Holiness

But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Holiness…sometimes it seems so unattainable. It has such a huge meaning that it’s hard to wrap our finite minds around it. Webster’s 1828 defines it as this -

HOLINESS: The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity.
Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity of moral character, one of his essential attributes.
Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect.
Sacredness; the state of any thing hallowed, or consecrated to God or to his worship; applied to churches or temples. That which is separated to the service of God.

Surely God didn’t mean that we are really supposed to live up to that standard…did He? We tend to brush it off. It’s too deep to grasp, so we shrug our shoulders and move on to something more accessible. Or perhaps we see holiness as old-fashion and not “cool”.

I found it interesting that one of Webster’s descriptive sentences for holiness was the following: “We see piety and holiness ridiculed as morose singularities.”  Ah, is that it? Are we afraid of coming across as being “severe, sullen and austere”, too “holier-than-thou”? Is holiness too confining?

We are called by God and commanded to be holy! What will we do with this calling? Ignoring it will be deadly, yet embracing it calls for death as well – death of ourselves and possibly all that we hold dear on this earth. To be holy may mean that we have to give up our way of life, the idols in our hearts, and things we just “can’t live without”.

For, “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” If there are idols in my heart, then God can not dwell there, because God can not be a part of sin.

If there are idols in my heart, holiness hides.

“Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Cor. 6:16

Where is the hunger for holiness? Why don’t we long for purity in our lives? Holiness is the state of being hallowed or consecrated to God or to his worship. It’s holding Him sacred and living our lives as such. Do we not know that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us? ( 1 Cor. 3:16) Why don’t we live like it?

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.”

These notes, from a talk that Leslie Ludy did, really impacted me – heart searchings in holiness…

Are you allowing the world to have access to your mind and your heart?

If we are truly set apart why are we allowing this in our lives?

Beware of mixing profane with the sacred. 2 Cor. 6:14-15

“A pure heart is one to which all that is not of God is strange and jarring.” – John Tavler

If the things of this world – trivialities, sensual movies, bad humor – don’t bother you – if you are comfortable with them – then your heart is not marked by the purity of heaven.

We have to live in the world but not participate or get caught up with the things of this world. It’s okay for the things of this world to be strange and jarring to us – in fact, that’s a good sign. So ask your self – are the things of this world strange and jarring to you or are they attractive and enticing? And are you going out of your way to participate in them and pay for them?

Where do I spend the best hours of my day?

Where do I turn for rest, enjoyment and pleasure?

Are there things in my life that I can’t imagine giving up? If so, it’s likely that it has an unhealthy hold on your heart or perhaps even become an idol.

There is no activity, no friendship, that is neutral – either it’s drawing you closer to Christ or it’s going to be pulling you away from Him.

Ask yourself…

What does this do to my relationship with God?

Does it distract you from Him or draw you closer?

That is how you weigh and make decisions.

Everyday I see or hear something that I wish I hadn’t heard or didn’t see. The news reeks with unholy and godless acts committed by people who ignore their Creator. How heart wrenching it must be to our God! It makes me determine in my heart not to add to it.

I pray that, by His grace, I can be holy. A sweet smelling savor to my Savior.

Renewing Your Mind

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.Psalm 119:59

Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.Eph. 4:22-24

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:2

I’ve talked a lot about making choices on this blog – choosing joy, choosing our attitudes…

Well, here’s what it all boils down to - choosing our thoughts.

To be honest, I never seriously thought that we could really control what we think and how we act until I watched an interview that Joyce Meyers did with the author of Who Switched Off My Brain? – Dr. Caroline Leaf – titled Your Brain and You, Part One and Two. (I’m not a Joyce Myers fan, but I think these are well worth watching, regardless of the interviewer.)

I was blown away by the scientific research that Dr. Caroline Leaf has done showing that it is physically possible to “take every thought captive” and “renew your mind”. And, did you know thoughts can make you ill?

