Thoughts for reflection . . . (Walk, Stand, Sit)

As followers of Christ our relationship to the world (it's values, opinions and ways) and whether we allow it to be part of our life and influence us, will determine our progress and health spiritually and our effectiveness in the Kingdom of God.
[Luke9.62, 16.13, Rom12.2, 2John2.15-17]

The Scriptures declare in Psalm1.1, 'Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.'

The blessings of God come as we step off the path of conformity to the world's ways and expectations and stand in that place of separation unto God and obedience to Him. We are to live by the principles of another kingdom as revealed in the Scriptures. A kingdom that is not of this world.
[Ps128.1, Matt5.8, Luke11.28, 1John3.22, Rev22.14, John18.36]

We need to guard ourselves daily from adopting the traits of this age. The world's counsel will appear to us like signposts on our pathway which if followed will lead us off the narrow way that leads to life and take us down the same path of darkness as the world is walking. Instead we must allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to light our path, to be our Guide and be the source of our counsel and instruction.
[Ps119.105, 130, Ps32.8-9, John16.13, 1John2.20,27]

The way of the wicked and transgressor the Bible says is hard, is darkness, and will be turned upside down - but we can find ourselves standing in that same way if we adopt the pattern of the world in our lifestyle and our thoughts. Our lives reap what we sow.
[Prov13.15,20, Prov 4.19, Ps146.9, Eph5.5-8, Rev18.4, Gal6.7-8, Rom8.13-14]

We must walk through this world even as Jesus walked, keeping ourselves unspotted from it. We must stand in this evil day clothed in the armour that God has provided, with Him as our defense, keeping on the way of holiness. From that place of set apartness we must not look with a heart that judges those around us, but in humility recognise our position as recipients of grace, seated in Christ in heavenly places, and allow His influence to dominate our lives.
[1John2.6, Jam1.27, Is35.8, Eph2.6]

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Pursue]

Our lives can be characterised by passivity in spiritual matters or a passion that causes us to press forward into knowing God and all He has for us.

The Lord when speaking to the Church of Laodicea said He would spue them out of His mouth because of their lukewarmness. We must not allow our love for God to be cooled by deception or by the winds of the world's indifference, nor lose the recognition of our true condition before Him.
[Rev3.15-19]

In 2Tim2.22 the Apostle Paul says to 'flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace . . '. The Greek word translated here 'follow' is elsewhere translated in a different context as 'persecute'. The implication of this word therefore implies intensity and focus in going after the subject at hand.
[Matt5.10-12, John5.16, Acts9.4, 22.4]

My life as a believer should be one of zeal and passion in following Christ, a life with a single undistracted focus and devotion. My heart should be strongly pursuing righteousness: the godly, holy lifestyle that is the outworking of the righteousness I have in Christ Jesus. Pursuing faith: that simple believing and trusting in God in all areas of my life. Pursuing love: the root from which every part of my life in word and deed should grow and pursuing peace: that inner calm and stillness that is independent of external circumstances and only found in Christ.
[1John3.7, Heb12.14, Gal5.6, Eph2.14, 3.17, 5.2, Col3.15]

May my eyes be anointed to see clearly the true condition of my heart. May I fan the flames of devotion to the Lord through repentance where necessary, and by realigning the activities of my life provide fuel to that fire of love for Him.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Stayed)

One of the secrets of our walking in peace amidst every circumstance will be the governing of the direction and content of the thoughts of our minds.

The promise in Scripture is that 'He will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee.'
[Is26.3-4]

The field of our mind is the scene of many a battle, the outcome of which will influence whether I live in faith or doubt, trust or worry and fear, humility or pride, in purity or lust. Uncontrolled, our mind can lead to us to a place of weakness, vulnerability and ultimate failure, yet a mind fenced in by the protection of the instruction of Scripture and whose thoughts are governed by the Holy Spirit will be as a city protected by defensive walls.
[2Cor10.3-5]

My mind must be stayed upon God, trusting in Him. In all times and seasons my thoughts should lean upon Him that has redeemed me. Thoughts of His greatness, faithfulness and mercy. Thoughts of His everlasting, ever abiding presence with me. Thoughts of the supreme King and Ruler over all, Who holds me in His hand.

