We saw His star and have come to worship Him.

 

Matthew 2:1-2  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2: 9-11 …and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him…

God attracted the Wisemen with a HOPE

The wise men from the East (also known as the Magi) were followers of stars.  Some historians believe these were the same company of wise men that Daniel was put in charge of in  Daniel 5:11.  These men were astrologers (forbidden by God Daniel 4:4-8; 19).  It was out of their seeking the stars that God called them.  How many people seeking answers and hope in many different and sometimes sinful areas that God is calling them.

A star, a song, an observation, trouble, pain,  someone’s life?  What caught your eye to seek something more from God.  How did God place in you the thought of seeking a savior or challenging you to some deeper walk or service to Him?

Truths about the Wisemen we can use

Some truths concerning these wise men that we must consider as we seek to fulfill the calling of the Holy Spirit to come and see in a new way Christ the Lord.

 

The Wisemen were already searching…

 

Historians tell us the king of the Medes had been dethroned because of poor leadership and the Wisemen were looking for a new king.   In this searching for a new leader in the stars God allows a supernatural star to appear that gets their attention.  Something begins to spark in their spirit.  “This could be a sign of a great King”.

 

The Wisemen left their comfort to follow the star.

I wonder how many Wisemen saw this star but decided not to follow?  It is one thing to be attracted in your heart of something Godly.  But it is a different thing to decide to follow this inward desire.  The wise men followed without proof except for a belief that God was calling them to something wonderful…a new King.  To follow a new path you must sacrifice some normal routines.  You must place effort in this new path and push against the normal desires to return to your comfortable habits.

 

Hunger and Faith for the unknown blessing from God.

As the Wisemen followed,  I am sure a growing hunger in their hearts kept them pushing through difficult, frustrating and seeming slow progress toward the goal.  But the star reminds them of the promise and the internal  reward of fulfilling their hunger to find this new King.  On they went…looking up…pushing away the thoughts of turning around.

Wisemen tested

Sometimes you cannot see the star…tested.  “Where is the King born?”  The Wisemen were tested.  Not always seeing the star they begin to ask others and the ruling king about the star and the baby king.  Of course, no one saw the star and the whole town was troubled by their questions. (Matthew 2:3 “ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. )

But the Wisemen still believed and looked up and soon the star reappeared and led them to the child Jesus.

 

And when they saw Him…

Their lives were forever changed.  They worshiped Christ and gave gifts.  Something was also birthed in their heart that morning.  All because they noticed something from God in their searching for more.  The path leads to the source of all hope, peace, forgiveness, and future.

Is God trying to get your attention?

Are you a wise person?  Have you noticed something attracting your spirit to seek something new in Christ?  Maybe you do not know Christ by something is pulling at your heart to travel toward this calling.  Make the trip.  Take the challenge.  Follow the star.

To find something new in Christ the Holy Spirit calls.  You must decide to follow this hunger.  Let it grow in you.  Give up something comfortable to seek this desire.  Maybe it is more prayer,  bible reading.  More church commitment.  Whatever it is, leave and follow this calling.  Fight the battle to quit.  The path will lead you to a miracle of a deeper knowledge and experience of Christ.  You will find your treasure that will brighten your lightnside .

 

Merry Christmas

Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

How many times has Mary talked to Elizabeth?  Over the years probably hundreds of times. But this time,  when Mary spoke,  the baby leaped for joy inside Elizabeth and she was filled with the holy spirit.

 

When was the last time you heard someone say something and inside you felt joy leap inside?  At a wedding or birth.  A young child singing their first song on stage.  Someone’s testimony freed from addiction.  A soldier coming home and surprising family. You felt hope, honor, joy, or respect.

Many times when I see the flag of America being honored by the military and the jets fly over I feel proud, honored,  patriotic because of the bravery and sacrifice of our men and women fighting for our freedom.

“But when Mary spoke…the baby in her womb leaped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Why?  A savior is born.  Jesus signed up for battle against darkness.  He came to fight death.  He came to offer life through His sacrifice.

Hope and Joy leaps in our hearts.

 

On the road to Emmas. Luke tells of the risen Jesus walking and talking with two men about the death and resurrection of Jesus using the Old Testament prophecies.  After breaking bread,  Jesus revealed Himself to them and disappeared. Luke 24:30-32 NIV

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

It is the same at Christmas time.  Jesus came as a baby.  Jesus the Son of God,  Jesus the equal with God, Jesus who was with God at the beginning of creation,  entered into service to bring freedom to mankind.

