Living in the Spirit.

This morning I woke up and immediately my thoughts jumped to the list of things I could do with my day. I thought of the potential plans I made with a couple friends and who I would need to text to make those plans happen. I thought of what I wanted to eat for breakfast. I thought about the homework I needed to accomplish. Throughout the day I have had similar thoughts, what to eat for lunch and dinner, what my plans are for tomorrow... And then I'm falling asleep planning ahead for the next day, setting my alarm for church in the morning, thinking about what to wear the next day...

And then I think of my Creator. I start praising Him for who He is and what I have to be thankful about from the day. On certain days I will have spoken with Him quite a bit throughout the day, but on others I have waited, pushing Him off for no good reason.

That's sortof a struggle I tend to have even on days I've spent time reading the Word. It can be easy at times to read the Word and not really spend time in relationship with God. That's my practical mind at work. I think practically often because decisions need to be made, responsibility is to be lived up to, money is to be made, basic needs need to be met. And then I realize I am focusing much on figuring everything out and attempting to control each aspect of the day. I expect to have my needs met, my hunger, my financial needs, my need for love. I am so focused on the need to meet my desires of the flesh that I don't even think about the desires on the Lord's heart, the desires of the Spirit.

I've been reading lately in Romans. It's a really amazing book because of the active faith it calls one to have. It is convicting and helps me understand at least a little bit more that God is so loving. He just wants us to surrender all we have and all we are to Him in order to love the people He has made....Part of doing this is living by the Spirit. Romans 8:5-7 says, "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God"

As Christians, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because of this gift, we have the promise that we are never alone as we have Him in us to guide us, protect us, and live in and through us. As Christians, it should be part of our daily life to ask God to reveal His heart to us. We should be willing to sacrifice our daily routines to minister to another.

In my last post, I included a quote from C.S. Lewis. In this quote, Lewis challenges the reader to think about the desire each person has to be known, to be individual. It's funny to me how often I hear about people trying so hard to be "different" or "good" that they end up looking just the same, or even worse. Lewis challenges his reader in the same way Paul challenges the Philippians in another book of the Bible he wrote. They both say that the only way to live in real life is to loose it. We must loose our lives in Christ in order to find it. What does this mean?

Surrendering to His will. In everything. If I decide to become a doctor but become hostile because I am focused on being the best and unique doctor in order to make the most money, I'm really seeking the desires of the flesh. I'm really not seeking to bring God the glory in everything I do.

And that's the meaning of purposeful life: Bringing God all the glory. Money is worthless when it's not spent honoring God. Relationships with other human beings are worthless when they are self focused.

So what does this mean in our lives? How do we live in the Spirit and still live balanced and responsible lives?

Just as stated before, all we do and say needs to be surrendered to God. One of my roommates always finishes her before-meal prayers saying "may you bless our food to our bodies and our bodies to your service". Of course we need to use our practical minds to do things, like eat, but when we have the blessing of food that is nourishing to our bodies we should be thank God for His blessings and be asking that our energy from the food would be glorifying to Him.

To some, living in the Spirit sounds limiting.
Living in the Spirit does include death, death of self-focused living. But it includes so much life.

Google dictionary defines life as "The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, functional, activity, and continual change preceding death; living things and their activity;... the period between the death and death of a living thing, especially a human being"

These definitions make me feel sad. First off just look at how many times the word death was used in those three definitions. Ridiculous. Life, as intended by God, is such a beautiful thing. It includes mystery, advancing of the mind, and immense love.

Genesis 2:7 says, "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being". God breathed life. He just BREATHED LIFE! How incredible is that? That is what I mean by mystery. We were created out of love because it brought joy to the Lord to breathe life into us. His desire for His creation is that we would  live in joy and peace because of the beauty and power and grace His Spirit gives us. Just think of a parent. The desire of a parent is for his or her child to experience joy, to find purpose, and to feel fulfillment. I may not be a parent now, but from the way my parents see me I can see how as a parent I would never want my child to go down a road of destructive decisions that lead to disappointment, hurt, and loneliness. As a parent who has watched her child take his first steps and mutter his first words, I can't imagine that I wouldn't want my child to experience life in its purest and most joyful way. Think about how God feels. The One who breathes life, the One who breathes joy, grace, and peace.

