Be Still

Sometimes we get so caught up in busyness, thinking that as soon as we get this or that done, then we can sit down and relax and maybe even spend some quiet time with God. Unfortunately, it seems that the more we do, the more we find to do.  It honestly can never end - until we decide to simply STOP.

Jesus always had something to do. People were always needing His time and attention, but even He knew when to stop. Even when people were clamoring around Him with all their wants and needs, Jesus would simply stop and walk away. Sometimes he would get in a boat and row to the other shore to be alone with God and rest. Other times He would receive an invitation to someone's house and just enjoy the fellowship. Even God in human form needed to stop and rest.

So do we.

Ironically, when we make ourselves just stop and rest and spend time with God, we can actually feel more energized and relaxed at the same time.  Priorities are sometimes rearranged and we get more done. Nothing on this earth can be done more effectively without God.  So, to actually put Him before all our activity, makes us more productive and joyful all the way around.

 

"Be still, and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10

 

Dependent Security

We all want to be loved and appreciated, we want to feel secure. As long as we look to, or rely on others for this, our dependence falls on fallible human beings to fulfill this yearning. Even if there are those who make us feel this way, we still tend to suffer from the fear that it will one day end, which robs us of the very security we seek from them. We can become too reliant on others for our own happiness, which ironically drives us further into self and fear.

It is only when we let go of self and purposely dwell on God that we will find all that we have been searching for. God made us to know Him and searching outside of Him leads us further away from the very thing we want ~ unconditional love. God promises that He'll never leave us or forsake us. There is total security in Him alone. We may not always feel His presence, but that never alters His Presence. He is constantly with us, our feelings don't alter His existence. The key is what, or Who, we choose to think of. Our dwelling on God and His promises open the door to our awareness of Him, our fulfillment with Him and our ultimate ability to freely love others because of Him. God's own love is meant to dwell in us, we were created to experience His love and be free to give it out to others. Then we will be free indeed.

But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

He doesn't wait until we are good enough, He loves us just as we are.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5

God bless your day in His unconditional love for YOU :)

With Freedom and Confidence

Some of my friends and family have suggested that I start a Blog.  There are times that I get so excited about something I have learned, or inspired by spiritually, that I have to share it.  Also, there are times that I feel very convicted to express viewpoints concerning our country and it's direction.  Either way, when inspired, it's a wonderful thing that we have a voice to spread our joy and convictions!

My Blog is called Freedom and Confidence.  It comes from Ephesians 3:12.  I believe, with all my heart, that we can live in complete freedom, so that we may fully realize all we are meant to be from the beginning of time.  God has created us all as individuals and there was never a you, or me, before us, and there never will be after us....we are it!  It's exciting to realize that we are that special to our Lord.  So, the first post simply explains how much we are loved by our Lord, which is the beginning of Freedom and Confidence.

Everyone wants the same thing ~

to be totally known for who we really are, faults and all,

and then

to

still be loved! 

Psalm 139 in the Bible describes this very knowledge and love concerning every one of us:

All we think and do is important to God.

O Lord, You have searched me and You know me, You know when I sit and when I rise,

You perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord, (v. 1-4).

 

He took great care in creating us.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body, (v.13-15).

And He never quits thinking about us!

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.  When I awake, I am still with You, (v. 17,18).

God knows it ALL and still loves us.  There are no conditions.  He knows we sin, we stumble and sometimes we fall, and yet He is always waiting to pick us up.  We simply need to call on Him.  He won't force us to come to Him, and He also doesn't wait until we are good enough either. 

Romans 5:7,8 says: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.  Jesus sees us just as we are and says:  "Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me," (3:20).

Because of this great, unconditional love, each and everyone of us may approach God with freedom and confidence, (Ephesians 3:12).  Jesus simply stands at the door, knowing everything about us and hopes we will receive His love and open the door.

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12