Jesus Christ was committed unto death and beyond! Our salvation is proof!
All through the Bible, people, rather in business or personal affairs, were instructed by the Lord to be true and fair. And even though our fears and doubts, when paired with emotions and sin, leave us confused; it doesn't make it ok to continue on never taking any action to change. There comes a time we have to get out of that Scarlet O'Hara mentality! Because we are NOT promised a tomorrow in which we CAN worry about it.
(James 4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. )
I have been sinning in NOT setting standards and sticking to them, I have been sinning by NOT adhering to your truths and just doing it!
(James 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.)
A few months back the Lord began working in my heart about choosing the path of joy and surrender NOT tomorrow but TODAY! And, that life's circumstances just are what they are. But, I DO have the choice to live for Him. I may not always be happy because happiness is an emotion... but IN Him, I can remain joyful, which is a state of being!!
1. Ecclesiastes 11:3-7, 10
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
2. Deuteronomy 3:19-20
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
3. Ecclesiastes 9
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not... For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any portion to give away. Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon
Over the months that the Lord brought these passages to light, I began to see that life IS meant to be lived, yet, it is taking me time to really implement that wisdom into my daily life and decisions. I pray everyday for strength of soul, courage of heart, steadfastness of spirit and stealthiness of mind to truly make these principles a foundation on which to build my life!
Oh Lord, I pray for wisdom that is from above; that wisdom that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) I do desire it to saturate my mind and ooze out of every corner of my being. May it entertain my thoughts and direct my decisions. And when I am tempted, as I KNOW I will be, help me to remember where that temptation comes from and that endurance is where blessings are found.
James 1:12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
And may I be made humble in His sight...forsaking those lusts and clinging unto Jesus, my deliver! (James 1:21,4:10) May I confess and forsake the sins that are before me and place them at His feet, having confidence that His mercy is greater than my iniquities...
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalm 51:1-4 KJV)
Ah that the Lord would keep in the forefront of my mind and heart the vision of the Cross...the joy my Savior had in the suffering that was set before Him. May I be humbled and surrendered unto Him, relying on HIS strength to see me through! Help me to rest in the fact that the battle is the Lord's ( 2Chron. 20:17) ...And all I have to do is position myself in Christ, resisting the wiles and taunts of the devil, resting in the commitment of Jesus Christ to keep me!
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Timothy 1:12-14 KJV)
And at the end of the day's journey, I can declare with praise and joy..."What a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer"
