be uncertain about what you think about something or someone.
What causes us to "go back and forth between choices?" Our feelings can cause us to fluctuate if we adhere to them. Circumstances that arise that do not look promising can also cause uncertainty in our minds.
When we are able to be moved by "emotional, stormy weather," (remember the house built on the sand - found in Matthew 7:26-27) it can cause us to waver. When our decisions are based upon what we are seeing, it can cause us to waver. When our trust is not complete in our God who gives us the promises; we can waver.
Abraham had opportunity to waver. He had years of opportunity. Yet, the scripture says that he did not waver at God's promise to him. Abraham had nothing to stand on but God's promise. He had no "proof" that it would come to pass except for his belief and trust in the Lord that He was faithful to perform it. Abraham's "work," was to believe. Believe and keep believing without deviating. We see the process that that belief took to become realized in Abraham's life. It grew and grew and eventually became solid. But before he didn't waver, we see how he did waver: He hearkened to his wife's voice and tried to have a son through a means that made sense to him and her. At that point his body was still able to give seed and produce a child. Yet, when the promise of God came to fruition, Abraham's body was stated as "already dead," and Sarah's womb was also "dead." (See Romans 4:19). The promise fulfilled would be by God's miraculous doing alone.
How did Abraham go from a place of wavering and trying to help God's promise "hurry up," to patiently and securely trusting God to bring it to pass?
The Bible says that Abraham was "strengthened in faith, giving glory to God."
We give glory, honour, and recognition to the one that deserves it upon a completed work. Yet Abraham gave God glory before he saw the finished work, because he believed it was finished - even before he had the promised child in his arms. How did he do this?
Our answer is found in the next verse: And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (Romans 4:21).
To become convinced of something is to go through a process: weighing evidence, reading reports, and listening to testimonies. The Bible says that Abraham became "fully convinced." Herein is our key.
When doubt is finally washed out, unbelief becomes belief. Every argument against the promise being fulfilled has finally ceased. How does this occur? Through the strengthening of our faith.
How do we strengthen our faith?
By reading, listening to and speaking what the Word of God says- over and over and over, until our minds are renewed to think like the Word and we become fully convinced that it is true - and that it is true for us.
We see this principle at work in Abraham's life. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. Whenever Abraham said his name or heard his name being spoken - the meaning of his name was proclaimed: "Father of many nations, or a multitude."
We see what method God chose to "convince" Abraham that His promise to him would be fulfilled. He placed the promise in his name. Our name is something we speak over and over and that others also speak over us continually. Abraham heard his name: "Father of many nations," he spoke his name: "Father of many nations," and he began to give God glory for the fulfilled promise. He became strengthened in faith. And then the day came, when through this process, he became fully convinced.
- Fitly Spoken
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My friends, if we follow this process, we too will become fully convinced that God is able to do what He said He will do, and nothing will be impossible for us who believe. (See Matthew 17:20).
Let's pray.
Father God, we hallow Your name. We give You glory, honour and praise! Thank You for the lives we read about in the Bible that show us the way to walk in victory and receive the blessings that You have ordained for us. Thank You that we can be called believing alongside believing Abraham. Thank You that You are so intentional in showing us the way. Give us grace, Lord, to take Your Word and read it, speak it, and meditate on it until we become fully convinced that what You've said about us and to us is true. Then we will walk in the fullness of the abundant life You've provided for us. Thank You Father! We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Let's pray.
Father God, we hallow Your name. We give You glory, honour and praise! Thank You for the lives we read about in the Bible that show us the way to walk in victory and receive the blessings that You have ordained for us. Thank You that we can be called believing alongside believing Abraham. Thank You that You are so intentional in showing us the way. Give us grace, Lord, to take Your Word and read it, speak it, and meditate on it until we become fully convinced that what You've said about us and to us is true. Then we will walk in the fullness of the abundant life You've provided for us. Thank You Father! We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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Fitly Spoken
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11
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Believe And Speak
Romans 10:8
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart...
