Bad resters make bad workers. Lazy men need a new theology of rest.-Paul Maxwell excerpt from Desiring God Blog.
Sometimes you need to admit that you don’t rest enough and that’s why you aren’t as productive and effective as you would like to be.
Today I looked at my storage on my computer.
It was running low and that concerned me.
When I got the computer I knew it would be limited due because it was a solid state hard drive.
I couldn’t really understand where all my space went.
It was nerve wrecking.
I began digging deeper. Not the normal dig.
I knew some of the short cuts already.
This kind of digging required going into the back doors places I’ve never been.
I went through all files, applications, photos etc.
I found the culprits.
I deleted some files from the past.
Ideas that I started.
Successes that weren’t valid anymore.
Now I sit here wondering how deep are we digging to live authentically.
Are we alright with the surface? Are we still living off of former accomplishment? Are we afraid to delete old ideas, moments, & thoughts.
Are we willing to start over?
What are your thoughts when no one is around? When you look in the mirror is that the authentic you or the imitation version you left in the back doors of your hard drive of your heart.
I’ve lived enough of my life as the imitation version. Daily I am afforded the opportunity to uncover more about me through Him.
In order to move forward in life we have to know what to delete.
When’s the last time you dug deep and removed the old files of your emotions that keep you bound?
Today I overcame fear. I went back to a place I felt outcasted and hated. Instead of running I dug deep and walked in the confident authority of Christ.
Let us not be bound by fear. Remember he didn’t give us that. The deeper we dig the greater the reward. Who knows you might receive more than storage space in your heart (peace). You may find oil or gold.
photo via vcferry
God’s promise is that rivers of living water would burst forth from our innermost being. We don’t always experience this abundance of living water. We are often dry with barren wells. We ignore the yearning & beckoning of the Holy Spirit only to continue in our own weariness. If this has been you it’s time to unplug the stopper in our hearts.
You don’t need others to agree with you in order to access the presence of God. God wants ALL of us not just the morsel of weak praise we give Him. So many of us are dumbing down our lives in order to fit into this world when He’s called us to be change agents. We can’t change the culture if we long to be like them.
Let our hearts cry be:
I want the depths of God
I want the mercy of God
I want the righteousness of God
I want the abundance of God’s love
I want the manifest presence of God in this dying world
I want the thirst of God
Let us build our foundation on the Rock so that when all else fails we will stand (Luke 6:48-49, Ephesians 6:10-18 NASB)! Let us become thirsty for Jesus, our thirst for this world will only leave us dry.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:6-8 NASB)
We’re all confused and looking for a way out of that confusion. We see the glitz and the glamour and we want it. We desire to have the “freedom” that our favorite stars have. We firmly believe that some how if we were more creative than our lives would be better. If we were better at our craft we would get noticed and be able to make a living that our families would be proud of. However, the truth is it’s all a LIE. We are obsessed with being seen and receiving attention. Our stars are as lonely and afraid as we are. The deal won’t make our lives better. The salary won’t fix the lost hope in our hearts. The disappointment won’t fade away.
I speak to people on a daily bases that are blinded by their own desires. The grind allows us to keep busy so we don’t see our desperate need for love. I remember when I was in college I was able to keep it moving. I was the mover and pusher but the more I moved and pushed the more my own emptiness surfaced. Are you empty? Are you running from you? Are you willing to see yourself for who you are? Lost, lonely, hopeless, in need of more than success. Are you tired of running? Our hope is found in Jesus alone. The temporary fixes that this world brings can’t compare to the love, joy and peace that is found in Christ alone. Instead of running away from Him try running to Him for in Him hope is found. You don’t have to be hopeless.
So my heart has really been on understanding God’s faithfulness. Current circumstances seem to out weigh His truth and trustworthiness.
I just discovered that twitter is showing no followers and following. Sitting here reflecting on it I heard, “You see how calm you were when twitter showed 0. That’s how confident you have to be in me. It wasn’t that you thought it actually happened more so you trusted that Twitter would fix it or pull up their back up. You trusted the company regardless of what the circumstances looked like. That is how you must be with Me”. Being fully assured that He is able to perform what He said He would! He’s greater than a company and the only trustworthy, faithfully, reliable GOD!
Here is the Greek word, definition and key verses:
πληροφορέομαι (plērophoreomai), πληροφορέω (plērophoreō):
be completely certain, be fully assured, convinced or persuaded (Ro 4:21; 14:5; Col 4:12+; Eph 3:19 v.r.)
make happen, fulfill (Lk 1:1+)
proclaim fully (2Ti 4:17+)
accomplish, fulfill (completely), (2Ti 4:5+)
πληροφορία (plērophoria), ας (as), ἡ (hē): n.fem.
complete certainty, full assurance (Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5; Heb 6:11; 10:22+; Ro 15:29 v.r. NA26)
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament), electronic ed. (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Are you listening to the voices in your head? Are you being self defeated? Have you stopped God from having complete control over your life? I know I have it is so easy to listen to the self defeating thoughts. The thoughts that make you legalistic and condemned. We look at all of our circumstances and we say, “well those voices are right!”. I am not pretty. I am not strong. I won’t ever become all that I am called to be. I didn’t pray enough today. I didn’t read enough today. I didn’t spend enough time with God today. I did just sin against that brother or sister. All of these thoughts may be true according to the worlds system. But its not God’s view of us. Instead, God proclaims I made you beautiful. I am your strength. Seek me and you will complete the purpose of your life. You didn’t read enough today but there is no condemnation. You didn’t spend much time with me but the time that you did spend was pure. You did just sin against your brother or sister but I have forgiveness for you when you repent.
We often hear everything we are not and neglect everything God says about us. We listen to the “other” voices. It may be the enemy, other people or ourselves but the goal is to hear the One voice that matters. I must say that I am one of the people who struggles with self defeat. I am learning its pattern. Self defeat arises when the action is impossible. It attempts to trap me when God is the only One who will get the glory for the action or the diligence. Instead, of living a life of self defeat. I’ve decided to rebel against it. God has so many great plans for us. Yet, we limit an infinite God because of human reasoning. Wash your human reasoning with the Word of God. After a while it will feel silly that you doubted the living God who lives in you. Also, why do we stress? The fight is fixed! We WIN! The God of all ages lives inside of us. The Holy Spirit is here to guide and get us to our destination. Let’s listen to the Spirit more than we listen to the other (OUR) voices.
*NOTE TO SELF!
Over the last year God has really been working on me “INSIDE OUT”. This whole concept of “INSIDE OUT” keeps getting repeated. Everywhere I go, everything I listen to and whatever I look at “INSIDE OUT” keeps screaming at me. Christina, what do you look like on the inside (character)? What do you look like on the outside (appearance/femininity)? I am currently in the process of working on my femininity. A lot of ladies grew up discovering their femininity as a gift. I on the other hand resisted and rebelled against my femininity. I’ve decided to reveal myself “INSIDE OUT”. I will be blogging about my total make over process, getting rid of 85% of my current wardrobe and the rebellion against my insides that scream for me to stay the same and not evolve into God’s view of me! This should be fun! What areas of your life is God challenging? Are you living from the inside out? Please comment.
Note: This is so not comfortable for me. However; I know that other women deal with many of the issues that will come up in this continual conversation. You may not struggle with femininity but you may struggle with low self esteem. So much is going to come out of this journey. Fasten your seat belts its going to be a transparent ride. See beyond the lens!