“A thought may seem harmless but if it becomes toxic, even just a thought can become physically, emotionally or spiritually dangerous. Thoughts are measurable and occupy mental ‘real estate.’ Thoughts are active; they grow and change.Thoughts influence every decision, word action and physical reaction we make. Every time you have a thought, it is actively changing your brain and your body – for better or for worse.”- Who Switched Off My Brain

“87% to 95% of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life. What we think about affects us physically and emotionally. It’s an epidemic of toxic emotions.

The average person has over 30,000 thoughts a day. Through an uncontrolled thought life, we create the conditions for illness; we make ourselves sick! Research shows that fear, all on its own, triggers more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than 30 different hormones. There are INTELLECTUAL and MEDICAL reasons to FORGIVE! Toxic waste generated by toxic thoughts causes the following illnesses: diabetes, cancer, asthma, skin problems and allergies to name just a few. Consciously control your thought life and start to detox your brain!” – http;//drleaf.net

“God has given us a design of hope; we can switch on our brains, renew our minds, change and heal.” – Dr. Caroline Leaf

I’m amazed by how powerful our minds are! We can use them for evil or allow God to use them for good. The real battle is all in our mind.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 cor 10:4-6

Since the beginning of time, walking in our own ways or thoughts has only caused us trouble.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. rom 1:28 nlt

Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. is 59:7

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; is 65:2

Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. jer 6:19

I believe that one of the best ways to renew our minds is to read the Holy Bible because the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12) Proverbs 23:7 says, we are what we think. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7) Therefore, we must prepare our minds for action; be self-controlled; and set our hope fully on the grace to be given us when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Pet 1:13) We have the mind of Christ! 1 cor 2:16 We should take that to heart and do as the Thessalonians did – receive the word with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily. Acts 17:11

Take no thought…

…of one’s self more highly than one should. Rom 12:3

…of high things, but conform to the lowly. Rom 12:16

….foolishness Pro 24:9

…for the flesh. Rom 8:5

…for earthly things Php 3:19

…about carnality. Rom. 8:7

…about evil Mk 7:21

…for your life. Matt 6:25

…about what you will eat and drink.Matt 6:28

…what you will wear

…for tomorrow. Matt 6:34

…for what you will speak. mk 13:11

Think on these things -

This verse sums it up beautifully -

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Php 4:8

 

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. Pro 12:5

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. Is. 26:3

Life Lessons 2011

It snowed last night. Not much,  just a dusting over our very dry Oklahoma ground. I think the howling winds blew most of it away before it could land. Just 24 hours of winter, then the sun comes out and melts it away. Nearby waters reflect blue skies and sparkling droplets drip from the eaves.

I sit here musing about time and space. Past memories and future ones. About lessons learned and those that continue. I’m a stubborn one I think. When I’ve finally grasped the concept of a lesson, I find myself back at Page One: Lesson One; Problem A.  Review time…again.

I’m so thankful for this last year. God has been patiently teaching me throughout my life, but this year there was a breakthrough that even I could see – if only dimly through my earthy perspective. I know I’ll have to review these lessons over and over and that I will fail them over and over, but I also know that my God is gracious. That even though the way seems long and hard and it feels like we’re walking backwards most of the time, He still perfects us, growing in us His Kingdom and His purposes.

 But the God of all grace, 

who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 

after that ye have suffered a while, 

make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, 

settle you. (1 Peter 5:10) Being confident of this very thing, 

that he which hath begun a good work in you 

will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)

Contentment -

Oh, this has been a struggle! It’s incredible how strongly our dreams and desires fight for fulfillment. I went through childhood having no doubts about my future. I would grow up, get married between the ages of 18 and 22 and have six children of my own by my 30th birthday. Until then, I’d simply learn the skills I needed for that worthy calling. 

Other than growing up and looking my 30th birthday squarely in the eye, things didn’t pan out like my child mind anticipated. God’s ways are not always our way that is for sure.

It took me almost 30 years to learn this, but this lesson is invaluable – “Dreams come true” does not equal fulfillment. I see it everyday in my life or in the lives of people around me. Always searching for the next thing, for the something more that will take away the gnawing hunger that we never seem to appease. We can have the best job, the best marriage, the best children, the best life, but none of these make us happy if we are not content with where we were before.

