Besetting Sins

Criticize:  judge with severity; find fault with. -To act as a critic.


critic: one who forms and expresses judgments of the merits, faults, value or truth of a matter. A person who finds fault; a severe judge (of others). From Greek: 'able to discern'


... if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. I Cor 13:2

My dearest Sisters who love our Lord,
Is there a certain struggle in your life that you continue to trip over? One thing you would like to boot out of your life 'never to return' ? A besetting sin? Then you can relate to my struggle.


Besetting: Surrounding; besieging; waylaying. Habitually attending, or pressing; as a besetting sin.

I want to love Him so perfectly! The difficulty is loving others. The enemy is very successful in tripping me up through my pride which is readily revealed in a critical spirit. Instead, I should be growing in an ability to judge my heart- weighing my motives warily, as I allow God to search and know me. A critical spirit is birthed in insecurity. Spurred on by a desire to look better than I am.  

This is a relentless and flagrant battle with the flesh. Truthfully I wonder... "Who do I think I am?" 

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? James 4:12

My critical spirit was revealed recently where I teach. There is a student who claims Christ as Savior. I discern a spirit of sensuality in her (dress and attitude) a subtle manner of manipulation in her need to get attention of male students. I have prayed much about this. It really bothers me that she, a Christian, pursues a godly, married man, as she goes through divorce.  It also affects others I love, whom I have prayed for many years. My co-teacher (not a believer) has seen her behavior and mentioned it to me. Biting my tongue to keep from gossiping isn't always effective and it doesn't quench a critical spirit. I began resenting this woman who was in my opinion, a blatantly poor testimony to a friend I want to see come to Christ. I was frustrated! A critical spirit crouched, at the door of my heart, ready to spring. God spoke specifically to my heart revealing a sinful attitude and pride. Ouch!

'When we judge other, our efforts are totally in vain. Why? Because we are not God, and so we cannot really know the heart of another. Nor do we know how God plans to work in that person's life, possibly even using their weakness or sin to break them and turn them to Himself. We judge foolishly, because we do not see the end of God's dealings yet."  TaK

These words hit the mark. Weeping, I saw the ugliness of 'judging' in the Light of Him. Judging others closes me off from being 'fit for the Master's use' and from being His vessel of grace to the one I am judging. God's judgement will not fail to come in His time. I have heard it said "Our judgment is full of the worm holes of self love! His is pure. We judge by ourselves. He judges by love."            

Often I think we judge because we didn't get our own way, some one has crossed our will or violated our standards! Judgment belongs to God. Whatever my reason 'I have circled this mountain (of a critical spirit) long enough and need to move on.'

You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north, Deut 2:3

High and lifted up One,

You, who are holy and pure, You, who judge righteously, change me, enable me to live the crucified life. Free of judging others. You have given me a discerning spirit that I might pray, not criticize. The next time I begin to criticize drive me to my knees instead. Purge me that I might be fruitful. The fruit of your Holy Spirit, not my effort to live to please You. Thank You for allowing me to feel my need, keep me from trying to supply it by my own means. Thank You that Your love for me is unaffected by what I find in my flesh. This prideful self-discovery causes Your sweet Person to be more necessary to my heart. And I rejoice in You, your perfection and beauty and power and love. Oh, how I praise You for grace that is sufficient. Not 'was' or 'will be someday', but 'is' sufficient. Ever present grace for every second. May this grace touch each sister that she will know Your love and awesome Presence today.

Prayerfully lifting you up my Sister, 

AZ

History

 Your loving-kindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
         Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 36:5


To all my Sisters in our Lord Jesus,


History never had an attraction for me and remained a weak subject until it came to my personal history. Raised religious, I was haunted with guilt over everything I did wrong, every sin, every failure scraped my conscience raw and corroded my hope of heaven. I had my self-righteous list of things I didn't do. In review, I wonder what I planned to do with my list!? Hand it to the Holy God and explain how I felt it qualified me for entrance to a sinless heaven? 


