Fwd: PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

This is an interesting time for me, to say the least.  As I watch my mom dwindle away...I am reflective of all the good moments we have shared, realizing we had many and yet, so few now that time is fleeting.

 

As is the case with most things I experience, I am often turned to thoughts of the Lord and my relationship with Him.  The following Planet Wisdom devotional reflects what I have been thinking about in my spirit.  It coincides with a very convicting chapter in Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love.  Jesus doesn't want lukewarm "Christians."  In fact, He vomits them out of His mouth.  As if they are ill tasting to Him and sicken Him.  Francis Chan makes a very good case for these lukewarm "Christians" not really being Christians at all.  This made me take a very hard look at my life and how I live it for Jesus.

 

If we are children of God, saved by grace through faith, then we are completely His.  And, our lives are now with Christ and should reflect that in our thoughts, words, actions and deeds.  We should want what He wants and give over everything to Him.

 

I'm not very good at doing that.  I've had some very vivid illustrations in these past few days reflecting how I have been as I watch others struggle through the passing of my mother.

 

I have much to meditate upon and much more to learn about my life in Christ.  What about you?  Are you living like your life totally belongs to Jesus?  That is a very hard question for me to answer honestly...and probably is for you too.  Thankfully, we don't have to work all of this out on our own.  We have the Holy Spirit to convict, teach & guide us in a life that will honor Christ.  We have each other, brothers & sisters in Christ, to hold us accountable and provoke us to love & good deeds.  We have prayer.  We have God's Word to guide our every step.  We are not alone.  Praise God!  Imagine that...He knew we needed Him and each other...and He already provided everything we need to live a life to honor & glorify Him.  Imagine that!!!

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

He Wants Your Wants Posted: 19 Jan 2009 11:12 PM CST "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. "Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:6-8) So what should we do with God's great giant huge goodness? How should we respond to all the good He has done for us? All the good He has done period? What can we do? Right away, David tells God (and us) that he knows God isn't looking for mechanical worship in the form of sacrifices and offerings. David's ears have been opened ("pierced"); he knows that God wants his "wants." Seeing God's goodness has changed David down to his roots. He won't go through the motions of worship; he wants to do God's will. He won't just follow the letter of the law; he wants to live God's goodness out in his life. Think: How much of your Christian life is about "following the rules" and how much is about really wanting to do what your good God wants? Pray: Ask God to help you to stay out of the rut of mindlessly following the "rules" of Christianity and the repetition of same-every-week worship. Ask Him to help you to respond to His goodness with a real desire to do the good He wants for you. Do: Make a quick list of some of the areas of your Christian life that would be easy to "do" without thinking or feeling or wanting God's goodness. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!