 Be content with such things as ye have: 

for he hath said, 

I will never leave thee, 

nor forsake thee. 

Hebrews 13:5

This lesson was engraved into my mind this summer. I was living a dream, I had a great job that I liked, I was in a place I loved and yet I still found myself laying on my back next to the river and wondering what my purpose was and why I was here. I talk to friends who are happily married and they are asking the same questions I am. They too, are restless. I see people stressing themselves out over business. They barely have time to breath because there must be more. 

Husbands and wives don’t fulfill. 

Jobs don’t fulfill. 

Possessions don’t fulfill.

Only Christ fulfills.

That yearning we feel? It’s not really for more stuff. We are really yearning for a deeper relationship with Christ. We think (the adversary wants us to think) getting what we want will make us happy and we can deaden the throb,  but it wont. Ever.  

I think that ache deep inside will always be there while we live here on earth because it is our innate yearning to be forever with Christ.
However, He can and does satisfy our yearnings if we surrender daily to Him. Surrender our life,  our plans, our dreams and desires, and choose to take joy in the trials, in the mundane, in everything.

 Not that I speak in respect of want: 

for I have learned, 

in whatsoever state I am,

therewith to be content. 

Phil 4:11

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. 

~ unknown

Joy - 

Ann Voskamps book One Thousand Gifts impacted me more than any other book I read this year. (Elizabeth George’s book Finding God’s Path through Your Trials is also a gem of a read for those seeking joy.) Finding joy in the little things. Choosing joy. It’s an amazing concept. We can choose to be joyful? Really?

Working in a drive thru coffee shop requires a happy face and attitude 100% of the time. 

“I don’t care how bad we are feeling, we have to be happy for the customer”, my boss said. I wasn’t too sure about that at first…after all, wasn’t that being fake? I hate fake. Fake people annoy me and being fake annoys me. And here my job description included “be fake.” Hmm…

I didn’t have to act much on the job, but I thought about this a lot. One work day, I was nearly in tears over something (no need to go into details here. :D), and in that struggle to “look like you’re happy” I realized it wasn’t being fake at all, it was choosing to be joyful. Choosing not to dwell on the negative,  but to give thanks for the little things and move on into Joy.

 Rejoice evermore.

 In every thing give thanks: 

for this is the will of God 

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thess 5:16 and 18

It also dawned on me that showing, or acting out on, my bad attitude (aka – being “real”?) wasn’t doing anyone any favors (No brainer there, right? :). I remembered, back in the near past, my frequent “bad days” (we’re all allowed to have them aren’t we?)  – moping around the house just being a grouch in general because life wasn’t going my way. (Ties right into contentment doesn’t it!) If anyone asked me what was wrong my mumbled answer would be the all too overused, “Nothing.”.  Here in Idaho I lived with friends for four months on my best behavior (Umm… don’t verify that with them, okay? :) I was ashamed. So friends deserve better treatment than family? 

“Why?”, I hear God asking.”If you can control your attitude around friends, why can’t you control it around family too?” Ouch.  Lesson learned. At least I try to practice that one. :)

Joy is a choice. Happiness is a choice. We can choose our attitude. It’s not how we live, or what we do, what we’re going through, or what people do to us. It’s letting the Holy Spirit in us create Joy. 

Count it all Joy! 

James 1:2

Being -

Life is more about being than about doing.

Abide in me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 

except it abide in the vine; 

no more can ye, 

except ye abide in me. 

John 15:4

In order to do anything for Christ we must first abide in Christ. And actually, that’s all we can do is abide! We can’t grow the fruit, we’re just a branch. It’s Christ in us – it’s the Holy Spirit – that grows the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It’s not our fruit- it’s His fruit. 

We can toil and sweat and talk all we want, but if Christ isn’t in it, it is worse than purposeless – It is contrary to Him.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.