Why, as a child of God, would I want to be separated from the One who gives so much peace?

This peace is not something that can take away deep experiences of pain, but it is a gift from God that is unexplainable and intangible and makes one able to cope with hurt. This peace is a gift from God that comes from surrendering to His will. In Romans 8, Paul says we can either be governed by the flesh or governed by the Spirit. Being governed by the flesh does not satisfy because it does not include God's peace.

Later on in Romans 8, Paul goes on to say the Holy Spirit groans for us and intercedes for us in our weaknesses. Knowing this gives me a sense of hope and peace that in difficulty, my heart is not alone when it is heavy. The Holy Spirit is groaning with me, expressing words I cannot formulate. The Holy Spirit is bringing peace to me as I submit to the Lord.

So here's what I am thanking God for as I'm climbing back into bed from this busy day...I am thanking Him for peace. I'm thanking Him for governing my mind and asking that He continue to do so, so that I may be less anxious. I'm thanking Him for the gift of the Spirit, that I am not alone because of the Holy Spirit in my heart that is groaning for the things I don't know how to express. And I'm asking Him to guide my heart, that it may feel for others in ways that are unnatural for it to do apart from God. And as I'm inhaling and exhaling air, I'm reminded of His breath of life.

Well Said

“Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom, Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

My Weakness; His Strength

Oh Father God,

I come before you now offering you my whole heart. I come before you because my doubting heart is weak. But I come before you because even though I am weak, you are strong.

1 Cor. 1: 25: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" 

I'm burdened tonight with my generation. I see a generation of people who want to become more and more like the world and less and less like Jesus. I see a sinful nature in my own self and a fight against my selfish desires. Lord, I need your wisdom. I need your strength, your sword, your shield, your Word.

Comfort me when I am afraid to live for you.

Romans 8:38-39

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our FEARS for today nor our WORRIES about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's LOVE. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will EVER be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" 

Remind me of how strong you are.

"Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles. He will be strong. He will be strong.I throw up my hands. Oh, the impossibilities. Frustrated and tired. Where do I go from here? Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly. Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear. I think I can't. I think I can't. But I think you can, I think you can...Gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands..." -Reliant K

Lord, interrupt my thoughts with the desires on your heart. Lead me in ways I could never have thought of on my own.

Thank you God for the grace you have extended to me even when I have chosen everything but you. "[God] is not proud...He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him." -C.S. Lewis Strip me of my pride because you are not a God of pride. Remind me of this grace you have extended in the times I am tempted to be led by my anger, the bitterness I've given home to in my heart.

To you and you alone be the glory in every action, word, and desire that comes from me.

I praise you because you can use me- weak me- simply because you are strong.

Amen.

"Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." 1 Chronicles 16: 8-11

Constructive Decisions

What is something you are really against? Lying? Cheating? Couples living together before marriage? Gay marriage? Abortion?

Take this thing you are really against. Say someone you love deeply is participating in this lifestyle. Say they are in a relationship built off of lies or cheating or premarital sex... They invite you to a wedding, asking you to be a witness and a supporter of a marriage you cannot approve. Would you go? Would you walk your daughter down the aisle to a lier?

We talked about this issue last night in my small group. The Bible says to love our neighbors, but it also clearly states in the Bible that we are to live in this world but not of it ("Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" -1 John 2:15)

As Christians, we are set apart. As Christians we are supposed to look different because we have the hope of the Holy Spirit in us.

In the discussion last night, we talked about healthy decisions. We talked about what lifestyles to support. Then we trailed into talking about tattoos. Is it biblical to get them? Is it wrong? Our leader Kurt gave us this verse: 1 Corinthians 10:23 "I have the right to do anything", you say-- but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"-- but not everything is constructive"

So that's why God calls us to look different from the world. Not all things are beneficial for me to do. A tattoo might stop me from getting a really good job. Supporting a gay marriage might make others believe this lifestyle is beneficial because a Christian was a witness to the marriage. Sinning in any kind of way, seeking any selfish desire, lusting after an attractive person, thinking impure thoughts, all of these things are not beneficial. It makes me think sinful things. The mind is a beautiful thing and I should be training it to think godly thoughts.

As Christians, we should be be thinking through out actions and attitudes. Will this further advance the kingdom of God? Will this hinder someone's walk? As Christians, we are called to be intentional, thoughtful, courageous in our actions..

