Tag: self

Selfish Switch

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For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:16

Isn’t the switch too easy?

Usually a moment of pure insanity.

One moment we are living for God…

And the next minute we are focused again on ourselves.

One minute we are speaking life to others…

And before we realize it, we’ve refocused again completely on self.

James reminds us selfishness breeds disorder and every evil thing.

Yuck. Can you picture the ugliness we spread when focused on ourselves?

Ignoring others breeds rejection in their minds.

Always placing your needs first spreads the superiority message.

And that’s just scratching the surface.

What do you generally focus on as you go about your day?

With what lens do you see life?

Your own lens or God’s?

May we stop switching back to our own.

May we look through God’s lens to see what He sees.

And may we choose to focus on what He has for us today.

Come along and make the switch with me.

Photos by Bravingbird on Unsplash

 

Holding Onto What?

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And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

What are you holding onto that is keeping you from the promises of God?

What are you keeping closer to your heart than God?

God’s promises are for you.

You. His beloved.

But only when you surrender everything.

Everything you hold dear and everything you hold in place of God Almighty.

So, I ask you again. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from God’s promises?

Are your spouses actions or inactions causing you to resist God’s promises?

Are your children’s attitudes or flaws causing you to stay within yourself?

Are your flaws and failures causing you to calculate without God?

God’s promises for blessings require your dedication to Him.

To Him and Him alone. God, that is.

When your spouse repeatedly disappoints you, should that matter?

When your children fail you, does that reflect your parenting?

When you succumb again to your temptations, do you stay stuck within yourself?

Keep pursuing what God has for you.

Keep placing your trust into His hands.

Keep surrendering your life to Him.

As you repent and place yourself at His feet, His promises will be yours.

All He wants is you.

All of you.

Even the dark parts.

Let Him make everything new.

Determine to make this new year God’s and God’s alone.

Photos by Rolands Zilvinskis, Ant Rozetsky, Katarina Miloševic, & Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Spilled Out

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

What spills out of you every day?

Your moods from yesterday you simply cannot let go of yet?

Your depression from the hand life has dealt you?

Negativity, expecting the worst every time?

Anger as you are better then all of this?

Or joy, knowing God is above it all?

Peace, resting in the knowledge that God’s got this and more?

Mercy, remembering how God has poured out His mercy liberally on you?

What spills out of you tends to resort back to one question: who or Who is on the throne of your heart?

If it’s yourself, which is extremely common, then whatever spills out of you will be contingent upon your flighty circumstances.

It will depend upon who pleases you or not.

If God is on your heart’s throne, out will spill the fruits of the spirit as you remember God’s in control and you are not.

Luke 6 reminds us out of our heart’s abundance, the mouth speaks.

Out of your heart.

What’s in your heart? Values, beliefs, things you know and believe to be true.

If your heart believes God’s got this and more, spilling out of you will be His mercy and love to others.

But if your heart desires yourself and the things of this world, ugliness will spill when things do not go your way.

What will you choose?

Will you spread God’s very self to others this day?

Ask God to fill you with Himself.

Give Him the throne of your heart.

That way, when things spill out, you’ll be His hands and feet to those you meet.

Photos by Skylar Michael, Daniela Díaz, & Ben Moreland on Unsplash

Which Self

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practicers and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10

Have you put on your new self?

The one God created you to live within?

Entering into our relationship with God, He forgives our sin away.

Our old selves.

But it tends to sneak back.

Our old habits, thoughts, actions, desires, and selves.

Yes, we are still the Lords, but we begin acting as if we are not.

We forget who we have become.

We forget Whose we now are.

Colossians 3 reminds we have put down our old self and its practices.

Our old habits. Our selfishness. Our life apart from God.

Instead, we have put on our new selves.

Our new identity as God’s.

And our new identity is continually renewed within the knowledge that we are created in God’s very image.

But as Colossians reminds us, it’s a choice.

When life happens, what self will you put on?

Will you react within your old habits of fear and inadequacy?