It is no wonder I am still sensible today of the sweet freedom that buoyed me from the dung pile of my existence. Jesus plucked me from my self-righteous path to hell. That very day my history died. My past life in Adam ended on the Cross. I was free! Free from corroding remorse. In Christ my sinful past no longer exists! No wonder I dance in jubilation for I am safely hidden in Jesus. Regrets over a sinful past will remain until we truly believe that: in the LORD, our sinful past does not exist. We have only Christ's past MJS and it is perfectly acceptable to a Holy God. The knowledge of our union with the Lord delivers us from all that relentlessly pulls us down into self-occupation. This Truth embraced results in joy and peace.


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 
Gal 2:20 


We share our Lord's Cross (Rom 6:6), we share His death (Col 3:3) and burial (Rom 6:4), we share His resurrection (Rom 6:4) and ascension (Eph 2:6). We share freedom from condemnation. (Rom 8:1)  (read this list again! doesn't it make you smile? shout? dance? fall on your knees in awe?)


 We need no self imposed guilt-burden plaguing us. This life is no longer about us. Instead of being occupied with our Lord and beholding Him, our enemy would cripple us with self-occupation, just another word for self pity. 


"You may know the Lord Jesus as your relief–for what He has done; but it is quite another thing to know Him as your resource–for what He is. It is one thing to know Him as the One who has relieved you from every pressure, it is another thing to know Him as the One attraction of your heart." -J.B.S.


My great lack is not having a sufficiently self-less walk (because it requires dying). In 2 Cor 4 it speaks of life for others coming out of our dying. When I hear these words, I believe it is saying I would not regard self at all! Embrace the freedom with me! Doesn't God want us to utterly drop occupation with self (our comfort? our timing? our desires? our contentment? our full bellies? our plans and dreams? our schedule?) and surrender to Him to be poured out for the sake of His body? Our heavenly Father loves us immeasurably and is leading us in His patient grace and gentleness away from the world and nearer to Himself. Oh to love Him so dearly is my hearts desire.


Father God,
If facing sin drives me to You, make me mindful of Your mercy and faithfulness that I may know Your incredible strength- reveal when 'self' is on the throne controlling. May I quickly respond in repentance; counting myself dead to sin and alive to You. I know You love me and are always working to reveal 'self' so I will be more sensitive to You, as You reveal Your grace and love to me. Hold each sister close and bring her just what she needs today. Encourage her by Your Holy Spirit that she might walk in faith and see herself hidden with Christ, free from past sins. Free to walk in a way pleasing to You. You love her so much. I lift her up.... praying in the wonderful name of Jesus.


