Saturday, January 29, 2011

The lie I held in my hand

Just been thinking about some of the idols in my heart.... Who or what have I placed as more important than God in my life? I may not have said it out loud, but what does my life say? During my solo time with God, I am encouraged.

He asks for one thing: "Return to me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 44: 22

"The void God created in our lives WILL demand attention. Whether or not we realize it, we look desperately for something to satisfy us and fill the empty places."
your relationships, food, exercise, clothes, your job, your reputation, money.... whatever it is...

"Our craving to be filled is so strong that the moment something or someone seems to meet our need, we feel an overwhelming temptation to worship it."


--- "The poor deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" Isaiah 44:20

So often I feed on ashes instead of feeding on the Word of God, my breath of life. How many times will I allow myself to be mislead by things that won't satisfy and will just leave me empty?

Savior, keep saving me. Thank you for your mercy and your grace.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17




Saturday, January 8, 2011

Satisfaction of my soul....

Are you honestly satisfied with where you're at in life?

That's something I gave a lot of thought to this morning.

Many come to Christ out of their search for something missing in their life, realizing they are not satisfied with where they are at.... and yet, after receiving salvation, they go somewhere else to find further satisfaction and can spend years of their life realizing that it does not exist elsewhere.

COMPLETE satisfaction is in Jesus, alone. Lord, forgive my foolish heart for moments when my heart forgets that or chooses not to believe that. Whenever I try and do things my way, thinking that I know what's best and I can make all the right choices and I can work hard to make myself happy, my heart kinda goes, 'Wait, what am I thinking???' and by God's grace alone, I come to my senses and run back to Him. And in His presence is where I want to be.

God offers us SO MUCH every single day, but often times we choose not to enjoy life to the fullest because we're so busy running around looking for other things that will make us happy.

So my heart check this morning: What is standing in the way between you finding satisfaction in Jesus, the Lover of your soul?

I took comfort in this and it made me love my Maker even more:
The Holy Spirit doesn't convict us of sin and our shortcomings to condemn us. Instead, He convicts us of sin so we can become aware of it, seek forgiveness, and be set free!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galations 5:1


I'm reaching for the One Who brought me out of death and into life.

From my heart...
xx Jess