Bridgette Guest <bridgette.guest@gmail.com>Mon, Feb 22, 6:08 PM (2 days ago)
to me
Bridgette Guest <bridgette.guest@gmail.com>Mon, Feb 22, 6:08 PM (2 days ago) to me Today as I was listening to Dr Dharius Daniels he gave an excellent illustration. He said his back had been hurting so his physical therapist gave him abdominal/core exercises to do. He was so baffled and inquired "my abs don't hurt, it's my back. Why are you giving me abdominal exercises?" She quickly replied, "your back hurts because your core is weak." He had been working out, but suggested he might have been working on things that were more optical to others such as arms and legs. So most of his work out was geared to what others would see, rather than what would benefit his body as whole. This same principal as he pointed out has spiritual ramifications. Sometimes people hurt deeply in other areas because the spiritual core is weak. So much time is spent on those "spiritual" things people see, laying a firm foundation becomes less and less of a priority, after all who can see the foundation. That is correct, no one goes around looking at foundations, until there is a problem. By the time the problem becomes visual it means A there never was a solid foundation laid, or B there was severe damage that was never corrected. During this time of Lent let's evaluate the foundation. Is it strong, weak, cracking, or leaning? Why do we do the things we do? What is our real motivator what people will see or think, or what is really in the heart because God knows the difference. I am starting to see on this journey since my daddy died, maybe I just used my prayer time as a to do list for God. This is what I need, want, etc. Something I am really having to work through is that God is in it for His glory, and however He needs to accomplish it He will. Sometimes I may feel like I got the short end of the stick, as I still do many days since the passing of my daddy, but if a deeper understanding of the kingdom as a whole is not developed, then faith will falter. Yes He loves you and I, yes He cares for you and I, but everything is about the kingdom and sometimes that's a hard pill to swallow because it means at times their will be personal loss. Jesus suffered, so of course as His Children there will be suffering. 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is after things in your life simply to get to your core. For Job it was his stuff, then his family, then his own health. Satan told the Lord "He will curse you if I can get to him." If you know the story Job did succumb to feelings, but in the end he said, "my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you."
Are you laying a solid foundation that withstands the ever changing spiritual seasons, or is your foundation built upon the sand that can simply be erased by the storm? Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Roman 12:1-2