All Sufficient God

Would you agree that there are a host of frustrated people around us? We see this on our jobs, in our homes, in our schools and unfortunately in our churches. The question is, why is this so, especially in the household of faith? If we trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ, why are we frustrated?

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

Frustration is an emotional response to opposition relating to anger, annoyance and disappointment. It is defined as a feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something; or the prevention of progress, success or fulfillment of something.

At some point I’m certain many of us have experienced frustration in our lives. But if not addressed and dealt with, can open the door to many other unhealthy feelings. Today’s Scripture reference causes us to examine where our confidence lies and unearths a profound truth: our sufficiency comes from God alone! If we are frustrated with ourselves, then we are not looking to God to supply our every need and we are placing far too much confidence in our own ability to get things accomplished.

Let’s stop taking ourselves so seriously, give ourselves a break and trust in an all-sufficient God who is eager and waiting to supply our every need.

Your thoughts!

Winning the Wrestle

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires to do what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.    Galatians 5:16-17

The secret is out now! If you confess Jesus as Lord, then the fight has begun and will continue on until you leave this earth. Even though we do not wrestle with flesh and blood (or at least we shouldn't) there is still a WRESTLE that goes on within us. The wrestle comes when we who have become a new creation, try to defy the rules set by our King and venture off to do things the old way we used to do them. But I'm more partial to the latter part of verse 17: ...so that you are not to do whatever you want...MESSAGE!

We have been purchased with a price and the life we should be living (a life that glorifies God) now belongs to Him. Question: when you're on your job, are you not expected to do what the owner of that organization asks you to do? So it is with our new Owner. He has written some guidelines for us to follow and these guidelines will help us win the wrestle between our flesh (the old nature) and our spirit. We can win the wrestle!

Your thoughts?

When Too Much is Too Much

All you need to say is simply "Yes" or "No;" anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 NIV

Imagine the horror I felt when I finished reading the verse above. I mean, I never really thought adding colorful words to a conversation or response could actually be authored by the "evil one." But when I really put my mind to it, I can see what God wanted to convey. When we deal with things head-on and in all honesty, nothing further needs to be relayed. It's when we add on unnecessarily, we tend to embellish the truth and I was told a half truth is a complete lie. It is important to keep our answers short and to the point as to not fall into the temptation of telling untruths. If you're like me, the "evil one" comes to my mind throughout the day with untruths and it goes on and on and on. But I'm grateful to God that I KNOW when too much is too much and everything that comes from Satan is a complete lie.

Saturate yourself with the Word of God so you can fight the good fight of faith, speak right and excellent things and know when too much is too much...

Your thoughts?