ὑπερνικάω

Thursday, October 29, 2009

In my life, Your will be done.

--------
Sometimes it hurts to say that when we want something so much, especially when we have exalted it above everything else, and above God.

Yet,

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life
for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his
soul?
(Mark 8: 34-36)

But we choose to surrender our lives, our desires, our motives and our dreams to God, because it pleases Him.

Because our God is sovereign and He knows best.

Because our God transcends time, and nothing from the beginning to the end escapes His eye.

Because He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.

Because we trust that He is good and His love for us endures forever.

Because He has the best thing planned for us.

Why then is it so difficult to believe and to trust?

We say, I do believe, help my unbelief! I guess it's also about sticking to God in spite of how we feel. And to be led by the Spirit, continually seeking God through His Word, prayer and praise.

-----------------------------

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
(Psalm 143:8-10)

-------------
Like what jon said, surrender has never been an one-off thing.
It's always a continuous choice to surrender our desires to God.
Sometimes we still have to surrender, even if we believe we have reached the point whereby our desires are aligned with God's.

Most of the time, surrendering involves patience in waiting on the Lord, waiting for the fulfillment of His promises in our lives.

Joshua 23:14
Not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Yet we can be thankful that

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. (Deut 30:11)

So we still press on and trust in Him--whatever that really means.. Because He put us through situations to teach us what it means to trust in Him completely.

- Rachel

Post a Comment

@ 5:38 PM

Friday, October 23, 2009

Hi Everyone!! Jon here. I was invited to share something by Clem. Hopefully you guys will feel free to share a particular lesson here too!

I've been quite busy this week actually. The verses i have for today doesn't seem to be especially anointed or anything.. it just kinda stood out from the devotionals and the verses I've been reading!

Ephesians 2:20 says, " ²⁰..built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

It clearly states that the church is to be grounded on Jesus Himself, as well as building upon the spiritual inheritance given us by the early apostles and prophets.

1 Cor 3:10-11 "¹⁰..But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Simple Lesson: Ultimately, Jesus remains our only foundation, and the basis of our faith! He is real and living, and the primary focus of the church's being. Whilst helping people, or serving in the ministries, or staging giant musical play thingies are all really alright, amidst all the busyness its important to have in mind the reason for our being here-Christ.

And when you get your foundation right, it makes things way easier for yourself. I like how the Amplified Bible puts it. Check this out!

Eph 2:21-22 "²¹In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].

²²In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit."

We grow closer as a whole with our Lord, and increase in our likeness towards a holy temple, and we build ourselves up as well, and allows God to have a Permanent Residence amongst us. :)

Keep in mind who your foundation is. I hope this encourages you somehow!

Love, Jon.

Post a Comment

@ 9:43 PM

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Post a Comment

@ 11:28 PM

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Here the apostle Paul urges the Philippians to conform to the example of humility and love shown by Jesus.

In verse 3, the key here is, 'nothing'. Absolutely nothing, should be done from selfishness or empty conceit.

The meaning of 'empty conceit' according to the Greek translation, appears to be that of self esteem, a desire to honour ourselves, to attract attention, to win praise, or to make ourselves the main object.

If there's anything at all that is motivated by, "me, myself and I", Paul encourages us to stay away from such things. But he tells us to consider others better than ourselves.

Even if you think you know better; even if you are right, or at least you think you are. You may end up looking like the one losing out on something. But in God's eyes, when you've considered others better than yourself, you've gained and not lost.

To do so, he tells us not to merely look towards our own interests, but towards the interests of others too. That draws us back to the commandment which we were given; love your neighbour as yourself.

Let's walk in humility as God continues to show us what it means to consider others better than ourselves.

Post a Comment

@ 11:42 PM

Monday, October 5, 2009

The last of all human freedoms is the ability to choose one's own attitude regardless of circumstances.

- Viktor Frankl

Romans 8:6-8
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

An account was given by someone who took a hot-air balloon for the first time. He was at a hot-air balloon festival. There was a competition going on, and the goal of the competition was for competitors to arrive at a specific destination.

He was told that he has no control over the direction of the hot-air balloon. At a 1000 feet, he observed that the balloons at that altitude were heading south, but above 3500 feet, the balloons were heading north; where the destination was.

The same goes for our spiritual walk. Set your mind on higher things, not the things of the world. And you will find that you will live your life in a way that is contrary to the ways of the world.

Move up higher, another wind is blowing.

Post a Comment

@ 8:46 PM