I Receive!
Part 1
The lord has awakened my heart to understanding one of the most important things in our daily walk. To receive from him. Some days I wake up and I think, lord I cant go on another day. I am so tired, I am so tired.I cant play with another child. I cant hug another person. I cant pray today. I know how mothers feel now, I go to bed and wake up and my alarm goes off. My thought is MORNING ALREADY!!! I closed my eyes 5 min ago!
I read my bible daily, I sing and spend time with god, I journal in my free time and seek him.I g to church when its available. So my question was lord, why do some days I dread ministry. Why am i filled with joy and energy one week and then the next day Im cranky and frustrated? Where did that overwhelming joy go? Why do I feel like Im not being filled when I am daily with you, seeking you.Where is this inconsistency coming from? And it just hit me! The lord spoke so clearly, Andrea you talk to me all the time, but you never listen. You don't receive! Be with me, just be with me. Listen to what Im speaking to you.
We forget that the lord sends the holly spirit to comfort us, to fill us. We are constantly asking things from him, praying for people, rushing here, running their. But how often do we just listen. Sit down, not ask a thing, not think about a thing, and let the holly spirit come and fill us with everything we need! We cant receive from the spirit of we don't believe! We must know our god, we must wake up and realize we have access to freedom and joy! The lord can snap us out of any depression, any hard day, any anger towards someone!
The same day I was reading a book , Spirit Rising by Jim Cymbala. It spoke to me.
Most of us started our christian lives with the belief that god was all we needed. Period. Certainly we knew we had no part in gaining acceptance with god. His salvation was a free gift- all we had done was to believe and receive. But then following Christ got a little more complicated. Aware of our failings, we turned not to him but to ourselves! Thats why Paul summarizes his teaching to the Galatians in these words: Since we live by the spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” Gal. 5:25
We are born again through the holy spirit in us, and we live by the spirit. having begun that way, should we now revert back to self-effort in our pathetic attempts to live good lives? Paul's directive is to Keep in step with the spirit- the living presence of God dwelling in our hearts.
In our own strength, we can never act like Jesus Christ. Thats why he sent us a Helper. The spirit of Jesus within us want to tenderly and lovingly manage our days. This isn't a bad thing.He wasn't sent to rain on our parade and hinder us from enjoying the best of life. Just the opposite. He is ready and able to lead us out into the clean, fresh air of Christlike words, thoughts, and actions. Lord we want to be Holy like you!
So I'm done waking up and saying I'm going to be more disciplined! Im going to have more patience! Im going to work out everyday! Im going to call on the lord and ask him to send his holly spirit and fill me with all of these free gifts of all the fruits of the spirit as well as motivation and self- control! Im becoming a completely new person, the one god originally created. I recommend everybody to practice this in their lives! You’ll be walk-in on sunshine with Jesus! Its free! And longer lasting than a session of Yoga! You want to stop drinking so much? You want to be a kinder person? You want more love in your home or workplace? Call on him! I dare you! And then you can email me all the exciting news of what the lord did! And ill rejoice with you!
John 16:5-7
“But now I go away to him who sent me, and non of you asks me, Where are you going? But because you have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you!
