Relationships
Pride and self-righteousness will detour us from God’s best path and lead us on a treacherous journey of denial. We’ll deny our own sinfulness. We’ll deny our own need for grace.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…” 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Those who can’t see their own desperate need for grace, refuse to freely give grace to others.
Relationships take some listening too!!
“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” – Isaiah 50:4b
The prophet Isaiah describes his relationship to God as a relationship that has two-way communication.
Have you ever felt that your communication with God was only one way – you to Him only?
Isaiah tells us, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary…. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back” (Is. 50:4-5).
The key to Isaiah’s relationship with God lies in four important principles:
1. He had an instructed tongue. Isaiah had given over rule of his life completely to God’s purposes.
2. He knew the word of the Lord, which allowed him to sustain and encourage others.
3. He took time to listen.
4. He did not flee from the tough assignments. He didn’t shrink back.
If we are to be able to listen to God, we must follow the same principles. Knowing and spending time studying God’s Word allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind His instructions for what He wants for us.
In the Past I would become very busy in my work and other activities alot. Each Time, It wasn’t long before I felt distance between God and me.
I had to make a conscious decision to carve out more time alone to listen, study, and meditate on His Word even when it hurt and I didn’t feel like it.
This is the lifeline for the follower of Jesus.
*When we begin to lose the relationship, we are susceptible to becoming rebellious, going our own way which in turn is a start of backsliding.
*Invest your life in this relationship so that you may continue to hear His voice and SUSTAIN the weary ones around you. We need to show the world around us the Love of Christ through our Relationships with God, Spouse, Kids, Family and Friends.
Remember and pray! Speak Peace and Blessings always and no Curses of any sort.
Words have meaning! People are measuring our words. God measures our words!
We must be careful what words come out of our mouth, they can damage those around us.
*We can speak life or death to someone!
*The things WE speak are the seeds WE sow.
Proverbs 21:23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life;a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Let us speak Truth out of Love!
For us to love others as God desires, we must allow Him to make us an open vessel through which He can pour His Love.
“Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
II Timothy 2:21
Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 6 of 8)
6) I make a commitment to be totally honest and thereby vulnerable to the Holy Spirit, my family and friends and myself.
Result: I m being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ my Lord.
Word I am “Honest”
Verse: 1 John` 3:1-3. “See what love the father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world did not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
Lord Jesus, Continually transform me into Your likeness an help me in all my relationships to bring YOU Glory! Amen!