 

Consider these verses and their reactions  Luke 2:8-20 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

God sent Jesus to set us free from addiction, depression, hopelessness, and the bondage of sin.  We were captive by the sin we allowed in our lives.  Satan and his demons continued to tell us lies and set up traps to keep us hopeless.

A Savior has been born to you

Something leaps in my heart about the goodness of Jesus.

Allow this Christmas season your heart and spirit to leap and hearts burn as you hear or read the story of Jesus as He came to set us free.  Let the patriotic spirit rise up in thanks as the Christmas story is told.  This truth will cause a joyful, grateful lighnside.

Hopeless and stressful?

If this Christmas season you are feeling hopeless and overcome by stress, read this story of Jesus in Luke 1&2.

Jesus has come to set you free from hopelessness and to heal your heart.  He entered this world to fight for you.  Christ has won the battle over sin for you.  You only need to believe in Him and ask Christ to come into your heart.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to begin a new work transforming your life.  You will immediately feel a joyfulness in your heart.  Find a good church to help guide you and encourage your growth.

Luke 2:11 NIV Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

You will conceive and give birth to a son…Jesus. “How can this be?” Mary asked.

Luke 1:26-33 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” [29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. [31] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary was troubled

Luke 1:34 NIV “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” It does not make sense.   I have never been with a man.

Mankind wants to understand everything. We watch Doctor Phil or Doctor Oz to understand.  We want to comprehend the mysteries of life and emotion.  We want to know how and why the outcomes of life happens.   If we can just get an understanding then maybe we can better manage events and feelings of our own lives.

obstacle – the need to understand the process.  The need to understand why Godly things will not work in your situation.  We need to process the promises of God in our situations and come up with exceptions of why it may not work. In our life, everything comes through the mind first for evaluation and acceptance or rejection.

This is a human trait.  God gave us our brain and soul to understand.  This is where Mary is in the encounter with Gabriel.  She is told something wonderful that Israel has been waiting for.  But Mary is stumped.  She is a virgin.  All the marvelous promises the angel is sharing are stalled because Mary knows and understands how a baby is made.  She needs to understand what the angel is promising and can’t.

 FAITH vs UNDERSTANDING

God is beyond understanding.  His powers are beyond comprehending.  Out of nothing, God spoke, and all matter came into being.  And by God’s power, all things are still in existence.  “Matter” is not an accident.  It cannot be explained by chance over billions of years.  God spoke…and it was.  It’s beyond understanding.  You have to disengage your mind and just believe.

By FAITH Abraham believed God even when his body was old and Sarah was beyond the years of giving birth.  They had a son because God said they would.  One of my favorite verses in Abrahams story is Romans 4:18-21

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.

 

With God,

You don’t need to UNDERSTAND…

you need to “STAND UNDER.”

 

 

When Mary said she did not understand how this could happen, the angel answered in Luke 1:35-38 –  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

And although Mary did not understand…she decided to “stand under” the promises of God. 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

This power of the Christmas story is not to bring the understanding of how  God works in your life…it is to STAND UNDER His promises and believe.

 

Don’t try and figure out God works  Just stand under His presence,  worship and believe He is God.  Call upon His name.  He wants a relationship to release His powers and promises. Don’t reason how God can’t work in your situation. Just believe and STAND UNDER His word.  Allow God’s presence to fill your heart.  The fuel of your lightnside is not the mind, it is faith!  Say with Mary,  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Right now,  don’t reason, just ..STAND UNDER  this promise: “unto you is born a savior, Christ the Lord” …Believe.

See the CHRIST in Christmas

Observations of Christ in His various vivid images with mankind declares a vision of love and a sacrificial message to us that is more powerful and beautiful of anything our physical eyes have ever seen. Like a bright light remains in your sight after you look away, so too these sightings of Christ continue to shine a likeness of His images in our hearts.

As you read the scriptures (links are included for the complete reading) allow your spirit and imagination to view the following images of Christ in your heart.  Worship and thank Christ for His love, sacrifice, and hope for eternity.

