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Existing – continued survival
Living – the pursuit of a lifestyle of the specified type.
There is a difference between just existing and truly living.
We need daily food to exist, to continue on this earth. But the pursuit of just continuing on this earth isn’t truly living.
One begins living when one shifts the focus from living how I want to living how God would have me. When our motives and desires are no longer self-based but God-based we can have life.
Life from above is a joy filled.
We need to be full, filled with the word of God to truly live. To have a life of purpose that is worth living. It gives life a hope, an expected end of good. A live not lived in vain.
5 Minute Thought
Who am I? That the Creator, the I AM, the Word, Love, Being, would be mindful of me?
Would want a deep, personal, intimate relationship with me?
How do I count as someone special?
One that has messed up countless times, has taken advantage of mercy, has failed…why me? Why does He care about me?
This I will never know. Only, that He does. He cares about me. About those things I care about. This is one of those times when faith is needed. And it is put into evidence in that he does all, to have that relationship.
I am but nothing, yet he thinks about me. He created me, knowing about my battles , weaknesses, strengths, stubbornness, desires, loves, the ins and outs of my heart and motives. He put the combination of me together. Wow! He must of thought this combo could do some good.
What gave I done with it? Have I lived to my full potential? Have I done all the good? Have I neglected to be a blessing? Am I allowing him to use me?
This time of year is often a time of reflection. I don’t want to, just out of form, but with a true sincerity of heart.
Search me. Try me. See if there be anything unlike You.
That I might be worthy of your affection.
Who am I? – Castibg Crowns
When you are praying about something that is important to you and you need answers. And the Bible App scriptures of the day come in this succession, I think God is reminding me to trust, pray, wait, keep my hope in him, and give him praise while he works it all out.
John 14:1 – Let not your heart be troubled
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise
Psalms 46:10 – Be still and KNOW that I am God
Psalms 105:1 – Give thanks unto the Lord.
While it may be a coincidence that the scriptures have come in this order at this time, but God can speak to the heart in many ways. Thankful for peace in an unknowing time.
As we draw to the close of another year, I like many, have been reflecting on the past year and making plans for the next. As I look back there are areas that I am pleased with and some places that I am not so much. Some areas where I regressed and still more that there have been improvements. I see room to grow. I see how I stunted my growth with bad habits. I see changes that need to be made. I see an opportunity to make a change, to be a new creature.
I read the scripture this morning in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Therefore is any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Many times we liken this change from old to new at first salvation. There is a crisis moment, Jesus comes down, and a change is made. It is used to encourage someone that had experienced much sin and because of God’s grace, Jesus sacrifice, they no longer have to partake in the same activities.
But today, as I was reflecting on the new year, I saw it as an opportunity. Even as saints of God, we can become a new creature. If we aren’t satisfied with our service to God, our health, our habits, our attitudes, our outreach, our kindness, our relationships, our “fill in the blank”, we can make the change.
We can have a crisis moment in the middle of our salvation. Salvation isn’t stagnate, it is an evolving status. We can draw closer to God. We can make better choices for our health. We can change our habits and attitudes. We can be more kind and loving. We can forgive. We can improve our relationships… We can change.
This year, starting today, I vow to myself and to God, changes will be made. I am not looking at an easy road ahead. I have some habits to break and new ones to make. I have some flesh to crucify. I am some time to give. I have some reaching out to do. I have some inconvenient love to show. I have some early nights to bed and some early mornings to rise. I have better eating choices to make. I have some physical activity to be endured. I have some better house keeping practices to instill. I have some listening to do. I have some purging of clutter. I have some better time management skills to work on. I have some ground to conquer. I have some victory to gain.
This isn’t just a New Year’s Resolution that is forgotten and unfulfilled, it is a promise. These are goals. I have written many down. And as more come to me, more changes that need to be made, I will write those down to. I am a work in progress, allowing God to mold and shape me into the person he wants me to be.
When I woke this morning I turned to my phone and Bible app to get some thoughts for the day. My app has a daily scripture widget that I subscribe to. Today’s scripture was Psalms 116:1-2. As I read it and the rest of the chapter, I had a marginal relation to the passage. But it was in the past. Before when I cried to the Lord he heard me, but not now. Not that he doesn’t hear me now, but that I was crying to him. It wasn’t a “yes, this is God now” agreement with the scriptures. I read through, thought a bit, went back and read a couple a second time, searching for something to meditate on through the day and nothing really settled. I said a quick prayer for help this day and went on my way.
This is how it has been lately. A struggle to read and pray, feeling a loss of connection, mostly out of duty even though a desire is there. An overwhelming sleepiness in the morning that hinders an early rise, a couple quick scriptures and prayer as one goes through the daily routine.
But who can thrive or survive off of crumbs? You can’t physically or spiritually. In all honesty, I have always struggled with getting up early enough in the morning to set aside time for God. I have justified it in many ways over the years. While I have admired those that do and longed for it, the many times I have made a point to change, it only lasts for a short period of time.
A while back I asked a friend to check on me. To ask how my morning devotions were going. To hold me accountable. I got the question today. I didn’t have a good report. I was honest, they have been awful of my own fault. I thought on it through the day. Why is it so difficult to get up? It’s not like the last broken 30 minutes of sleep are all that great. And while I don’t have a good reason, I can say that I’m ready.
Ready to set time aside. Ready to deny myself for “just a couple more minutes” . Ready to go deeper. Ready for the victory. You see, I spent some time tonight with God. I listened to a couple old messages. Words from the past on the man with the line, holding it out there for us to come through. On victory, knowing the enemy, whose side you are on and why you are fighting. And on the surface these don’t have much to do with devotions, they clarified things in my mind. I went to prayer, I want God to draw out that line and I’m headed to meet it. I’m ready to go step by step deeper until I’m Swimming. I know whose side I am on. I know what he has done for me and I know who, what and why I am fighting. God is so good.
So when I read Psalms 116 tonight, it was deep. I could say “yes, this is God now” I cried unto him and he heard me. He made a way, he listened, he showed mercy, he forgave, he gave power. From searching for current relevance to a soul amen, what a difference 16 hours makes. . .
Psalms 116:1-19 – I love the Lord , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord ; O Lord , I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord , and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord . I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord , truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord . I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord .
Gifted through Grace 