How many of us are ‘blindly’ doing everyday activities and going to church on weekends and not giving any thought to Jesus wanting to step in and be part of our lives personally…. are we in a rut, trudging through life?
I think of Sampson in the bible having given up his right to be used by God, by succumbing to Delilah’s taunts and telling her where his strength came from (Read Sampsons life in Judges 13-16).
Because of that decision he had his eyes gouged out by his enemy and was set to walk around a grinding mill…
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze chains; and he was forced to be a grinder [of grain into flour at the mill] in the prison. Judges 16:21
What are we (I am speaking to myself as well) putting our energies into that would not be ok with Jesus standing beside us? What are we pursuing in our work, home or social lives that would not be ok to include Jesus in? Do we need to check ourselves on a regular basis to ensure we are on the path God has for us?
God asked Sampson to keep himself consecrated as a Nazarite…
An Israelite who was consecrated to the service of God, under vows to abstain from alcohol, let the hair grow and avoid defilement by contact with dead bodies – Numbers 6:1-21
Sampson had gone back on that promise and allowed the enemy to compromise his standing with the Lord and due to that, Samson was only a judge to Israel for twenty years.
God through his word tells us that he desires to see us live a full and purposeful life… living in accordance with his desires for us!
I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and be your Savior. – Isaiah 46:4 TLB
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. – John 10:10b AMP
…do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. – Rom 12:2 AMP
What can we change in our everyday, so we are expectant for God to do something with and for us? What are we able to set in place that will allow God more room for his supernatural in our lives?
I love it when God does the unexpected in my day, when I step out my door and bump into those I have not seen for some time and catch up on where they are at! That is God setting me up for a surprise and I love it. To think that He chooses to interact with me at a personal level is His care and love for me. Thank You Jesus!
PRAYER:
Lord, You have said in Your Word that whoever believes in You
will have rivers of living water flowing from their heart (John
7:38). I believe in You, and I long for Your living water to flow in
and through me today and every day that I'm alive. I invite Your
Holy Spirit to fill me afresh right now. Just as a spring is
constantly being renewed with fresh water so that it stays pure, I
ask You to renew me in that same way today.
Your Word says that "the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For
we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). Lord, I realize I don't know
how to pray as I need to, nor as often as I want to, but I invite
You, Holy Spirit, to pray through me. Help me in my weakness.
Teach me the things I don't know about You.
I am desperately aware of how much I need Your power to
transform me and my circumstances. I don't want to live an
ineffective life. I want to live in the dynamic power of Your
Spirit. I don't want to be a spiritual underachiever. I want to be an
over-comer. You paid a price for me so that I could be owned by
You. Help me to live like it. You planned out a course for my life
so that I could be defined by You. Help me to act like it. You
made it possible for me to defeat my enemy. Help me not to
forget it. You sent Your Holy Spirit so that I could live in power.
Help me to fulfill that promise. You gave Your life for me
because You loved me. Help me to do the same for You.
I put all my expectations in You, Lord. I repent of the times I
have expected other people or other things to meet my needs
when I should have been looking to You. I know that You are the
only one who can complete me because You are everything I
need. All that I have ever wanted in my life can be found in You.
Help me to remember to live not in my own strength, but by the
power of Your Spirit living in me. Forgive me for the times I have
forgotten to do that. Enable me to grow in the things of Your
kingdom so that I can become a whole, properly functioning,
contributing, productive child of Yours who moves forward in
Your purpose for my life.
by Stormie Omartian