Is Your Lamp Under a Basket?

Is Your Lamp Under a Basket?
by David Brenneman

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

"And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?  For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:21-23.

For those of us who are among the saved in Christ Jesus we have a light that begs to be displayed for all the world to see.

But the statement and the question remain...is it being seen by the world?  Are we listening when the Spirit shows us that the light of Christ is being as effective as Jesus says it will be?

We have the privilege and right to participate in the plans for humanity that we see in the Scriptures.  We have it but are we shrinking away from it?

If anyone or anything is in the driver's seat of your heart and mind then you're/it/they are driving the wrong way.

We will either rejoice in Heaven when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives because that light of Jesus Christ was shining and we got to see its impact on humanity around those points in our lives or we will shrink back in shame at the opportunities we see we missed.

We can't have life both ways.  We can't pursue our wants and desires when they run contrary to His plan and purpose for us. 

This is where denying ourselves and taking up our own cross becomes real.

The results of His light aren't our responsibility.  He takes full responsibility for the results when we obey in living that way.

Are you yet still seeking first your own understanding, your own desires, and are only trying to fit in what you think He's bringing to your mind when you can?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 

You can't know the far reaching effects of your obedience in letting His light shine through your life.

When even a practice of something like meeting in His Name is deprioritized the unsaved world knows it, and might even miss it.  When the light of Jesus Christ is missing from those times and places even the unsaved are aware of it.  Regardless of our intentions at the time. 

The light within the Temple was never to be allowed to go out. 

The Spirit of God within us must never be allowed to be hidden under a basket or at all hidden from the world around us. 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

We're to live transformed lives that the world sees and knows. 

We're to strive to glorify our Father in Heaven.  Not here yet still for our own personal interests.

So be rid of whatever form your basket takes that's keeping the light of Jesus Christ from the world around you. Give Heaven something to celebrate now and Jesus and you to celebrate when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life. 

Always remember the world is watching only because the displayed light of Jesus Christ penitrates everything wherever its displayed.

Don't give the world an excuse not to come to Christ for salvation.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Because He...Not Because I

Because He...Not Because I
by David Brenneman

It was and still is a very sad realization to hear from a friend that in response to why should they be allowed into Jesus's Heaven that they don't consider themselves to be a Christian, but have read the Bible from cover to cover and only look at it as a guide to good living.
They look to the Bible as a help to live better but really don't believe it to be what it is. 

My Dear Reader as I told him...when, not if, you are asked by Jesus as to why you should be allowed into His Heaven you begin with anything that starts with "Because I..." you're already giving the wrong answer.

It is "because He..." the begins the right answer.

For those of us who are among the saved in Christ Jesus...we know it's only because of Jesus, His life He lived, the Word He taught, the death He died, the rising from the dead 3 days later this is where its all at. Because He...He came to Earth as the Holy Son of God, attested to by both the Spirit and the Father.  Because He lived a sinless life. Because He suffered and died in our place.  Because He was cruelly tortured in our place. Because He paid the price for our sins that we cannot pay. Because He arose from the dead 3 days later as both King of kings and Lord of Lords. The only begotten Son of God full of grace and truth.

Because of Him. Because He so loved the World that the Father gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

All because and only because He first loved us.

What does it take to come to Christ?

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

Don't guess...know for sure that you are saved.  Text "Jesus" to 1-330-264-9459. Someone there will certainly show you how to know for sure that Jesus is the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

There's a day fixed by the Father’s own authority that Jesus is going to return for His Church, for all those saved in His Name.  We don't know when other than we are told in the Scriptures to be ready for that day.

It's going to happen as assuredly as His coming, living, dying and rising from the dead had been.

What will you answer?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Be Still, Knowing What He Makes of Us

Being Still, Knowing What He Makes of Us

by David Brenneman 

Too often we on someone or something external to change us.  

We blame our spouses for not fulfilling us emotionally, our churches or pastors for fulfilling us spiritually, or our jobs for not fulfilling our sense of purpose. But the blame game only delays the inevitable if we're serious about overcoming our disease and having healthy, dynamic souls. It's time to take responsibility for our own growth. If you have to move one inch from where you are right now to be happy, you'll never be happy. 

Because wherever you go, there your discontented self will be. It's not about what's on the outside; it's what's on the inside. The antidote to the motion sickness of our souls is stillne, the ancient art of just being still, Does the caterpillar climb into the chrysalis and work really hard at becoming a butterfly? No, the caterpillar becomes motionless, and the transformation

takes place.