Believing and confessing go hand in hand. The Bible says, "out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks." (See Luke 6:45). Our heart will speak from what is in it. And what is in our heart, is what has been placed in it.
The good news is that we can choose what our heart becomes filled with.
If we want to be full of faith, we can be. We simply must fill ourselves up with faith-filled things.
Firstly, we must fill up with the Word of God - the Bible! There is no greater source of inspiration or faith-building"ness." Secondly, listening to testimonies and anointed preaching from faith-FULL ministers can really help to build our faith. Thirdly, remembering and recounting the prayers God has answered for us in the past, and how He had moved on our behalf and has been faithful to us, will fill up that faith meter on the inside of us.
Faith must be spoken. We cannot simply believe in our hearts - we must also speak it out.
Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We are saved by believing in our hearts and by confessing with our mouths.
Faith works the same way. If we believe that the Bible is true, then we must confess that truth over and into our lives. That confession will create belief. That belief will fill up in our hearts. And that abundant overflow in our hearts will proceed from our mouths. This is a beautiful cycle that brings victory.
We can become full of faith on purpose, and the beautiful thing is, that when we speak out the Word of God - when we speak out our faith - we will have what we say. (See Mark 11:23).
Faith comes through believing and speaking.
Let's pray:
Father God, we're so grateful that we have an avenue through Your Word to have our faith grow, expand and spill over. Help us Lord to utilize Your precious Words of life and to come daily and drink deeply of Your living water. We cannot stay the same when we fill up with Your Words of life.They will spill out and effect our lives and the lives of those around us. Help us to open our mouths and SPEAK! Then we will see the changes happening in our lives that we long for. Thank You for the Words of life that fill our hearts with faith and give us a good abundance to speak from. We praise You and give You all the glory for the goodness You bring and are bringing into our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Romans 10:8
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart...
Believing and confessing go hand in hand. The Bible says, "out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks." (See Luke 6:45). Our heart will speak from what is in it. And what is in our heart, is what has been placed in it.
The good news is that we can choose what our heart becomes filled with.
If we want to be full of faith, we can be. We simply must fill ourselves up with faith-filled things.
Firstly, we must fill up with the Word of God - the Bible! There is no greater source of inspiration or faith-building"ness." Secondly, listening to testimonies and anointed preaching from faith-FULL ministers can really help to build our faith. Thirdly, remembering and recounting the prayers God has answered for us in the past, and how He had moved on our behalf and has been faithful to us, will fill up that faith meter on the inside of us.
Faith must be spoken. We cannot simply believe in our hearts - we must also speak it out.
Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We are saved by believing in our hearts and by confessing with our mouths.
Faith works the same way. If we believe that the Bible is true, then we must confess that truth over and into our lives. That confession will create belief. That belief will fill up in our hearts. And that abundant overflow in our hearts will proceed from our mouths. This is a beautiful cycle that brings victory.
We can become full of faith on purpose, and the beautiful thing is, that when we speak out the Word of God - when we speak out our faith - we will have what we say. (See Mark 11:23).
Faith comes through believing and speaking.
Let's pray:
Father God, we're so grateful that we have an avenue through Your Word to have our faith grow, expand and spill over. Help us Lord to utilize Your precious Words of life and to come daily and drink deeply of Your living water. We cannot stay the same when we fill up with Your Words of life.They will spill out and effect our lives and the lives of those around us. Help us to open our mouths and SPEAK! Then we will see the changes happening in our lives that we long for. Thank You for the Words of life that fill our hearts with faith and give us a good abundance to speak from. We praise You and give You all the glory for the goodness You bring and are bringing into our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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Safety Comes Through Obedience
1 Samuel 15:22
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:13-14
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?"
God wanted to punish Amalek for what he did to Israel - ambushing them on the way when they came from Egypt. (See 1 Samuel 15:2). God wanted Amalek completely destroyed. That was His command to Saul through Samuel the Prophet. The Bible says that Saul and the people were unwilling to utterly destroy them - they destroyed what was worthless and useless, but kept the best of the animals and what was good. (See 1 Samuel 15:9).
