But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma
of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NASB)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Getting Back on Track

You know how it is when one allows distractions and excuses to dictate ones reality. Sometimes, we must stop whatever we're doing and ask our Heavenly Father to just clean us up and start fresh. That is how I'm feeling this morning. A dear friend on Facebook sent me a praise party reminder which the Holy Spirit used to gently remind me that I can get back on track.

Here's a powerful quote from Corrie Ten Boom, "
There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still." The enemy would have us to believe we've have wandered too far off course. He likes to taunt us and discourage us. When we're in God's Word, we are able to read first hand how much God loves us and who He really is.

So as I read this morning's devotional from
My Utmost for His Highest, I was encouraged. At the same time, I was convicted as to where my focus should be.


May 12, 2009
The Habit of Having No Habits

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful . . . —2 Peter 1:8

When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.

Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, "I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God." No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.

Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.

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