Look for the bare necessities,
the simple bare necessities,
forget about your worries and your strife.
This is a song quote from my favorite movie… The Jungle Book
Here is are five bare necessities I’ve learned in my personal walk with the Father during my time with World Race.
1. Seek The Father, Not Sin
Amos 5:4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live.”
We were made and created to seek Him, and have a personal relationship with Him. Just like the people of Israel we are sinful creatures. The Father tires to get our attention, He wants our focus on him. Don’t be like the people of Isreal who had to go though famine and drought. Seek the Father now, that you may live. We will only find life in seeking Him first.
2. Fear God, Not Man
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
When we think about all of who He is, we can’t help but fear Him and hold Him in a very high place of honor. When we learn to fear God we are preoccupied with His presence and we begin to live our life in the light of eternity not on what other people think about us and who we are.
3. Worship God, Not Comfort
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Through the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
No ones enjoys pain and hurt. However, I know many people who have grown and been blessed because of the pain they have endured. Are you celebrating with God in the midst of your pain or are you running to comfort? When we run to comfort we miss out on the ultimate comfort God can give us during our pain. The definition of Joy is, gladness not based on circumstances. Habakkuk rejoices in the Lord, will you?
4. Obey God, Not What You Fancy
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep in under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Sometimes what we fancy can come out of our flesh and fall against the Spirit. We are called to be self-controlled and fall into the obedience of the Father. Our passions and things we fancy must come subordinate to the cross. Obedience to the Father requires us to say no to easy thing and yes to carrying the cross daily which can be heavy and hard. However, it will never be as hard as the pain Jesus endured for you. Be found faithful; obey the Father. Pick up your cross daily.
5. Serve God, Not Yourself
Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said “Here I am! Send me.”
We must surrender completely, without any reservations. Giving up everything in order to serve Him is such a humbling experience. However, looking back as I left I gave up everything, I actually gained everything I will ever need in life. A more in-depth, personal relationship with our Father.
What bare necessities have you learned? Or are you holding on to Complex Indulgences? I’m looking forward to sharing stories and lessons I’ve learned with you soon.
Remember:
Look for the bare necessities,
the simple bare necessities,
forget about your worries and your strife.
