It has been a while since I have posted, but I now have something on my heart that I would like to share with you.
The last few weeks, God has been trying to get my attention and I have been ignoring him, or as my friend Chris Jennings would so eloquently put; I have been a sloth- "Aint nobody got no time for sloths".
Oddly enough, this topic has been ringing in my ears so much lately. why is it an important topic for me?
Well, I guess 1) out of fear- Revelation 3:16 gives reference to us needing to either be hot in our walk with God, or cold, but not lukewarm. If we are lukewarm we will be spit out of His mouth! Sorry, but to me that is a bit scary. 2) out of experience- Some of you (and maybe literally just some of you) know my testimony and different stories of how God has intervened in my life and I have NO EXCUSE to just be complacent or worse, arrogant about it.
I have a story of how God has literally had to pin me to the ground and hold me down so that He can speak to me and get my attention. I was just diagnosed a few days ago with viral Meningitis and have been in the worse pain ever. No work, no driving allowed, and no crazy physical activity (those who know me, know I am a type A-get it done-independent person). This is hard for me and I will not lie or sugar coat that!!
But I bring this up to wrap this back to the point Chris was making. I have been ignoring God and making everything seem like it has been okay while it actually has been falling apart like crazy around me. I hold onto the branch of Christianity with my crazy claws while staying dormant or dead inside.
God has used the message that Chris gave to challenge me to take the call above being 'Set-Apart'.
This last week while I have been knocked on my butt in pain, He has spoken these two things over and over to me "I have created you fearfully and wonderfully in my image and I will bring to completion the good work I have started in you". He isn't done with me and I have no right to quit or do things my way. I realize now that I literally am no longer my own.
Before this week and reading the book that I shall mention below, I loved shopping for clothes/starbucks and anything else that benefited MYSELF. I now see what is more important in life...
I am in the process of reading a book by the author David Platt called "Follow Me". This book takes us beyond the call of believing, and shows us how to live our faith and points us to the reasons of why we believe. I recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper faith walk, and a reason for why we call Jesus our King.
In this book, David reminds me that even Satan believes and demons know His name....it is not enough to just say the name of Jesus; it is a call to dying to ourselves and living beyond ourselves.
I challenge you to realize that you are not alive for yourself.
See what you can do this week that is a true sacrifice to who you are used to being or the way you are used to living.
When we live for others, we seem to experience more joy and support from those around us and deep in ourselves. Change your thinking!!
(thank you Chris for being obedient to the call of God on your life and for challenging me)
Much love,
Stevie Rae