In Christ,
az

Well Pleasing

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight--  we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. II Cor 5:7-9 Dear Sisters who are precious in Christ, Do you ever get tired of being in this world and long for the next? Do you find yourself longing for the pain to end, the trial to climax setting you free from all that has been thronged for too long? One afternoon while pouring out my heart to God and pining to be with Him, God reminded me I did not have a heavenly perspective! I heard Him say, "Arlene, it is enough that I indwell you". Trusting Him means trusting Him. Believing Him for  each situation and His timing in it, whether I understand or not.  It is never well with us until we are held by the Spirit at the disposal of the One we love. E.D. The truth of this statement required my "Amen!" The most miserable man on earth is the Christian who is trying to enjoy both worlds!  What a difference between giving up the world and the world giving us up! We may do one with comparative ease, but when we feel the world despises us as Christ was despised, we shall discover, unless He fills and satisfies the heart, that we had a value for its esteem that we were not aware of. J.N.D. The world is now nothing to us but the empty tomb of our Lord Jesus. Christ Himself is our only true blessedness! So we never truly live to please Him until He is everything to us. What an amazing journey.   we walk by faith, not by sight-- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition... to be pleasing to Him.  II cor 5:7-9 Ceasing from self-effort and surrendering by faith, I enter God's rest. Precious, priceless rest. My safeguard is a single eye. (God search my heart!) If I seek only the glory of God, all that presents other motives tainted by self aggrandisement or personal gratification... will have no grasp of me, but will be revealed as contrary to God's will and purposes. If I seek to please God only, even subtle snares are exposed. The path of rest is in seeking Him, pleasing Him, beholding Him.  The secret of blessing is in giving the Lord His supreme place.  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matt 6:22 Oh, the lessons I am learning, with such difficulty... bear the sweetest of fruit. For it is He, Himself, revealing Himself to me. Allowing me to draw near. Giving me the desire and ability to please Him, hunger for Him, long to know Him. I pray you, my sisters also long to draw near and taste of His goodness and tender love. He longs to lavish love on you. You are so loved and treasured by the Lamb. Abba, Daddy,  I am so thankful for who Your unrelenting love for me. Teach me to do the next thing that pleases You. For You are life and breath and peace and rest. You are the source of immense joy. Only You satisfy my heart and lift me above that which comes to kill, steal and destroy. You deliver me from distraction and self-pity and with Your precious blood cleanse me to draw near. There is no God but You. You alone sustain billions of galaxies and keep the earth turning on its axis. Blessed be Your holy name, now and forever. Keep my sisters, draw their hearts near. Only You can create in them hunger for You. Work that we may stand amazed in the Light of who You are. I love you Abba. In Yeshua's name I pray. amen Grace to please Him,   az See devotional on my blog: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/2010/08/well-pleasing.html

Enjoying Him?

"that I may know Him.... being conformed to His death" Phil 3:10 My precious sisters, Do you greet the morning with a 'to do' list? Some things nag at me before I open my eyes. I keep waiting for things to slow down allowing time to pursue activities beyond the mundane. It hasn't. I have often heard "if the devil can't make you bad, he will make you busy". I am not sure we need his help in making our lives busy; we seem to do that very well on our own. Raising four children kept me very busy and now with an empty nest I expected life to be at slower pace. I do not have time to think about being bored! We need to learn death in order to know life. Once we see and accept our Father's purpose for our lives we will 'want His will more than our own way'. It is here we find rest in spite of busyness and we learn to walk worthy of the LORD. Our dislike, even hatred, for others comes easily but learning to hate our old man, the flesh comes hard for all of us. We somehow think if we could just improve this or that about ourselves...  when God has but one plan for the flesh: death.  The Christian's victory is not over others, but over ourselves.  Our life is a paradox. We live by dying. We lose to win. In weakness we find strength (His).  Even in life's busyness I want to cultivate time beholding Him.  Here is my list: 1. Quiet 2. exercise 3. phone calls 4. bank 5. enjoy Him If we have once really tasted the loving-kindness of God we never enjoy it so much as when we have nothing else to enjoy. He may be everything to us, as He is everything for us." J.N.D. It would be easier to honestly answer the question 'Do you love Him?' verses 'do you enjoy Him?' You may think that 'I read my Bible and pray'... ask yourself 'do I enjoy Him?' It may be a leap for you, but this I know, it is what God wants for us. I want to learn to enjoy Him daily. Yes, I love Him, but I do not always take time to enjoy Him. Just coming to be with Him..... no requests. I want to near and worship, praise Him and give thanks. I miss much when I do not make time. I am learning that even commuting my car can be a sanctuary to enjoy Him. Meditating on His word, singing are ways I behold Him. What is precious to you about Jesus? what is precious to you about His name? Tell Him. Whoaaaaa!! slow it down, do not keep rushing through summer without making a date to enjoy Him.  Father-God, I lift these beloved sisters to You asking You to draw them yet nearer. Show them how to put You first even in the busyness of life. Remind them You desire to have them get to know You intimately and enjoy You. You love each one and are jealous over them and want to teach them how to give You the first place in all things and enjoy You even while doing menial tasks, but also to make time to just bow and sense Your greatness and love. Thank You LORD, it amazes me that You would want to teach us to draw near and enjoy You. wow! I am in awe. In the awe-inspiring name of Jesus I pray. amen "That He might have the first place in all things"... Col 1:18 In His sweet Name,  az

Two for a Penny!

