Day 116: Living Far From God

Matthew 15:8, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

I grew up hearing these scriptures. I was always told, either you’re in or out, there’s no straddling the fence. Choose who you want to serve. It’s like when I was younger, and my siblings and cousins and I were always playing outside. We all tended to run in and out of the house all day, and it seemed like a lot because there were a lot of us. At some point or another throughout the day multiple adults would tell us to stop running in and out of the house. After not listening, someone’s mother (usually mine), or our grandmother would say, “Hey! Stop running in and out of this house! Either you stay in or out, make a choice.” Not wanting to come inside we would choose to stay outside.

The problem with this story and what upset the adults is that we kept running in and out, every five minutes a little kid was running through the house, then we would run right back outside. We couldn’t decide if we wanted to be apart of what was going on inside or play outside. How often do we do this to God, we are constantly in and out when it comes to having a relationship with Him. We are in when we really need Him, but out when we’ve gotten everything we need. We have to choose if we are going to be near God, or will we stray far from Him.

The heart doesn’t always agree with the lips.

I think it is safe to say that we have all said things that we do not really mean. We have used our words to cover up how we really feel. Our lips say one thing but our hearts say another. We’ve all lied to our mom or aunt before and told them something they cooked was good, even when it was horrid. I will use myself for an example, there was a time when I was telling everyone about how good God was and reading my bible constantly, and even preaching, but my life and my heart said something completely different. I honored God with my words but my heart was so far from it. (I am beyond grateful for grace and mercy, and that Jesus didn’t strike me down in my mess). We can all talk, as long as we have lips and a working voice box, but do our actions line up with our words? I could read the bible all day long, but if I am reading it just to show and people how good a Christian I am, is it even worth it? I can memorize every scripture back and forth but until I allow it into my heart and start living it, does it really matter how many scriptures I can quote? And I did, I did all of this, I memorized scriptures, read the entire bible, but in the end it was only to look like a better Christian, not actually be a better or different person. We have so many people who go to church and live so far away from God. Being a Christian is not a Sunday only thing, it is every day of our lives. It is more than saying, “I’m Christian.” or raising our hands during worship in church. We do not have to go around saying we are Christ followers, because our lives will speak for us. It is very true that actions speak louder than words. We cannot say we serve God, when we are living any type of way. We cannot claim to love and serve God when our hearts are far from Him. One thing about the heart is that it doesn’t lie, and eventually our hearts will show. We cannot avoid it or get around it. The question is, when your heart shows who you truly are, will you be embarrassed or ashamed of what comes to light? Or will you be happy to show your heart?

Hosea 6:6, I want you to show love,not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

God wants us to show love over sacrifices. Seeing that this is a passage from the old testament, He is referring to the daily sacrifices and offerings of the israelites. But God says, I’d rather you show love, I’d rather you know me. A lot of times we think that what we do is pleasing to God. We think the amount of money we give, is enough. We think giving food to a homeless person is enough, or doing ‘good deed’ is enough. While those are all good, God says, I would rather have your heart, I would rather you know me. Some of us have or are walking around, serving in the church, without even knowing God, because we think our sacrifices of showing up early to church to volunteer is enough. But there is so much more, it goes deeper than just doing things just to do them. When we submit ourselves to God, every part of our life becomes a service to Him. We know God more and more everyday, we start to love like Him. And God is like, “I want that.” He wants that love, He wants us to truly know Him. He will take that anyday over our empty words that claim to praise Him.

Psalms 73:26-28, my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

The scripture says that those who are far from God will perish. We as the body of Christ are on a constant search to bring these perishing souls to Christ. Sometimes we have to stop and take a look in the places where the Christians are, there are souls perishing from the pughs they sit in every Sunday. Asaph (writer of this psalm) then goes on to say, “It is good for me to be near God.” When we get a taste of what life is like to be near God, that’s where we want to be. We know it is safe to be in that place, near God is the best place to be. But we must make the choice to draw closer to Him. Serving God is so much more than just talking about Jesus, it’s living like Him, it’s allowing our words to match our actions. We cannot serve God and live far away from Him. It won’t work.

Reflection

1. Does your heart agree with your lips?
2. Would you say you are living near or far from God?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer today .Whatever stood out to you or struck you, talk to God about it. Maybe you are living far away from God, today is the day to draw near to Him. Maybe you know someone who is living far from God, lift them up in prayer today. Lift up the church and the body of Christ today that we will all be fully devoted to Christ every day of our lives.

