A reminder from September 28, 2009
TRIUMPHANT VICTORIOUS REMINDERS
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell
This post was written on September 28, 2009...as I re-read this reminder, I knew that I needed to be reminded of the motives of my heart. I pray you are blessed and encouraged as you read...encouraging each of us to be moved to transforming power by the Word of God!
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer."
~ Psalm 19:14 ~
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart."
~ Psalm 26:2 ~
"My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
~ Psalm 84:2 ~
Have you ever craved a type of food so badly that you didn't care what time of night it was or what you were doing? I know for me that has happened, and I went out of my way to satisfy that food craving.
In the same way, I am at this place in my own life where I 'crave' and 'salivate' the heart of God. I don't know how else to describe such a longing that I have never imagined could take place in my life. I am truly in this place where I know the Promises of God are awesome...BUT I crave to desire and pursue THE PROMISER AND HIS GLORIOUS HEART.
I am in this place of great dissatisfaction when I long for my own heart's desires. I want to no longer be in pursuit of my own heart, my own hidden agendas, or my own 'sub-conscience' motives. The Holy Spirit that lives within me because of Jesus Christ who reveals the Father God is highlighting those hidden agendas in my heart; and to God I am so grateful. It is definitely an awakening to selfish motives that I thought were for God, but
really it was for this 'need' of penance and to make myself 'feel' better.
I realize with great truth from the Lord there is no good deed I could do that would match His matchless Righteousness that was placed upon me through Jesus Christ. It is obviously important that I do good works but now doing those works as an act of worship unto Him, versus unto my 'ego' or because of 'religion'.
I am in a season where the 'religiousity' is being shaken out of me and God is replacing it with the fire and passion for 'relationship' with Him.
The reminder today for me is to be aware of my heart's motives. Am I being motivated for my glory? Or am I being motivated for God's glory?
I am realizing that when my heart's motives are for Him; by default, I will honor others. When my heart's motives are for me and my desires then by default many will be dishonored and will even be dishonored 'in the name of the Lord' (spirit of religion does this, not the Holy Spirit).
I pray I do not ever fall into that trap...but if we remember what John writes in Second John verse 8, he warns us, "Look to yourselves (not to others), but look to yourselves that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."
If he warns the church back then to not lose those things they have worked for, then we know by his warning that those things labored for can be lost. We must moment by moment set our eyes on Who He is. We must stand on Who He is. He is immovable and unshakeable, in the midst of a world full of struggles that try to move us and shake us.
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer."
~ Psalm 19:14 ~
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart."
~ Psalm 26:2 ~
"My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
~ Psalm 84:2 ~
Have you ever craved a type of food so badly that you didn't care what time of night it was or what you were doing? I know for me that has happened, and I went out of my way to satisfy that food craving.
In the same way, I am at this place in my own life where I 'crave' and 'salivate' the heart of God. I don't know how else to describe such a longing that I have never imagined could take place in my life. I am truly in this place where I know the Promises of God are awesome...BUT I crave to desire and pursue THE PROMISER AND HIS GLORIOUS HEART.
I am in this place of great dissatisfaction when I long for my own heart's desires. I want to no longer be in pursuit of my own heart, my own hidden agendas, or my own 'sub-conscience' motives. The Holy Spirit that lives within me because of Jesus Christ who reveals the Father God is highlighting those hidden agendas in my heart; and to God I am so grateful. It is definitely an awakening to selfish motives that I thought were for God, but
really it was for this 'need' of penance and to make myself 'feel' better.
I realize with great truth from the Lord there is no good deed I could do that would match His matchless Righteousness that was placed upon me through Jesus Christ. It is obviously important that I do good works but now doing those works as an act of worship unto Him, versus unto my 'ego' or because of 'religion'.
I am in a season where the 'religiousity' is being shaken out of me and God is replacing it with the fire and passion for 'relationship' with Him.
The reminder today for me is to be aware of my heart's motives. Am I being motivated for my glory? Or am I being motivated for God's glory?
I am realizing that when my heart's motives are for Him; by default, I will honor others. When my heart's motives are for me and my desires then by default many will be dishonored and will even be dishonored 'in the name of the Lord' (spirit of religion does this, not the Holy Spirit).
I pray I do not ever fall into that trap...but if we remember what John writes in Second John verse 8, he warns us, "Look to yourselves (not to others), but look to yourselves that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."
If he warns the church back then to not lose those things they have worked for, then we know by his warning that those things labored for can be lost. We must moment by moment set our eyes on Who He is. We must stand on Who He is. He is immovable and unshakeable, in the midst of a world full of struggles that try to move us and shake us.
Hi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteMany things to ponder which you've shared in this post. Particularly, "BUT I crave to desire and pursue THE PROMISER AND HIS GLORIOUS HEART." -- I realize how often I've pursued the gift instead of The Giver.
Like you, I don't want to have the wrong motives for what I say and do. I want the Lord to be glorified in and through me. I must remain focused on what is truly important from God's perspective for my life.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
Teresa, Such a blessed post. I, too, crave only to be motivated by God, that His desires be mine, and that I get out of the way so that He can work through me. Practicing being led by the Spirit is a continual challenge of life. And my greatest craving!
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