“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.”
Matthew 7:13
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This narrow gate comes with a shepherd to guide us. When we hold fast to Him our way is made sure.
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Join me starting Dec 7 as we explore 25 of the 1,000s of promises of God through the Book of Isaiah. “Follow” my blog to receive your daily “Hold The Line” posts.
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As I’ve gotten older my allergies have gotten worse. I’ve had sinus surgery and I’m currently going through the allergy shot regimen. And yet I still need to take allergy pills both in the morning and at night. In the early years of this battle I experimented with different allergy medications. Some made me incredibly sleepy and foggy. I saw a commercial for the brand Claritin. What caught my attention was the line “Claritin Clear.” The commercial shows a foggy view of the world. And after taking their product that foggy film is stripped away. That’s what I needed. What I didn’t realize at the time was not only were my allergies making my view of the world foggy but so was my lack of trust in God.
My friend and I were out for a walk and I was struck with the fact that she has taken God’s allergy medication. For one, three different devotionals she read that day pleaded the same action: Trust in the Lord with all you heart and all your mind and all your soul and lean not on your own understanding (Prov 3:5). I told her sometimes God whispers and sometimes He shouts and shakes us! Both are to get us to open our eyes and ears to the truth of our lives — to be God Clear. For another, she’s leaning into God’s grace of that medicine and surrendering.
But the work is not done. In fact the clearing of our eyes can be painful. Just like my twice weekly allergy shots (I hate shots), growth often starts with pain. If we stop because of the pain we can never fully achieve our greatest gifts from God. He wants so much for us — a life free of self doubt, self loathing, and turmoil. But we must first peel away the lies that Satan so readily whispers to us.
Where are you at in this process? Have you tried trusting God but it seems too scary, too painful? My friend a glorious, clear life awaits you. Trust in God’s holy medicine to bring you through the pain.
What seeds are you planting lately? Luke 6:43-45 explains that “no good tree bears bad fruit and no bad tree bears good fruit.”
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Back in early March we planted our warm weather garden — bell peppers, cilantro, and four tomato plants. My hope at the time was none of them would die in a week. I took extra steps this year and learned more about achieving good fruit. And that basket in the picture is just a small reaping of what we have sown. It’s been a constant tending of the needs of each plant. And a constant battle with pests. But the reward is oh so good!
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How many of us take the same care with our spiritual life as we do those things in the physical world? How many of us are struggling even just to tend to our daily lives with loving care? We reap what we sow. We need to pay special care to what we plant in our hearts and minds because even the tiniest seed can reap ten-fold — good or bad.
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A healthy relationship with the ultimate farmer— Jesus— guides us and teaches us the right seeds to plant, when to plant them, and how to tend them. Like my desire for a more fruitful garden we need to actively seek out His teaching.
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Do you want to be a plot of unused, hard dirt? A weed-filled plot? Or a luscious, fruit filled place in this world that shares their harvest with others? Be bold my friends. Ask for gardening advice today 🍅
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What bold steps have you taken? It’s time to rejoice. It’s time to re-ignite. It’s time to be honest. What steps have you taken toward your bold goals?
As a born “doer,” the Book of James really speaks to me. James writes, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?…As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” For many of you, fulfilling those deeds means having to be bold. And yet something is holding you back from having full faith that God has your back. For others, you have taken the step forward and are experiencing a revitalization.
You may be at a crossroad. I encourage you right now, at this very moment, to say a prayer and take that step forward.
IF YOU HAVE TAKEN BOLD STEPS PLEASE REPLY SO WE CAN CHEER YOU ON! IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT PLEASE REPLY SO WE CAN PRAY FOR YOU!
emboldened.net 