He Himself has said, "I
will never leave you nor forsake you." —Hebrews 13:5
“What line of thinking do my
thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply
repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond
after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave
you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “I will never leave you…”—
not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness.
Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? […] “I will never…forsake you.” […] … as we grow
in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very
moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes
ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways
of life.” CHAMBERS
Do you believe that, in your
new life in Christ, you have the ability to overcome that which overcomes
you? Do you believe that what seems to
take control of you and dominate your thoughts and actions is, itself, “defeatable”? Do you believe that the life you have been
living is not your destiny .. is not inescapable .. that there is something more
.. something better? You should, because
it’s true. Victory over your old nature
is possible, in fact it’s promised. But it
is not without a cost. You must stop choosing
yourself and choose God. That is not something someone else can do for
you. Perhaps as much as they would like
to. You have to offer yourself to God. Give up your right to yourself and to self-determination. I had lunch with a friend the other day. He commented about how he was encouraged
by Martie and my willingness to forsake all to follow God. The comment is very telling. Every one of us is called to forsake all and follow
God. Why should that seem
exceptional? Because it is, unfortunately,
the exception. Most people want to forsake
“some” and hang on to what they treasure.
Some habit .. some preference … some dependence. Think about it .. what keeps you from total abandonment
to God? You need to .. you must … lay it
at the foot of the cross. (Romans 12:1,2) In Haiti, a
number of Voodoo practitioners have professed their faith in Christ. But only a few have been moved to destroy
those things that mark their devotion to
Voodoo and the false gods they worshipped.
The others have merely added “belief” in Jesus to their other beliefs
and practices. Like Lot’s wife when she
left the city, they cannot let go of their devotion to the “old things”.
What about you? What is holding you back? What makes you so afraid that you are unwilling
to let go? God has so much more for you. Jesus came so that you could have life and
have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Don’t waste another day in misery. Choose God.
I told my friend that all I can take credit for in this life is saying “yes”
to God. It’s God who deserves and gets
the glory. And I, well, I give Him the
praise. CHARLEY
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