Ps. 37:7

Wait on the LORD: 

be of good courage, 

and he shall strengthen thine heart: 

wait, I say, on the LORD. 

Ps. 27:14

I read this quote on a blog the other day and loved it -

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”

John W. Gardner

We can’t undo our past mistakes, but God can create a masterpiece in spite of them.

Fortitude

 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 2 Peter 1:5-8

Through a multitude of tests, you will learn courage. It does not matter the price you pay, but at any cost you must obtain strength of character and the fortitude to endure. I would build your resources until you are able to carry unusually heavy loads and withstand intense pressures.

You will become an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven to whom I can assign critical missions,  confident that you are equipped to fulfill them.

It will be vain if you anticipate resting in a comfortable place. Zion is aready filled with those who are at ease. No, you will find yourself put in a place of training and discipline, so that when the moments of crisis come you will not become faint hearted, and you will not be the victim of unwonted fear.

Trust My instruction in all of this, as you have in various past experiences. I am faithful and loving, and I am doing this so that you may meet the future days and not be found wanting.

Come Away My Beloved ~ Frances J. Roberts

Entirely Your Concern

In my studies on the power of prayer recently I came across this quote from one of Martin Luther’s prayers…

“I know You are our Father and our God; and, therefore, I am sure You will bring to naught the persecutors of Your children. For if You fail to do this, Your cause, being connected with ours, would be endangered. It is entirely Your concern. We, by Your providence, have been compelled to take a part. You therefore, will be our defence.”

What a sense of peace that gave me! Of course Yahweh is going to defend true and righteousness and everyone that stands for it! In knowing that I’m living out His will I have the assurance that I’m not going to end up at a dead end and have no where else to go but back. Yahweh makes a way out of no way and even though at times it seems that there’s no where else to go we have to keep walking. Like the priests who had to step into the water of the Jordan before it dried up, sometimes we have to get to the very end of the “dead end” before we find the path through the trees.

Higher Standards

I was reading in Luke chapter 6 the other night. Somehow, the urgency of what Christ was saying leapt out at me in a different way. Paraphrased, verses 32–34 challenge us to raise our standards higher than those in the world around us…
If you love those who love you, who cares? Even sinners do that! If you do good to those who do good to you, so what? Sinners do the same! If you lend to those whom you hope to receive from, what does it matter? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive from them again. But Christians! Love your enemies, do good, lend – hoping for nothing in return!

We need to go above and beyond what the world does. It is our duty – not to follow the lead of the most popular “role model” in society, but to take the lead ourselves. Not to conform to the world’s standards of what’s right and what’s not, but to aspire to reach for God’s best! What good is it if we “do as they do”? “For sinners also do the same”.

How can we measure good by the good that the world does? The world loves those who love them back, but it’s our duty to love those who do not love us at all. The world does good to all who are capable of “returning the favor” – it’s our duty to step it up a notch and do good to those who, not only can’t pay back, but also those who do evil to us. The world lends with usury. We are called – no, required – to lend “hoping for nothing again”. The world prides itself in using vulgar language and talking crudely without shame, but we are to speak with grace, seasoned with salt and use sound speech “that cannot be condemned.”

“And your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest” “For with the same measure that ye use withal it shall be measured to you again”.
Let’s strive to use the longest, broadest measure! Let’s fly the highest standard, wave the biggest banner, sing the loudest song, and serve our King with all that we are worth! What better Crown to fight for?

A Bubble’s Lifespan

Luke 12:15,“And (Yahshua) said to them,’Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’.”, is the verse I read last night. That led me to James 4:14 – a verse I’d been pondering a few weeks back – “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time. And then vanisheth away.”

Life is so short – such a small vapor…a dash between the dates…in more unusual terms, a bubble. I watched thousands of them float up into the night sky at the last wedding I was at. Yes, life is like those bubbles…some pop prematurely like the little girl that drowned in the flood a couple weeks ago. Some last longer as my friend’s mom did and dissolve unexpectedly in mid air. And yet others soar high and are almost out of sight before they fade away.
They all have two things in common: one source – one being to breathe life into them; and one purpose in their minute existence – to please their maker (or bubble blower in this case. ).