Saul believed he obeyed - Samuel said he didn't. Where was the difference in their understanding coming from?
To obey, is to obey on every point. Partial or even "mostly obedience," in God's view, is disobedience.
What Saul did is quite logical and probably what many of us have done without even realizing that we were in fact being disobedient. Maybe we've even done something sacrificial and then felt that for sure we've pleased God. But we haven't. Why? Because God wants obedience. Not partial obedience, delayed obedience, or interpreted obedience.
One of the kiddos I work with has helped me to see what this looks like from a natural standpoint. When given an instruction, she has often wanted to alter it if even slightly - wanting a part of "her" in the task. I've explained to her that when she has her own free time, she can create whatever game etc...with whatever rules she wants, but when it's time to do a school assignment she needs to follow the instructions fully. I've also explained to her that when an adult gives her a schoolwork instruction, her job is to listen, and to do it.
The ensuing arguing, wiggling, yelling, and repeated trying to "change just one thing" that has then occured has been interesting to watch. I have firmly stood my ground because I care about her and about her development. We generally have an awesome relationship and connection with many moments of smiles and laughter. As I've watched her struggle to listen fully - to obey, on the inside, I have found myself thinking "I get you girlie." I understand. I've felt those same squirmy, rebellious emotions on the inside. Those are the times I go to the Lord and say this needs to die - it needs to go from my life. Not my will, but Your will be done Lord. Saying "not my will but Yours be done," or "I choose You Lord over myself," should be something that we do daily. Like a pesky weed, our will can rise up and try to dominate our lives if we don't deny it. We are called to a life of surrender to our Lord and Saviour.
In surrender and obedience to the Lord, we will find ourselves in the safest, best place from which to live our lives. The kiddo I've mentioned - when she has obeyed the instructions given to her, (after the initial balking, etc...) I've seen her attitude transform. She starts listening easily. She appears happy, content, chatty, and just overall peaceful. She appears safe.
And that is what obedience gives us: a safe place. When we do our own thing and walk in disobedience to God, we walk out from under His protection. We then get battered and bruised and may wonder why. We need to come under the shadow of the Almighty through obedience to experience the safety, peace, and protection that that place brings.
Disobedience is rebellion. Rebellion opens us up to many evils. Obedience is the key to entering in and dwelling in God's secret place - overshadowed and protected from the onslaught of the enemy.
- Fitly Spoken
1 Samuel 15:22
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:13-14
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?"
God wanted to punish Amalek for what he did to Israel - ambushing them on the way when they came from Egypt. (See 1 Samuel 15:2). God wanted Amalek completely destroyed. That was His command to Saul through Samuel the Prophet. The Bible says that Saul and the people were unwilling to utterly destroy them - they destroyed what was worthless and useless, but kept the best of the animals and what was good. (See 1 Samuel 15:9).
Saul believed he obeyed - Samuel said he didn't. Where was the difference in their understanding coming from?
To obey, is to obey on every point. Partial or even "mostly obedience," in God's view, is disobedience.
What Saul did is quite logical and probably what many of us have done without even realizing that we were in fact being disobedient. Maybe we've even done something sacrificial and then felt that for sure we've pleased God. But we haven't. Why? Because God wants obedience. Not partial obedience, delayed obedience, or interpreted obedience.
One of the kiddos I work with has helped me to see what this looks like from a natural standpoint. When given an instruction, she has often wanted to alter it if even slightly - wanting a part of "her" in the task. I've explained to her that when she has her own free time, she can create whatever game etc...with whatever rules she wants, but when it's time to do a school assignment she needs to follow the instructions fully. I've also explained to her that when an adult gives her a schoolwork instruction, her job is to listen, and to do it.
