7 replies to this topic

[Candice]

Hi all. How applicable is this verse for our times today?
Candice

[chipped china]

I pray that more people would hold this verse close to their hearts. If people would rely on God instead of us humans we would be more forgiving and more loving. I've never met a human who hasn't let me down and I them. My Holy Merciful God has never let me down and I trust in Him. Human strength enforced by the Spirit is such a blessing and gives joy. But human strength from the soul is often disguised self centered fear and is easily drained.

[Lori Smith]

Hi Candice,

I find verses like this very refreshing and edifying. It tells me come come come to Him and find refreshing waters. I don't want to trust in flesh. My greatest bondages have come from those who have tried to get me to depend on flesh rather than God. It's surprising to me sometimes to hear God scold those who don't want Him. I can't imagine not wanting Him.

This is not to condemn those who struggle with closeness. We each have different strongholds placed in our lives by the devil. My strongholds come from those who told me not to go to God, but to serve Him instead. Well, I LOVE to run to God. When I do something that offends Him, the first thing I fear is seeing His face. It breaks my heart when I hurt Him.

Thanks for posting it; it lifted my spirits! It's been a tough week.

Blessings,
Lori

[Lori Smith]

Betsy,

I'm glad you said that. Some days I just want to tell people, "I WILL fail you, so I'm asking you to forgive me now before it happens." We all need mercy and grace. I'm so glad we have a God who never runs out of it!

[chipped china]

I've been reading 2 Corinthians 5 today. Here it is in part.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(J)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—⁷ for ^(K)we walk by faith, not by ^[c]sight—⁸ we are of good courage, I say, and ^(L)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(M)to be at home with the Lord.⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be^(N)pleasing to Him.¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(O)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for ^[d]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

I need courage today because I've let myself worry about having to show him by bad deeds. I mean how stupid He already knows my bad deeds and still sealed me in His salvation. The thought of disappointing Him IS sad. But the past is wiped clean so I need to take care of today. And today I've been having some wicked thoughts about my step mother. Isn't that a classic? We actually get along very well there is just a couple issues I've been wrestling with. I keep giving it to the Lord but some how I find it in my hands again. Practice, practice, practice. And love casts out fear. Love multiplies, it does not divide.

I also ask you all to forgive my shortcomings. If I ever offend please let me know so I can make amends. I choose to trust Jesus with my life and heart. Love, bets

[Lori Smith]

Betsy,

Your post really struck me this morning, so I asked the Lord about it. His answer to me was that HE is the only sin eraser. We HAVE to come to Him. Then He spoke to me about flutes. You can have a box full of flutes, and they can do nothing. Someone has to breathe through them in order for them to make a sound. Well in a way we are like flutes; God breathes through us and we make melodies. That is really the only true way to successfully walk as we ought. We yield to the Holy Spirit and He breathes through us and creates delightful melodies. That's walking in the Spirit that we might not carry out the desires of our flesh. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:4-5), but yielded to the Lord, He can do MUCH through us. He loves us.

Blessings!
Lori

[chipped china]

Thanks Lori, that's a beautiful analogy. And I must have given it to the Lord because last night when I called my dad I ended up apologizing to my step mom for something that happened.... my dog puked in the house, but it seems every time I visit something happens. Not everyone lives like I do.
Yes, next time I'll spare the details.

I also wanted to comment on a statement you made earlier.

"My strongholds come from those who told me not to go to God, but to serve Him instead" It's easy to miss the depth of this statement. I believe going to God for everything is where our being on fire for Him comes from, not just doing a good work we think up on our own. Desiring a closer relationship with the great I AM every moment of our lives is where the real fruit is harvested.

I've been listening to traditional Christmas music all day. Praise Him and God Bless us Everyone!

[Lori Smith]

Betsy,

That was a stronghold that had me in terrible depression for two years. The devil still tries to use it on me.

Praise God for the dog; he/she helped you know that you were free of a burden. Glad you're enjoying the season!

Grace and blessings,
Lori