Faltering or Flourishing
I heard someone say something about elevating the Bible and it got me asking a question, which needs to be settled before everything else is asked, wrestled with or stood on.
Everything is based on your answer!
Your ups and downs
Your wins and losses
Your emotions
Your actions
Your beliefs
Your self-talk
How you interact with others at work
in church
in friendships
in love
Is the Bible truly, 100% true? Is it the Word of God to you? Does it hold the answers; the true north on our compass; the plum line that everything else is measured?
We all the know the good, Christian answer is “Of course I believe it is true?”
But let’s dig a little deeper and base it on how we are actually doing living out our lives as Jesus-Followers.
In my life, I fail and falter when I do not walk in the fullness and faith God promises me through His Word.
I also see where I flourish in areas when I am accepting and aligning my thoughts and actions with His Word.
Hear my heart here… I know, believe me, I know that life throws curve balls. We’ve been hit by quite a few of them. I’m not talking about when we are walking through a difficult situation or season. I’m asking in a general sense of our everyday lives.
Do I actually orchestrate my life to reflect that belief? And for me the answer is no. There are too many moments that I do not discipline myself like I should. There are too many times I allow doubt or fear to crowd out faith and hope. There are times I wrestle with believing that God has a good plan for me and it’s not a bait and switch.
If we believe God is good and all He does is from the love He has for us, then that means we should live our lives in a manner that shows that. it means holding ourselves accountable in every area of our lives.
I need to stop taking forgiveness for granted.
I need to elevate the Bible to a place of honor in my life. I need to read it, understand it and apply it.
Malachi 3:3&4 talks about God purifying and refining us like gold and silver, so our offerings will be acceptable to Him.
It is important to God that we are living a life of purity and not mixed with unhealthy beliefs and habits
Is what I’m offering - my thoughts - my actions - my faith - my discipline - my discipleship - pleasing to Him?
Louie Giglio says: “God is not interested in getting on your page - your agenda. God’s great hope is that you will get on His page - make yourself available to His agenda. This is the difference between squandering life and gaining life.”
NT Wright says: “When Jesus calls, he certainly does demand everything, but only because he has already given everything himself, and has plans in store, for us and the world, that we would never have dreamed of.”
The call that God has placed on our lives, first and foremost, is as His child! And as His child we are called to be different. We are called and equipped to flourish! We are called to walk like Jesus, to talk like Jesus, to love like Jesus.
BUT! All of that starts with being so in love with God, that anything less than what He has for me is not worth it. It’s through that love that we lay some things down and pick some things up. It’s a total knowing that no matter what, I am loved wholly, completely and fiercely by the Creator of all things, my Abba!
I can only know that by reading His Word for me.
If you are like me and needed this little kick-in-the-pants as a reminder about how magnificent of a gift we have in being able to read His Words, let’s up our game in this area! Who’s with me??
Let’s elevate the Word of God to it’s rightful place in our daily life!
Have an amazing day, Loved of God!
All My Love ~
Jodi xo
***I want to thank you for your faithfulness in being a part of this blog family! (If you’re not, you can subscribe below) As we enter into the holiday season and the end of the year, I will be writing every other week to be able to focus on other things. Thank you for understanding and giving me the grace and space to grow and spread my wings in other areas. Sending you all the love and hugs! xoxoxo***