Thy Will and My Life

Oh that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Jeremiah 9:1 

Jeremiah was invited by God to be a weeping prophet. His call came during turbulent, agonizing times as his society suffered from pervasive moral and spiritual decay. The nation of Judah had turned so far from God that it was soon to face His fierce judgment. This was not a time for merrymaking but for weeping. God looked for someone He could mold into the kind of prophet needed for such a bleak time. He found Jeremiah. The cost to Jeremiah was intense; he sacrificed much of the freedom of his youth in order to be God's messenger. He forfeited family and reputation. He endured misunderstanding, ridicule, and persecution. He was imprisoned and mocked by those to whom he had come to warn of God's impending judgment. Satan will try to convince you that obedience carries much too high a price, but he will never tell you the cost of not obeying God. If you are to be used in God's service, you must expect to make adjustments in your life. Can you measure the distance between the throne room of heaven and a cattle shed in Bethlehem? How far is it from the Lordship of the universe to the cross? Don’t be deceived into thinking there is no cost involved in obedience. What adjustments is God asking you to make? Will you face the hardships and opposition that will come when you align your life with God's will? Jeremiah had the deep satisfaction of knowing he was a faithful and beloved servant of God. Your reward will be the same when you choose to fully obey Christ, regardless of the cost.

- Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Oh the cliches and mocking phrases of this world in which we live concerning receiving money or food or gifts or well you name it.  No such thing as free money.  No good deed goes unpunished. 

Pretty good that Google's suggested words knows them too.

Arrogance and pride often get in the way of so much.  Pretty much everyone has been hit with them at some point or many times in their lives. 

Once blinded it takes a very long time to regain sight.  Not just the physical world but the Spiritual world.  The other is a loss of sensitivity to bright things.  You get numb or just plain used to it.  Life can numb you when your efforts to fight it puts up defenses.   But what if it's God trying to change you?

As part of this revival there was a self-evaluation.  Hard questions to ask yourself.  It's a noteworthy passage that is found in Scripture, judgement begins in the household of God.  We are the first that get the once over on our sin in our lives.  

You know, the worst part of interacting with people oftentimes is the use of words.  Your use of a word or phrase might not have the same connotation as the one you speak with.  It's a huge problem between so-called denominations.  

But the point of this today is being real before God.  The point of that self evaluation is a self examination.  We often desire to walk with God but on our terms. 

We want the joy, the peace, the good stuff, but forget it comes at a cost.  I heard a song last night and I will likely have to go back to get the title and lyrics.  In it is the phrase about secret rooms in our hearts. 

To serve God wholly requires He have access to all of us.  When the Spirit is getting close to those secret rooms we get nervous.  What if He finds a way in?  Dumb question but it's what crosses our minds.  He's God. Can go into any part of out hearts.  We should bid Him enter.  

I struggle with a lot of things people don't see.  Probably goes for those reading this. The examples Blackaby gived of those in the Bible.  They too had struggled with a great many things.  Spirit filled or not. They didn't have a glorified body and soul yet.  

Wanting to serve, not knowing how or when.  Wanting an accountability partner.  Understanding Scripture.  The weight of the things in this world that claw at us for attention.   The temptations that arise.  The lies we tell ourselves to salve our hearts and minds.  The rights we enjoy that, sadly, to many Christians are far more important to them than the obedience to God's Word.  They would rather rage in anger at social injustices yet won't turn a page in their Bible.  They rip people apart because of one right they claim is being stepped on...but won't share what Christ had done for them. 

Serving required letting go of things, both on the inside and outside of a believers we read about in the Bible.  

Making adjustments in my life has been what God's been having me do for years.  I won't deny standing before Jesus and almost whimpering "Aww, but Jesus!  That too?". 

I am a flawed man in the eyes of men.  Only in Christ do I appear as whole and pure.  God sees me through Christ.  I am ever aware of my flaws. My sin and shame are a constant reminder of a work unfinished.  

Living for Jesus will require change.  I know that change and me don't always get along.  Changing diets is extremely painful.  Changing my mindset in the workplace is difficult.  Realizing where Jesus wants to go in me is often painful. 

But it's all on me. Jesus knows what He is doing.  It's on me to obey.  I know of another song "Thy Will".  It's a hard hard verse at times to point to, to lean on. "Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."

Are you willing to put what Jesus wants to do in you as your most important thing in your life? 

Pretty much every airline's planes have a pilot and a copilot.  Only one can be responsible for the flight path. Getting myself out of my own way is the harder part. 

Look at your life.  Are you trying to call the shots?  Are you more interested in your rights to what's in your life than you are in your obedience to God?

Thy Will - Hillary Scott

I'm so confused
I know I heard you loud and clear
So, I followed through
Somehow I ended up here
I don't wanna think
I may never understand
That my broken heart is a part of your plan
When I try to pray
All I've got is hurt and these four words

Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

I know you're good
But this don't feel good right now
And I know you think
Of things I could never think about
It's hard to count it all joy
Distracted by the noise
Just trying to make sense
Of all your promises
Sometimes I gotta stop
Remember that you're God
And I am not
So

Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will

I know you see me
I know you hear me, Lord
Your plans are for me
Goodness you have in store
I know you hear me
I know you see me, Lord
Your plans are for me
Goodness you have in store
So

Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

I know you see me
I know you hear me, Lord