Or will you react within your new self, wrapped in God’s image of peace, love, and joy?

Notice which you choose.

And purpose to dress within your new self: the very image of God.

Photos by https://unsplash.com/@brodatafotografia, https://unsplash.com/@beccamchaffie, https://unsplash.com/@belart84

But God

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It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14

It’s impossible.

But God.

Utterly unattainable.

But God.

Completely devastating.

But God.

Simply too much.

But God.

It’s like you’ve forgotten all about Him.

His power.

But God.

Two words with big meaning.

Heard this phrase years ago, don’t remember where.

Today, those words plopped back into my brain.

But God.

The first word is a conjunction – a coordinating conjunction if you care to know the type.

Connects words and phrases together.

One could use the conjunction and instead.

And God.

That works as we include God.

Not as powerful in my humble opinion.

But God shows me everything stops because God enters.

It’s all impossible, except for one variable: God.

Almost like you’ve forgotten the climax to the movie, or the surprised twist at the end.

By placing the phrase But God at the end of your story, there’s hope.

A future.

More to come.

And that future has the all powerful, all knowing Lord writing the end of your story.

Each situation, big or small, can include God.

But it’s up to you.

What words will you utter when faced with difficulties?

Why me?

Or –

But God.

Go ahead and ask God why He’s given you this trial.

But end your whispers with But God.

Ask Him to finish your story.

He has a beautiful ending, if you’ll only let Him enter in, bringing Himself in all His glory.

Photos by Vladimir Fedotov, Pawan Sharma, Mantas Hesthaven, & Dalton Touchberry on Unsplash

Whose Are You?

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For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8

Are you your own?

Or are you God’s?

Do you live for yourself?

Or do you live under God’s breath?

Living for yourself can be fun, I will admit.

But it’s also sad.

Lonely.

And it’s a pit that never ends.

The deeper you go into yourself, the farther away you are from God, who, in fact, created everything, even that pit.

The more you chase the world, trying to find yourself, the lonelier you will remain.

What if, instead of chasing selfish whims, you chased God’s will for you?

What if, instead of slipping deeper into a selfish pit, you walked God’s plan for your life?

When you remember Whose you are, you’ll be able to stand a little taller.

When you remember Whose you are, you’ll realize none of it matters.

The matching tea towels.

The latest athletic shoes.

The perfect family photo.

None of it matters because it all points to you.

Stand up.

Stand tall.

And stand for the One who was born for You.

Because Whose you are matters more than who you are.

Photos by Fadi Xd, sergey mikheev, & Em M. on Unsplash

Seeking

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You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

What are you seeking after?

What would you give your life for?

What if this happiness costs you something.

Would it be worth it, whatever this is you seek?

Temporary pain for the greater good comes to mind.

Further college education classes last only a few months.

Haha, or years, but the reward is usually a better job and more money.

Exercise takes a few minutes each day with the gain of health.

Planning the holidays creates work but memories for years to come.

What are you seeking after at the cost of your happiness?

The position of self?

To be “right”?

An attitude, perhaps?

Is it worth it?

Been studying Augustine lately for a class.

Yes, the one from the 4th century.

His ultimate goal of education was the pursuit of happiness and peace of God.

He longed to hear God’s voice.

What if your goals were replaced with these?

The pursuit of God’s love and peace.

Is your pursuit creating peace in your soul?

Are you seeking after God to be your everything?

We were never meant to live alone.

Created for love, we were meant to live in community.

Community that ministers to us in the valleys and celebrates us in the hills.

Who do you answer to every day?

Your sweet self?

Or God?

Oh God, make us more like You.

Create in us a clean heart, seeking You with all that we are and listening for Your voice to direct our paths.

Photos by Oscar Helgstrand on Unsplash

Clinging to the Old

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Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are becoming new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Are you?

Clinging to the old?

The old meaning your self without God.

Your sinful self.

The self that feels better some of the time.

1 Corinthians 5:17 suggests, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away.”

When we become a Christian, declaring our faith in God, we become new.

