Grace and peace to you. It is a privilege to learn from the Master with you. Our journey continues as we learn humility by first observing Christ and then imitating Him (Therefore be imitators of God (copy and follow His example) as well beloved children (imitate their father -Eph 5:1 amplified). The last time we connected we observed the humility of Christ through His submission to the Father. Following His example begins with humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God: Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your estimation) under the mighty hand of God...I Pet 5:6 Amp). Humility starts with acknowledging and accepting that it is God who is in charge of our lives and not us. We must be willing to ask God to help us to desire His will and to help us to stop insisting upon our own wills because we want what we want: ...For whoever has suffered in the flesh (having the mind of Christ) is done with (intentional) sin (has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God. So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by (his) human appetites and desires, but (he lives) for what God wills - IPet 4:1b-2 AMP. We need His help to stop resisting, refusing and even resenting His will: For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)-(and He opposes, frustrates and defeats them) but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the the humble -I Pet5:5b Amp. Prayerfully, we can begin to practice humility by submitting to the will of God in our lives even when His will for us is different from what we want (Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done - Luke 22:42). If we resist His will He opposes and frustrates us. If we stop insisting upon our wills, instead, humbling ourselves under His mighty hand (trusting that He is working out His Sovereign purposes in our lives) and we submit to His will, He blesses us with favor. Which would you rather have God's resistance or God's favor? desiring His favor, Diane p.s. Take some time this week to identify the areas you are resisting, resenting, or refusing the will of God. Be honest with Him about these areas, humble yourself recognizing that God has authority over every area of your life. Ask our heavenly Father to change your desires in these areas so that you desire His will more than your own. p.s.s. I have picture in my mind when we are proud and insistent upon our own will, God taking the rope wrapping it around His hand several times as to not lose even the slightest grip. We can pull on the rope in opposition as hard as we like, but God will not slack up or budge. But when we humble ourselves God loosens His grip and begins to feed the rope (grace), providing more rope than we need. |
Archives
April 2022
Categories
All
|