God became a man

Isaiah 9:6 “A child is born, a son is given.” Luke 2:8-14 “Good tidings of great joy to all people…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…lying in a manger…Glory to God in the highest”

Jesus begins ministry

John 1:14,29 ” Word became and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” “John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said “Behold! The lamb of God  who takes away the sins of the world…”

Jesus as the sacrifice for man’s redemption

John 12:32 “If I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Isaiah 53:4-11 “Borne our griefs…carried our sorrows… Smitten by God…Bruised for our iniquities…our chastisement was upon Him… The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all…Yet He opened not His mouth…He was cut off from the land of the living…Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him…When You made His soul an offering for sin…He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus returning to God

Acts 1:8-11 “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…and you shall be witnesses to Me…When He had spoken these things…He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight…two men stood by them in white apparel, This same Jesus will so come again in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.

 

In this season of Christmas let us see again in our soul the different observations of Christ.  Behold the child, man, suffering God, arisen God, coming again God, with us now, today and tomorrow…God.

Let these visions of Christ remain in your heart. It will produce a hopeful peaceful, righteousness and a bright lightnside.

Ephesians 5:20 NIV always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Thankfulness is not natural to mankind.  Our nature is to be envious, to want more.  Man’s nature is more inward rather than outward.  However, with the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, a new nature is available to us.  A new view of life that will bring peace and joy to our homes, marriages, work, and even the ability to walkthrough tragic, difficult times and not grow bitter.

 

The powerful influence that can dramatically impact your daily experience is the power of thankfulness.  Put on thankfulness.  Choose thankfulness.  You cannot do this alone.  It is not in your original nature to be that thankful.  This level of thankfulness can only be achieved by inviting the power of the Holy Spirit to be the voice and influence in our minds to become thankful.  It is the Holy Spirit that helps us improve our daily attitude step by step slowing moving you closer and closer to a truly joyful, thankful person.

 

God’s treadmill of thanksgiving

 

Imagine a man bought a treadmill to lose weight.  He takes the treadmill home and in four months returns it. “Why are you returning the treadmill?” asks the salesman. The man says “I never lost any weight!”.  “Did the treadmill not work?” Than man says “I don’t know, I never turned it on.”

Ask God to “make” you more thankful and He will provide a ” Thankful Treadmill” for you to begin exercising with the Holy Spirit as a coach right beside you.  The way you grow in godliness is not from an “instant miracle ” but rather you become an “active participant” of the process through daily repentance,  listening as the Holy Spirit coaches you into looking at the world and its problems with new spiritual eyes.  As you continue using the Thankful Treadmill you begin to be more thankful and appreciative of all the things you missed before.  The Holy Spirit is transforming your spirit and mind into becoming joyful and thankful in all things.

 

Don’t Delay – Start Today

(I am not an expert …still running)

 

With God’s help you will experience His joy.  Choose Thankfulness.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.  Listen to God and expose the deep hurts in your life to the power of thanksgiving. As you continue to run on the Thankful Treadmill, your life will develop a strong, bright lightnside shining God’s presence where ever you go.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIV Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. [19] Do not quench the Spirit.

 

Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?”

 

Luke 17:11-19  11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” [whole kjv]

We are like the ten men with Leprosy

• All ten men with leprosy were in the same pitiful circumstance.  Outcast, in pain.  Castaway from family. They could not live a normal life.  The future was terrifying.  Life was very dark.
•  They all have heard about Jesus.  The power from God to heal and restore.
• They all cried out to Jesus.  Pleaded for His mercy to heal them.
• They were all healed as they obeyed Christ by going to the Priest.
• Only one came back to offer thanks and praise Jesus.

What happened to the other nine?  Am I in this group?

Maybe they thought God should have never allowed the disease in the first place.  Or maybe healing is Christ’s job. Or it could be they were so excited about their healing they forgot about the one who had compassion and healed them.  Maybe their new life with access to family and work was overwhelming and they forgot about giving thanks?  The bible does not say.

The Bible reminds us to be thankful always.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Give thanks in ALL circumstances?  Yes, you can find something to be thankful for in all situations.  That takes some work and a perspective of understanding Christ’s involvement in your life.  In reality,  more has been done by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit than we would ever know.

I need to look at my life through a lens of acknowledging God’s blessings and the supernatural work of Christ each day.  Accepting things could be worse but for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Thankful – Synonyms vs Antonyms

What is my daily attitude about life?   Here are some attitudes we can have.  Can you determine which ones come from a thankful heart?  [Grateful, appreciative, pleased,  glad, happy, content, delighted, cheerful, joyful, critical, dissatisfied, sad, unappreciative, depressed, disagreeable, downhearted, gloomy, inhospitable, joyless, offensive,  ungracious, vain, holding a grudge.]  God help me keep thankfulness in my heart.

