Cheating on God

Purity of Mind: Day 19 - A Different Way of Thinking

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love this world not the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything thing we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Today's devo challenged me about what I want in life, I think it challenged me simply because lots of the things I want are super worldly, you know the regular things, a nice house, a good job and some nice stuff to go with it all, but this stuff and seeking after this stuff doesn't actually please God at all, in fact it turns him away.  Sure I can enjoy these things, i think, as long as my heart is after God's heart and not the satifaction that comes from having the nice stuff.  One verse that really stuck out for me was this: 

'You're cheating on God.  If all you want is your own was, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of god and his way.  And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that 'he's a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find.' James 4:4-6 (The Message)

I think I have spoken about this before, but I really need to start trusting God a bit more when he says he knows what's best for my life, rather than desperately trying to stay in control like I am, because I can't have it both ways.

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Who am I feeding?

Purity of Mind: Day 15 - Mind Protection

James 1:21
Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls

Today's chapter asked me to consider what part of my soul I was feeding more regularly, my flesh or my spirit.  What do I let permeate my brain day to day, are they things that are God pleasing? Or are the things that still remain from my flesh.  The author challenges that the one that gets feed the most frequently grows the most and becomes the strongest.  This concept really made me stop and think about which part of my mind I feed most often and to be honest when I really think about it, I think that there are probably days that my spiritual part doesn't get fed at all, but constantly I choose to spend time in front of the telly feeding my flesh with stuff and making it strong.  How can I ever expect to be who God calls me to be if I don't actively feed into that part of who I am.  I think I need to start purposely spending more time with God, and while this little blog has been helpful and kept me a little more accountable, there still needs to be more, its about more than just a quick devotion at the end of the day...its about the things I watch and the things I read and the things I listen to.  

'The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things' - Philippians 4:7-8  

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Luke Warm

Purity of Mind: Day 4 - What's on your mind?

James 4:8
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

I find that when God wants to tell me something he doesn't just tell me once.  He tells me in a number of different ways, just to make sure I really get it.  Its been a while since I have blogged and there are a number of reasons for this, well maybe not reasons, maybe excuses.  Christmas is just around the corner and as a result my life has become a little nuts.  However over the weekend, I was thinking about how much I love Davo (sad I know), but while I was thinking about it, I felt like God was asking me if I love him as much as I love Dave.  My first thought was yes of course I do and more, but then I felt God gently ask, 'well how come you make such an effort to hangout with him, but not with me?'

Now just to clear something up before I go on, I really struggle with the 'Jesus is my boyfriend' type relationship that some people experience with God.  This isn't what it is like for me, but having said that I was really challenged by this question.  Because the thing is I am often super desperate to hang out with Dave and just enjoy his company, especially if I have been in Castlemaine all week, but I don't think that I have that same longing to hang out with God.  I really wish that I did and this little question really challenged me about where my priorities were at.  So hence, I am back on the blog trying again...

Here is the cool bit though, today's devotion... all about spending time with God and how it so important to hang out with him so that we grow from the inside out.  You know, just in case I didn't get the first time.  Anyway, in the devotion it takes the challenge even further and suggests that if you aren't spending time with God daily then perhaps your relationship with him is simply luke warm, in which case you are going to be spit out of his mouth (revelation 3:16).  I know that my relationship with him is not luke warm, but I guess it is definitley at risk of heading that way if I don't pull me finger out and start seeking him.  I think as I have gotten older, and busier it has become so much easier to take for granted the journey I have had so far with God, and sometimes I get so comfortable that I forget to keep going.  I don't want to be luke warm, I want to be hot, on fire....the way I am supposed to be. 

So here is attempt two...

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