Count the Cost of Commitment…
What Are You Willing to Pay?
You hear a lot these days about meditation and affirmations to calm yourself from the stresses of the world. If only you would meditate a set amount of time each day. If only you would affirm yourself with encouraging statements. Naturally it is good to step out of the daily flow of life for a time each day. Naturally it is good to keep supportive proclamations before your eyes.
How Would You Rate Your Faithfulness?
As a Christian what can you do to walk a more peaceful path on this earth? Establish, develop and deepen your relationship with Jesus. Sounds simple enough but how committed are you? When I lived in Washington, D.C., I hosted a dinner and when one couple arrived the young woman asked for a quiet room upstairs as it was her evening meditation time (which was in addition to her morning meditation time). She would return in thirty minutes. Although I did not follow her belief system I did admire her commitment. How committed are you?
Do you set aside a daily ‘quiet time’ with the Lord? Do you die to self each day? Do you decrease so that He can increase in your life? Through committed time in prayer and meditating on the Scriptures you can have a peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus promises His peace to His followers. He clearly says it is not as the world gives peace. He will infuse your life with His peace if you commit to follow Him.
Still Operating in Ways of the World?
The Word of God is your handbook for life. If you commit to reading and meditating on the words contained therein you will grow in your understanding of His ways. You will apply His ways in your life. His ways clearly are not as the world operates. By committing to consistent Bible reading your life will begin to mirror His ways. In so doing you will find peace in the midst of every storm if you keep focused on Him and His words to you. Write affirming scriptures and post them around your house where you will see them. Let them encourage you every day.
I am always amazed at how many Christians do not consistently read the Bible yet want to claim the familiar promises contained therein. Without consistent study of the Word there is a resultant disconnect between the promises of God and His conditions for fulfillment of those promises. He is clear concerning His conditions.
To truly follow Him requires two things: your decision to do so and your commitment to walk out that decision on a daily basis. Sadly, many simply say a prayer accepting Jesus as Lord and then continue to live a life unchanged. There may be a turning away from addiction or promiscuity or some outwardly visible issue but hardened heart issues remain. Pride, fear and many other root issues can maintain strongholds that keep you from moving forward and truly being set free.
It is not uncommon these days to speak with Christians and hear the same rhetoric as from non-believers. Discord is rampant within individual hearts, families, churches, and the Body of Christ. What is at the root of this? Lack of commitment on an individual level to spend ‘quiet time’ with the Lord; lack of commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to cut away from the heart what is not of God; lack of commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to change and renew the mind from worldly reaction to heavenly action; basically, lack of commitment to walk as a true follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus says to weigh the cost. Perhaps some have and the cost of giving up self-righteousness in exchange for His righteousness appears just too great.
All or Nothing!
You cannot know Him or fully follow Him if you are not one hundred percent committed. With Jesus it really is all or nothing. With your full commitment He will work out the rest in your life one day at a time. He does not want just what you are comfortable giving over to Him. He wants your full attention. He wants your whole heart. He wants it all. His commitment to you was His death on the cross and His resurrection to sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for you. How committed are you to Him?
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ~ Jesus, John 14:27
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Jesus, ~Luke 9:23
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost…So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. ~Jesus, Luke 14:28, 33
“And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” ~Deuteronomy 30-6
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” ~Joshua 1:8
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” ~Psalm 1:2
“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” ~Proverbs 4:20-21
“He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” ~John 3:30
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” ~Ephesians 6:17
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword…” ~Hebrews 4:12
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father we thank You that through the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have opened the door to salvation. Strengthen our commitment to meditate on Your Word day and night. Let the affirmations in Your Word uplift us and keep us ever focused on You and Your ways. Thank You, Jesus, for Your faithful intercession on our behalf. Grace us to daily deepen our walk with You. Teach us to follow the conditions You set forth to claim Your promises. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.