     Spiritual growth and transformation will never occur in your life until you finaly get still, until you Stop moving. Paul reminds us to "fix your attention on God" (Romans 12:2, MSG). You can't fix your attention on God while juggling. Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God." If we get still before God, we become transformed. Consider the well-known verses from Psalm 23: "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the

sill waters. He restores my soul" (verses 2-3, NkJv). Motion and commotion steal the soul, but stillness restores the soul.

- One Month to Live, Kerry & Chris Shook.

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10.

"Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." Psalms 4:4.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake." Psalms 23:2-3.

There was included in that chapter where I quoted from "One Month to Live" a story of a little boy who thought he was helping a caterpillar become a butterfly by opening up the chrysalis it was in only to watch it die. 

We need to trust the process of what the Spirit is doing in our live, obey at all times and be still before Him with whom we have to do. 

Being still before God, even as this book says it, is increasingly difficult these days. Interruption is a microsecond away.  

Probably while reading this you got notifications of this or that. Someone speaks up n gets your attention. You hear a noise around you somewhere.  

They recommend in this chapter as well as many many Godly men from the foundation of the Church til now: find a place where you can be alone with God. Be alone with Jesus.  

We don't HAVE to stay busy. We don't HAVE to go here or there. 

We DO have to believe the Word of God when it teaches us something about being still before God. 

Our days are going to come one after another until either God calls us home or the Rapture of the Church occurs. 

We are transformed as Paul wrote in Romans 12 when we're remembering to obey the Word of God and it changes our way of thinking, our way of life. 

Find a place to be still before God. 

After you spend real time doing that...minutes not seconds doing that...open your heart up n pray. Talk about your life n the things in it. Share your joys and the pains of your day. Give thanks for His getting you through all of it. Be sure to tell Him that you love Him. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Direction with Confusing People

Direction with Confusing People 

by David Brenneman 

There's likely going to be times we're confused about people. I know! Where would someone get such an interesting idea!

Part of that thought comes from my journal, the rest is from the book of Job where my reading the Old Testament in a year has me. 

Earlier this year I took time for a special study on the book of Job. It helped but was still left with questions. One of which is along the lines of: since these so-called friends of Job's weren't dispensers of good advice, why include this in the Scriptures? Then I look at conversations that have taken place and I realistically wonder why I was listening to whom I was. Or even those conversations in my mind that I am unsure of concerning saying them out loud. 

Had someone in my life take my head off in a text because I didn't respond to a text that was sent asking a question the night before.

More baffling is that I had known that I hadn't done anything wrong but was prodded into both apologizing and asking for forgiveness. The person should have known better. What I wrote in my journal was "Why are you mad at me for something that God's obviously convicting you of?".

We are easily confused by the behavior of other's. This has been going on since Adam and Eve.

In my life today there's much confusion concerning other Believers in my life. It's an odd perspective possibly but at least the unbelieving in my life have a reason for their behavior.  

"Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory." Proverbs 11:14.

This was often quoted to me by the one who tried to say what they did in anger in that text. 

We often try to deflect the conviction of the Spirit of God in us towards other people or situations.  

We also often put thoughts of what rewards we feel we deserve and won't budge on giving up ahead of the work of God we're here to be doing. I have both unfortunately seen this and have unfortunately done this. 

We can also be susceptible to the words of the enemy of God and not recognize it as such because of where it comes from.  

We could also allow past hurts to cause us to navigate life without seeking God but rather reacting based on that past incident instead.  

There's many reasons why people confuse us. I am confused as to why more Believers aren't striving more for committed fellowship and study of God's Word than I see. They see meeting as optional. This was never a thought that crossed the minds of those in the early Church. 

Where I try to go with my confusing thoughts on people is to Jesus. Praying for understanding. What I said here earlier concerning what was written in my journal I never said out loud to this person. That thought I wrote came to me after prayer. I was evidently hitting close to the mark of their choices in life that were in reality taking them away from the path of life that God originally intended for them. What they do now they're convinced that is their calling. Only God knows.

Confusing people are just a part of our lives. Jesus never was because of who He is. Always saw right through everyone. Still does in fact.  

We would do well to look in the mirror an realize that He sees us as we are and not as we put on a show to be for ourselves and others. 

God is not a God of confusion. 

Life with that person has never been the same. While once they were one of the closest in my life, time and distance took their toll as well as this incident from my perspective. 