The ensuing arguing, wiggling, yelling, and repeated trying to "change just one thing" that has then occured has been interesting to watch. I have firmly stood my ground because I care about her and about her development. We generally have an awesome relationship and connection with many moments of smiles and laughter. As I've watched her struggle to listen fully - to obey, on the inside, I have found myself thinking "I get you girlie." I understand. I've felt those same squirmy, rebellious emotions on the inside. Those are the times I go to the Lord and say this needs to die - it needs to go from my life. Not my will, but Your will be done Lord. Saying "not my will but Yours be done," or "I choose You Lord over myself," should be something that we do daily. Like a pesky weed, our will can rise up and try to dominate our lives if we don't deny it. We are called to a life of surrender to our Lord and Saviour.
In surrender and obedience to the Lord, we will find ourselves in the safest, best place from which to live our lives. The kiddo I've mentioned - when she has obeyed the instructions given to her, (after the initial balking, etc...) I've seen her attitude transform. She starts listening easily. She appears happy, content, chatty, and just overall peaceful. She appears safe.
And that is what obedience gives us: a safe place. When we do our own thing and walk in disobedience to God, we walk out from under His protection. We then get battered and bruised and may wonder why. We need to come under the shadow of the Almighty through obedience to experience the safety, peace, and protection that that place brings.
Disobedience is rebellion. Rebellion opens us up to many evils. Obedience is the key to entering in and dwelling in God's secret place - overshadowed and protected from the onslaught of the enemy.
- Fitly Spoken
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Will you join me in prayer?
Father, Lord, we need You. We need Your help to be willing to be obedient. The world has taught us that independence is such a good thing, yet You've called us to be part of a body - the body of Christ. We ask for more grace to yield to Your promotings, Your desires, and Your leading in our lives. Help us to say: "not My will, but Your will be done, O Lord." We choose to obey You today. We choose to obey You tomorrow. Thank You that as we keep choosing to obey You in even the little things (reading the fine print), we will walk in a life of obedience to You. We will dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under Your shadow - protected, safe, and joyful. We pray all this in Jesus' name and with thanksgiving that You've heard and answered our prayers, amen.❤️
-Fitly Spoken
Father, Lord, we need You. We need Your help to be willing to be obedient. The world has taught us that independence is such a good thing, yet You've called us to be part of a body - the body of Christ. We ask for more grace to yield to Your promotings, Your desires, and Your leading in our lives. Help us to say: "not My will, but Your will be done, O Lord." We choose to obey You today. We choose to obey You tomorrow. Thank You that as we keep choosing to obey You in even the little things (reading the fine print), we will walk in a life of obedience to You. We will dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under Your shadow - protected, safe, and joyful. We pray all this in Jesus' name and with thanksgiving that You've heard and answered our prayers, amen.❤️
-Fitly Spoken
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Fitly Spoken
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11
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Your Word, My Anchor
When I first dropped it in it kept me secure; although pushed this way and that, I've been anchored in Your Word.
Swaying gently with Your Spirit, steadfast and true; nothing can move me away from You.
When I've lifted my anchor and let the ship's sail have its way - only then have I faltered and forgotten to obey.
Help me not to forget to drop in the heavy metal that keeps me from straying and holds my heart level.
Your Word - my soul's anchor, constant and ready; no matter the weather, it keeps me ever steady.
And so I abide: rooted and grounded and tethered to You; Your Word my defense, and my victory too.
My anchor holds steady as long as I'm in, the Word that brings life and victory over sin.
I'm no longer dominated by things that toss to and fro; instead I live victoriously - anchored from the bow.
Your Word is my anchor, my assurance, my treasure; it's value to me is beyond all measure.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
When I first dropped it in it kept me secure; although pushed this way and that, I've been anchored in Your Word.
Swaying gently with Your Spirit, steadfast and true; nothing can move me away from You.
When I've lifted my anchor and let the ship's sail have its way - only then have I faltered and forgotten to obey.
Help me not to forget to drop in the heavy metal that keeps me from straying and holds my heart level.
Your Word - my soul's anchor, constant and ready; no matter the weather, it keeps me ever steady.