Our mind, body, soul, and spirit become new in the eyes of God.

Because with God covering us, we are without spot or blemish.

Old things pass away, meaning our sins are forgiven.

But my question is this: what old ways are you still holding onto?

What comfortable sinful actions do you insist on instead of how God wants you to act?

Just because the old has passed away doesn’t mean you can’t ask for it back.

Picture a closet.

You declare your faith in God.

God replaces all your clothes with new garments.

They are perfect.

Not always comfy, but made by God just for you.

You wake up, deciding what to wear.

Since you are still irked by yesterday, the shiny new clothes almost blind you.

You instantly wish, audibly, for that ratty sweatshirt.

You blink, and see it crumpled back on your floor.

Do you wear it?

Up to you.

Your old sinful nature is wiped clean with Christ’s forgiveness.

But your old ways can and will still creep up, tempting you to wear them.

You must keep your faith in God, asking Him what to wear each day, each moment.

Should I wear faith or fear?

Anxiety or peace?

Self-pity or grace?

Fear, anxiety, and self-pity are a whole lot more comfy at times, yes?

But they make you ugly.

Ask the One who set you free to keep setting you free each and every day.

And each day you choose God and His ways, it will become easier and easier to reject your old ways.

And pretty soon, that ratty sweatshirt in the corner will disappear.

But only if you decide you want it no longer.

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Photos by Jozsef Hocza, Zui Hoang, Martino Pietropoli, Patryk Sobczak, Tommaso Pecchioli, & Christian Fregnan on Unsplash

Watered Wood

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Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 1 Kings 18:38

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What watered wood do you have on your alter?

What?

You heard me.

What wet, un-burnable wood do you have on your alter?

Meaning, what unbelievably impossible burdens do you carry?

What disastrous situations are you declaring unsolvable today?

That’s what watered wood is.

Situations that seem utterly impossible.

That’s because they are.

Utterly impossible.

In your strength.

But not in God’s.

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God doesn’t care if your wood on the alter is soaked.

He’ll still send the fires of heaven to burn it up.

Accepted.

God does not care just how big your burden is.

Because He is always bigger still.

Always.

Remember Elisha’s altar when he was proving God’s superiority against the enemy’s false gods?

He bet God would burn his sacrifice even with the extreme amounts of water.

Remember, fire and water don’t mix.

And God came through.

He was more than enough, burning everything in an instant.

And He’ll do the same with you.

He’ll take your burden, your seemingly impossible situation and take care of it.

Completely.

But only if you trust Him.

Allow Him to work.

Allow Him by giving everything to Him.

Then watch Him work it all out.

Completely.

Photos by Ramiz Dedaković, Gregory DALLEAU, Joshua Earle, & Nathan Lindahl on Unsplash

Voice

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And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. Ruth 3:11

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How loud is your voice?

Have you forgotten how it sounds?

When you are faced with disappointment, does your voice disappear completely as you become invisible?

Find it.

It’s there.

Somewhere deep inside.

Don’t think you can?

Why?

Are you feeling defeated?

Like you don’t count or can’t be loved?

Those are lies and you know what to do with those:  throw them out!

When those thoughts enter your precious brain, refuse them.

You are worth it.

Say that out loud.

I am worth it.

There.

I knew your voice was in there somewhere.

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Your voice becomes rusty when you haven’t used it for awhile.

When letting people run all over you has become a daily habit.

Sometimes, when life has beaten you down, your voice becomes hidden.

Like a precious jewel.

Uncover it.

God made your voice.

And it’s beautiful.

Do you believe me?

You should.

Your voice is a melody unique to you.

Your thoughts and opinions are from your precious self.

God created you to be a strong, loving, kind person.

You must use your voice to become the person God intended.

When something is troubling you, say something.

When you have an opinion, voice it.

You are worth it.

I know -I’m naturally a people-pleaser, and I literally hate it when others are mad at me.