Why is it so hard for we humans to see life in perspective with God’s plan?
Why do we waste our time trying to gain personal status, financial comforts, knowledge, stable jobs, a nicer car, cooler “toys”, money, money, money?
None of that – not a bit of it – counts in the Kingdom. Not one speck can be taken with us when our bubble pops.

So if our “abundant possessions” pop with our bubble, what’s left?
The absolutes, the right and wrongs, the standards we hold – will live on forever. There’s the people that you impact – and the people that you don’t. That’s what stays and makes a difference.

I always turn back to Ecclesiastes 12:13 – the conclusion of the whole matter:
“Fear Elohim, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
This “duty is paramount to all things else, it is second to nothing on earth.”

Sounds simple doesn’t it?
Fear God.
Keep His commandments.

Two laws to live by.
It’s our DUTY.

Choosing Trials

“Life need not be easy to be joyful. Joy is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ.” - W.V. Hoven

I think that Yahweh is teaching me that life is not about feelings, but about choices. We can choose to love, or we can only love when we feel like it and be miserable the rest of the time; we can choose to be joyful in our trials, or we can moan and groan through them and never grow higher because of them; we can choose to be at peace with ourselves and our circumstances, or we can drag through life being bitter, discontent, grumbling…and get old fast.

Feelings are fleeting – here one day gone the next, they can never be relied upon. Living by them only causes heartache and confusion. If we keep our eyes on The Rock however, we will be stable, strong characters for Christ and He will “grow us” through the trials and temptations that come our way.

I am learning to…

· Identify my trials. Name them, label them – know what/who they are. This has been a tremendous relief in my life. I never realized before that I just didn’t want to admit that I had trials!

· Pray about them. Surrender them to Christ.

· Prepare for them. I know, it sounds strange, but trials are a FACT of life. You have to know where your enemy will hit before you can plan a counter-attack, or in this case, how you will react.

· Count them all joy (James 1:2). Realize that this is what makes you GROW. Glory, like Paul, in your tribulation because only by these will you become the person that Yahweh intents for you!

· Detach the trial from the person/people that bring them. Know that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers…of this darkness”. These “sandpaper people” as Elizabeth George calls them, are in your life for a reason – to make you a better, “smooth-er” person.

· Last of all, be confident of this very thing – that He which hath begun a good work in you will complete it (Phil. 1:6)!

Peripheral Vision

“Peripheral vision enables us to be aware of our surroundings while remaining focused on our destination. What we see from “ the corner of our eye” can be useful, unless it distracts us from our goal”David McCasland (RBC Ministries)

Distractions – that’s exactly what I’ve been peering at, and my, do they look like formidable, daunting trials! “I can’t count them joy and I won’t even try”, my stubborn little self pouts. “Well, maybe 85%, but definitely NOT 100% – I want to leave room to moan and groan over the ‘injustices of life’”, it reasons.

That’s where peripheral vision, focus…and cameras come in.

You know when you look through the lens and focus on the tiny redbud how all the leaves and twigs go fuzzy around it? But then try zooming in on the mosquito perched on that unassuming leaf right next to the bud. Yikes! It’s huge! It’s nasty! It’s gonna eat me alive!
Wait a minute! You couldn’t even see it a second ago when the focus was on the flower. It was too blurry and rather non-consequential, right?

That’s how it is on life’s path, I’m learning.
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look straight before thee…turn not to the right hand nor to the left.” Pro. 4:25

When I do that – focus on Christ and His will for me – I find the trials around me diminish in size. Focus on them, and they magnify – drastically.

Merriam-Webster’s defines peripheral as only slightly connecting with what is essential or important; merely incidental. Yes, our trials are connected because Yahweh uses them to make us into His image, but they are not – should not be – the point of focus by any means.

Where is our focus today? Let’s endeavor to keep the peripheral on the sidelines where it’s supposed to be and mind the One Who matters.

