Anyone who has ever run a marathon knows that it is a grueling race. You don't wake in the morning and say, "Oh the Boston Marathon is today, I think I'll run it." No, in order to run a marathon one must train and prepare physically and mentally for the race. Endurance is required and must be developed in order to successfully finish a marathon . The marathoner commits to rigorous training, changing habits, diets and routines to prepare for race day. Life is sometimes described as a race in the Bible. ...let us run with patience the race that is set before us...(Heb 12:1b). I have fought a good fight, I finished my course - IITim4:7; Ye did run well...(Gal 5:7a). Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain -I Cor 9:24. This race of life is not a sprint but rather a grueling marathon.The race is not to the swift (Ec 9:11). Hebrews 10:36 makes it clear: For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise. ' The word patience in that verse means hopeful endurance. Just like the marathon runner prepares for the race and commits to rigorous training to develop the necessary endurance, we have be spiritually prepared for the race of life if we are going to finish well. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible - I Cor 9:24-25. Our training involves spending consistent time in the Word, praying, worshipping God with other believers, and being instructed in the Word of God. Our daily diets must change, feeding on the word day and night. These practices strengthen our spiritual muscles. In addition to our plan, God has a training plan called tribulation and testing that we must go through so that endurance can be developed in our lives. Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience, and experience hope. God allows trouble to come into our lives so that we learn how to depend upon Him and persevere through difficulty. We endure hardship, experiencing the faithfulness of God, and His strengthening power; while He develops character and endurance in us. James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. Every time we are faced with irritations, difficult bosses and people, God does not want us to run away from the situation; instead, we are to let patience finish her workout because these tests are developing our ability to endure, so that we can finish our course. Life requires perseverance because there are some rough stretches on our course... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33b). Now thanks be unto to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ (II Cor 2:14a)! Time to train! preparing for the race, Diane P.S. Examine your training routine. Are you practicing reading His word? Do you need to incorporate more time praying? How about worship? Does your diet need to change? Do you find yourself feeding on social media and entertainment more than the word? Praise the Lord we are still standing! For the past several months I've been growing in grace with an amazing group of women. Our journey has taken us through a spiritual warfare study. It was not the typical Ephesians 6:10, put on the whole armor lesson; instead, we learned to wage war daily against the ungodly attitudes that rise up in us. Whew, this has been a challenging and convicting leg of the journey. Our study concluding in Matthew 5, The Beatitudes. And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying...blessed are... ( Matt 5:1-2). At this point in His ministry, Jesus had reached the pinnacle of His popularity. The setting for the sermon On The Mount is a hillside near Capernaum, and took place over a course of several days in front of a growing crowd. So as Jesus started His discourse, He began to describe the characteristics of people who belong to the kingdom of heaven, answering the question who on earth are we? Or better yet, Who are earth should we be? It is clear to me that if today Jesus were to post the Beatitudes on Instagram and FB, the likes would be few and the follows even less. But we should not be surprised because, Jesus was radical in His thinking. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts - Is 55:8-9. He makes it clear that as believers who we should be on earth are not people whose primary pursuit is power, popularity, prominence, or prosperity. The blessed life He describes has nothing at all to do with any of the aforementioned things. This blessed life He describes is a spiritual state of being filled with such an abundance of joy, peace, comfort and intimacy with Him it surpasses what was normally attributed to any human experience. Interested in living that kind of blessed life? Journey with us over the course of the next few posts to discover, how to live that blessed life and to discover who on earth we should be as we examine the Beatitudes. desiring to live the blessed life, Diane Do you know someone you just love hanging around? You are smiling, right? Just the thought of that person brings you joy. Jesus invites us to hang around Him for that very reason. He wants us to experience abundant joy. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, ...These things I have spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15: 9,10a,11). Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy (Ps 16:11a). In His encouragement to continue in His love and to abide in Him, Jesus is saying I want you to constantly hang around me so that you can always enjoy my company, be filled with delight and experience overflowing joy. Need more joy in your life? Start hanging around Jesus. I know we have talked about hanging around Jesus before, but if you are at all like me, and I believe you are, it's good to revisit it and to be reminded. There are also other benefits to hanging out with Jesus besides plentiful joy. Abiding in Christ assures us of protection. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty (whose power no enemy can withstand) - Ps 91:1. This promise of protection is available to all believers but only enjoyed by those who have learned to constantly hang around Jesus. Want the assurance of His protection? Start hanging around Jesus. When we learn to hang around Jesus we not only experience plenty of joy, the promise of protection, but also we begin to produce spiritual fruit. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing - John 15:5. Spending time with Jesus allows us to manifest joy, kindness, peacefulness and the other fruit of the Spirit. Want to have a life filled with spiritual fruit? Start hanging around Jesus. Hanging around Jesus affords us plenty joy, the assurance of protection, a life that produces spiritual fruit and answered pray. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you (that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart), ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you - John 15:7 AMP. Abiding in Christ assures us that our prayers will be answered because the more we hang around Jesus, the more we become like Him and the more our desires become aligned with His desires so that we only ask for things that are aligned with His will. If we want to experience fullness of joy, be assured of God's protection, live spiritually fruitful lives and have our prayers answered, we have to start hanging around Jesus. How do we hang around Jesus? Read His word with the understanding that He is sharing His heart with us, and letting us know what's on His mind. Each day we must become more and more aware of His presence and invite Him into every aspect of our lives, the big and the small things. We must begin to talk to Him throughout the day not just in the morning or the evening, or when we need something. Hang around Him and learn to enjoy His company. still trying to hang around Jesus, Diane p.s. Don't really have a desire to hang around Jesus yet? Be honest with Him and ask Him to give you the desire. How are you making out on the journey ? Are you getting enough light? Light is essential to this journey: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps 119:105). Often I see parallels between photography and our spiritual journey. One of the first principles a photographer must learn and understand is that photography is all about the light. Likewise we must understand our journey is all about the light: In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:4-5). Then Jesus spake again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus is the Creator of life and the source of our spiritual life and His life brings light to mankind. Jesus refers to Himself as the light of world and all those who follow Him shall enjoy His presence, protection and the personal guidance needed to walk in light. We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Pet 2:9b) and are instructed to walk in the light, as He is in the light (I John 1:7a). In addition to the light principle, understanding the camera's features and functions is also important to the photographer's success. While knowing how the camera operates is important, it often leads to a common mistake many photographers make. A photographer comes upon a beautiful scene and immediately starts looking at the camera trying to figure out what the camera settings should be, takes the picture, gets home and finds out he or she is disappointed with the results. The photographer forgot the first principle, it's about the light. Instead of looking at the camera he or she should have been looking at the light in the scene. Looking at light will help the photographer to determine the camera settings. We do the same thing. When we are confronted with an interpersonal conflict or pressure, immediately we start operating and reacting based upon what we think and how we feel. Instead of looking to the Light, we go right into defending our position and determining what we need to say and do to win the argument. If instead in the midst of conflict , we would take a moment to look to Jesus, who is the Light, our response to the conflict would be different. A photographer's goal is to capture the light, our's is to reflect the Light: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt 5:16). Looking to the Light with a desire to reflect the Light will enable us to speak the truth in love even in conflict and to respond in humility instead of hostility. If a photographer effectively captures the light he or she ends up with a beautiful portrait. If we reflect the Light we end up as a beautiful portrait of the Master, we become a Masterpiece: And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in the mirror the glory of the Lord are constantly being transfigured into His very own image...(II Cor 3:18 -AMP). The next time we find ourselves in a fight we must look to the Light! looking to the Light, Diane p.s. Let's practice looking to the Light before we react. Every time conflict or pressure arises be intentional about looking to Light. Let the Light of the Word direct your response. p.p.s. you can check out my efforts as a photographer to capture the light at just4hisglory.com 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. It's amazing, it is only the beginning of March, and yet we find it difficult to stay the course of making getting to know the Lord fully, personally and precisely our priority. It is so easy to get distracted. I am glad we are on this journey together to nudge each other to get back on track in growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - II Pet 3:18. The exciting thing about growing in the knowledge of our Lord is that we have the privilege to be taught by The Master. Jesus personally invites us to become His students: Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls - Matt 11:29. Jesus extended an invitation for salvation in the previous verse: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest - Matt 11:28. This is the "come unto me rest" which says come to me and I will give you salvation rest. Once we come to Jesus and He gives us salvation rest (assurance of spending eternity with Him by trusting in His finished work at the cross), He encourages us to now come after Him and learn of Him so that we can find submission rest (the abundant life rest, where grace and peace are multiplied in our lives). Jesus wants us to come after Him, in other words He wants us to become committed followers, not fans. Fans are spectators who are moved by what they see, feel, and experience. They just want to show up and be blessed. Followers are dedicated and willing to do the daily work and make the necessary sacrifices required to get to know Jesus and to become like Him: Then Jesus said to His disciples if anyone desires to come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me - Matt 16:24. The first step in becoming a follower is to deny ourselves. We must put His interests above our interests. Getting to know Jesus intimately, personally and precisely must become our priority and our pursuit: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart - Jer 29:13. When we misplace something we value we will turn the house upside down looking for it. We can't rest until we find it. It is with this sense of urgency we are to seek and search for the Lord in order to get to know Him. Following Jesus requires us to take up our cross. We must put to death, crucify our self centered life to live a God centered life: He must increase, but I must decrease - John3:30. Jesus must become the star of our story not us. The next step is to take His yoke upon us. A yoke is a physical device placed around the neck of animal to restrain and control its movements. Taking His yoke means we voluntarily put our necks under His authority. When we take His yoke, we are acknowledging He has the right to direct our lives: to tell us what to do and what not to do. In order to take His yoke we must humble ourselves before God, recognizing He is both greater than we are and more important. Fans are infatuated. They demonstrate their infatuation through their emotions. Followers, on the other hand, are committed. They demonstrate their commitment through their obedience. Are you ready to put your neck in to it and become a follower? taking His yoke, Diane p.s. I'm taking His yoke Pulling it off the shelf Putting it on my chain Wearing it 'round my neck (in my Jill Scott voice)...that's truly living my life like it's golden, under His authority! #Be a Follower, #Not a Fan p.s.s. Those of us who are little older remember the tv series Kung Fu. The young boy, grasshopper, became a student of his Master. He shadowed every martial art move of his master. He humbled himself and hung on his every word for wisdom for life. He was a follower of his master, not a fan. #Following the Master. |
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