But God, I Don't Want To

Am I the only one who's been here before? God will keep tugging and tugging, sending you little conviction notes and reminders of what He needs you to do but you just don't want to do it? Sometimes it just doesn't even seem fair. Maybe you weren't the one in the wrong; maybe you actually deserve the apology. Or maybe you made the wrong move/decision/choice and God told you to correct it and make the right one. Whatever it may be, it takes some humility to do it.

I sure know this feeling all too well. Because I have a constant desire to please God and I love Him with everything in me, I am often the one who is convicted sooner or should I say, broken down by His word sooner. I am sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and I am grateful for that. I don't always want to follow the instruction right away though. I fight and  fight. I try to justify why I shouldn't have to do it. When all in all, I am likely just prolonging the process for what God is trying to do next.

How often do you think we hold up blessings, promotions, or prayers all because pride won't let us complete the one (humbling) task God is pushing us toward? How much do you think we hinder our own spiritual growth and bring to a halt some of the plans/ideas God has placed in our hearts to bring to pass, all because we cannot get past "it's not fair, I shouldn't have to..."?

I am currently reading in the book of James. Take a look at James 1:2-3 (really, open your bible and read it. Then you will be able to say you read your bible today...you're welcome :P). I am reading out of a bible featuring notes and commentary by Joyce Meyer. In her Life Point (commentary) she says the following:

The bible talks about purification, sanctification, sacrifice, and suffering. These are not popular words; nevertheless, if we are to be Christlike in character, we must sometimes go through difficult circumstances to learn His ways. I struggled with this process for a long time, but I finally realized that God was not going to do things my way. He placed people and situations in my life that caused me to want to quit this whole process, and He did not want an argument from me. He only wanted to hear, "Yes, Lord. Your will be done."

There's that tag line again. YOUR WILL BE DONE. And I wasn't even searching for it! I know I can relate to the way she felt about struggling and wanting to quit. Especially when you feel like you're always the one getting the slap in the face and having to turn the other cheek. In all though, we have to stand on God's promise to give us hope in our final outcome (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP).

So, as I am encouraged by the Holy Spirit and I encourage myself, I encourage you to pull yourself together, push that pride, fear, shame, etc. aside then go ahead and do what God is telling you, even urging you to do. Do it, so that you can move forward in the promise because He is definitely a promise keeper!

#ThyWillBeDone
#GreaterIsComing

Functioning in Dysfunction

Is there such a thing as a functional family? It seems that all families, no matter how perfect they may look or try to look, have some form of dysfunction and each family members is taught by one another how to get along in the midst of the dysfunction.

I'm sure it's probably hard for the members to recognize the dysfunction because, in all actuality, it's been their normal way of life. So when someone else points it out (intentionally or unintentionally), what do you do??

At this stage of my life, I have come to understand more and more about myself as well as see things I may not have seen before. These things are revealed to me through different avenues but nonetheless, revealed. The challenge is taking these things to God and allowing Him to either guide me or work out what he needs to work out in me.

This whole week, the word GRACE has arisen on multiple occasions. God uses so much grace with His children and we are to mirror Him. Honestly, sometimes I just want to throw grace out of the window.. maybe I should say most times, and I want to move forward the way that I want to move forward. When I do it my way, I'm continuing in the dysfunction, whether it be within family, friendships, the work place, etc.

I am then, again, brought back to THY WILL BE DONE. As hard as it is to show grace, it's even more detrimental to recognize the dysfunction and continue to function in it because of my own fleshy desire. It may take some prayer, some fasting and maybe even a little time to get out of the flesh and just be obedient to His word but we must press on.

Remembering that it's all for God and removing either the actual person or situation can make the obedience a little easier. Overall, we desire to please God and want His will to be done.

Thy Will Be Done

Here I am, once again, starting over. As long as I never give up on the blogging, I will continually begin again!

I am at a very different stage in my life since the initial post in this blog series. And in this stage, my constant tag line is "Thy Will Be Done". I have to seek God more on behalf of my family, my friends, and myself and all I ever want is for God's will to come to pass.

These last few days have brought about such eye opening clarity. All things happen for a reason in my belief and boy do I see clearly! God recently placed something in my heart and I definitely received the confirmation that I need to make a move on it!

Sometimes, we have situations or confrontations that occur in our lives that the enemy tries to use as a weapon against us but guess what?! No weapon FORMED against you shall prosper! There will absolutely be weapons with your name on it but it WILL NOT do what it was intended to do.  I am just even more excited to be obedient and follow God's voice!

Look for God in all things. I am more than grateful for His love that reigns supreme in mine and my family's life and I pray that I can share that same love with others!

My encouragement to you:

Hang in there! Don't let the meaningless attacks of the enemy knock you off course. Keep your eye on the prize and maintain Thy Will Be Done.

Greater is still coming!!