Prisoner of Christ

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV)

As one who has decided to follow Christ, I need to practice humility. I think the disappointments I feel are caused by my pride. I see myself highly, someone good at what she does, and beautiful. And I think that I deserve the best in life, and the best people. I am not humble at all, nor am I gentle. At the back of my mind, I don't want to work for Daddy because it isn't my show. How can you be known when you're just running an accounting firm? Also, I have to submit to a higher authority if I work for Dad. If I am humble, I should see this as a good opportunity to rest. I should put my Dad's and my family's finances over my need for freedom. I have to be gentle, not abrasive. I have to be patient, and forbearing. I am so impatient with my mother. But I don't want to be. I know my mom has certain reactions that irk me. But my reactions are not so good, either. Lord, please, help me be kind to my mom. I want a very good relationship with my mom.

Thank You, Lord, for the revelations. Please infuse me with Your wisdom and strength so that I may have the power to change my life.

This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Impossible

I was listening to a podcast by Elevation Church. And this statement struck me: "Jesus has a tendency to tell the lame to walk and the dead to rise." And the joyless to rejoice, I thought. It was something that has been happening to me. I had been without joy in a long while. I wasn't particularly depressed, but I just didn't have joy in me. And I prayed long about it, asking God to fill me with joy. And then He answered me. He told me to rejoice. "Rejoice! Rejoice in every circumstance. Rejoice, and I say again, rejoice!"

The same principle applies to finances and tithing. "Lord, I have no money." "Give." If that's the case, then it also follows that He'll also tell the one whose heart is dead, to love.

Jesus has a tendency to tell the lame to walk and the dead to rise.

And the one who has none, to give.

And the joyless, to rejoice.

And the dead of heart, to love.