Well, that’s fine, but I cannot let that desire to please others squelch my voice.

Squelch who I am.

God gave me my voice for a reason, and I must stand up for myself.

So should you.

Be nice about it of course.

Using your voice is not meant to be in anger or an irritation to yourself and others.

It’s merely speaking up for yourself.

Making your thoughts known to your loved ones.

Did someone upset you?

Speak up.

Nicely.

Use that voice.

Your relationships will become rich with meaning and your emotions will be at peace.

Ask God to continue changing you into the precious child He created you to be.

Ask Him to full His purpose in you, and that includes not being a wall flower, I promise you!

Practice in the mirror.

Then flash that pretty smile and speak.

Photos by Madison Bersuch, wenkui xiao, Alex Lopez, & Ben White on Unsplash

Release

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Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

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What if you decided to release all of the junk?

All of the junk you keep in your brain?

Un-forgiveness of others.

Memorized list of how each hurt you?

Deservedly yes, but it was so yesterday.

You’re only hurting yourself, you know.

Internally, your body reacts poorly when you hold onto things.

How do you know if you still have junk?

The thought of that person brings it all up again.

Washes over you like a sickness.

What if you released it?

Deliberately deciding not to hold onto it, no matter what it is?

Declaring yourself unoffendable?

What if, the very next time someone “hurts” you by their words, you, instead of launching into poor me, decided not to claim that pain at all?

Refusing to participate?

You’d enjoy freedom.

If people cannot offend you , you will remain peaceful.

Not a license to turn you into a doormat.

Talking about little things.

Snide remark from a child.

Spouse not treating you perfectly.

Taking a boss’ criticism personally instead of separating it into doing your job better.

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Jesus wants His kingdom to come here on earth.

Was He wanting us to live our salvation in freedom on earth?

Not wrapped up by the bondage of past offenses?

Freedom in Christ means the freedom to forgive.

Forgive and forget.

Doesn’t mean you are blindly trusting others who have proven themselves unworthy.

But the pain isn’t kept.

The pain doesn’t keep you in bondage.

Your body cries out for freedom.

Your mind cries out for freedom.

Your soul is free.

Let’s choose that freedom today.

The choice is yours.

 

Photos by pan xiaozhen, Gianandrea Villa, Robert Metz, & Jason Dent on Unsplash

Stand Up

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Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

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When it comes down to it-

When the rubber meets the road-

When the time has come-

What will you decide?

What will your choice be?

Will you stand up?

Mock?

Or stay seated?

When life turns a corner….

When left unsupervised….

When no one who matters is looking…

What will you decide?

No one can see your heart.

Literally, no one can see your true self.

But we can see your actions.

Your words.

Your inaction.

Those reveal your true self.

They witness the desires of your heart.

So I suppose, yes, we can see it.

Your true self.

Clearly.

But beyond the rest of the world, your God sees.

Nothing escapes His notice.

Nothing.

Whether you trust Him for your life or not, He sees.

He sees everything.

Absolutely everything.

Your tears He tenderly watches when no one else is there.

Your triumphs He rejoices as He longs to see you thrive.

But He also sees your blunders.

Witnesses these as well.

When you bend to the world, spewing forth ugly words, He sees.

When you succumb to popularity, demeaning those inferior to you, He sees.

When your will bends to the winds determined by your peers, He sees.

When you mock authority in secret or in public, He sees.

When you pretend to follow God, He sees.

When you laugh with degrading jokes, participating in your heart, He sees.

He sees and He knows.

While you might succeed at fooling the world, you will never fool Him.

God, our ultimate judge.

Stand up for what you know is right.

Stand tall among the crowd.

When you do, that little guilty feeling which always accompanies an error big or small, will dissipate.

Be a light.

In this world, you’ll either bring light or darkness wherever you go.

Which would you rather do?

Next time you face a questionable situation, will you stand up, mock, or stay seated?

Stand up.

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Photos by Vladislav Babienko, Javier Allegue Barros, & Helena Lopes on Unsplash