June 30, 2022
Today feels like Friday. Why or rather how can a day have a feeling? Thank you for today. The day that you have made. Thank you for life. Thank you for the presence in my life. You are an amazing God and I love you. Thank you for the unexpected. I had not expected Vinny to even try and attend the retreat since school was starting etc, but I am happy that she is able to.
Yahweh, I pray for your continued grace in our lives. That we would choose to honour you in our daily lives. Some days can honestly feel like the weight of the world is pressing in and the weirdest rhyme popped into my mind – that other days can feel as light as sin. But why would that even be a thought? Sin isn’t light. Maybe though, there is an illusion of lightness. Maybe the devil in his role as the father of lies, lies to people giving the impression that sin doesn’t weigh on you. That it would lighten the load. That it would make us feel good.
And the truth is, thinking about it, that’s not a maybe: that’s exactly what he does. He presents these desires as something that would benefit us. Make us feel better about whatever we may be going through at the moment.
James 1:15 – The desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
When it grows up. Many times sin at its inception feels good. It does satisfy a need or a want or even a genuine desire. Most people do things because it feels like something is missing. So we try all how to fill that missing part. But when we turn to the father of lies instead of the father of life, the end result is completely different. Both actually result in something being birthed and in the beginning, they may both feel good.
Never been physically pregnant, but I’ve been told it can be (usually is) a good experience. But at that stage we only catch a glimpse through ultrasound etc, of what the baby looks like. We don’t always fully understand what is being produced. And honestly it feels weird to liken whatever is produced in us to a baby, but there is actually so much correlation that I can’t help it. Even down to what we feed ourselves and by extension the baby. So many times what we focus affects what is being birthed in us. And what happens in the end can actually change right in the womb. What may have started as a healthy baby from the Father of Life can become corrupted by the father of lies.
Romans 7:18 – I know that nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt nature. Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don’t do it.
Romans 6:12 – Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires.
So many times Yahweh places a God-given desire within us and we allow it to be corrupted by the world: perversion, drug use, rivalry, jealousy, selfish ambition.
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
It sounds like all hope is lost, but. And buts are awesome, there is hope. Just realised or rather remembering the difference one small thing can make (journal entry – launch vs lunch).
Father of Life vs father of lies
One letter. He changed one letter and it changed the outcome from life to death. And many times that’s how he works. He omits what will really happen so people are tricked into thinking it’s lighter. Better. After all, life would obviously be heavier than lies. There is more to carry. But (there is that but again), that’s why the Father of Life says time and time again he wants to carry it for us, because it’s light to him. Instead we run after what seems light, however the father of lies, lied about its weight and he is not offering to carry none of that for us. None. But God makes a way if we choose to accept it.
James 5:16 – So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.
We need to admit that we are wrong. We need to pray. Two simple steps that make a world of difference.
Psalm 32:3 – When I kept silent about my sins, my bones began to weaken because of my groaning all day long.
When we confess our sins to him. When we admit that he messed up, he forgives. He then washes us thoroughly from our guilt and cleanses us from our sin (Psalm 51:2). Then we have to die. It sounds harsh. But that’s the truth. We have to die.
Colossians 3:5 – Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth).
But this is not a death unto death, but a death unto life. Once the old man dies, we become a new person who is continually being renewed (Colossians 3:10).
Romans 6:21-22 – What did you gain by doing those things? You’re ashamed of what you used to do because it ended in death. Now you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves. This results in a holy life and, finally, in everlasting life.
A death that is actually unto life. And that is what the Father of Life wants for us and what the father of lies omits when he puts forward his lies. That there are two deaths. You don’t only live once. But by Yahweh’s grace, you only die once. Satan has made people fear death so much that they actually sign up for the ultimate death by the life they live. Well I’m gonna do this and this, because once I’m dead that’s it and I really don’t want to die.
But as a Christian we need to recognise that dying to self is not the end of life. It’s just the end of self and when we are reborn there is the promise of life eternal and we know that what is birthed in us is unto life and not death.
Galatians 5:22 – But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Unto life. The truth is. We all desire these things, but only Yahweh can give them to us. Only him.
Yahweh, thank you for the death you died so that we can have life. Thank you for your sacrifice that saved us and gave us so much. Not just for us to look forward to in eternity, but even in the now. Your love, your joy, your peace. We have life. We have no reason to fear death. In you we live and have our being. Yahweh, today I am choosing to die in you. Anything that is not of you, I sacrifice it. It has to die. Create in me a new heart. It is a daily renewing process. To die in you and to live in you. Help me to live in you and for you. And that anything that is birthed in me if of life and of you. Thank you for the examples that you have set before us and help us to walk in your will. You are life itself and I praise you for the life you live in me. Thank you. I love you.
Oh wow. Just wow. Well you know. I promise you I didn’t peep. I went straight to your word. But as I went to the homepage of the Bible app, what do I see?
Galatians 5:16 – Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.
To end it all, live according to your nature. Live by your strength. Thank you for your strength, your life.
Rofl. I’m literally asking and cracking up at the same time. Do I really have to put all these prayers and thoughts out there? I’m typing up one of the previous days and that morning I was a bit out of it and prayed some “crazy” prayers. And the answer that came was yes: because you accept even the crazy prayers once they are from the heart. Sigh. They all are, but that morning (Hold on to the Good – June 10) was on another level.
