Spirit of Humility

"And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."  (Matthew 23:12)

     

     I don’t know how many of you have/have had pets, but I am learning that they can teach you some of the same skills/techniques that are needed for parenting. Even with pets, there are moments of laughter, joy, disappointments, and sadness. There is a need for training, instruction, guidance, and patience. One of the things I noticed about my fur-child, Zoe, is that when I call her name, she starts out running and wagging her tail. But as she gets closer, she bows down low and remains that way until I do something to make her look up at me. 

     Now you may be wondering why I am telling you this and what this has to do with you, especially if you don’t have any pets? Let’s first look at the dynamics of the relationship that I have developed with Zoe. When she was a puppy, she had to learn what was acceptable and not acceptable. She had to learn who was responsible for her, who it was that she could trust to feed her, love her, take care of her, and protect her. Over time, the relationship of trust and reverence deepened and at some point, she felt the need to start bowing before me whenever she was in my presence. 

     Isn't that how we are as children of God? When we start out in our relationship with God, we are guided and instructed on how to function in life and how to grow in our walk with the Lord. As this relationship grows, our trust and reverence for God should deepen. So let me ask you—when was the last time that you approached God in a spirit of humility? How often do you bow down in adoration and reverence for the One who is faithful to provide our daily needs? 

     Sometimes we get to that place in our lives where we forget to thank God for the simple, everyday things. It’s funny that some people only see the value in something when they no longer have it. But what about approaching God in a spirit of humility when we mess up? Sometimes we just shrug it off and say, “Oh, well, I messed up. But God will forgive me. God knows my heart.” 

     A spirit of humility means to approach God in a way that shows that you understand there is Someone greater than yourself. Someone that you owe your life and well-being to. Someone who has walked with you through YOUR moments of laughter, joy, disappointments, and sadness. Someone who has shown love and patience as YOUR Trainer, YOUR Guide, and YOUR Instructor. 

     The next time you have an opportunity to be alone with God without any distractions, approach God with a humble attitude, a grateful heart, and a deep reverence for who God is. I guarantee that not only will you learn to walk in a spirit of humility, but you will also learn that everything that YOU ARE is because of who GOD IS!! 

Praise In The Storm

 “After the devil had done all he could do to tempt Jesus, being unsuccessful, 

he departed from him for a season (Luke 4:13).” 

     Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by the devil. But what is sometimes overlooked is that Jesus was tempted “for a season.”

     The devil is busy! He is always plotting ways to trap, hinder and set you up for failure. Consider some of the storms you have experienced in your life. 9 times out of 10, the storm was not created by just one issue, but multiple things that seem to happen at once. Something you must understand is that although you may transition from seasons of storms to seasons of peace, don’t be fooled into thinking that the devil is finished with you. He is just waiting for the moment that you let your guard down and then he’s back.

     How can you be prepared in advance for the next storm that may come your way? First and most important is to PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY SOME MORE!! Pray for guidance and direction on how to avoid letting the storm consume you. Second, learn to praise God when you’re in the valley, as well as, on the mountaintop. We always run to God and beg for help when we’re going through rough times. But when all is well in our lives and there is peace, God is placed on a shelf until we need help again.

     Finally, ask God what lessons you are supposed to learn from the storm, especially if the storm is familiar. A familiar storm is when you keep going through the same thing over and over. We pray and ask God to help us get through it, yet we fail to ask what lesson is to be learned from that storm so that we don’t have to keep going down that same road again. And can I be honest? Some of these storms are not sent to us because God just wants to test us and make our lives miserable. Sometimes our actions are the cause of the storm, and because we haven’t learned how to make better choices, we bring it on ourselves.

     Storms are meant to come and go, but the devil will continue to come after anyone who is trying to operate in the will of God. The temptation of Jesus was not the only time that the devil came after him, but we can read all through the Gospels to see when Jesus’ character was attacked, when His authority was questioned, and most importantly, when the devil entered Judas and used him to betray Christ. I encourage you to stay prayed up, be prepared, and stay on guard. God never promised that life would be easy, but God did promise that you would never be abandoned or forgotten (Heb. 13:5). Only with Christ can you weather the storms of life!

Cast It Out!!

