These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God’s, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God.

Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must “put on the new man…” (Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule— God must rule in us.To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life.

There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, “I won’t submit.” We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.

_________________________________________________________________

December 28 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God, and happy Monday after Christmas. The festive holiday is over; we joyously celebrated the birth of Jesus and only occasionally succumbed to the commercial trappings that consumed us from the media. Candlelight services were wonderful, as was the music that filled the church and replaced the sermon the Sunday before Christmas. The time with family was priceless, as were the opportunities to reach out to others. On a number of occasions I found myself checking to see if I was surrendered and connected with You God. Chambers calls it continuous conversion, we call it surrender and connection with a transformation that provides strength for our curiosity and obedience.

However Lord, Chambers also says that if we trust our own abilities instead of You, we produce consequences for which You will hold us responsible. That cannot be right can it God? If the word tells us that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, then how can we be held accountable when we trust our own abilities instead of You?

 

And God says…”Why do you seek to be surrendered and connected? It is because you want Me to live through you and transform your life. You want to live an abundant life; the one I promised you. And you know you can live that life and be at peace, even though circumstances are not optimum, when you are surrendered to Me. You know all the while that I am good all the time, and that I love you beyond imaginings. I do not hold you responsible when you are not surrendered and connected, curious and obedient, grace can and will cover all you are and all you do; however, I cannot transform you or your circumstances when you are not surrendered. I cannot give you the peace that passes understanding when you have chosen to be your own god, and do things your way. The results of your unsurrendered life are the consequences that Chambers speaks of. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you require.”