Others in my life now confuse me and all that remains for me to do is pray for them because my convictions aren't going to budge of what the Spirit has taught me is right. 

In the end we all must give an account of our lives before Him with whom we have to do. The truth of our lives will either bring glory to God or outright shame because the roots of our choices weren't God honoring no matter how we convinced ourselves they were. 

I observe people n pray for people. I can't explain many people but I can do my best to point them to Jesus by my way of life, by my convictions in the Lord, by my words and actions.  

This includes praying for those who persecute you. Those who rip into you when you've done nothing wrong. Bring them to Jesus in prayer. 

Always bring people to Jesus in prayer. He always knows what to do concerning them. Trust Him with what He directs you to be doing, saying and thinking.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Something Bothers You...

Something Bothers You...

by David Brenneman 

"Repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

ACTS 3:19.

     If God has put His finger on something in your life convicting

you of some sin, relationship, or ungodly attitude-He will not

leave you alone until you deal with it. There's no way you can make

the Lord forget it by trying to convince Him that something else is more important. His main concern is that you repent

     So examine your life: what about you is there that displeases God? You know what it is because His Holy Spirit brings it to mind. You may feel tempted to explain it away, but don't. In order to continue having a living, vibrant, intimate relationship with Jesus, you will have to address it. You cannot substitute anything for obedience. You may think that more Bible study or service at church will make the Lord forget about this rebellious area of your life, but He doesn't work that way.

     So don't make any more excuses. Confess your sin and repent. Once you obey Him, you can stop worrying, fretting, and being

anxious. Yes, it may be painful at first, but God will help you through it. He will cleanse you, and refreshing will surely follow.

Jesus, I confess my sin, Teach me how to repent so I can be

pleasing to You, Amen.

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

The wise response when

disappointments come is always

to ask God what He is trying to

teach us. - desktop devotional reminders In Touch Ministries. 

The Holy Spirit has never

produced a wimp or a failure.

Just the opposite is true,

Hundreds of believers attribute

their success to the changes

that took place in their lives

once they surrendered to the

promptings of the Spirit. - desktop devotional reminders In Touch Ministries. 

We all have things that are bothering us. Some are real, others are either the machinations of our minds or the minds of others. Still others, and as followers of Jesus Christ we absolutely need to take this seriously, are the work of the devil and his minions. Their work but permitted by the Spirit of God to mold us and teach us in our sanctification in Christ. 

We can be drawn into things we perceive as good and wholesome. Yet what it will require is sacrifices of things that God is doing in your life today and the lives of those you impact, both directly and indirectly. 

We can go down a path that's not good that starts with a negative emotion and the next thing we know is there's whole made-up scenarios running through our minds like a bad daytime soap opera. 

Add to this are those things that we're getting the elbow from God that He says needs dealt with. You know very well what I'm talking about. Those things that we don't see any problems with but when we're honest with what the Word of God says we know we shouldn't. 

We even try to convince ourselves that since it's nothing big in our eyes that we'll just keep on doing, thinking or speaking without remorse.  

But as followers of Jesus Christ, what would Jesus tell you if you were among the 12 who were following Him about these things?

Would you honestly tell Him that it's no big deal, that it's ok? I think not. 

We're not always going to admit when we know that the Spirit is prompting change in our lives. 

We know but we're hoping He gives up n goes on to some other subject. 

But, my Dear Reader, the Spirit wouldn't be the Spirit if He left you in this condition. Jesus said that after He goes that another like Himself, would come. The Greek He's called the Paraclete, another of the same kind as Jesus. He would be our Helper, who would teach us all things. 

We're needing to pay attention in class. We're to study what He says to be studying. Completing assignments as He gives them. Living a life that shows Jesus to the world.

We can't give ourselves fully to this until we let go of, remove, destroy even, whatever the Spirit says is in our way towards our sanctification. 

Confessing is one thing, repentance is something else. You confess to speeding to the Officer. You repent by staying mindful of your speed from there on out. 

The worst thing we do to ourselves is argue with the Spirit about what He's doing in our lives. I believe this is what the Scriptures mean by grieving the Spirit. The Spirit is working out God's will for us n we aren't taking that seriously enough. 

Do we really want what God wants for us? If we do then we need to fully embrace that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Which is going to entail letting go of our way of thinking and doing life.  

