Sunday, April 18, 2021
First, let me say that I am not casting stones. Instead, I want to shed light on something that helped me grow in my relationship with God and others.
When will you be ready?
At what point will you finally have time? When will all your ducks get in a row for you to make time in order to make more time so you can then fill all that time and say you need more time to make space for God? When will you fulfill your promises and decrees?
We make promises to God often. "I will read your Word more." "I will take more time to seek you." "I will start fasting again." "I will share the Gospel." "I will serve others more." The list goes on. How many times do we keep these promises? We ask God for His heart, His thoughts, His ways. We ask for his protection, guidance, and forgiving nature. Yet, how many times do we reject these same things when He tries to give us the understanding to apply them?
We often fall on the hope that God will forgive us and take us back time after time, broken promise after broken promise. I'm not saying that He won't, but be honest with yourself. If you had to be on God's side in the relationship, how would you feel? What if someone dear to you promised to talk with you, but they fall asleep in the middle of the conversation and/or don't leave room for you to say anything back? What if they won't change their schedule around to fit you in but claim you to be the best thing that ever happened to them? What if in front of you, they show one carefully crafted personality, but when they think you don't see them, a whole other side comes out?
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"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
James 5:12
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One thing the Lord has been working on in me is getting rid of 'lazy bones'. You said you would make sure dishes get done before you go to bed, but there are pots in the sink? Get rid of the lazy bones. You said you would work out 3x a week, but you're putting it off for tomorrow when you have the time now? Get rid of lazy bones. You said you would read a chapter per day, but you won't because you don't feel like it? Get rid of lazy bones.
Satan will try to make you think that being tired or in the wrong mood is a valid reason to break a promise. In rebuttal, someone might even say, "Well, God's grace is sufficient for us." Yes, it is! Did you know that Apostle Paul two verses before that verse mentioned a thorn in his side? That is to what he compared a messenger from Satan who was tormenting him, and when he asked the Lord to remove it three times, His response was, "My grace is sufficient for you." That means, for me at least, this verse that many people use as a scapegoat is talking about God's ability to help us in difficult situations. Not an excuse, but provision. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
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I am not perfect. I don't want my conviction on this to mislead you into thinking I think of myself that way. I struggle with the things the Lord confronts me with daily, whether it be giving up certain worldly pleasures, following His word more closely, or following through with promises I've made to Him, myself, or others. I am not saying I consistently break promises, but in the past, I have relied too much on lazy bones and my perception of God's grace.
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"Lord, you understand that I am just too tired, right?"
"Lord, you know that if I had the confidence or time, I would."
"Lord, you know my heart."
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Now, I am not denying I will never try to use any of these phrases again, especially since life happens. Yet, because I desiring a better relationship with God, I know I must crucify my flesh. So, if I do say these things, that is a cue that I may may need shake off some fear, lazy bones, or preferences. I want to please God with my life more than I could care about an extra hour of sleep or being appeasable to any follower I could have. When the Lord returns, nothing I have amassed on earth will matter. The last thing I want is to be left here having to think about everything I could've done better.
So welcome back to Christian Girl Talks. Take up your armor of God and fasten your seatbelts. I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm excited about what it can positively impact in our lives.
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I am praying for you and will write to you soon.
