When We've Already Decided

When We've Already Decided 

by David Brenneman 

People often blame bad relationships and bad situations on others. Having made up their minds that, through their reasoning, they've done nothing wrong.  Therefore it must be because of the other person or because of something hidden that we aren't aware of yet.

More often than not it's our own self-deception that creeps in.  We convince ourselves of things as being true that are not.  We've established things in our lives that we enjoy more than what we ought to because it's introduced our compromising the Word of God.

When then we keep choosing our way over the truth of God in Christ Jesus, we honestly hear His voice less and less.  We then only hear our sin nature and our ways always seem right in what we decide to do or think.  The wisdom we find residing in ourselves becomes the truths we hold onto.  We no longer seek the wisdom of God. 

It breaks my heart to hear or see people who are Believers, are Christians, give way to the wisdom of this world rather than to fight as the Lord Jesus Christ did to do and live as He did in His love for mankind.  They would rather not listen to the wisdom of God because it doesn't fit with their desires.  They've already decided to not to listen to His voice because they're already going to do what their desires are in their lives.  

People are sinful, fallen, creations of God. 

People will either seek to know the wisdom of God or they will be content with their own because there's less conviction, less struggle, less required of them. 

The Lord Jesus Christ said to deny yourself, take up your own cross and follow Him.   This means our not leaning on our own understanding. It means in all our ways to acknowledge Him. It means putting others above ourselves. It makes what matters to Him more important than what matters to us.  It means fulfilling our lives in Christ as He sees fit through the work of the Spirit of God in us.  

It's going to mean disappointing others. Jesus did that.

It's going to mean the world not understanding where we are coming from. Jesus lived with that. 

It's going to mean loving unlovable people. Jesus went out of His way to do that.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  While we were dead in our trespasses and sins, He sought us out to take our place.  

We are not here to build a worldly career.

We are not here to build a social following.

We are not here to focus on health, wealth and prosperity. 

We are not here to put ourselves before others in our relationships.

We are to be living transformed lives that reflect the light of Jesus Christ to a world swept up in darkness and sins.

Are you putting yourself, your wants, your desires, your anything above your living for Jesus?  

Are you seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness?

Are you at all seeking out the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus? 

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Do you at all ask God to lead your life or are you too busy doing that yourself?

Are you deciding what or who will be in your life or have you asked Him?

Do you at all listen for the voice of Jesus or are you constantly, really, telling Him you're ok. You got this. It isn't working but you've got it.  

My Dear Reader...stop putting what the world says ought to be important in your life above what God has said is important in your life.  Stop putting your wishes, your desires, your wants, above what the Spirit is trying to accomplish in your life.  If you are married, and you've put anything above the will of God for your unity in Christ with your spouse, you will fail in the eyes of God.  

We are to put whatever is important to Jesus as being important to us. 

What is first and foremost of importance to Jesus is the work He is accomplishing in us.  Our sanctification. 2 Thessalonians 4:3a.  When we put self first, we are setting the will of God aside.

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6 NASB. 

Pray with the intent of listening first, not the intent of telling God what He already knows first.  Pray for your heart and the hearts of others to be sensitive to the things of the Spirit of God.  Pray for His will to be done in your life.  Pray, pray, pray to have ears that hear.

Jesus said of the Jewish Leaders of the time...that if they would have ears that hear, eyes that would see, that they would turn to Him and would be healed. 

Don't dig in with stubbornness. 

Let go, obey God.