A Loving Reminder: Take up your cross

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NIV)

I pray that you all read this with spiritual eyes. There is nothing nice, or sweet about picking up the cross. It is painful, messy and sometimes hard to understand, but very necessary for our walk with Christ!

I believe the hardest part about being in Christ is dying to self and picking up the cross. I did not truly come to understand what it meant to deny myself, until the moment God asked me to give up something that I came to treasure; a distraction that takes me away from God. I found myself on a crossroad, standing there, just me and God. A place where I had to choose to go left onto the path that deemed more appealing, but clearly away from the will of God; or go right onto the path that was a bit rough but pointed to Christ. The moment where I felt God tell me 'You can take the left path, but it's not the path I want for you, it's seems appealing but it's full of destruction.'

In “The Pursuit of God.” A.W. Tozer writes:

“To rip through the dear and tender stuff of which life is made can never be anything but deeply painful.”

“The cross is rough, and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual spiritual experience the Presence of the living God.” 

As I read this, I can't help but to visualize myself as the victim on the cross. Picking the right road keeps me in peace, but it is heavy and painful. Everyday I am reminded of what God has asked of me. The temptation I face daily, to do 'my will' is like a lash that tears at me, and hurts me. The work is still not finished, but I trust that it will be, and I will be resurrected in glory and power. 

 Father, I come boldly before your throne, confessing that I am well aware of the work that you are doing in my life. I ask you that you give me the strength to endure my time on the cross. That I imitate You, my Christ. Keep me focused on the eternal and not on these earthly moments. Father I lift up my lovelies whom are on the cross and are tired. I ask Father that you give them the wisdom, understanding and peace that will sustain them. I pray you give them spiritual eyes to see beyond the now. That they focus on the eternal. Father I lift up those whom have yet to pick up their cross, that You lead them gently to the cross, reminding them that you will be with them every step of the way. Remind them that 'Love Wins' and there is glory beyond the cross. Thank you Father for the grace and mercy that you extend to us on a daily basis. In Your Precious and Powerful name, Jesus.

A Loving Reminder: Like Gold

A Loving Reminder: Like Gold

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, (Malachi 3:3)

My lovelies,  the refining of gold and silver is one that requires patience. Gold and silver is extracted from the earth and they are one of the most precious metals that can withstand corrosion. However when extracted from the earth, they are mixed with other metals and materials such as lead, copper, zinc, sulfides and quartz. A refining process must take place to separate the gold and silver from other metals and materials to bring it into its pure state.  One process used for refining gold and silver is called Cupellation. In this process the ores / solid material extracted from the earth are melted in cupellation furnaces under excessive high temperatures. At these high temperatures the silver and gold become separated from other base metals and materials.

Like sifting for gold, God sifts us, looking in us, in our hearts, to isolate what is useful. He allows us to go through the furnace, by allowing us to undergo trials and tribulations that refine us, separating us from others. Sifting us, removing what is not of him. Removing the impurities from our lives that hinder us from being righteous. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3-4)  for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:3) Like gold at it's purest form withstanding corrosion, we will stand firm when being tested. Persevering through the attacks of the enemy. Therefore making us more effective for the Kingdom. 

But God knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold. (Job 23:10)

Father, I come boldly before your throne thanking you for the process of refining and purifying. I thank you because you know All things and you bring forth transformation where transformation is needed. That what the enemy intends for bad in our lives You use for good. Your word says that You know how I test, and that when You have tested me I will come out like Gold. Like Gold withstanding corrosion, I will develop strength and confidence in the hope of salvation, withstanding the attacks from the enemy!  Father I come on behalf of all my lovelies that when we find ourselves in the midst of a fiery furnace, that we may find comfort in knowing that You are there and in control siting as a refiner of silver and gold, refining us, separating us from the impurities that bind us. Preparing us for greater things. That when we endure the fire that we are going to come out like gold! Incorruptible! In your powerful name, Jesus, Amen

Gold - Beckah Shae
http://youtu.be/OPBOz1a1Ql8