Change Me First!
Dear Friends,
This is well worth the read from my California friend!
Good Morning Ladies (and few gents),
Well, we have reached the end of my writing week. And I would like to close with a truth found in John 15:4 NLT
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
GiG, have you noticed how Satan uses fear, intimidation, doubt, and mob rule to suck the joy out of our mountaintop victories? But here is a secret, he doesn’t want us to know. We have a choice. Yup, when Satan or his minions rear their ugly heads, we can fall by the wayside in remaining defeated or we can learn and grow.
I recognize something and it is this; sometimes the Lord lets us go out of our way just so we can learn a lesson—often the hard way. Oh, we can get fooled into changing our location or circumstances but that will not change us. So, I have concluded—instead of asking God to change everything and everyone else, I have decided to ask Him to change me first. A novel idea, huh? Our negativity can cloud our reality. Not convinced, read Elijah’s experience in Exodus 19-20.
God sent him back the way he came (1 Kings 19:15),
Elijah was instructed to anoint three different people; one of which was an enemy king (1 Kings 19:15-17),
He was assigned a mentee (1 Kings 19:19-21),
God urged him on with the facts and getting him to recognize that truth can be liberating (1 Kings 19:18).
Lastly, God determines when our mission is accomplished, not Satan nor his minions! Regardless of how things may look in our circle of influence.
GiG, I suspect we could all use some super-sonic boldness. But equally true, if we duck and cover, no one will complain. However, if we choose otherwise, I mean actually have a differing opinion, expect the opinion minions to suit up in their finest garb of criticism, mocking, bullying, and persecuting. Just remember we have the Truth! We have what’s necessary to beat them into silence (in a good way) and the courage to stand up, stand out and stand for change—a willingness to love, respect one another. And that power comes from none other than living with Jesus in an intentionally, persistent state of obedience.
May we be encouraged to remain fruitful, “If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God. 1 Peter 3:14-18.
Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,
DEA: Embracing a Just Be Joyful Life 2020: Laughing, Loving, and Living Life That Extends Far Beyond My Circumstances