Your Faith has made you WHOLE [KJV]

The one man who returned to Jesus to thank and worship him was made whole.  What about the other nine, were they not made whole?  No, their disease of leprosy was healed,  but this man’s heart and soul were also healed. This man went home healed of leprosy, full of thanksgiving to Christ and a bright lightnside.

Thank you Jesus, thank you God, thank you Holy Spirit, for today!

Ephesians 6:5-6  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Master / Slave relations at work and home

Ephesians Chapter six has some good advice from God.  The main point concerning children and fathers, [and later in life the relationship changes to a servant (employee) and the owner (boss)]  is the reality that our actions and emotions in these real-world relationships should be seen in the light of eternity.

There is no disconnect between our choice of attitude toward earthly relationships and our eternal relationship with God.  Humility, honesty, and a good work ethic on earth reflects our real relationship with God.

 

We are all a slave to someone and a master to another.  How we honor, respect,  work, appreciate each other is a reflection of our spiritual relationship to our eternal master.

God encourages us to understand the reaction or submission in each earthly frustration or seeming unfair situation can be an act of worship and trust as we take our concerns to God instead of emotional outbursts.

 

Unto the Lord…

Maybe an inner thought at work or family in difficult times is the thought “I do this in your sight and for Your glory God.”  This portion of Ephesians leads right into the reality that we are fighting battles against demonic influences rather than flesh and blood.

The success in family and world slave/master relationships is to do battle in the supernatural against the lies and self-exulting emotions the enemy tries to put in our mind.

Bring prayer, scripture first into situations  and ask the Holy Spirit to help us look past our emotions into our hearts as we call upon God for power to live in peace, forgiveness, understanding, and respect with others.  This is a great battle fought in the supernatural and acted out in the physical.

 

Be strong in the Lord.  Be thankful.  Work hard.   Keep Lightnside at work and at home.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Conformity is a very strong temptation.

The power to conform is very, very strong.  It costs nothing.  It is very comfortable.  It is very self-pleasing.  It rewards desires.  But is it wise to conform to this world?  Does riding the wave of social standards lead to inner peace?  Of course not. If you are conforming to this world you are riding the downward rollercoaster to its end.  The fake news that promotes fun and success only ends in discouragement and loss.

Transformation only happens with God’s help

Romans 12:2 says do not fall into conformity but to transform areas of your life.  Transformation is NOT as easy as conformity.

Transformation is recognizing areas in our life that need to be energized to turn away from the lure to conform and become more alive in Christ.  Areas of our life that can become conformed is how we spend our free time.  Too much entertainment? Any time for spiritual development? Our emotions and relationships.  Are there charges on your credit card that points to conformity? We all fall into areas of ease.  Allow the Holy Spirit to speak with you to choose an area that needs to be transformed.

Renewing your mind

Our minds need to be renewed to the fact that we cannot transform ourselves.  We do not have the power to bring lasting change on our own.  We need supernatural help.

The word “Transform” is the Greek word metamorphoō  This word is used only two other places in the Bible. 

 

Matthew 17:2 NKJV — and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV — But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

It clearly refers to an inner transformation rather than mere outward conformity.

Transformation is only accomplished by the power of God’s Holy Spirit at work in you.  IT STARTS WITH YOU ACCEPTING IN YOUR MIND THE NEED OF GOD’S POWER.  BY THE AWAKENING OF YOUR MIND THE NEED TO CHANGE FROM CONFORMITY TO TRANSFORMITY.

Imagine when you begin to ask God to help you transform something in your life.  Through faith, prayer and believing God is at work in you, you will begin to notice a brighter life.  Your growth is similar to Christ’s transformation.  Your heart and life become whiter and brighter as you move closer to following Christ’s example.

Do you feel areas that need transformation?  Do you desire a brighter life, a cleaner heart?   Allow God to put His power of transformation at work.  You will feel a brighter and whiter lightnside.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God’s sacrifice – His Mercy

 

Without God’s mercy,  we would be hopelessly lost in our own sins.  There would be no escape from certain judgment and separation from God.  But God’s mercy sent Christ to die for us and provide a path to righteousness and hope through faith in Jesus Christ, our sacrifice.