Launching Out

“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught” Luke 5:4

It had been a long night. I mean what night wouldn’t feel like an eternity if you had been fishing and fishing and fishing and caught nothing? I’m sure Peter and the other fishermen would have been thinking the same line you or I would’ve in that instance – Why, oh why, didn’t I just stay in bed? I would’ve accomplished more there than out on this lousy lake where there just aren’t any fish!

I don’t know about you, but I would have been in a pretty sour mood that early morning – washing nets that wouldn’t have needed washing if I had just slept all night. And the last thing I think I’d want is a crowd of people coming down to the beach. Oh com’on! Just leave me alone!

Wait a minute though… Peter must have sensed something different in this Man who asked him to shove his boat off the shore a ways so He could be better heard by the crowd on the sand. Any other man and Peter probably would have told him to shove off himself! I’m afraid I would have – Get lost, I’m going home!

There had to have been something in this Man that caught his attention – even sleep deprived as he was – and made him think I better listen to this. Maybe he kept cleaning those “useless” nets for a while before he became totally focused on Jesus. This Man really had something to say!

And then, Jesus turned to Peter himself. “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught”. I know what I would have been thinking Awh man, I just finished washing these nets! What on earth do you think I’m gonna get when I was out there all night long? No way!

Surprisingly, and thankfully, Peter didn’t have that reaction. “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” Wow! I think Christ was working in him already.

Due to his submission to Christ’s command and obedience to His word, “they enclosed a great multitude of fish and their net brake”! Wow again!

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord’. (Would’ve been my thoughts exactly.) For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken… And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”

What an amazing, true story! I don’t know about you, but I sure can relate to it. Sometimes it seems like life is just one obligatory, overnight fishing trip and the fish are out to make me one hungry camper. Try as I might, and no matter what I do, it seems that I just can’t get any farther in my spiritual walk with Jesus. In fact, sometimes I feel farther way than ever. Beginning to wish I had stayed in my nice, warm, cozy, comfortable “me zone”, I hear His still small voice saying, “Launch out into the deep and let down your net for a draught”.

Wow! What an invitation! Do I have the faith to take it? Will I say like Peter, I’ve been trying all night and I’m totally despairing, but okay Lord, I’ll do it. ? By God’s grace, Yes!

And then it happens. And it only happens then because, no matter how hard we try, we’re not going to get anywhere on our own will power. It’s only Christ’s power working in us that can fill us with the draught of the Holy Spirit and send us on a whole new journey for and with Him. That’s when our nets fill with God’s unlimited power and love and when our starving spirits can be quenched with the fulfillment of a life lived for Christ.

It’s a choice. It takes saying I don’t have it in me, I’m a pathetic sinner and have drastically come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). I need You, I trust You, I will obey You. It takes surrender.

One thing we have to be on the lookout for are anchors in the sand that are keeping us firmly rooted in the shallow depths. God has been pointing these out to me and I pray that I’ll listen and act on it! “Anchors” can be different for everyone and not limited to unhealthy, secular and sensual movies, magazines, books, internet, friends, conversations, and thoughts. If we’re honest with ourselves, we can generally find something in our lives that is not something we can do “all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

If I’m at all like other humans out there, we all get “promptings” telling us we shouldn’t be allowing something in our lives, minds and hearts. It’s our conscience, or the Holy Spirit speaking in us. And it’s too easy to ignore it, brush it aside, and rationalize what we’re doing. It’s not that bad! All my Christian friends are watching it! It’s on the bestseller list in the Christian bookstore.

Do we really want to stay next to the beach though, making sure we can always touch bottom so we don’t get too scared? How much is it worth to live the shallow, mediocre existence with a dwarfed understand of God and His ways?

We can be walking on water with Christ! Now how much is that worth? I am convinced that God wants so much more for us than we can even comprehend – and it is worth everything! Here’s a sobering thought though – we never will comprehend it if we don’t cut the anchors and set the sails of faith!

Oh, God, give us the strength to launch out into Your deeps and fill our sails with the winds of Your Spirit! Light us on fire for You!