TGIF
I have shared with you numerous times through TGIF and sermons I have given at Covenant how God chooses to speak with us, and that He speaks with us often if we are listening. Last week was a good example of God clearly speaking to me at the right time. If you remember my TGIF from last week, I spoke about the rough week that I had. As I went through that week, I thought a lot about it and spoke to God a lot about it. But the reality is that I was feeling sorry for myself instead of just turning my troubles over to Him.
What finally got me back to reality was my Sarah Young devotional from Jesus Always, and here is what last Tuesday’s message (May 10) said to me. Your choices matter, beloved. They are a vital part of My transforming work in you. You make most of your choices alone – in the solitude of your heart and mind. But remember: I am Christ in you! I know every thought before you think it, every decision before you make it. Your realization that I’m aware of everything going on within you can protect you from careless, selfless living. Let your desire to please Me, the One who knows you so intimately, change the way you think and live.
These words hit me hard, and made me think more about my feelings over the past week. Then I kept reading and saw the following. Though your choices do indeed matter, remember that there is no condemnation for those who belong to me. I am able to see all your flaws and failures, yet simultaneously love you with glorious, unfailing Love. The underlined part was directly from the scripture in Romans 8:1-2 that provided this important answer for me.
Reading that devotional made it clear that God had put that week’s message on my heart, and that is what He wanted me to talk about last week. He wanted me to admit I had a bad week and didn’t come to Him soon enough and lay out my concerns to Him. So God came through for me and hit me right between the eyes with the message He wanted me to share and He even led me to the scripture to use!
So we have access to Him always and constantly, if we only open our hearts and minds to Him! It took me awhile and He had to get pretty blunt, but I finally got His message!
John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.
John 16:13 – But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Hebrews 2:1 – For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Tina’s message this past Wednesday also made this point as well. She and Missy were open to listening to God when they learned Don was going to be delayed getting to church. Instead of feeling sorry for this situation, Tina and Missy made lemonade from the lemon they were handed at the last minute, and all was well at Covenant last Sunday. We need to lean on Him rather than on ourselves in every event that pops up in our lives.
Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.