Safetypinlove

It’s a common human condition of fearing loss and suffering…of our mind immediately going to worst case scenario whenever we fear losing God’s favor and blessings. It’s when those deep-seated anxieties and fears become our reality, as we experience overwhelming physical and/or spiritual desolation, that we need to turn to God. For if you think about it, our good health and mental wellbeing is but fleeting and transitory in this world today…and Job was keenly aware of this. We are not exempt from afflictions, loss, and suffering…but we do have a God who is with us through it all.

When a fool lashes out with arrogant words, it usually leads to negative consequences. Their words can range from stupid to tactless, from embarrassing to inappropriate, and many times their words are deliberate and willful to hurt. When a fool opens his mouth, too often out will spill the manifestations of his character and disposition…while a wise person is prudent and thoughtful in what they say, for Proverbs 10:14 tells us that the wise person continues to learn from the Lord and gain wisdom, but the fool claims to know it all.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything but Christ.” There is a God-shaped void within every human being which we attempt to fill with every worldly thing. But instead of feeling fulfilled, we feel empty. But when we allow the Godhead of Jesus Christ to abide within us, that void is filled with the Master of the universe with all His power and authority. And as we journey along with Him, we become more and more like Him…”Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

To receive the joy of the Lord, we must first have the foundational truth of meeting with Jesus on a daily basis. (Isaiah 28:16) On this bedrock of faith you can then forgive, (Luke 6:37) in order that unforgiveness & bitterness will not be able to take root. The next is to forego, (Luke 9:62) which means to surrender and relinquish the past to the Lord. Philippians 3:13 tells us then to forget, remembering that the past is the past, so allow it to remain there …for we can’t change a thing about it. Next, Isaiah 55:7 warns us to forsake, leaving behind unhealthy habits, casting off secret sins, and putting aside all the worldly things that take our attention off God. Lastly, follow closely after the Lord, (Matthew 16:24) which means learning Who He is by reading His Word, praying, and dwelling in His Presence.

Our human body is a complex network of ten Systems that work together perfectly. Each System is made up of many, many parts functioning seamlessly together…each cell, vessel, and organ keeping you alive…every part having its own unique purpose but unable to function in isolation. We can readily realize this when one part of our body is experiencing illness and/or difficulties and see how our entire body can be affected/suffer. The Church is called “The Body of Christ” and here the Apostle Paul is comparing it to our human body…many parts working together in unity, harmony, and continuity.

In this Chapter of Luke, Jesus is teaching His disciples. It had started with the disciples asking Him how to pray, and Jesus teaching them what we now know as the Lord’s Prayer. But the instruction didn’t stop there. For here Jesus breaks prayer down into God’s responsibilities and ours. He also emphasized the importance to pray not just talk about praying. We are to ask, seek, and knock…and in return, God promises that if we do, we will receive, find, and doors will be opened for us. Though the three things we always need to remember about prayer is to bring sincerity, reverence, and humility with us…and at the same time coming to Him in willful submission and trust, that God will hear our prayers and will answer in accordance with His Divine Will.

The prudent Believer is shrewd and acts with real discernment in a way that promotes life. Whereas the fool acts with a lack of good sense and self-deception…thinking that whatever they do won’t have any consequences. But too often, their actions and behaviors prove to be very costly, unprofitable, and futile in the end. Or as Proverbs 14:24 tells us, “The folly of fools yields folly.”

In this Scripture, Jesus is announcing His Second Coming in all its glory to judge the Nations…note that it’s not a matter of if, but the emphatic word when that He uses. Again, in Luke 17:30 Jesus uses the words, “When the Son of Man is revealed” to show that His return will not only be unmistakable and visible to all but will also be sudden, without any opportunity for any last-minute repentance. When Jesus spoke these words, He wanted to clearly highlight His authority and power over all of creation as He triumphantly returned…not as just a preacher, teacher, or healer…but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

It’s quite simple, if you don’t fill your mind with the Word of God, the enemy will fill it with fear, anxiety, stress, worry, and temptation. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Famine may starve, or bloody war devour, earthquake may overturn and tempest may smite, but amid all, the man who has sought the mercy seat and is sheltered beneath the wings which overshadow it, shall abide in perfect peace.” When our mind is void of God’s promises to fall back on, the enemy can assail us with his lies and half-truths… causing great confusion and a jumbled mind that can’t make good decisions. I John 4:18 tells us that the perfected love of God casts out fear…which for us is a progressive rather than an instantaneous work as we learn to fill our mind with His Word and trust in it. And as we gain more Godly knowledge, we can more easily discern when the enemy is attempting to steal our peace.

There will come times in our life when we are forced to have “those discussions” with our spouse, parents, or even ourselves. They’re awkward and difficult conversations about health and our wishes. And believe me, these talks are hard, but the time to have them is in the quiet comfort of your home and not in the chaos of the Emergency Department. When we can sit down with our loved one in a stress-free environment asking open ended questions with sensitivity and understanding…wise decisions & loving insight will emerge.