The early Church was so immensely successful because they met daily to go over the Scriptures and fellowship with each other. They didn't leave much time for the devil to gain a foothold. The Scriptures teach us to not give the devil a foothold, a chance, to disrupt our lives in Christ. 

Today's world has so infected much of the professing Church to the point that most don't value what the Spirit says or means by intentional fellowship and accountability. They see nothing that needs confession or repentance. Church discipline is practically non-existent. I know of churches where it appears that the Pastor is more afraid of the backlash than what the Lord says needs to happen. I know of people who put new names on selfish desires and call it something spiritual so they don't feel bad about it. These things are nothing new. Read your New Testament. Paul, Peter, James, John etc. wrote about such things long ago. Solomon wrote long before that that there's nothing new under the sun.  

Listen to the Spirit and begin down the right narrow path towards the sanctification that is yours in Christ.  

Confess and repent. Admit what the Spirit is saying to you is true, don't cover it up. Repent and break away, turn from, whatever He says. 

Be intentional in the training in righteousness that He's doing in your life. 

What goes on in your spiritual life is all that's going to matter when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life. All these worldly things and desires will burn up on that day they're tested by fire.  

Today begin by getting right before Him and start following Him as we say we are doing. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Striving for More

Strive for More
by David Brenneman

We're often conditioned to settle for this or settle for that. We're given just enough to satiate but little more and we've been taught that that's ok and that we shouldn't push it.

The problem with this way of thinking is its left no room for striving for more.

With our walk with Jesus there should always be our striving for more.  We have a spiritual race that is set before us...therefore it shouldn't be ran like running in our world does things.

An example of really not doing something strictly for the Lord is found in the story of Gideon.  Even with his affirmations he still voiced "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!". 

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17.

When we all do get to Heaven it will only be our directing our praise to the Lord and not including ourselves.

In life we also take this wrong conditioning and apply it to our prayers.  We don't bring up certain prayer requests because we judge them in ways that aren't ours to do.  The Scriptures tell us Jesus said, an since He is the Word, to bring everything to God in prayer.  Jesus taught on asking, seeking, and knocking. 

We aren't here to settle.  We have a God who's ready to give us a life that's more than we could ever ask for or Imagine.  He's ready but we self-depreciate and don't ask, don't seek, don't knock.

Some people fear what they perceive are the potential ramifications of their prayer requests so they don't ask.  Sometimes yes God does give us answers to prayers we probably should have thought better about asking for.  So why would He?  To learn how to get it right in the future.  To learn how to pray an how to really look at what's driving our prayers.

Sometimes as well we are asking with wrong motives.  That's found in the Scriptures too.  We ask n don't receive because we're really wanting to spend it on our own pleasures.

Strive for more in Christ.  I am at a crossroads with this on a non-possession level.  My prayers are around seeking consistent weekly fellowship with others in Christ.  Quite often many groups take parts of the year off.  For a family with no kids and don't have the money to spend to go places this isn't good.  We cherish our times we meet and it becomes a severe drought when we aren't.  Add to this that in spite of writing as I have learned to do, I am not one to strike up a conversation with most people even if I might know them. 

So I am seeking, striving, for more.  Last January my striving for more began with evening Bible studies. That's been wonderful. 

Jesus in all His 3 1/2 years of teaching the Disciples never took a break from it.  In my understanding I fail to see why any church should go with the ways of the world and take breaks when Jesus didn't.

Jesus ran the race set before Him and endured it all to win the prize of salvation for all in His Name.  Never once letting the things of this world hinder His running it.

Satan's schemes cannot get Believers in Christ unsaved but he can influence them to stop giving Christ their all.  He can influence them to water-down their life in Christ.  He can convince Believers to settle for less in areas of their lives where they should not.  He can convince people that it's ok not to get together. 

Matthew 18 tells us that wherever 2 or 3 are gathered together in Jesus's Name there He is in their midst.  Scripture tells us to not forsake the assembly of Believers on other occasions. 

We're either going to learn God's way of running this race or choose our own way n settle for less.  We're either going to get to that point of standing before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him showing we gave it our all, our everything, or we won't show we gave it our all, our everything..

Paul taught us to lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us in Christ that we may run the race set before us.

Don't settle for less in Christ, strive for more.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Letting It Go

Letting It Go 

by David Brenneman 

"Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding." Proverbs 9:6.

      While it is comforting comforting to to know that our heavenly Father will never forsake us, it is challenging to accept that that following Jesus as our Lord means we'll have to abandon some things we cherish-relationships, goals, material possessions, and sources of earthly security that God has required we leave behind for Him.

