Authentic Worshipers

God is looking for authentic worshipers who will live for Him by His Spirit and in His Truth (John 4:23). He wants to raise up an army united in Christ, not a bunch of Lone Rangers doing their own thing.

As we allow the nature of Christ in us to infiltrate every area of our life, we decrease so that He may increase (John 3:30). We serve God by His Spirit moving within us and through us (Philippians 2:12-13; Act 17:28).

When we come to truly understand that we are dead, and that our life is now hidden with Christ in God, we live in God’s power, which works in and through us (Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20).

God will use our body, soul and spirit by His Spirit to work in the lives of people we encounter each day. He will give us His words to speak to them that we cannot possibly know in our human capacity.

This opens doors for us to witness to people and to bring Christ into their life, so that He can change their heart, lives and circumstances for their good.

We put no confidence in our fleshly abilities; and we do not boast in our own accomplishments, because we achieve all things through Christ in us (Philippians 3:3; 2:12-13).

Sinful mankind, who are lost in pride, arrogance and the exploitation of others, consider their own needs more frequently than anyone else’s (Romans 12:3). However, God brings everyone down to the same level through the grave (Isaiah 14:15).

Our eternal destination is determined by our earthly beliefs. If we live for self, we reap corruption; if we live for Christ, we reap eternal life and serve God as Authentic Believers (John 3:16-18).

Prayer:

Father God, it is not difficult to sustain a constant relationship with You as our living Lord. Every moment of our day is authentic worship to You. Living with honor and respect for You gives us a secure life with protection from lasting harm (Proverbs 19:23). Even negative circumstances turn around for our good (Romans 8:28).

You give us everything we need to live in contentment through a genuine Godly life (1 Timothy 6:6). You are our strength and shield. We trust in You with all of our heart. You fill our soul so full of joy that we spontaneously burst forth into songs of praise and thanksgiving to You (Psalm 28:7).

Thought for the Day:
Christ in us gives us joy in tribulation (Romans 5:3), hope in devastating trials and loss (Romans 15:13), and a bright vision for our future (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Measure of Success

 

If we start our Christian walk using our human talents for the Lord, we will find a measure of success, but we will thwart God’s purpose in our life. He intends for us to recognize that in our self, there is no good thing (Romans 7:18). Therefore, God calls us not to depend on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him before we do anything (Proverbs 3:5-6). We desperately need God’s Spirit to direct our steps. God may use our natural talents, but only as directed by His Spirit.

Anytime our faith is connected to receiving something from God, we stand the chance of having our faith shaken. If our faith is in God alone, and not dependent upon anything else, we will not be blown away by the winds of adversity in our life. Instead, we will look for God’s purpose in them, and we will know that He is going to work every trial out for our eventual good (Romans 8:28). Only as we fully consecrate our entire being to God, do we come to walk in our complete salvation.

Most events that we view as trials are simply God’s way of answering our prayers. We often want to see supernatural results, but God rarely gives us supernatural intervention. He usually uses normal means to do extraordinary things in our life. If we understand this truth, we will live with more joy. If we depend on our self to find success in this life, we may or may not reach our goals. However, if we depend on God’s Spirit, the fulfillment He brings to us is more than anything we could earn by our self-efforts.

We humans put more pressure on ourselves then God ever created us to sustain. That is why so many of us self-destruct and end up mentally, emotionally and physically ill. We are flawed from birth and need Christ in order to be complete (Colossians 2:10). Only God can bring beauty from the ashes of our life (Isaiah 61:1-3). When we forsake all of our dreams and ambitions, and abide fully in Christ (Philippians 3:8; 1 John 2:27), He gives us back more, and better than we ever relinquish to Him. Forever satisfied with God’s provision, we never experiencing any lack.

Prayer:

Father God, we do not have to understand Your ways in order to embrace them fully and to partake of Your divine life within us. We believe, but help our unbelief (Mark 9:24). Remind us to walk by faith, instead of depending on our understanding (2 Corinthians 5:7). Every gift we receive from You is an opportunity to give You praise for Your love and provision. In our human capacity, we cannot fully comprehend Your ways (1 Corinthians 13:12). We simply believe, and watch You bring it to pass. I am constantly saying, “Wow” as I watch You do wondrous things throughout each moment of my day.

Thought for the Day:

Christ only gives Himself completely to us, when we are willing to give our self completely to Him.

Authentic Worshippers

God is looking for authentic worshippers who will live for Him by His Spirit and in His Truth (John 4:23). When we come to truly understand that we are dead, and that our life is hidden with Christ in God, we live in God’s power, which works in and through us (Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20). God will use our body, soul and spirit by His Spirit to work in the lives of people we encounter each day. He will give us words to speak to them that we cannot possibly know in our human capacity. This opens doors for us to witness to people and to bring Christ into their life, so that He can change their circumstances for their good. 

Sinful mankind, lost in pride, arrogance and the exploitation of others, consider their own needs more frequently than anyone else’s (Romans 12:3). However, God brings everyone down to the same level through the grave (Isaiah 14:15). Our eternal destination is determined by our earthly beliefs. If we live for self, we reap corruption; if we live for Christ, we reap eternal life (John 3:16-18). As we allow the nature of Christ in us to infiltrate every area of our life, we decrease so that He may increase (John 3:30).

It is not difficult to sustain a constant relationship with our living Lord. Every moment of our day is worship to Him. We serve God by the Spirit moving within us and through us. We put no confidence in our fleshly abilities; and we do not boast in our own accomplishments, because we accomplish all things through Christ in us (Philippians 3:3; 2:12-13). Living with honor and respect for the Lord gives us a secure life with protection from lasting harm (Proverbs 19:23). Even negative circumstances turn around for our good (Romans 8:28). He gives us everything we need to live in contentment through a Godly life (1 Timothy 6:6).

Christ in us gives us joy in tribulation (Romans 5:3), hope in devastating trials and loss (Romans 15:13) and a bright vision for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). He is our strength and shield. We can trust in Him with all of our heart. He fills our heart so full of joy that we spontaneously burst forth into songs of praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7). Our faith in His faithfulness is never disappointed. He will not give us the lusts of our flesh, but He always abundantly provides for more than our needs (Ephesians 3:20). If we pray anything according to His will, he hears us and supplies (1 John 5:14).

We cannot fully live without Christ living within us. Paul realized this truth in his life (1 Corinthians 4:7). Jesus’ disciples knew the truth of this statement (John 15:5). Joseph exemplified this when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:16). Rebellious Jonah learned to trust the Lord, as the God of heaven who made the sea and earth (Jonah 1:9). God is always ready to listen to those who devotedly worship Him and are willing to live in His will for their life (John 9:31). Blessed and happy is everyone who worships the Lord and walks in His ways (Psalm 128:1)

Prayer:
Father God, King David put it best, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:1-4).

Thought for the Day:

True disciples long for God more than life itself and seek His love and grace as we glorify Him in all that we say and do.

 

Thank you, Southern Sweet Tea, for the use of your photo.