My New Year’s Resolution
As we are already well into the new year, I cannot help but think about the ways in which I disappointed Christ with my behavior at multiple times throughout the year. There were many times when I was not right with him, and many of those times by choice and pure rebellion. I mean, falling back into drug use, however short of a time it may be. My relations with a young woman that God didn’t want me to have. Over-stepping my boundaries, being resistant to my authority, arguing with my best of friends. All of this was clearly against the will of God.
The Call to Ministry of Christian Encouragement
This morning, I had the privilege of going to Men’s Prayer Meeting and Breakfast at North Love Baptist Church. Pastor Kingsbury spoke to us out of 1 Kings 19, on discouragement, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about the ministry of Christian encouragement.
Long awaited update
It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted a blog. I figured it was time to get back to it. It’s been very busy between my new job and work.
My spiritual life took a pretty solid blow. My mom thinks she’s saved, but she doesn’t know for sure that she would go to heaven. She doesn’t pray, and she doesn’t read her Bible. I’m not saying you should base a person’s salvation on that, but ye shall know them by their fruits. Through my personal experience with her I began to question her salvation, and so through a conversation I had with her, I was able to come to the conclusion that she isn’t saved. Please pray for her. Her name is Shirley.
Do you have any unsaved loved ones? Please post it in the comments, I want to pray for them.
Also, I updated my “About Me” page to a shorter edition of my testimony.
Guide Your Heart
Proverbs 23:17-19
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but [be thou] in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Alright, I would like to dissect and define this verse for you guys, as it was on my meditator yesterday. First thing I would like to notice is that it says “let not thine heart.” You are completely in charge of the trigger position of your heart. You are completely in charge of whether or not you’re thinking Philippians 4 thoughts or if you are thinking Romans 1-3 thoughts. When you recognize a Romans 1-3 thought, then cast it down, and think about whatever it is that God gave you that morning. Don’t remember? Carry a meditation card with you and memorize it, and then meditate upon it.
Alright, so, don’t let your heart envy a sinner. What’s envy? Envy is discontentment with the superior service of another. Aren’t we Christians? Should not we be praising God when others do well? Is it worthy of praise? Philippians tells us to think on it. Is it good? Philippians tells us to think on it. Are you thinking on those things? Why not? Who are the sinners this verse is referring to? Everyone. It’s that simple: do not let yourself meditate upon discontentment with the performance of others. Don’t do it. Yield to the Spirit, because when you start to think on these other things it will ruin your day, and your spirit.
Next, live in the fear of the Lord. Allow each moment of the day to be one of reverance for the character and person of God. If you are in the fear of the Lord then it will be rather difficult for you to be envious of someone else’s position because you know you are exactly where God wants you to be, and they are exactly where God wants them to be, and you can rejoice with them. Can I just tell you that it is hard to rejoice with someone when you are not in a spirit of care and brotherly love? You can weep with those that weep, but it’s hard to rejoice with someone who got a job promotion, or a raise, or a new car, or some other blessing that you’ve been praying for and think you deserve. Rejoice with them my friend.
Why should we live in the fear of the Lord? Because our hope will not be deferred when we rest assuredly in Him. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when you’re resting in the fear of God, then there is an expected end, and you’re expectation shall not be cut off. You don’t have to worry about your hope being deferred when God is in the center of your meditations because then you’re looking at it from His perspective. You can say
Alright God, I know what I want, but I would like to thank you for this cross, the opportunity to die to myself, and live to the Spirit, and accept these circumstances that you’ve placed me in. All will happen in your time. Thank you for what you’re doing in my life.
Be wise, hear and listen to these sayings, and guide your heart. Again with the having control over your heart. You hear these sayings, guide your heart, and then you’re wise. You might not do it right every time, but at least you’re listening and doing, and you are likened unto a wise man. Isn’t that what we all want? Wisdom?
Hope you were thoroughly blessed. May God be with you all.