Life By the Spirit
Life. One minute it’s here and in an instant, it can be gone. As we go through our day, we have many thoughts. Some thoughts turn in to actions, some cause us grief and some we use to escape our reality. Our lives are more than what we think. One of the greatest tricks that the enemy plays on each one of us, is in our own minds. So, much of what God is telling us, is missed simply because we are paying attention to the wrong voice. We pass by small gestures of God’s love for us because the noise of the world over powers what He is placing in front of us. Sometimes we even push aside His gifts because we are so caught up in our daily routine that it seems annoying. God never told us to be busy. He never said to fill up every second of our day with the world. He wants our attention. The day will fall in to place when we rise and let Him plan our steps.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
We tend to make our own lives so complicated. Always longing for what is next and not spending time in the moment. The present time is a gift that we need to cherish. The past is behind us and we cannot live in the future. So many minutes have been wasted on worry, doubt, fear, anxiety- you name it- our thoughts wander off to anything but where we are at. It isn’t until something tragic happens that we decide not to ‘waste’ anymore time. Why wait until that moment? Our spirit will often prompt us in those moments to follow through with something that we are being led to do. And, a lot of the time, we choose to ignore it.
“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophesies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
For whatever reason, when our spirit wants us to do something for someone else, we get irritated. This happens all the time. We don’t like to go out of our comfort zone even when it benefits us at the end. At some point, we need to grow up and have more gratitude and less attitude. We hear our spirit, we ignore it and then when a situation happens that breaks our heart, we get upset at God. Once we learn to catch those moments and embrace them, we realize that we miss less of what God is teaching us and end up feeling fulfilled. God will never tell us to do something that will hurt us. Even if our brain tries to tell us otherwise. We will do things that take us out of our comfort zone, of course, but those trials always bring us closer to Him. Everything He asks us to do is to better us. He loves us so much that even when we miss the mark because we didn’t listen, He gives us another chance.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
This is where He looks at the heart. The heart carries so much of who we are. A lot of times, our heart is at war with the battlefield of our minds. Our mind always try to rationalize situations, whereas our hearts will go on faith and hope. The mind goes by sight, the heart goes by feeling.
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Matthew 12:34
We can reason ourselves right out of a blessing if we think too long on something. What also happens when we reason ourselves out of situations is the cause and effect it has on those around us- sometimes people we have never even met. The little voice telling us to do something kind for someone can have a ripple effect on SO many people. I love to use the example of simply holding the door for the stranger behind you. You never know what that person is going through. They could have been thinking that nobody loves them and they didn’t want to live anymore- completely invisible in the world- meanwhile, your spirit is telling you to hold the door. Imagine that small act filling that person’s heart- changing their perspective on their life. You just never know, and you may never know what your obedience to the Holy Spirit will effect.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:12-13
Life is short. Don’t wait until it’s too late to tell someone you love them. Don’t wait until you’ve lost someone important to want to spend time with them. Don’t wait until your life has passed by to finally listen to what God is leading you to do. He loves us and He will always guide us, we need to be the ones that choose to listen and follow His Voice no matter where it takes us. Even if it makes no sense or terrifies us. He is there every step of the way, giving us a light in any darkness we face.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11