I love you, I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Make sure you share this and come back tomorrow for Day 117!

Day 40: I Messed Up

Proverbs 24:16 (MSG)

No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet,  while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

One thing about God’s people is that we don’t stay down long, God is always reaching down to pick us up when we fall. He dusts us off like the caring father He is and sets us right back on track. We will always get up from a fall, if we choose to do so. The best part about falling is getting back up again. Sometimes we fall so hard that getting up seems close to impossible but anything is possible with God.

How many times have we sinned after committing our lives to Christ? Don’t answer that, it was a rhetorical question, but the answer is, probably more than we’d like to admit. We are sinners saved by grace, and we are not perfect which why we are in constant need of grace. As Christians many of us have gone through a time where we’ve fallen away from our faith, we put our relationship with God on hold. If you’re like me and grew up in church, and was very involved in ministry at a young age, this ‘fall’ happened around the time you reached adulthood, when you tasted a glimpse of freedom.

I remember going through a time in my life, after my dad died, when I turned my back on God, while lying to myself and others because I had an image to uphold. I messed up, I went back to my old ways, I stopped going to church, I just no longer cared about having a relationship with God, until one morning conviction hit me like a hangover.

-Dyamond

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

The thing about God is that His love, and grace is greater than our sin. There is no sin that His love does not overrule. He sent His Son, His only son, to die on a cross and save us from our sin; Jesus made a way for us to be redeemed. Through Him we are able to repent and receive forgiveness, even when we do mess up, and fall short, God is always waiting with open arms to receive us again. He gives us so many chances, far more than we deserve but He does it because He loves us, and He wants a relationship with us, even when we don’t want one with Him. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; (Daniel 9:9)

Psalms 103:12

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us

Micah 7:19

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

WHen God forgives, He forgives. He throws our sins into the sea of forgetfulness, He remembers them no more. His compassion and love is greater than His anger. God does not dwell on the moments we fall short, and  He does not hold us down when we fall. In fact He does the opposite, He chooses to forget about our shortcomings, our wrongdoing, our sin. He picks us up and washes us clean and keeps us moving forward. I think sometimes as Christians we want God to punish us because we feel so bad about our sin and we want to get rid of the guilt. We feel so terrible when we turn away from God that we start to condemn ourselves in the name of Jesus. We must learn to let go of our sins the moment we lay them down at the feet of Jesus, let them go so that we don’t turn back to them and let the guilt go that came with them. John 3:17 states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus did not come down to earth to condemn the people for their sin and leave, He came to forgive them to save them from their sin and He did the same for us. Jesus is the one person in the world who could condemn us if He wanted to, but He doesn’t, He forgives us. He chooses to love us and take our sin upon Himself. If Jesus isn’t condemning us for our sin what gives us the right to do it to ourselves?

Jeremiah 24:7

'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

We all have a heart for God, and when it’s in other places it just doesn’t sit right. I’ve said this before, but we all have a God shaped hole in our hearts and until we allow God into it, we will always be missing something. Our hearts will always find what it’s looking for, it won’t stop until it does. God is always holding a piece of our heart waiting for the rest to return to be made whole again. Our hearts are constantly searching for what’s missing. That hunger to be fulfilled, and complete, will always lead us back to God because He holds the missing piece, He is the missing piece.

Honestly, we’re going to mess up sometimes, we’re human, it’s in our nature. But we must always remember that no matter how far off we get, there is always room at the cross. No matter how deep we’ve fallen God is reaching to us, we just have to take His hand. We might fall but we don’t stay there, keep getting back up.

-Dyamond

Reflection

1. Do you tend to condemn or punish yourself when you fall?
2. If so, why?

Prayer Time

Go over the scriptures discussed today, and respond to God. Maybe you have fallen short or given up, we today is the opportunity to return to Him. It doesn’t matter how far off you think you are there is alway room at the cross. Maybe you’ve been here and know someone who's fallen short recently, lift them up in prayer. Take this time to confess and repent, whatever it may be that’s between you and God. Just respond to Him.

Take some time and sit in silence, if you feel the holy spirit tugging on your heart, respond to Him today.

If you made the choice to follow Christ, rededicate, or to submit your life to Him fully, Go to Romans 10:9-10

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

And repeat these few words,

Jesus I declare that you are my Lord and Saviour who died for my sin and was raised three days later. I repent of my sins and I give my life to you. I believe in my heart that you are the true living God. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Congratulations! The angels in heaven are rejoicing right now.

Have an amazing day, or night, I love you! Share this with someone, and Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 41!