May the power of the Holy Spirit guide you today. May you think His thoughts, being driven by what is beneficial for the kingdom of God.

A Submissive Heart

Something my missions professor talked a lot about this past semester was missionary calling. We debated in class if willing individuals, even if not best fit for the job, should be sent out as missionaries. For a homework assignment we read a story about a family applying to the mission field. As the readers, the students were supposed to determine weather or not this family should be sent out and why.

In this story, the father has many qualifications for the job, but his wife isn't exactly on board with the mission. In his interview with the mission board, he says that he is a pastor at a church and is just waiting to go overseas to make a difference. The problem I had with this particular guy was that he was so ready to go, that he wasn't willing to stay. He felt that he could learn so much overseas and serve God better there, but he wasn't willing to serve God in the church in the states.

We talked about this issue in class. Then my professor said this, "Here's the important thing for all missions, whether in the business world, church, overseas missions, or in the home as a parent, we all need to submit our will to God's". This concept of submitting means that I'm allowing God to take me where He wants me to go. The truth is, submission should happen at many different times throughout life. Sometimes we submit playing on a team to God, saying that we will bring Him the glory whether the outcome is a win or a loss. Sometimes we submit a challenging friendship to the Lord, asking Him to give wisdom. Sometimes we submit a relationship to Him, asking that it resemble Him rather than our own selfish desires.

Submission to God has an interesting outcome. When we submit to God, He recognizes our willing hearts and rewards us with what is in our best interests in the end. Always.

Furthermore, when we submit ourselves to God, a transformation takes place in us. Our hearts change from a self-seeking attitude to thankfulness. We recognize that all the things we have are from God and we are grateful for any of the blessings He gives us. That is God's desire for us in relationship with Him: that we would submit ourselves to Him, become dependent on His will, and thank Him for His provision. Sarah Young says, "Let my Presence bring order to your thoughts, infusing Peace to your entire being" Along with His direction, He gives us the gift of peace.

Romans 8:25, 28
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose"

All truly good things are good because they bring glory to God.

A woman is to reflect the God of heaven.

Dannah Gresh, author of And the Bride Wore White said, "We are incredible creations of God. If we lose the true essence of womanhood, we lose a very significant piece of what God has designed and the ability to fully reflect the God of heaven."

I heard Dannah Gresh speak at a purity summit when I was about 13. I wrote this quote down since my mom was sitting next to me, but a few years later was when it really started taking meaning to me. That meaning is this: what it means to reflect the God of heaven by honoring the men, and eventually one special man, He created.

Alright, so, when I created this blog its intent was to encourage others through writing about scripture and life experiences. I don't write a ton about my personal life or specifics, but there is a piece of the story of God's powerful transformation in my life I would like to share today.

When I was 12 years old, just a year before I attended this purity summit, I prayed one of the most significant prayers I had ever prayed. I had just learned my teenage cousin was pregnant. It broke my heart as she was someone I loved deeply and looked up to. I remember going off by myself, in tears, and just praying God's protection and love to be poured out over my cousin. In this prayer I began praying over her that she would seek after Christ. I was sad because I had seen her seek after Christ before and I wondered what happened. That's when my prayer began to change. I started praying over myself. I asked God to protect me. I never wanted to be separated from Him. I prayed, "God even if I stop seeking you, please find me. Protect me. No matter what I do, don't let me go". I continued praying for protection that no matter what I did in middle and high school, that God would protect my virginity and my spirit.

In the time between this prayer and the purity summit I attended, my family and I moved to intercity Chicago where I began making some unwise decisions, in particular dating a guy who wasn't following after the Lord. It was a slow process of getting off track, but after not too long I was clearly not seeking after the Lord. If I told people I was a pastor's kid, they would ask me the question: Really? My life was not reflecting the God of heaven.

It took a couple years of bad decisions, being grounded by my parents, and two very patient godly friends for me to change. At age 12 one of the most important things to me was guarding my heart and waiting for my husband. At age 16, I just wanted to give it away. Though I had two godly friends pouring into me, giving me Bible verses even when I told them to stop, I didn't value myself. The night that God transformed me was the night I had agreed to give it all away, to sleep with a guy who by no means would take any value in me. That night I just felt wrong about it and cancelled on him before it happened. That night I chose not to give myself over to a guy, but I gave my whole heart willingly to the One who would protect it for me. I chose to remember the plea I cried out at age 12, asking God to find me, no matter what I had done. And He has been faithful and just to restore me.