Dwelling on the greatness of my God and King will shrink the size of the giants I face. Envisioning the bountifulness of the 'Lord who provides' will bring faith when in time of need. Thinking upon the One Who is mighty to save and deliver will endue me with courage to face that which would seek to bring fear into my life.
[Ps77.13, 86.10, 95.3, Gen22.14, Zeph3.17, Ps56.13]

May I renew my mind through God's Word, choosing to think on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, shutting my life and heart to those activities which would pollute and compromise my life in Christ, leaving me in a place of trust in God that results in ultimate peace.
[Phil4.8]

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Wind and Clouds)

Our lives as followers of Christ should be lives of fruitfulness. As a farmer would never expect a harvest without the planting of seed, so we also cannot expect to look for fruit and a harvest where the necessary labour has not been undertaken to see the desired results.
[John15.16, 1Cor3.8-9, 1Cor15.58, Col1.28-29, 1Thess3.5]

Fruitfulness requires action and obedience on our part. The Scripture declares that 'He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.'
[Eccl11.4]

The spreading of the Gospel and extension of God's kingdom is one of the primary areas we should be looking for fruitfulness in our lives. However, it can be too easy for us to be observing the winds of change and storms around us and be waiting for circumstances to become more compliant before fulfilling our call as ambassadors for Christ. We need to be taking every opportunity to communicate the truths of the Gospel and sowing seeds of God's Word in the lives of those with whom we meet in this world.
[2Cor5.20]

Man's countenance can also be an obstacle to us going out to reap in the harvest that Jesus spoke of. The Lord said to Jeremiah, 'Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee.' We need to be set free from the fear of man so that we are not hindered in moving forward to see the advance of the kingdom of God. Not fearing people's reactions, nor trying to predict their responses, but reaching out with faith and expectation, remembering God's promise that He is with us and will never leave us.
[John4.35-38, Jer1.8, Ps118.6, Prov29.25, Heb13.5-6, Is41.10, Ps56.4]

Clouds of the storms of persecution and rejection may build. Clouds of difficulties and trials may cast their shadow over our lives, yet in the midst of such times God still has a harvest field for us to work in.

What other winds and clouds am I observing that are holding me back? May my focus not be on the atmosphere around me or the threatening skies that would try and bring fear and hesitation, but on the Lord of the harvest: the One to Whom the winds and storms must obey. With such focus may I then be a faithful witness and not shy away from declaring the truths that can set people free.
[Matt9.38, Mark4.41, John8.31-32,36]

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Dependence)

In the varied terrain of the circumstances of life that I pass through, am I walking with dependency upon God in all things, or is there independence in my life? Do I rely upon my own experience, wisdom, strength and determination to get me through the valleys, or to scale the mountain slopes of difficulties I face, or do I recognise and acknowledge my own limitations and therefore seek God for all I need?

The Scriptures show that a believer's position of strength, and the overcoming of what we face, comes through Christ and a total dependence upon God.
[2Cor4.7, Phil4.11-13, 1John4.4, Ps18.1-3, Prov3.5, Ps44.5-8, Ps55.22]

The Apostle Paul says, 'Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;'
[2Cor3.5]

Genuine trust in the Lord will be reflected by a total reliance upon Him. The purpose of our lives is to bring glory to God. God receives glory when I can look back on my life and point to Him being the source and foundation of all that was accomplished.
[1Cor10.31, 2Cor1.20, 2Cor4.15, Phil1.9-11, 1Cor4.11-15, Rom11.36]

Walking in independence places trust in my own abilities and finds it's roots in pride. Jesus said, 'for without Me ye can do nothing.' If we believe what Jesus said to be true, it will cause us to depend totally on Him, to abide closely to Him, to not seek to achieve anything through our own resources, but instead drawing on the treasures of provision that God has given us in Christ.
[John15.5]

May the testimony of my life be as stated by John the Baptist, 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' May all I do be in His strength and for His glory.
[John3.30, Col3.17, 1Cor10.31]

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Home)

There's a familiar expression that says, 'Home is where the heart is'. Jesus declared, 'Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.'
[Matt6.21,Luke12.34]

As I travel through this world, encountering the varied circumstances that make up the tapestry of my life, what do I consider home?

Is home to me limited only to the place I live, or maybe being in the presence of loved ones, such as family or friends? Or do I have a greater vision, one of an eternal home, in the presence of my Saviour for time without end? Where does my heart naturally incline to? What perspective influences me the most?

How I spend my time and energy, together with the way I think will either tie me to this world and shackle me to a worldly perspective, or it will bring focus on the unseen and free me into a life of preparation for the tomorrow that is coming, and the eternal home prepared for me.

The Lord's return or my going to meet Him may be many years hence, yet I need to be living as if it were tomorrow. Jesus said, 'Surely I come quickly', 'be ye also ready', 'watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour', 'Watch therefore and pray always.'
[Rev21.20, Matt24.44, 25.13, Luke 21.36]

Jesus said that His return would be as in the days of Noah: eating, drinking, marrying, the normal activities of life taking place with people totally unawares of the pending 'end of things as they know it'. For the believer it should be different than for those of the world. With a pilgrim mentality and a heart focussed on preparation we should be in a continual state of readiness for the Lord's return, being about our Master's business.
[Matt24.38,1Pet2.11, Heb11.13, Luke12.35-38]

May my heart be drawn to the eternal, that I may be effective in the temporal. May my focus be on where I'm going and not from where I come. May I be sowing my life into those God directed activities which reap eternal reward.

- sent from Palm T|T3