      It is sometimes very painful to forsake that to which we've become attached. It is even more difficult when our attachment is not necessarily sinful but something our Lord compels us to give up for His own good reason. The great aim of the Holy Spirit is to help us surrender to Christ in every area of our lives. Then and only then can His power flow unhindered through us into the lives of others

       Is there any possession, habit, role, behavior, or relationship in your life to which Christ does not have complete access and control? Is there some area that you have reserved for yourself? Following Jesus requires that you abandon all to Him. Can you truthfully say to your Lord, "All that I am and all that I have is Yours"? I hope you can because that is true freedom.

Jesus, I surrender everything I am and all I have to You. May You be glorified in me. Amen.

- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

When we consider the words of Jesus when He said "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone shes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." - Luke 9:23.

This particular devotional is one that many, it appears, do not wish to talk about. However, mine isn't to add to their silence but rather to add to those who do bring it up.  

There's no wrong in realizing that this is a difficult subject. Note as well that this is a daily thing for all who are in Christ Jesus to partake of. This isn't for that phantom day of the week called "Someday" or it's cousin "One day". 

Waiting for the "right time" to do this...you will never get to it. The choice to stop and take it up is always right before you to be doing. No matter what direction you turn, there it is. No matter how you try to cover it up, it always shines through. No matter how you try to redefine it, it's true colors always prevail. Why? Because it's exactly what you're to be doing in your life.

You may have goals, ambitions, strong desires, of what you think you want out of your life.

They will likely get in your way of taking up your cross. Go further into the New Testament and you'll find "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

I have had dreams, ambitions, desires, and have had to learn that many of those are in the way of what the Spirit says that I'm here to be doing for the Kingdom of God in Christ.

There was, from my determination, nothing "wrong" with those things. However, in His wisdom, some of those grander things that crossed my mind...He said would conflict with His plans and purpose both for me and for mankind. I am, after-all, not just a writer, but an inventor. 

It's good to set goals, but before they are set, check with He who is in charge. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them...that HE prepared.

You being born where you were, when you were, was no mistake. Even HOW you came out to be upon being born. My big example is myself. I was born with some of the effects of toxoplasmosis. It can cause all sorts of birth defects. Some things that have impacted me don't bother most people. However, this is how He created me and this is the body that's been made this way to glorify God. Nothing about how I was born was a mistake. 

You were born with glorifying God in all that you do on His mind. His desire is for you first to come to Christ for salvation, then to live a life that exemplifies that to the world around you. To shine your light in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. These good works are what was referred to in Ephesians 2:10. 

It's painful to let go of things or thoughts that we 'enjoy'. But, in my case, I look back now after pursuing what it is that the Spirit has directed me to...I can see the waste. The waste of time, of money, of the superficial joy that wasn't joy at all in those things. This is on top of the waste of years saying I was living for Jesus when I wasn't really. MANY go into churches every week saying they are living for Jesus who are absolutely not. They are as selfish as the world is going into church as they are when they leave.  

Letting go and letting God do what it is that He's desiring to do in each of us is what taking up our cross daily has in mind. You can't hold onto anything else but that cross because it takes your all to do so.

Your desires, your hobbies, your forms of entertainment, could very easily be incompatible with the righteous life that God desires for you. Now this is also to say that there might be elements of these that CAN be God honoring but first you need to pray and find out first. Never assume. Never attribute your definitions of what is right and true with what the Spirit say is right and true. Never base your feelings as His answer either.  

Take up your own cross daily. This, I believe ties in with something else that Jesus said "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

A very popular song many decades ago was "One Day at a Time". That is how we take up our cross, one day at a time. That is how we should focus on living, one day at a time. That's how we should approach carrying our own cross, one day at a time.

Life isn't complicated when our own cross is what we're carrying and following Jesus.

Whether it's big things or small things, take them all to the Lord in prayer. Jesus also said "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke i seasy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

We make it much more complicated in considering what all MIGHT be asked of us to give up.

Before you go there...find out first through prayer. Don't be worrying about the MIGHT be's.

You'll never see just what kind of things that God will do through you until you surrender to taking up your own cross daily and following Him.

I look back on things...and I don't miss anything that I've given up. The fears I had at the time were beyond unfounded.  

Let go and let God do in you what you're here to be doing. Take up your own cross and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org