Whatever It Takes

Jessica’s weekly posts normally come at the end of the week, but I thought this post was a good way to start off the week…

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Turn off the computer. Take out the headphones.

Why is it so hard to stop and spend time with our Creator? When the
computer is finally unplugged late into the shadows of the night, my
head feels weighted down as if a hundred pebbles were sitting on top of
it so I let myself lay down and go to bed, but not before I shower and
slip on my pajamas. How come I refuse to let sleep overtake my weary
body before changing out of the dirty clothes I’ve worn all day and yet
I willingly give up spending precious moments in conversation with my
Maker? Morning after morning I rush through my Bible reading so I can
turn on the computer or stick in the headphones…but why and for what
purpose?

My priorities are so mixed up. I want to change them and so I will. No
more letting myself let complacency rule my life. I’m fighting the Enemy
and with Christ’s help, I will triumph.

First, I intend to pray. Lots. Second, it’s time to unplug the computer
and turn off the mp3 player. Third, I’ll be reading Scripture and
soaking in God’s words of truth.

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing is of greater importance than
loving the LORD our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength
just as Jesus commanded his disciples in Mark 12:30.

Yesterday morning I read Daniel 4 which tells of a dream that King
Nebuchadnezzar had. Daniel was overcome with fear when he first heard
the dream because God had revealed to him its meaning. But the King told
him not to be afraid, so he told the King the meaning after wishing that
the prophecy in the dream would come upon Nebuchadnezzar’s enemies
rather than the King. The meaning foreshadowed that King Nebuchadnezzar
would be driven from human society for a time and would have to live
among wild beasts, but one day he would receive his kingdom back. Like
others would have done, he refused to believe the dream’s meaning, and
continued to sin by exploiting the poor.

Twelve months later, the King was looking out at the great city of
Babylon and proudly thinking of how he had built the city with his
mighty power. God chose that moment to humble him and speaking to him,
fulfilled the prophecy foretold of in the dream. When his time living as
a wild beast was over, Nebuchadnezzar returned to the city of Babylon
and praised the Most High. He realized God’s great power and his
weakness. The King learned that surrender to God and his will are the
only way to live.

All the people of the earth
are nothing compared to him.
He does as he pleases
among the angels of heaven
and among the people of the earth.
No one can stop him or say to him,
‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
-Daniel 4:35

My heart needed a wake up call to show me that God deserves every part
of me…for the millionth time. He requires surrender and nothing less.
Have you surrendered your whole being to the King of Kings? If not, what
are you holding onto and refusing to let him have?

Love in Christ,
Jessica

Romans 12

I was reading this chapter in my quiet time this morning and just praying that God would show me something from His word today, something that would help me with things that I’m struggling with here. And that He did. This passage starts off with being a living sacrifice. I know we can hear that a lot, but how often do we actually live it out. We become a living sacrifice so we can be acceptable to God and that is our spiritual worship.  That is pretty important! It also talks about not being conformed to the world but being transformed by the renewal of your mind. It says that God’s will is perfect and good and acceptable. Why don’t we always believe that? Then it goes on to talk about spiritual gifts, and how they are different but all work together. And doing all of them to the best of our ability. With cheerfulness and zeal! We try to do things on our own too often. And then it also goes on to say: have genuine love. Outdo each other with honor. Bless those who you don’t like. Rejoice. Live in Harmony. Live peaceably as far as it depends on you. Let God take the vengeance. (Just examples) And the last verse… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  This is deep stuff. And I feel as though I should work on all of them a lot more than I do. I want to become like this passage. That is my goal. I’m praying God will shape me and mold me to become the woman He wants me to be. My desire is to be this passage. Especially while I am here in Italy, it is a perfect opportunity for me to start living these things out. Please read:

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members,  and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[fn] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, ]serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I just wanted to share this with you guys because it spoke to me. And I’m praying it can speak to you too. God is SO good! I would love to hear what you all have to say about this passage also!

This post was written by Grace M.