The Desire Within
July 31st, 2008 by Patricia Bishop
Identifying……
Ever think about your past?
- Did you have plans, dreams and desires that you may have even held in your hand but for one reason or another they slipped away?
- Do you have recognizable talents, skills and abilities but someone or something always seemed to have the power to hold you back or push you down?
- Are you the author of the book titled “I can’t?” Or feel the book was dedicated to you?
- Ever been the one who did all the work just to see someone else get the credit?
Many of us have never been given the opportunity to reach our potential. Seemingly others use us for stepping-stones or rungs on the ladder they’re climbing. Our backs have become bowed from the heavy load that we have carried through life.
Alone, this causes our judgment and thinking to become clouded, our enthusiasm to grow weak and our visions to grow dim. Our dreams and our talents die and are buried. Sadly what gets buried is the part of us that we were intended to be and to share with others.
Instead of reaching up and pressing onward we adapt to our ho-hum environment and try to make it work. You know the ole saying, “Make the most of what you have.” “Play the cards you have been dealt!” Unhappily and emptied we settle for a lukewarm life never striving, pressing or reaching to obtain anything better.
Our groans can be heard under the heavy load we carry. Our strength is gone because it was in our vision, the dream and passion we once possessed. Once we give-in and are defeated we tend to inhabit a place far below our full potential, filling the occupations that promote others in the very position where we once saw ourselves having the ability to perform.
We haven’t been left without choices. We can choose to recognize and believe what God says and knows about us, see ourselves as He sees us or we can choose to accept the lies Satan whispers to us distracting, deceiving, hindering and keeping us from the TRUTH.
God sees us through His eyes of love, as “A” designer’s original, He being the exclusive, perfect, powerful and wise creator. God Himself totally empowering and equipping us for an abundant life that we are to share with others for enhancement and encouragement and for Gods good pleasure.
Satan sees us through his eyes of self-exaltation, hatred and jealousy he being a fallen angel and no longer eligible for God’s blessings. He knows we can crush him by fulfilling our purpose and call, opposing and exposing him and his lies. He would love for us to live secluded lives under his dominion disabling our ability to have and enjoy life and that more abundantly.
To me it seems that all of this is growing more intense rapidly. I believe the hour is growing near for the gathering of the saints, the bride of Christ to be united with her Groom. Gross darkness is enveloping the earth with life degenerating as in the days of Lot and Noah.
It is never too late no matter how old you are or how much you have failed to become the “somebody” you always desired to be in the kingdom of God.
In the kingdom of God He is the one who rules. He has the final say. He is the qualifier. He gives the talent, skills and abilities, the gifts and the blessings. We never perform for man but unto God alone for His good pleasure.
We get another chance, and a new name. There is therefore now nothing or no one having the ability to stop us in our obedience and desires toward Him. He removes the stumbling blocks and no weapons formed against us shall prosper.
God exalts and rewards our efforts when they are what He has told us to do. His kingdom dwells within us, and he makes His abode with us. We are fashioned by his hands.
This world and its government are corrupt and unfair being under the dominion of Satan who is the evil of this present world of sin and darkness, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience.
We can live fulfilled lives. We can be somebody and be proud of who we are. We can rise above those who have no confidence in us, those who discourage us with their words. We need to let what they speak for evil, what they intend for discouragement to fall to the ground and put it under our feet!
It’s enormously important what you think about God.
More significant than that is what God knows about you!
Why? Because:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
Focus on Him making Him the center of attention, what He knows instead of what you think.
Acknowledge Him in all of your ways and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
Imagine what kind of life you would have if you were to consider and try to please all the voices and every opinion of each person in the world? Could you meet everyone’s expectations? Can you imagine the drama you would encounter while running yourself ragged 24/7 performing to meet protocol? This is what many of us are doing. It sounds crazy doesn’t it?
We all want to be thought well of and have people like us but according to Gods Word if we are living Godly lives in Christ Jesus we are going to be bullied, hounded, harassed, singled out and suffer. We are warned by a WOE, (misery, sadness, despair, wretchedness, affliction) when all men speak well of us!
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2Timothy 3:12)
What does God require of us?
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)
This will put into action what we have tagged the golden rule:
- Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
(Matthew 22:37-40)
Let us consume the word of God until it consumes us!
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. (Ephesians 6:1-9)
As I continue my journey with Him,
Patty Bishop