I start off with a story! When I was a little girl on Saturdays my parents would have me dust, vacuum and clean my room. Not wanting to go through all the effort, I would dust around the things on my dresser. My mom would ask me if I took all the things off and would have to go back and start all over again. Similarly, it also reminds me of my daughters.  When they were little I would ask them to clean their room.

It looks perfect only to open their closet and everything would fall out. The Thing about this is we think we are taking short cuts although in the end it takes twice as much effort and work. We make things a lot harder than they really need to be. When we get older we do the same things with relationships and even our christian life with God! What do I mean? We say we want our reward to be in heaven and not for the praises of men(Colossians 3), yet at the same time we get bent out of shape when people, especially our kids, don’t show appreciation.

One time with me I was helping my daughter that just had surgery and would get all upset. Not only does she not say thank you, but always corrects the way I do things and never seems to be good enough. God took me through a process of going through feelings of anger, to sadness, to frustration. Giving Him all the feelings transparently He then asked me if I want my reward in heaven or on earth? I didn’t even have to think hard. I repented asking for forgiveness and told Him I wanted my reward in heaven.

Got myself back up, dusted myself off and went forward saying I’m doing this in humble obedience to You Lord. Then came the disrespect  and attitude. Then when I would look at her like really? She would come back with the remark that if I didn’t want to help, I could go home. So my prayer then was I want my reward to be in heaven Lord and not from people but does she have to be that rude? Please intervene!

Next time she was about to get upset I quietly rebuked that spirit and she didn’t lash out! Who or what in our lives are we saying we want our rewards in heaven but then getting bent out of shape when we don’t get praise and thanks? What areas or situations in life are we trying to take short cuts then get frustrated when we cant and want to back down? Let us think of people in Jesus’ day. The leaders were following the letter of the law but not the heart of it. Making a list of demands and hoops to jump through to be let into the fold causing division in God’s house.

Making people not feel accepted. Not feeling worthy or good enough. Does that sound familiar?  Yet, Jesus was the one who told Zacchaeus, a hated tax collector, to come down and that He would be going to his house.(Luke 19:5) He stood up to the people with the adulterous woman telling her He doesn’t condemn her either to go sin no more! (John 8)He even had an intimate moment with Saul who was killing christians thinking he was doing the right thing.(Acts 9) One moment with the Lord changed his very mission in life. Every one of these people in the sight of the leaders were hated, detestable and worthless but to God He not only thought otherwise but more than that demonstrated it for others.

A lot of them missed the Messiah because He didn’t come from royalty. He did not conform to the ways of the church and the Pharisees. Thinking things like this could not be Him, why would He come and hang out with sinners when we are so devout? We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s check our heart and inner attitude, how are we doing in that department? Are we having genuine heartfelt compassion? Are we being judgemental or accepting of ALL people?

Jesus said they will know us by our love for all people! Even people of the world love who loves them or loves who they have similar things in common. Yes, us christians need to do a better job loving people in the church but also more than that we need to stop having a self righteous spirit calling it ok to not pray or care for people. One thing I have learned is to not pray amiss and pray the Lord’s will. God is a God that uses the challenging things in life to mold us, develop us and grow us.

Oftentimes, we are asking God to take things away that He is allowing to get us to the next level of intimacy. New level of faith. Our job as sons and daughters of the Most High to walk humbly in obedience. When someone has wronged us to quickly take it to the Father and forgive! The next part is the hardest, to not talk about it to others. Saying things like, I behave this way because I have daddy issues. I have a hard time trusting because Fred cheated. That leads me to the next one family. To humbly in obedience let the Lord work in and on our hurt, heart and trauma so we can truly heal. In closing I went to a singles function where they did bible study.

They were in Colossians 3 talking about in our lives we have anger, pride, unforgiveness, and all sorts of things in us some more hidden than others. They were talking about trying to get off the old man being like getting out of a wet suit or drenched clothes. Yet, as we go through the process of being a willing participant as we allow the Lord to take off unforgiveness, pride and others, that is when the Lord can replace it with His true attributes and characteristics. THat is when we shall see and experience Jesus flowing in and out of us onto others really getting the church where Christ is trying to get us to be…..

A bride ready for His bridegroom! Are you willing? Are you ready? What areas in your life, your situation, and circumstances do you need to let go to the Father and keep your hands off until He is done?As we go into this week let us be mindful of our hearts, what we keep in our minds. As things we allow to remain will become feelings, feelings become attitudes and that will become actions, behavior and decisions! God bless you