I know you not

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV — Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

If I had a favorite movie star and I kept track of all that happened in their life, studying up on all their favorite things, what would happen if I just showed up at their front door and asked to go into their home? They would probably ask me, “who the heck are you?” I could tell them my name and that I’m their greatest fan, that I know their favorite color, their favorite food, every movie they were in, how many kids they have, how many times they married, and to whom, if they ever battled addictions, where they like to vacation, etcetera, etcetera and they still would not open their door embracing me and call me their friend.

It’s more likely they would call the authorities and have me arrested for stalking. They would say, “I don’t know you and you’re creeping me out.” No matter what I say at this point it would not convince this movie star, that never met me in their life, to just open their door and let me in. You can bet there’d be a restraining order put in place so they will never see me at their doorstep again.

Those of us that are socially self controlled understand this is not something acceptable to do. Sadly, This is what so many think is OK to do to Jesus. Those of us that call ourselves Christians but choose not to read His Word, or choose not to pray and live our lives completely surrendered. Some of us can tell you all about Jesus, what He did here on earth, and how loving, healing and forgiving He is. Yet we choose to entertain ourselves with the world and harden our hearts to any change that we need to make within ourselves.

Matthew 25:11-12 KJV — Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

I have experienced relationships in my life that have proved to be very one sided. As long as I was willing to join them in what they wanted to do, or go to their house every time, then they were willing to be my friend. If I wanted them to come to my house or do something I like they always had some reason they couldn’t. They were never really interested in me or what was going on in my life but they loved to talk about themselves and their lives. These friendships only lasted until I got tired of feeling like I didn’t matter. At which point I would just stop trying and instead move on to friends that really cared about me too.

If I truly want someone to stay in my life and they really mean something to me, I will give them the most precious thing I have in this world to give them, my time. I would be interested in what they are interested in. I would want to know everything about them and would want them to know about me. If someone meant that much to me, I wouldn’t want to go one day without them in it. Once a week for a few hours certainly wouldn’t be enough time to know each other. More than likely this someone and I would be inseparable. If you saw me, you’d see them and vice versa.

As Christians, we want to be accepted into heaven where Jesus lives. We don’t want to hear Him turn us away saying, “I never knew you.” The question really is, Have we become friends with Jesus? How much time are we willing to give Him daily? Do we truly love Him, or is it our intent to just use Him to get into the door of heaven?

Faster than anyone wants to admit everything we spend all our time doing in this world will be gone. The only currency we actually have to give in this world is our time. No matter what excuses we try to use to excuse our choices we will still be confronted with the consequences of what we choose to do with our time. Did we invest it in the world and our current, vapor sized life, that’s here today but may be gone tomorrow? Or did we invest it in Jesus and our eternal, never to end, ever, life that comes immediately upon our exit from this life?

Matthew 19:29 KJV — And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Father God didn’t create us to be distant or indifferent from Him. No he wants relationship, a very close, intimate relationship with us. This is why He sent His Son to pay the price for our reconciliation unto Him. Have you ever loved someone so much it felt like life wasn’t worth living without them? If so have you ever loved someone that much but they didn’t return your love?

John 3:16 KJV — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

How can anyone expect to enter into His house if all they ever did in this current life was turn their nose up at getting to know the one person who truly loved them enough to sacrifice everything just to be near them. We can’t even love ourselves with this kind of perfect love.

So we must ask ourselves once again, have we made Jesus our friend?

Until next time, may God bless you and keep you as you seek Him with your whole heart.

We Wrestle not Against Flesh and Blood

Ephesians 6:12 KJV — For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, in high places.

Do we still not understand? We have a grudge against our brother, sister, friend, parent, child, ex-spouse, et cetera et cetera because we think they are to blame, and there’s no excuse for what they did. They chose to hurt us the way they did, so we have a right to be upset, and our mind is made up.
And we would be wrong. The Bible clearly says, our battle may look like it’s with flesh and blood, it may feel like it’s with flesh and blood, there may be no humanly way to deny the facts saying its flesh and blood we are battling, yet still, we are told this is not the truth.