And so I abide: rooted and grounded and tethered to You; Your Word my defense, and my victory too.
My anchor holds steady as long as I'm in, the Word that brings life and victory over sin.
I'm no longer dominated by things that toss to and fro; instead I live victoriously - anchored from the bow.
Your Word is my anchor, my assurance, my treasure; it's value to me is beyond all measure.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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Breakthrough Comes Through Obedience
Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The Bible places willingness and obedience together. It's interesting that we can be willing - but not obedient. Or we can be obedient - but not willing.
Let's look at what willingness means (taken from AI overview of a few online dictionaries):
Willingness is the quality or state of being prepared, ready, or happy to do something without reluctance.
So, to determine if I'm willing, I can ask myself: am I prepared? Have I moved intentionally towards the thing? Am I ready? Have I allowed the Lord to prepare my heart? Am I happy to obey the Lord in this thing? And finally: have I let go of all reluctance, and just thrown myself at the Lord's feet and said "Lord, have Your way?" This, my friends, is what willingness looks like. Obedience is doing the act, but willingness is how we do it.
It's like patience. Patience denotes waiting. Yet not waiting just anyhow, but waiting without complaint. Waiting in trust. Waiting without "jumping ship." Waiting with expectation.
Our breakthrough comes when we obey the Lord's instructions to us, and when we come to the place where we do so willingly.
Attitude always matters. We want our children to obey with willingness - not with foot stomping, eyes rolling, and stubborn complaints. We want them to obey with assurance and trust in us - their parents giving them the instruction - knowing that we have the very best intentions towards them. How we obey matters.
May I venture to say, that obedience without willingness, isn't true obedience.
Let's pray:
Father, Lord, thank You that You help us in all things. We only have to recognize our need for You, invite You in, and You are right there with us. Help us Lord to have a willing heart towards You. Help us to bring You joy as we gladly accept Your requests towards us, and obey You with a willing and joyful heart. For truly, Lord, if we are willing and obedient, we will have all the good things You desire for us. As it is written in Your Word in Isaiah 54:14, in righteousness we will be established; we will be far from oppression, and we will not fear. Thank You Lord for giving us a willing and obedient heart. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The Bible places willingness and obedience together. It's interesting that we can be willing - but not obedient. Or we can be obedient - but not willing.
Let's look at what willingness means (taken from AI overview of a few online dictionaries):
Willingness is the quality or state of being prepared, ready, or happy to do something without reluctance.
So, to determine if I'm willing, I can ask myself: am I prepared? Have I moved intentionally towards the thing? Am I ready? Have I allowed the Lord to prepare my heart? Am I happy to obey the Lord in this thing? And finally: have I let go of all reluctance, and just thrown myself at the Lord's feet and said "Lord, have Your way?" This, my friends, is what willingness looks like. Obedience is doing the act, but willingness is how we do it.
It's like patience. Patience denotes waiting. Yet not waiting just anyhow, but waiting without complaint. Waiting in trust. Waiting without "jumping ship." Waiting with expectation.
Our breakthrough comes when we obey the Lord's instructions to us, and when we come to the place where we do so willingly.
Attitude always matters. We want our children to obey with willingness - not with foot stomping, eyes rolling, and stubborn complaints. We want them to obey with assurance and trust in us - their parents giving them the instruction - knowing that we have the very best intentions towards them. How we obey matters.
May I venture to say, that obedience without willingness, isn't true obedience.
Let's pray:
Father, Lord, thank You that You help us in all things. We only have to recognize our need for You, invite You in, and You are right there with us. Help us Lord to have a willing heart towards You. Help us to bring You joy as we gladly accept Your requests towards us, and obey You with a willing and joyful heart. For truly, Lord, if we are willing and obedient, we will have all the good things You desire for us. As it is written in Your Word in Isaiah 54:14, in righteousness we will be established; we will be far from oppression, and we will not fear. Thank You Lord for giving us a willing and obedient heart. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.❤️
- Fitly Spoken
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