I Will ClingHave you ever been in a situation where the tension was so thick you could cut it? I have. Did you humble yourself and make the first move to ease the tension? I didn’t. Were you patient with those around you? I wasn’t. Did you bear with them in love? I didn’t.
We all have things that we are committed to doing every day. We must have that cup of coffee (or tea) in the morning. We must watch that show every evening. We are faithful in those things each day. Are we faithful in prayer?
We like to say having faith is hard. At least, I know this is true for me. But when I think about it, I’m believing (having faith) that certain things will happen every day. The truth is that I, like all of you, exercise faith in worldly things all the time.
I have learned that what other people think about me is none of my business. Let us focus on who God says we are. Let us begin to see ourselves as God sees us, fully redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Let us begin to see every person we meet as someone made in the image of God and honor them above ourselves.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18). The way we live our lives, and the way we keep our word, are our testimonies. We never want to be a stumbling block on anyone’s path. Instead, we should take care to build others up, be there for them, and set an example of what it means to put God first.
It is so easy to get caught up in our own day-to-day happenings. But – when we take a moment to think about the fact that God loves us so much, that He actually provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus, in spite of our sins, if we would repent, and accept His salvation. It is so overwhelming I can hardly breathe. So, I will rejoice in the Lord!
God created us to worship Him and only Him. “…all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). How do we worship only God in a world that is increasingly focused only on satisfying oneself? We go against that narrative.
We can be sure of the fact (and take comfort in knowing) that any weakness of God is still stronger than the strongest human. We do not have to be perfect, or strong. God is always with us and He is more than enough.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” There is a very real battle taking place. It is the battle for our very souls.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” We can’t stop evil from happening to and around us. But, we can love instead of hate. We can pray instead of complain. I firmly believe that prayer changes things and it changes people.
I Will Cling