The Lord said to me, “so you believe this was done to you, for the ninth time, by the same person, and therefore they are absolutely to blame?”
Reluctantly, I admit the truth, I said, “yes, how can they not know what they are doing after repeating it nine times?”
He then asked, “have you never been the cause of someone’s suffering and pain without meaning them harm, and unknowing how you hurt them until much later?”
“I have,” I replied.
Next He asked, “have you ever been told that your actions caused suffering and pain for another and you responded with a roll of your eyes thinking how sensitive they must be, or have you denied their pain altogether believing no one could have possibly took you the way they did, therefore you became the true victim in your own eyes?”
My silence spoke more truth in that moment than any words I could use to answer. Still with head hung low, I said, “wow Lord, how could I be so blind?’ They are no more at fault than I was, yet true hurt and pain had been inflicted.”

We blame each other so quickly and unforgivingly. We won’t even hear their side as we feel we already know. Two sides, both unknowingly deceived by the enemy and ready to never give in. Both are ready to part ways unless the other realizes what they have done and convincingly apologizes.
Neither side has even the slightest understanding of the true plan of the enemy at work here because although scripture spells it out from A to Z as literal as it sounds, we don’t see how we can be used by the enemy at all. And we refuse to believe the enemy is to blame for all the actions and decisions of others either.

The truth, whether we want to believe it or not, is that our enemy has spent thousands of years studying us. A concept we may be able to contemplate but really have no understanding of. He knows how to use us against each other, and he knows exactly how to get an emotional reaction out of us. If we don’t make a conscious effort to be self controlled, especially over how things make us feel, he is happy to control our emotions for us. He is more than happy to tell us how we feel and how we should respond to our feelings.

We are taught from a young age how to control our actions no matter how we feel in order to be socially acceptable. Like not to hit, pinch, bite, or pull someone’s hair because they hurt our feelings. Or, like running to the bathroom when we need, instead of going out in the open like the dogs and other animals do. We are taught to respect authority even when it seems completely unfair. All things that we must learn to be at least socially acceptably self controlled.
We are not taught how to analyze and control our thoughts and emotions, just our actions in spite of our thoughts and emotions.

Thoughts, whether true or not, once emotionally accepted, then become our reality. This is how two people can go through the same experience and perceive the events and the effects of events differently. One may say they were scared to death and will never do that again, while the other says, “I laughed so hard I can’t wait to do it again.”

The word of God tells us. 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV — 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;

This is to say, we have control over what we think. We get to decide what we want to think before the thought takes root in our emotions. Our thoughts don’t have to become our reality unless we either decide to allow them to or choose not to be in control of them at all, thereby giving the enemy control of what reality we will live in.
I often hear people saying, “I can’t control what I think or how it makes me feel.” I, too, am guilty of these statements. God’s word tells me that by repeating these statements, I have repeated the enemy’s lies. God’s word clearly says I am in control of my thoughts if I choose to be, and how I allow myself to feel pertaining to my thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:2-5 NLT — Well, I am begging you now so that when I come, I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Although I can not control what others do or say to me, I am in control of how I decide to perceive their actions and words. By consciously deciding my own thoughts about it, I also keep full control over how I’m emotionally affected by it. I’m no longer caught off guard taking offense and reacting.
I know the truth and refuse to be ignorant of the enemies schemes. I know that although someone I love may say or do things that hurt me, I am not truly fighting them. No, my true battle is with the enemy who so deceptively tries to conquer and divide, turning everyone against each other.
Because Father God forewarned me, this was one of the enemies tactics, I chose not to be hurt or offended, and I chose to react with the following Scriptures in mind;

Proverbs 15:1-4 NLT — A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 21:23 NLT — Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

Philippians 2:2-5 NLT — Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Colossians 3:13 NLT — Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

When I get hurt by someone, I know that although I felt a sting, I don’t have all the facts. Facts like

1. What kind of day have they had?
2. What triggered them to inflict pain upon me?
3. What trauma from their past might be driving their present emotions?
4. What lies might they have been told about me?
5. Are they angry or hurting as bad as they are trying to hurt me?
6. Did they even mean it the way I took it?
7. Did I hear them wrong?
8. Did something from my past cause me to be oversensitive?
9. Is my mind blowing this out of proportion?
10. Do they really mean me harm, or could it be all in jest?

