This week look for opportunities to release yourself and others from past perceptions into future realities. The present circumstances have put things into perspective in many ways. Make an effort to change habits to accommodate these new perceptions.
In other words, “let by-gones be by-gones,” and deliberately incorporate that freedom into your way of treating yourself and others.
Have a great week!
Many are spending all their time and energy doing battle against unclear enemies either because they don’t know what else to do or because this is what they’ve been taught to do in times of crisis.
Instead of immersing yourself in a technique (fasting, prayer, worshiping, commanding, waiting, etc.), ASK GOD for a specific direction to define your enemy and your battlefield.
If He says Wait, then wait. If He says Command, then command.
The battle is to hear from Him, then act; don’t try to get Him to act instead based on what you want Him to do or what you think He should do. It may be that He’s wanting to heal a wound, or correct a misbelief, or reveal Himself in a new way to you. Be focused on what He wants you to be focused on.
This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY! Don’t waste it by trying to use your own strength.
Work through this, He is speaking.
The Pharisees’ Self-Righteousness (Luke 18:9-14)
9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10″Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Again, Jesus’ illustration was meant to expose the misconception about the purpose of the law: it was not meant to separate those who could perform from those who could not, but to expose an equal need for a Savior.
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Summary of the Tithe During the Transition
Jesus never told anyone to tithe! In fact, every reference to tithing was in the negative sense! He only directed these rebukes to Pharisees, or those who considered themselves the elite, religious, productive, God-pleasers of their day.
As a son of God [spirit], you are free to do whatever you want. The more your soul is freed, healed, the more your soulical ‘wants’ will line up with your spirit ‘wants’. This week let the Lord reveal to you areas in your soulical desires that He has already brought into alignment with His character, where He has replaced doubt with confidence, fear with anticipation, anger with embracing.
Peaceful Process.
Have an overcoming week!
Stay centered as you find your time and priorities pulled in different directions. Don’t fight against the distractions and necessary demands, but stay dependent on God to direct your attention and energize your activities.
Have fun!
When we’re under stress, especially prolonged periods of stress, we tend to revert back to relying on previously overcome coping mechanisms. Take a few moments daily to let the Lord bring to the surface any area you may be falling back into an old pattern so that He may meet your needs directly.
Be kind to yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Dependent Christian realizes that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but doesn’t even notice. They are focused on the task that God has called them to, and aren’t distracted when others ‘do it wrong.’ Though they participate in civil activities, fulfill civic duties and abide by civil law, they are citizens of the spirit realm, and their identity and satisfaction is based on their own spiritual character and relationship with Spirit. They know Whom they believe.
