This month is off to an interesting start. While outside the weather is changing and flowers are blooming, inside- a lot of our hearts are breaking. My neighbor and first friend in Texas passed away this past Thursday leaving many families, friends and loved ones heartbroken. Tyler passed two days after his 21 birthday.
While death is very upsetting, it is a great reminder of how precious our lives are. A couple weeks ago Matt Chandler said that majority of the funerals he has done in the past 5 years have been for people under the age of 30. Wow.
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
it is not for them to direct their steps.” Jeremiah 10:23
Many of us have heard over and over again that we are supposed to live our lives for the Lord. But are we actually doing it? Or are we compartmentalizing our lives to where Jesus fits and where He doesn’t?
At church last night Adam spoke about the Holy Spirit and how He is to be present in our lives. He asked some questions (that especially after the past few days) made me really think.
Have I relinquished all control of my life to God?
Am I living surrendered to the Holy Spirit?
Am I in the right place spiritually?
What do I need to get on my knees for in the morning & cry out to the Lord for help?
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galations 5:16-25
If the Lord were to take me home tomorrow, would people who knew me say that I lived by the fruit of the Spirit? Did I love, even those who are hard to love? Was I full of joy in troubled times? Was I faithful, even in the little things? Did I practice self-control in every aspect of my life?
We are called not to be lukewarm Christians, but to be Christians with a burning love for our Father. Am I living the way the Lord has called me to live?
When our time comes, I pray we are each able to stand before the Lord and say
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
“Seach me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offecds You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24
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