The enemy is counting on me to make a move, react, respond, retaliate, or run. He doesn’t care how I choose to react so long as I react. Reacting is going into the battle blind, without strategy or facts. We can react without conscious thought. If, instead, I choose strategy, I would first gather facts, evidence, guidance, and understanding from wise counsel. Father God knows all the facts and hidden details that I need in order to claim victory over my enemies.

What the enemy didn’t expect was for me to choose not to react at all. He inflicted enough pain to constitute a tsunami of emotions flooding my perceived enemies territory, wiping them out without mercy.
The enemy never guessed I would choose to heed the warnings and wise counsel of God, and by putting on His armor, the enemy could not generate a reaction from me. I knew I was not really fighting the one who hurt me. That person was the disguise the enemy chose, so sure it would trick me into entering the battle unprepared.

We fight not against flesh and blood. Although it looks, feels, and hurts like flesh and blood, it’s really just the enemy trying to take us down!!

James 4:7 KJV — Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Until next time, may God bless you and keep you as you seek Him with your whole heart.

Humble Pie

We all have known that awful taste they call humble pie. Its not easy to confess our sins to others! We all seem to have an image to uphold.

For as far back as I can remember, I’ve never felt like I was better than anyone else. There were however times, of course, when I judged my own abilities against another’s, like when engaged in talent competition’s. Still my fellow competitors and I were equal in value and worth, that’s just the way I’ve always seen it.

It wasn’t Christian to be prideful and I made a conscious effort not to be.

I, up until just recently, thought I did a good job in this endeavor.

I have found, that once I let go of my own self perception of being a good Christian, that gives me a false sense of my own true character, I open myself up to being shown the truth that is in my heart.

I didn’t realize fear of becoming prideful or self-righteous took root in my life, and because of it, I was walking with a false sense of humility.

Common symptoms of false humility I exhibited were; never being able to take a compliment, having little to no self worth, always needing opinions of others to decide what my own opinions were, low self esteem and next to no self confidence.

I could build confidence up in others no problem, but I stayed a long ways away from the chance of building my own self confidence up..

I truly don’t, and purposefully won’t, stand in judgment of others and I never have felt myself to be better than anyone else.

I thought I was doing good understanding I am a child of God and making sure I stay humble, lowly, un-selfish, usable, putting everyone else first to the best of my ability. I was getting real good at not giving pride or self-righteousness a chance in my life.

Then, while fasting one day, Lord Jesus opened my eyes to what I was truly working under and He showed me how my heart was good, my desire was right, and my approach was wrong.

2 Timothy 1:7 BBE — For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.

I wasn’t surrendered in that area as I hoped because my fear drove me to works.

I was operating with a spirit of fear, thinking myself genuinely humble. I would down play my gifts, and testimony making them seem un-note-worthy or common.

Never did the thought cross my mind that I may have been hurting God’s feelings. Of course I was hurting His feelings! I was turning His blessings into nothing out of the ordinary! That’s not humility, that’s ungratefulness! I believed the enemies lie that to be happy and confident in the talents Father God blessed me with, would be prideful. I avoided pride at the cost of true gratitude! And can you imagine how habit forming it is to make yourself small and insignificant? False humility can be a tough habit to break!

Because I was trying so hard not to be self righteous or prideful I allowed my light to be put under a vessel..

Matthew 5:14-16 BBE — You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all. And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house. Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Father God, Creator of all there is, fearfully and wonderfully made each and every one of us, giving us unique gifts and talents to share with the rest of the world. He meant for us to be exceptional and to be noticed.

We, created in His Image, were meant to stand out. All honor, glory and praise belong to Father God and that’s the difference between true humility and false humility. Who, will those who admire our work, glorify? Us or Father God?

Until next time may God bless you and keep you as you seek Him with your whole heart.