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We are all in transition on some level: physically, in the soul, or spiritually.
And, we are at various stages of that transition (change).
The “flow” of the Spirit has been amplified in my spirit in the past few days, again.
I continue to be renewed in the vision of the River of God … ever-changing, always moving.
We’re in the River, but I see us at various places in the landscape. Some are in the very beginning stages, getting the first glimpse of a process of change. Others are in the middle of this transition. Still others are well along in this process.
When we first begin to see new possibilities, new opportunities, we always view them in the light of some degree of presumption because we try to see how it will look for us.
We know that things never turn out the way we envision, so we set ourselves up for disappointment because presumption only has one outcome … disappointment.
We can all think about the opportunities we’ve had in the past and remember the excitement we had in the beginning. Then, the cycle of promise, problem, provision begins. We love the promise, we receive provision with thanksgiving, but we hate the problems.
Remember when GOD gave you a new job (for instance)? How thankful you were! But, there’s always one person you just can’t get along with … somebody who’s a real jerk! Or, circumstances arise that are difficult to overcome.
Discouragement is a killer! We finish up killing or cursing our blessings.
This happens because we get our focus on ourselves instead of God.
Remember, that God is always working with you to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. He is always testing and refining your faith.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Oswald Chambers: What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. "Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously" ( Malachi 2:16 ). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives. Beware of "the cares of this world . . ." ( Mark 4:19 ). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by "the cares of this world."
Know that we WILL be challenged even in what seems to be the perfect situation!
I want us to have a reality check and get good perspective so that we don’t get stuck or flop ourselves out on the bank, but that we stay in the River and go with the flow.
We need to cooperate with the process of sanctification and not be lured away by a seducing spirit.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 4:11-12 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
The point here is that regardless of what happens to us, it is important to stay in the purposes of God, in His flow. Only move when the cloud lifts!
Exodus 40:34-36 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.
A seducing spirit always involves discontentment and deception.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
James 1:
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Don’t curse your blessings.
Hebrew: llq qalal kaw-lal’
To curse, to make a light thing, vile, to despise. To cause to be of little account, insignificant, lightly esteemed, despicable. To treat with contempt, bring dishonor.
Watch the word of your mouth:
Psalms 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
Psalms 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak.
Psalms 109:17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
Romans 3:14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
We have the prospect of some exciting and rewarding times ahead, but we can’t be so naïve as to believe that it will all be fun and games. We are STILL being changed into the image of Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Are you still struggling with pride and condemnation? God wants that!
Are you still struggling with insecurity? God wants that!
Are you still struggling with fear and failure? God wants that!
Are you still struggling with poverty, sickness, doubt and unbelief? God wants that!
Are you still struggling with envy, jealousy, comparisons and competition?
God wants it all, and how is He going to get it? By putting you in the purifying fires that will burn up the flesh and transform your spirit man so that you look like Jesus.
Go forth trusting that whatever changes are ahead in the physical realm; the Lord is changing us in the process to be like Him!
_________________
Marsha
http://ft111.com
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