The rest of high school, I allowed God to transform me by choosing not to date any guy until college and to take the time to pray over my future husband. I believe I made a spiritual bond to this man I had not even met yet. I've been praying verses and over specific circumstances God has laid on my heart for him over the past four years. The Lord knows who he is, and I'm pretty sure I do too, but now is the time where I'm seeking after Christ, surrendering to His will. As I'm doing this, He is leading and restoring me with my best friend and the most wonderful man I know. He's a man who challenges me and is led by the desire to bring God Alone the Glory in everything he does...

What continually amazes me is God's amazing grace. I don't deserve any of the blessings He has bestowed upon me without it. It saddens me sometimes to think about life without Him, but when I do that I seek to remember Him and that He lives in me.

"And so we know and rely on the love of God. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them" -1 John 4:16. My prayer is this, that I would seek Christ daily, thanking him and resembling Him in my words and actions, so I may be a gift and a symbol of His love because He lives in me. May my heart be a pure heart and immense gift to the man God has called to be my partner in this life in order to encourage him for his work in the kingdom of God. May I fully reflect God.

I intend to be a gift for my husband and be the most mature version of myself I can be because of Christ. I pray that I may be graceful, compassionate, a servant. But may I also be a woman of honor.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" -Proverbs 31:30

What does a woman of honor look like besides who she is for her husband? When I think of a woman of  honor I think of a woman who doesn't call attention to herself. This is part of her personality, but it is also shown in how she dresses. Something else I remember learning about at this purity summit when I was 13 is that a woman shows a lot about who she is in how she dresses. God has made women to be men's beautiful companion, but when I see girls walking around in attention-calling clothing I don't think the word beautiful.

Some people say that modesty is a little extreme and "uncool", but what I think is an issue is when Christians start to model themselves after what the world seeks after. A woman fully submitted to the Lord should seek to please Him by serving her brothers in Christ.

Here's a video on modesty I listened to today to understand a little better about the way guys think:
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLKZZWNX

In this video, the speaker says that women do not realize how difficult it is for a man when women are dressed provocatively. The most confusing thing for a guy is when women in the church dress this way and expect respect. Church is the place where people should be seeking to bear the image of God rather than that of the world.

This doesn't mean we should dress in crazy oversized, ugly clothes, but it's just a request to be modest.  I feel it would be selfish of me to seek out the attention of men who I will never marry. So if I, and at times I do, feel left out or wish I had not made this decision, I remind myself that I am giving up something in order to serve not only my future husband but also honoring my God. I am seeking to be selfless.

When we decide to live for ourselves rather than choosing to live God`s way, thats exactly what we do - condemn ourselves to destruction. To some extent, selfishness always leads to death of some sort.- Rebecca St. James

And that attitude of selfishness is a sinful attitude the Lord wants to transform in all of His creation. My challenge today is that we, as women, would make a conscious effort to truly live in love by honoring men in the way we dress and surrendering ourselves to seeking after the God who promises His love will never fail, the God of transforming love and grace. Your body is a temple to the Lord, ladies. You are beautiful, chosen and loved by the Almighty God of the universe. May you feel His great love today as you seek to reflect Him, the God of heaven.

Just a fraction

I remember so many people telling me that Jesus Christ understands all of our pain because He became human and lived in this sinful world. A friend questioned me recently, though, asking that if He experienced all our pain why He didn't experience heartbreak.

What I ask is this: What if we experience human heartbreak as merely a symbol, a fraction, of His heartbreak?

I think the real heartbreak is something that I, as a sinful human being, cannot fully grasp because Jesus Christ endured the highest level of suffering.

Kenosis is the concept that Christ emptied himself, giving up closeness with the Father in order to take on the nature of a servant. Phil. 2:7-8 "He made himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross" He gave up this closeness with the Father in order to save us, in His entire divinity, in the process taking on the complete nature of a servant. Christ does understand our heartbreak because He emptied Himself in order to experience it and through His obedience, He experienced a heartbreak on a much larger scale than we can humanly understand: death on a cross due to the rejection from creation to Creator.