A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field…” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.“Look at the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.“Consider the lilies of the field…” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

 

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January 26 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, when I read these scriptures in context, I also read the admonition that I cannot serve two masters; I cannot serve God and Mammon. And when you caution me about being anxious, it occurs to me that anxiety is simply being of two minds. I suspect that is exactly what anxiety is: trying to serve two masters; being divided within oneself. You remind us to forget all about what we might need, to forget our worries and cares of the world, and to trust You. You clothe the lilies of the field, you feed the birds in the sky and the scriptures say that I am much more valuable to You. I read and understand the words Lord, however living them out can be difficult, especially when the diagnosis is not good, or the pink slip is in the in basket, or a loved one rejects you or has passed. Actually living it out is not easy Lord.

And God says…”Nothing is easy until it is. You have spent a great portion of your life following the directions of the world. Things like work hard, get ahead, compete, and measure your value and success by your earnings and possessions. Plan, organize, and control life have been mottos for your life for a long time. And now you are trying to give this up and trust God. The change of heart and mind needs time and sometimes difficult circumstances to adjust to these new patterns. You can build new habits and thought patterns so that you are connected and trusting more and more every day. Live in faith. Forget that you unconsciously know how to do your work and live hour by hour. Seek Me in everything you do. Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you require. Make this daily, hour by hour, minute by minute trust a conscious way of living and building new habits, and you will be transformed and find you are living the abundant life.”