Luke 8: 26-39 tells us the story of a man who was possessed with multiple demons, and because he was violent, he was bound with chains, cast out of the community, and lived alone in the countryside. He approached Jesus naked and trembling, not because of anger or violence raging inside of him. He trembled because the demons within him recognized who Jesus was, causing the man to fall on his knees and beg for mercy.

This story is often read with the disbelief that people can actually be consumed by spirits. With all of the Exorcism-type movies, people often have the misconception that demonic spirits are just something exaggerated by Hollywood, full of special effects and super talented actors. While that may be true in some cases, demonic spirits are very real and can target anyone, even people of faith. 

But let’s look at this from another angle. Demonic and ungodly spirits do not always present themselves as causing one’s head to rotate 360 degrees, puking green stuff, and talking in a deep and unworldly voice. Sometimes ungodly spirits come in the form of gossiping, adultery, deception, addictions, etc. Even the most faithful child of God can struggle with a spirit of lying, manipulation, stealing or fornication. This can consume them in a way that causes them to be cast out from their families, friends, and even their communities.

We all have been “possessed” and struggled with some spirits that have created wedges between us and God. It is possible that the man in the Scripture text may have wanted to be delivered from his condition. Yet, because no one took the time to get close to him and try to meet his need, he may have given up on being whole again, settling for his condition to become his new identity. No one invested in his deliverance until Jesus came along, and I am being used to invest in you today.

If you are struggling with a spirit of un-forgiveness, CAST IT OUT!!!! If you are struggling with a spirit of addiction, CAST IT OUT!!! If you are struggling with a spirit of unfaithfulness to another person or even to God, CAST IT OUT!!! Whatever spirit consumes you and prohibits you from walking in the fullness of the destiny that God has designed just for you, CAST IT OUT!!!! Allow God to help you cast out those hindrances, and once it is gone, never allow it to come back into your life. Name it, cast it out, and be made whole in Jesus name. Amen! 

A Light In Dark Places

Have you ever had a job where you worked with moody, rude, and insensitive people? You try to be nice, but it seems like people are always grumpy or ignore you altogether. What about those times that you have to wait in line in a store or at the doctor’s office. Doesn't it seem that when one person complains, it becomes a ripple effect and others start to complain, as well. If you’re not careful, the negative behaviors of other people can rub off on you in such a way that you might develop an attitude of impatience.

Scripture reminds us in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world, and encourages us to be a light in dark places. But what does it mean to be a “light?” It simply means that if you find yourself in an atmosphere of chaos or conflict, you can be a peacemaker and help change the atmosphere. Sometimes just a simple smile can make even the most irritable person calm down and become rational.

When things get stressful and you notice that someone is having a bad day, speaking a word of encouragement can make all the world of difference. This week, I encourage you to seek ways in which you can be a light in dark places. Seek out opportunities where you can speak words of encouragement to someone, and can help in ways that will allow the Light of Christ to be visible in your daily walk. 

God Is Not Finished!!

I praise God for another year of life and making it through 2012. There have been some highs and lows, including joys & sorrow, but I am grateful for God's presence through it all, and the effectual & fervent prayers of the people in my life. While we strive to make the new year different from the previous year, be mindful that there are some things in 2012 that you CANNOT leave behind. There are some things that is necessary to carry into the new year with you because God is still doing a work in your life through that situation.

The year 2012 is finished, but God is not. As difficult as it may be, ask God what it is that you are supposed to learn while you walk through those fires in your life. We often learn the lesson AFTER the fact, but sometimes it is important to seek out the lessons in the MIDDLE of the trenches so that you can see God in a way like never before. I know this from personal experience!

Let's be realistic--A new year doesn't mean you will be problem-free, and the hell (yes, I said H-E-L-L) you went through last year may still be an issue for you right now.  But it can create an opportunity for you to develop a different perspective as you look at your circumstances, and a greater opportunity to lean on the One who is faithful to stick by you when you're on the mountain, as well as, in the valley.

Blessings to you all in 2013. Strive to do better, be better, and if you haven't already, start working on what kind of legacy you will leave behind. What will people say about you when you leave this life? Will they say that you cared, were you always bitter, did you love life? This is your challenge--start NOW!! :-)