I have been on a wild and crazy hunt to figure out how to get more of God – into me.
It’s wild because I often live in the wilderness – in the rocky ups and downs of faith. It’s just wild that a great God like him would want to dive into the disobedient heart of a girl like me. My head says yes, but sometimes, my heart says, it’s too off his beaten path.
It’s crazy because, I can’t even conceive how someone so “everywhere” and “always”, so above-it-all and so robe-laden, someone who made everything and with so much to do, could want to reside in measly me? Aren’t there a lot more exciting and missional places that he wants to focus?
But, it’s true.
God practically offers us all of him on a golden platter saying, I give you my heart. Will you take it? He doesn’t offer a part, a sliver, a shard, a splinter; he takes his whole body and throws it on the table for us, for vulture-like beings who did nothing to earn his gift of death.
“Take and eat; this is my body.” Mt. 26:26
He offers, but do I even value his gift?
The truth is the presence of his body, his life and his power is the greatest gift I could ever receive.
But, I must make a choice to eat his spiritual nourishment.
When my stomach turns in knots,
when holes trip me up,
when I shake in the darkness,
I must look up, verses looking around and see the one who is always ready to be found.
He is always ready to lead me in right ways.
His hand leads to truth.
Truth leads to love.
Love leads to fearlessness.
Fearlessness leads to passion and joy.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 Jo. 4:8
I wonder how often I hold back me – from God?
I wonder how much I fear his presence in me
because he seems too great above me?
How often I fear condemnation?
Even though I know his condemnation doesn’t even exist for me (Ro 8:1).
I forget “he who began a good work will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)
How often do you hold back because you feel unworthy?
Or try to gain worthiness?
Even though it’s impossible to be the weight lifter of his power.
Only one can carry (and carried) that weight.
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Eph. 3:16-17
The reality is, we need to the strength of the Spirit
so that we can welcome in the strength of the Savior.
Then, the strength of the Savior more and more pushes out
the strength of the sinner.
It’s like the Spirit does the internal cleaning,
so the temple is clean, prepared and ready to be inhabited.
Jesus silences sins through surrendered faith. The sinner is siphoned away and more and more the new creation takes over. The sinner’s fears are left in the dust; the Spirit and Jesus become the only ones to trust.
I want this to happen more and more for me, don’t you? This happens when we call on the power of the Spirit to expand the territory of the Savior.
It doesn’t matter where you live – in the wilderness, in trials, in temptation, in sin – confess and call. That’s it.
Then we will find the power of God will move in – to move out – all that keeps us from him.
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Beautiful devotions as usual. I always look forward to reading them.
Thank you for this article today Kelly.
God Bless
Thank you Ifeoma, what a sweet word you give me this morning. Much love to you.
Great thoughts, Kelly! “This happens when we call on the power of the Spirit to expand the territory of the Savior.” I love that line! Visiting from Susan’s place. Have a great day! Less than a month until She Speaks!! Woo Hoo!!
I can’t wait to meet Micah. What fun we will have. There is so much power in the Word and what God is doing. He is working more and more in us. I can’t wait to see him move at She Speaks.
“The power of God will move in – to move out – all that keeps us from him.” I’m daily grateful for that promise and work in my life! Thanks for such great encouragement in this post this morning!
You bet Beth! Thank you for joining me today. It is a joy to have you here. May God bless you in all you do. Come join us for the #Raralinkup sometime!
Amen.
Very beautiful post.
Thank you Tonya. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for visiting today.
Kelly, great post. I think so often we all forget and don’t let him. “The power of God will move in – to move out – all that keeps us from him.” Yes!! Amen!!
Interesting perspective you took, “how much do I fear His presence in me?” I think THAT hinders us as believers from so much. Are we afraid to become “too sanctified” “too holy” “too set apart”?
Oh my…more things to ponder. #FMF #48 slot!
It has so much to do with us. It has so much to do with our desire to be loved by others rather than being most desired to be loved by him. May we seek him first.
“His hand leads to truth.
Truth leads to love.
Love leads to fearlessness.
Fearlessness leads to passion and joy.”
I love this, Kelly! When I read this I think: YES! This is what it means to live in the fullness of Christ!
I am so glad you liked that Lauren. We have all of this right at our fingertips!
I do so often hold back from God because I feel worthy… or I try to earn worthiness. What wonderfully freeing words! Visiting today from #DanceWithJesus Friday linkup. Thank you for your always encouraging words, Kelly!
Thanks for visiting today Janet. Let’s be free of our ways and alive to his today.
This right here, “His hand leads to truth. Truth leads to love.
Love leads to fearlessness.
Fearlessness leads to passion and joy.” Yes! Hand in hand He leads us away from fear, selfish ambitions, and the like and leads us into His presence where there is fullness of joy! Hand in hand he leads us in paths of righteousness for his namesake. All we have to do is follow.
Amen! Let’s follow him and he will lead us to all we truly desire.
Yes, Tyra, may God dump faith over our heads that reaches to our feet so that we can follow him! Amen!