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PLANTING SEEDS: (Truth) Truth can only be found in God’s word. People can share their opinion on truth, which I am going to do with you in a moment during my “Coffee Cup Counseling” section but I encourage you to personally start getting into the word and studying scripture. It will open up a brand new perspective and new life for those that take the time to begin or rekindle their relationship with God.
Scripture Memorization : 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NIV)
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
COFFEE CUP COUNSELING: (My Personal Perspective)
This is just my personal experience with scripture. It is just one of the ways that it has impacted my life and gives us an opportunity to interact with one another how it has personally changed our lives.
If you have children, a spouse, babysat for children, are a teacher or daycare provider, or have asked someone for any type of help, you have probably encountered “selective hearing.” You will be able to certainly relate to what I’d like to share with you today.
For years, I struggled with what it meant to “hear God”. I constantly was whining about how I didn’t know how to “hear God” to those that I felt were way more spiritual and experienced then me. I read books, I talked to Pastors, I practiced. I just didn’t feel like I could do it. In actuality I was just using selective hearing. In my experience, looking back, the only thing that needed to happen in order for me to hear God is I had to listen. Now once I had began to listen, the next thing to happen was I accepted Christ as my Savior, I asked the Holy Spirit to lead my life and I had to get into the word of God. Once I started that ball rolling, it took off quickly and has not found a landing pad. I hope it always has this momentum, and my guess is, that it will, unless I stop doing one of those three things.
I love spending time with God, I love that I’ve learned that the more I lean into God’s correction and away from my own understanding the more and more exciting and enjoyable my life becomes. Once you realize that God is talking to a little ol’ nobody like me, who has done nothing spectacular, is not anyone famous, has nothing to offer, and he walks beside you through all your disappointments, your mistakes, your frustrations, your hard times, then they aren’t so hard to go through. You don’t live in rejection, or shame, or feel hopeless. You have a one on one mentor that continually encourages, instructs, and loves you through all the things we walk through while we are waiting for our eternal homes.
Not everyone wants this. It will be very clear who does and who doesn’t as soon as you do. It won’t take very long for your circle of people to make a decision very quickly about your choice to follow Christ. I’m not sharing this with you from a bitter heart, I’m sharing it so you don’t get a bitter heart or discouraged in your choice to follow Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit. There were two types of people that rejected Jesus in the Bible that comes to my mind. One, were those that were led by demonic spirits or their own fleshly desires. Two, those who followed human religion practices based on control and power. You will encounter the same. I share this so that you can discern this right away and be prepared for it when and if you have made the choice to break away from the world and instead live a life of rest in Christ.
I remember working one day and a customer called in and was upset about a situation on his order. As I tried to walk him through the resolution that we had in place for the company, he said, “are you a Christian”? “Yes” I replied a little confused. He sternly answered, “Can we pray”, I smiled and said “yes of course!” and he began… and I began to feel very anxious instantly, this man had prayed this long prayer about God giving him his way in this matter and that I would just do what he wanted me to do because it was God’s will. Like he had God in his pocket to do whatever he wanted him to do. I was appalled and could not find my ability to say Amen at the end of his prayer. I actually hung up the phone and cried. In another similar situation, I worked for an employer who before every board meeting, would come into work early and would go with a vile of holy water and mark above all the doors of those who she wanted to make do what she wanted. I didn’t last very long with that employer. Sadly I had prayed for that position and it was complete financial freedom for my family, which I also prayed for. I believed that God heard my prayer, however my health and my enthusiasm for life quickly declined. I walked away, thinking I had missed God’s voice. Yet, I’m currently making a living doing work I love, helping people, sharing the gospel when I can and very little stress, if any.
Living for Christ has been thee best decision I could have ever made in my life, and I encourage you to think about making that decision for yourself. It’s not an easy road because you will be going against the flow of the rushing river of the world, but it will be the one thing that closes that “hole” in your belly that you’ve been looking to fill all your life. All it takes is to shut off your “selective hearing” and begin a relationship with Christ…you’ll be quite surprised at all you’ll hear and how much you are loved.
So get into God’s word, speak truth and set the captives free.
MEDITATION & DISCUSSION:
Take time to journal your thoughts on this scripture. You are more than welcomed to share your insight, testimony, thoughts, questions with me below, or keep it for your own personal journal.
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SHARE WITH A FRIEND:
Studies indicate that if we share what we have learned with someone else within 24 hours of being taught, the chances of it remaining in our memory and heart is increased. If you have had a friend, relative, or anyone come to mind while reading this blog, please share this with them! You can text it, post it to Social Media, Discuss it at Bible Study, you can subscribe to my YouTube Channel at Angela Serocki or print today’s study from my wisdomforinspiredliving.com blog, invite a friend to have coffee and discuss! It’s easy!
I’m going to share today’s blog with _____________________________________________________.
I thought of them because:
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PRAYER:
God, thank you that we can at anytime we choose hear your voice. Thank you that it doesn’t take anything more than removing our selective hearing, accepting Jesus as our savior, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and getting into your word. Thank you that you are always with us and that no one can snatch us from your hands. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Don’t forget to memorize and meditate on today’s Word! It’s absolute Truth!
Scripture Memorization : 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NIV)
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.