 

Because of this mercy,  let us rise above the craziness of this world and become shining lights of “God’s Mercy” to the dark world around us.  How does this happen?  It is not automatic.  It is not easy.  Setting Holy standards require strength and constant attention in our heart and mind.  So much of our dark world’s ideas are trying to reprogram our lives toward sinful behavior and depraved thinking.  Let us rise above this world and strive to live by Holy standards to not only feel God’s presence but to present God’s presence to the world.

What is a Living Sacrifice?

Offer your body a living sacrifice.   This seems like an oxymoron.  How can one live and die at the same time?  Notice the two words.  Sacrifice represents the cost of following God in the Old Testament.  One would take their very best and most valuable sheep to be placed on the altar and killed as repentance and worship to God.   Sacrifice was the painful death of an innocent animal picturing the cost of sin covered by the innocent blood of Christ.

What does a “Living Sacrifice” look like?  We look closely at our lives and put to death (sacrifice) habits, attitudes, desires that are sinful in nature.  We compare our lives with the world and Christ’s standard.  We intentionally kill those parts of our lives that are not honoring to God.

 

This action is our sacrifice to God.  God sees our efforts and His presence grows in us.  What are some examples to consider sacrificing?   How do you relate to family, friends, and workers?  What do you watch, read or tweet?  What does your daily schedule look like?  Is there room carved out for God, the Bible, and prayer?  Make a sacrifice of time for God.

Set process, not goals

One piece of advice.  Instead of making a goal,  focus on creating a daily process.  Once a goal is broken it’s hard to really start a new goal.  But focus on creating daily or weekly processes of sacrificing known issues or the process of setting aside time to spend with God.

Ask God to reveal areas in your life that could be sacrificed as worship to God.  I know it is painful but it is an act of worship.   You will become closer to God and His presence will reflect a greater Holiness in your life.  The result is a greater lightnside for the world to see.

Make one change this week for a living sacrifice.

As I write this article,  I already know I need to sacrifice more to God in my daily processes.  No pain..no gain.

I feel good about it.  I’m striving to live upward.

“We who have been drugged by diversions cannot expect to enter the quiet without a struggle.  Our souls will roar for diversion”

Gary Thomas, Seeking the Face of God

 

The quieter days

Some of you will remember when we had no cell phones, internet, Facebook, hundreds of channels of tv.  Simpler times.  Quieter times.  We went to church more.  Had more family time. More conversation with people. Probably more real friends.

There were fewer diversions.  Now we jump at every tone from our cell phones.  We have the capacity to fill every minute of our day with something.  This is an addiction just as difficult to fight as physical issues.

Solitude is worth fighting for

The idea of being quiet and having no distraction is something to fight for.  Solitude before God is such a powerful and fulfilling time.  It is in these quiet times that we began to know the real issues of our lives.  In solitude before God, the Holy Spirit brings up pains, emotions to deal with and receive healing.  In the quiet times there will come revelations that you would never receive in the business of the day.  God will give you a verse that is ‘your verse‘.  The more you meditate on it the more God reveals.

One powerful verse I love that God brings back to me is Luke 5:38 ” new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”  Jesus has new wine of His presence to pour into my soul,  but I need to prepare my old wineskin (soul)  to receive it.  I feel a drawing to mature in Christ through prayer and meditation.  The reading of scripture and the discipline of my daily walk helps me grow and repair my soul (wineskin). When my soul is renewed,  Christ will pour more of Himself in me.  More Holy Spirit power, peace, and praise.

A Practical Guide 

It all leads back to being still before God.  Mark out some time each day to be still before God.  I will share a simple formula I use many times that you can spend a half-hour before God very easily.  30 minutes of solitude with God:

5 min   Praise God  Psalms 57:11,  63:3-4,  Rev. 14:11

5 min   Cleans the temple (confession)  Psalms 51:10-11  (prays over yesterday’s problems)

5 min   Intercession – Remember the world 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (have different peoples on each day)

5 min   Share my needs Matthew 7:7-8, James 1:5-8.  ( upcoming needs, family, personal)

5 min  Quiet…let God speak John 10:27,  1 Kings 19:12

5 min   Read Scripture

“Solitude is the place where Christ remodels us in his own image and frees us from the victimizing compulsions of the world”  Henri Nouwen

Some of the material today is from a book called ‘Replenish’ by Lance Witt

Remember we are conditioned to surround ourselves with distractions.  Make a place of quiet solitude with God and you will find a brighter lightnside.