With All Our Heart

 

When we quiet our body and soul, seek the Lord with our whole spirit and soul, and enter into God's rest, we have the opportunity to experience the wonders He prepared for those who love Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Jeremiah 29:13). 

God asks us to revere, obey, love and serve Him with our whole being (Deuteronomy 10:12; Mark 12:30-33). The least we can do for God is to comply with His wishes. 

As we keep His precepts, we will live fulfilled lives, full of God's blessings (Deuteronomy 30:16).

At times, we are bombarded by worry, stress and expectations. Our mind wanders from God. However, we can resist the world, the flesh and the devil, and wait on God to direct our steps throughout the day (Psalm 130:5).

Our old carnal nature is crucified with Christ, but now we live in Christ who lives in and through us. We no longer entertain the desires of the flesh, but we submit to God's will for each moment of our day.

We come forth from the grave of sin with the power of God's Holy Spirit. We walk in union with our Father God, cleansed by His Son and led by His Spirit. We are totally one with the Trinity.

This is not something, which we conjure up in our human effort. We simply completely surrender to God's will each moment of the day and He will live His life through us (Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that we no longer live, but that Christ lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20). Teach us how to allow Christ to manifest Himself through us during every waking and sleeping moment of our life.

Help us to live with the realization that Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4). We no longer want to be concerned with issues of this life, because we are living to further Your Kingdom and to honor Your name in all we think, say and do.

Thought for the Day:

Through us, Christ has a greater impact on our day, accomplishes more for His Kingdom and truly blesses those with whom we come into contact. - 1 John 4:6

Jesus is All We Need

God orchestrates the losses, broken heart, difficult trials, and painful tribulation in our life to bring us to the place of total surrender to His love and our perfect submission to His will.

The quicker we come to the place of complete compliance to His will, the fewer negative aspects enter our life. 

The less we trust in and cherish the temporal aspects of this life, the fewer losses we experience.

The more intimate we grow in our union with Christ, the less we experience the negative effects of trauma. 

We are not devastated by our losses, because nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:35-39). We will not lose Christ, and He is all we really need. 

We are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). We have all wisdom, right standing with God, holiness and redemption in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30).

His grace is sufficient to uphold us in any tragedy or insufficiency, which we face in this world (2 Corinthians 12:9). In Christ, we have every spiritual blessing, which heaven has to offer us (Ephesians 1:3).

God perfects us and sanctifies us in Christ (Hebrews 10:14). Jesus is not an option to add to our life; He is our whole life (Colossians 3:4). 

He is our peace, and He demolishes every wall, which stands in our way (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus is our treasure hidden within us; our pearl of great price; our coin, which was lost, but now is found (Matthew 13:45-46; Luke 15:8-10; 2 Corinthians 4:7). 

Jesus is our all in all (Ephesians 4:6). He contains all the fullness of the Trinity (Colossians 2:9), and He triumphed over our enemies through His death (Colossians 2:15). 

He gives us victory through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus is all we need (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You that through Christ we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness for our sins. He is Your actual image and through Him everything was created and is under His authority. He is our all sufficiency (Colossians 1:13-16).

Remind us that the philosophy of man and the cares of this world are nothing when compared to the majesty of Christ on high. We give Him all of our praise and the glory for everything we ever accomplish through Your Spirit.

Thought for the Day:

Through Christ we find our right standing with God and enter a spiritual life, which never ends.

Emotional Tanks

 

When my children were in high school, I created a poster with an emotional tank for each member of our family. The object was for each of us to signify how full our emotional tank was each day.

This way we could all deposit into one another's tank, especially into those who were running low. Well, my idea bombed with my family, but I am hoping you might like this idea.

To add to someone's emotional tank, we need to know them well, learn what is important to them, and then converse with them and provide for them according to their love language.

(www.5lovelanguages.com )

Pay attention to the words they use and listen between the lines. Never belittle their ideas, hope or dreams. Deposit daily encouragement into their emotional tank and inspire them to follow God's plan for their day.

Deposit your time, energy, understanding and godly wisdom into their emotional tank. Be there for one another and be patient and kind to one another.

Build a foundation of trust in your family. Love depends upon trust; and when trust is broken, it is hard to feel love. Keep promises, tell the truth, and be a person of integrity.

Admit when you are wrong, and deposit into their emotional tanks with sincere apologies and changed behavior. Love unconditionally so they will feel secure, safe and affirmed.

You may not agree with their behavior or choices, and you can discipline when necessary, but separate the person from their behavior and validate them as your special treasure.

Deposit second chances, change your focus, and utilize forgiveness in every breach of confidence. You do not need to be victimized, however; and you can establish boundaries, which are safe for everyone.

Interdependence is a well-adjusted relationship centered on God who dwells in the midst of us. Following the guidance of God's Spirit moment by moment throughout the day will help us to deposit rather than to withdraw from one another's emotional tank.

Prayer:

Father God, teach us to cooperate so that no one person makes all the sacrifices. Help us to accept one another for who we are and to request changes only when necessary for the peace of the household.

Remind us to enjoy one another's company, to cherish our relationship, not to take anyone for granted and to value the priceless connection You have given to us all.

Thought for the Day:

Pray together, have family devotions, serve the community together, play together; but also give one another space to have time to pursue their own interests as you make daily deposits into one another's emotional tank.