I can't love myself, because in all my humanness I feel unworthy, and incapable. I can't be a great wife, or a great mom, or a great friend. I can't be, without Him! It is His divine power, wow just typing those words, divine power, makes it so meaningful. Friends this isn't just a little bit of something, no, its a whole lot of Him! He's giving Himself to us, so we can be. He gives Himself so we can love ourselves and be everything He needs us to be!
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (emphasis mine)
The above is so not a checklist to work through. Its a process. One that God has specifically designed for each of us. The way He works on faith with me won't look the same as it does for you. Some things might come easier for some of us. And to be honest there are moments when I think...'yeah I got that one down this time!' and come to find out its just one little step of learning it. Take for example self-control...there are things in my life I have no problem with, and I think that I have placed confidence in myself at times and held an attitude of 'I'm so glad I have control over that in my life' when in all reality there are SO many areas to have self-control (our time, food, our words, our attitudes). Which we will go into later this week...yikes I am a little nervous to blog about self-control, its some serious shaky ground to be standing on...but hey why not share standing on shaky ground with some friends and family!??!
When we add to our faith, we are living out our security in our salvation. Our works don't earn us a spot in the family of God. Rather our works demonstrate our new life given to us by Him!
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11May we seek the Truth, knowing we are His and He makes us able.
5 comments:
I so seek You Father God... Praise YOU in Jesus' name, amen.
I think that learning to be like Jesus and experiencing God is a life long journey that you should work at each and everyday! I know it is for me anyway!
Self-Control, oh my goodness girlfriend, do you have to go to self-control?
I just got done telling myself to eat healthy today and then I find myself at the Carl's drive through eating, well, things I ought not to be eating.
I guess I'm just like Paul!
Are we EVER really able to place God first and allow His presence, character and love flow through us?
Thank you, AGAIN...for being obedient and making us open our eyes to TRUTH.
Blessings, Cindy
HE makes us able.
HIS divine power.
I try and try to do on my own...and He's already provided all I need. Kind makes me wanna smack myself upside my head. :) Okay...I won't. But I will turn to Him and ask Him to do in me and through me what I can't do myself. Of course, I can't do a THING without Him! I need to turn to Him way more!!!!
Love you,
K
I belong to God and everything that I am is because of Him. I seek to know Him more and to be in-relationship with Him in everything I do---to be able to faithfully trust Him regarding all of my situations. Josh 1:8, NIV "Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ." To seek to know Him better by daily reading His Word and spending time in prayer with Him. It's a process, girlfriends! He leads us to Him when we desire to know Him more. And, He is so good to us, that He even places that desire in our heart for us! It's all because of Him. He's so giving and so loving and so faithful to us ALL of the time. God uses the trials that we go through in life to smooth off the rough edges of our relationship with Him. Oh, I want to be filled with His Spirit. All of me filled to the brim with Him! His divine power in me! That's HUGE. To be so filled with Him, to be full of His Power, to allow Him to come out of us! That my thoughts and actions would honor Him. That those observing me would know I was different, that I was completely satisfied because I was filled with Christ. That he would become alive in me and would transform my selfishness into becoming Christ-like! A process! Christ developing in me, forming in me, advancing in me, acting through me, preparing me to go forward and allowing my relationship to grow closer and closer. Oh, a process!
Intentionally living today for Christ, Lori - AZ
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