"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,

       for he shields him all day long,
       and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders."    Deut 33:12

Dear Sisters, Beloved of the LORD!

I have been living in this scripture along with Matt 10:29-31. Just seeing a sparrow warms me inside! I saw Matt 10:29-31 live in a friend's life a few weeks ago and it has left God's finger prints on my heart. I will share her story at the end of this devotional.

God met with Israel at the mercy seat and He meets with us at the throne of grace. The holy of holies was opened to us by the shed blood of Jesus. There is no other way to come to the Father but through His beloved Son. As we seek God we must realize He does not endow us with power from which to draw as needed. He, Himself, is the power from which we are to draw moment by moment. I am moved that He has planned it so. I am helpless without Him and must continually lean in dependence upon Him. I so long to have my life count for eternity and this can only happen as I daily take up my cross, reckon myself dead to sin and allow Jesus to live through me. God is never in a hurry to mature us. Much time is required.

 I am often at my wit's end before being rescued. It is not that He likes to see me struggle with fear and unbelief or feel hopeless. I do believe He wants me to 'know' beyond any doubt that I my rescue is by Him, by His Love! His daily Love-manna brings me into continual dependence on Him. Where will I find strength for practical separation to God, unless in God Himself? I do not just want to turn to Him when I have no where else to go. God is more and more to me as I mature reminding me weakness means His strength. Through trials I am being 'fit' for the Master's use! Just as He brought Israel into the place He prepared and is working faithfully to prepare us for His purposes. He stands beside you. Lean hard, listen to His heart beat.

God to Israel: Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Exodus 23:20

May God open our eyes to see His ever present sparrows, His reminders that He loves us and we need not fear.  Soak in scripture! Pastor said, 'We often study God's word informational-ly. We need to study it relationally. God's word is not given to us to relay information but to call us into relationship with Himself! (first)  We must do more than memorize, we must internalize." God's word will change our life. Praise Him!

The story:

My friend was struggling in a court battle for custody of her son. The lies were flowing from the father and social worker seemed to gain a momentum from the pit. She neared panic, wanting to flee the courtroom as a hopelessness flooded her being and prayer loomed ineffective. Without going into detail her cell phone rang and God intervened causing Truth to reign and the deceit was exposed!  He rescued her! A miracle. Her son was placed with her (rightfully so). She left rejoicing but so broken. At home, wearily sitting on the floor front of patio doors, she was unmoving in thankful quiet; unable even to sing. She saw a sparrow outside the door staring in....  she said it appeared he wanted to enter! She stood, slid open glass and screen  and he hopped in and stood near her as she again sat on the floor. He cocked his head and stared up at her not moving. She then heard these sweet living words:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matt 10:29-31

She sensed God's great love for her and her son. The sparrow then turned and flew on. My friend's extreme dependence was met with extreme grace. Amazing grace. Amazing God. Amazing Love!

 "Two for a Penny" sculpture by arlene zimmerman is inspired by this true story.

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:17-18

I have got away from grace if I have the slightest doubt about God's love for me. J.B.S.

Father-God,

 Thank You for loving us and preparing us and giving us Your Spirit to indwell. You know our every weakness yet still choose to live in us! You choose to favor us and cherish us and we are so in need of Your unconditional love and grace. I just get a peek at the amazing perseverance You exercise toward us.  Everything does not have to be well with my circumstances to be well with my soul, because You are my God and You allow me to come and worship you..... who am I that You should love me so? You are near. I am blessed. Open my sister's eyes to see Your greatness in ways they may have overlooked of late. In the Name of Jesus, the Holy One, amen

two for a penny,

 az