I love it when God uses everyday situations to speak a deeper truth to my heart…I had one such instance just yesterday. We had company and when one person was about to sit a hot dish on the counter, she asked me if she needed to use a potholder. I said, “No, it’s safe to sit hot things on the counter because it’s granite.” She replied, “Well, so is mine, but I’m always worried so I put something under the hot things before I sit them down.” In my mind, I was thinking, this totally defeats one of the best benefits of having granite…not worrying about cracking, burning, or scarring the countertop. Then it hit me…
If we have something with great benefit, it only matters if we use it…if we are always afraid of being let down, then we will never experience the joy and ease of the benefit.
What do I mean?
A relationship with Jesus carries many benefits, and I wonder if you’re taking full advantage of them…or are you afraid they might not be true, and you might be let down…so you operate within a boundary that God never intended?
Freedom comes through Christ…walking in freedom comes from trusting He is Truth.
There is no such thing as your truth and my truth…there is only the Truth…which is actually a wonderful thing because it means that we can know with certainty what is true and what is a lie. The Spirit of Truth gives us wisdom.
We’ve read this recently, but I feel God is really trying to soak this in…
But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you. John 16:13-15
When we want to know truth, we must be connected to Holy Spirit. When we hear the Truth, our next step is to act on it. Act like we believe what we have been told. Act in faith. Truth is truth regardless of your belief…but truth becomes powerful when we act in agreement with it.
Does this make sense?
God is constantly looking for agreement. He’s looking for people who will partner with Him. Here’s the secret…if we aren’t agreeing with God…then we’re agreeing with the enemy.
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Remember, there was another time in scripture when God was moving, and the world was trying to distract with lies and accusations…Nehemiah and the wall. (If you don’t know the story, I recommend you go read it.) What I love about Nehemiah is his unwillingness to be threatened into responding as they wished…rather he saw the truth through the threats…
I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:8-9
I’ve heard pastors use Nehemiah as an excuse to be uninvolved in politics…but I see it as an encouragement to be fully under the direction of Holy Spirit in all matters. Even when dealing with politics, we don’t respond as they require or expect, we respond from the Spirit of God…and pray also for Him to strengthen our hands.
Nehemiah is all about acting on truth.
God, let us always know the Truth. Lead us into all truth and guard our hearts and minds from deception. Fill our homes with Truth. Let our marriages and parenting be led by truth. Spirit of Truth, we invite you into every part of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
365 Days in the Presence 