Day 33: The Power of the Tongue

If you are in your twenties growing up you most likely heard the saying “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” It’s what they said when you told the teachers you were being bullied. I’m not sure if they understood not only the power of the words, but the impact they had on us. Especially when we grew older and learned that words hurt the most.

Growing up I was bullied mercilessly, I was beat up everyday, and teased for my height, my hair, my dark skin. I was called ugly everyday from the age of five to ten. I was called ugly so much to where I started to believe it, I started to hate my dark skin, and the fact that I was short. I began to adopt the language that was spoken to me, after a while I would look in the mirror and call myself ugly, and repeat what I was hearing from all the people at school. As I got older the physical abuse stopped but the verbal abuse stuck with me, it increased from outsiders and increased within me. And it killed me, it crushed me. If I was not such an imagination driven person, and an actress I probably would have committed suicide. I’m being very honest. What’s crazy about it all is, it wasn’t getting beat up that hurt me, it was the words people used to degrade me that hurt me the most. And the language I used towards myself that crushed my spirit. I have been on both sides of the spectrum, I have said things that have hurt people, and used my tongue as defense and a weapon. Words hurt so much because there is power behind them, and when we know that it’s even worse.

-Dyamond

There are so many scriptures that speak about the tongue, and watching what we say that I can write an entire book. But today we will take it  scripture by scripture.

Proverbs 18: 21

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

• There is a price for everything we say. We must be careful what comes out of mouths because we never know how it can impact those we are speaking to. We don’t know the power our language has over someone else and even ourselves. Our words can speak life into people or they can speak death. Verse 20 talks about wise words satisfying like a good meal, we should fill our brothers and sisters up with our words. What we say to others and ourselves should lift people up. We are not supposed to use the tongue as a weapon, we are to speak wisdom, kindness, love. Everything we say has an outcome and consequence, whether it’s good or bad is up to us.
  
  

Psalms 141:3

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

• David is literally asking God to control what comes out of His mouth. Guard his lips so that he does not even utter anything evil.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I know we have all had moments where we ask God  to guard our mouths when that one person is pressing every button, working every nerve, and trying you every way possible. And it feels like it will take Jesus Himself, and flock of angels to stop you from saying what you want to say, which is everything you are not supposed to say. But you don’t explode you hold your tongue and make sure you let them know Jesus saved them. We’ve all been there, and if you haven’t you’re either perfect, or lying. Or you are just really great at holding your tongue.
  
  
• Sometimes we have to pull a David and say “lord guard my tongue.” we have to pray at that instant so that we won’t say anything that we will regret later, or that will cause pain or harm to our brother or sister.
  
  
• Matthew 15:11- It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

James 1:19

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

• Sometimes our mouths are quicker than our brains. MAny times we don’t really mean the things we say we just say them because we don’t think before we speak. We have to remember what we were taught as kids to think before we speak.
  
  
• Another thing, we spend so much time speaking that we don’t listen. I’ve gotten into so many arguments because I wasn’t listening to what was being said to me or I wasn’t being listened to. When we decide to listen rather than just speak we will understand so much more and be happier people because we won’t be so angry all the time because we misunderstood what someone was saying to us.

James 3:4-6,10 (Expanded passage verses 1-12)

• And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

Reflection

The tongue is the smallest member of our body yet it seems to have the most power. The scripture compares the tongue to a tiny spark that can set a great forest fire. A rudder that controls a massive ship. With so much power in such a small member, why not use it for good? We don’t always have to be silent out of fear that we will say something wrong, we can lift each other up with our words. Encourage someone today, other than yourself, anyone: a stranger, a friend, a family member. Use the mouth God gave us for good.

Today make the effort to change your language from curses to blessings, from death to life, from bad to good.

Prayer Time

Pray the prayer David prayed, that GOd will set a guard over our lips. As you reflect on the passages today, think about what it means to speak life, to lift each other up with our words. Pray about and ask God to help you control your tongue and speak wisdom, life, and encouragements to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you have been hurt by words someone has said to you, now is the time for healing. Now is the time to let it go and know that God’s words are greater, His words are more power and hold more truth than anyone on this planet. Forgive the people that hurt you even if you never receive an apology.

If you are someone who has used your words to hurt others, as you ask God for forgiveness know that you are forgiven, and forgive yourself. If you feel lead to, ask that person for forgiveness.

Just rest in God’s love, and know that His words are heavy with truth.  

I HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!!! I LOVE YOU!
Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 34!