My Will vs. God's Will

My Will vs. God’s Will

“I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  So you see how it is:  In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Romans 7:21-25 NLT

Have you ever had this conversation with God:  “Here I am again, Lord, coming before you with the same thing.  Ugggh, why do I do this?  I know I shouldn’t do this, but I just can’t help myself.” 

 

Exactly!  You . . . can’t . . . help . . . yourself!  Turning from a life of sin is about surrender.  Giving up YOUR will, and surrendering to GOD’S will.  In verse 18b, Paul says, ‘I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.’   Without surrender, it’s an endless cycle of repeated sin. 

 

So now what?  You die to yourself daily.  As Jesus said, “not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)  If Jesus could surrender to the will of God to die for us, then why shouldn’t we?

 

Here are a few steps to help you get started:

Ask.  Start your day asking God to direct you. 

 

Listen.  Really listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Surrender.  Surrender to the voice of the Spirit.  I have been guilty of hearing the Spirit of God, but pushing past to do what I want.  That certainly is not surrender. 

 

If we’re going to truly be changed, we have to live by, “not my will, but yours be done.”  Surrender.  In order to get where God has called us to be, there’s no other way.

Margaret Slaughter

"My Personal Guide"

 

Years ago my family and I went on a black history tour.  We were assigned a personal tour guide.  Someone that would guide us through the city, and give us a few tidbits of information along the way.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area and its history.  I've been on many tours, and the guests generally trust the guide, going in restricted areas and dark places, oooohing and aaaaahing over the facts they provide.  If you went on the tour alone, without a guide, you probably wouldn't get as much out it.  You'd  spend most of your time wandering around the historic site with limited information.  

 

Wouldn't it be great if we trusted Jesus the way we trust a tour guide?  He has provided us with an entire Book of facts and information, instructions and promises, all to 'guide us, and light our path'.  But do we take advantage of it?  Who would attempt to put together an item with hundreds of tiny parts without first reading the instructions?  If you did you probably wouldn't get very far before you had to refer to the instructions.  Let's not start our journey, wait until we're in a jam, and THEN refer to the instructions.  Pull out the instruction Book first, and let Jesus be your personal guide.

Margaret Slaughter

The Ultimate Artist

The Ultimate Artist

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. 

The skies display His craftsmanship.
Day after Day they continue to speak;

night after night they make Him known.
They speak without a sound or word;

their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world. 
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices at one end of the heavens and follows its
course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.”

Psalm 19:1-6

I enjoy the early morning, and late hours of the day.  Still and quiet.  It’s a good time to hear from the Lord.  Even though I don’t mind rising before dawn, very rarely do I get to see the sunrise.  And because of the hustle and bustle of life, I hardly ever see the sunset.  A few months ago, I had the opportunity to take a much needed girls weekend trip.  We all vowed that we would take time to stop, and ‘smell the roses’.  Get off the merry-go-round of life and just be.  The first night there it was unseasonably warm so we had a chance to sit on the deck, by the water, before nightfall.  None of us were prepared for the show we were about to experience.  And boy did God put on a show for us!  The sunsets and sunrises were amazing.  No human hand could create the masterpieces we saw.  Above are a few of the photos I was able to capture. 

 God is the ultimate artist.  But how many times do we take a minute to stop and experience his magnificent handiwork?  What if you took time, everyday, to create amazing works of art, and people walked by it without a word?  Shug Avery from the Color Purple said it best. ‘I think it makes God mad if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.’  Take some time out to admire God’s handiwork, and not just when there’s a lunar eclipse.

Margaret Slaughter

Run YOUR Race in 2016

Run YOUR Race in 2016

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:13-14

At the onset of each New Year, people generally make resolutions.  The most common vow is to lose weight, or become more serious about this or that.  I have a suggestion for the New Year . . . Run your own race! 

 If you’ve ever watched a track meet, the runners are assigned to a specific lane.  During the race, if the runner strays out of his lane, chaos ensues.  The runner and his opponents are tripped up, most times ending in a heap of tangled arms and legs.  Looking back to see where your opponent is, is also detrimental to a runner.  It slows the runner down, causing him to lose focus and momentum.

Our Heavenly Father has laid out a path for each of us.  Just like our fingerprints, each path is unique to that person.  I cannot run the race given to my friend.  That is not the race designed for me.  If I try to run the race set out for someone else, definite chaos will follow.  

Spend some time listening to the voice of God.  Let Him tell you what YOUR race is for 2016.  And stay in your lane!

Margaret Slaughter