Catching My Breath

Romans 8:26-28 (The Message)

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. "

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Sometimes, in the really hard times of life, I simply don't know how or what to pray. Sometimes, if I'm honest with myself, I don't even know if it's worth the effort. Sometimes, if I'm REALLY honest with myself, my flesh seems too overpowering. It is in those times that I find comfort in knowing - and I mean totally wrapping myself in the knowledge - that the Holy Spirit is there with me to take over. He knows what to pray to get me back on my feet and running again. Amazingly, sometimes I need to get quiet and just allow Him to pray over me and reconnect my spirit with Him. He will keep me in that right place - that perfect connection with the Father - as I allow him the freedom to do so.

AS FOR ME

How much God must love me to make a support system to keep me going. In college, there was a class I took that dealt with providing a learning environment for my classroom. The term the professor used was scaffolding. I picture it this way in my head. From a construction standpoint, a scaffold is something that is used to support and lift so that the worker can continue to move up on the project. With each level, a new piece is added to the scaffold so that the worker feels safe and confident that he won't fall (or fail in the "learning" environment). The Holy Spirit works the same way. As I progress in my Christian walk, I'm building a scaffold under me that is created by my faith and victories. When I get tired, the scaffold continues to support me and keep me in place - through the intercessions of the Holy Spirit - until I catch my breath and continue on.

Giving Honestly and Happily

I Chronicles 29:14, 17

(14) "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
(17)I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent." (NIV)

(14) "But me—who am I, and who are these my people, that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we're doing is giving back what we've been given from your generous hand.
(17) I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface—you want us, our true selves—and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily." (MSG)

IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Everything that comes to us, comes from the Father. God of the Universe. The Creator of ALL THINGS. Understanding that simple fact, gaining that tiny piece of revelation knowledge will change your entire outlook and perspective on giving.

People today have a hard time comprehending this concept. It's all about "me" and "my success" that is created by the things we possess. I've been there...and struggle to make sure my revelation of Who actually provides for my needs and wants stays in tact.

This scripture provides two very different scenarios in dealing with what and how we give to God. The first is very obvious: when we realize that what we have comes from the Father and all we are doing is giving back to Him in order to give recognition to that fact, our giving is from a heart that is right; a heart that is willing and obedient.

The second scenario is not as obvious, but is the opposite of the first: when we believe that all we have comes by our own hand, then our giving becomes pious and self-promoting; it becomes an opportunity to either stop giving or give with a heart that is done grudgingly and out of obligation; looking at God not as generous but demanding or greedy. What a shameful way of viewing God the Father; a Father that wants nothing more than to bless His children in every way.

AS FOR ME
This revelation has been life changing for me. I won't begin to try to convince you that it's an easy road. There are times when my flesh WANTS to be self-promoting and pious. But at those times, I pray for the Holy Spirit to rise up and remind me of Whose I am and what He's given me in every area of my life...from spiritual, to mental, to physical, to material. Every area of my life is becoming prosperous. Although I get to benefit from the prosperity, it truly is in order to propetuate the Gospel. I didn't include the end of verse 17, but it goes on to explain that David was asking for God to continue to speak to and bless Solomon in building the temple. The temple dedicated to worshiping God. Which, in context of this discussion, is a forshadowing of perpetuating the Gospel in itself.

What a wonderful way to live life!

God Is Moving

II Corinthians 8:12 (New International)

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have."

"Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands." (The Message)

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

God looks at the intent of the heart and matches it up to the action you are taking...within your means. This takes the "legality" out of the responsibility to support the Church and places it directly into grace and obedience. Giving out of pressure or expectation places the heart in the wrong attitude of recognizing that everything belongs to God. (It has to belong to God or "being blessed" means nothing...it can't be a blessing from God if He doesn't have it to give.) If the Christian gives with a willing heart and is following out of obedience to the leading of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will not lead him to give what he does not have. Likewise, it makes the responsibility of support the Church equal between all believers. A person that makes $100,000 can easily give 10% while someone that makes $10,000 is under a burden to make the same gift. One gives out of surplus while the other gives out of sacrifice.

Again, the key to giving is the attitude of the heart...it's willingness to give back to God what God has blessed me with. If I'm faithful to give with a willing heart, with a true commitment to meet God where I am and then follow that commitment with obedience, God will move tremendously in my behalf.

AS FOR ME
Man, am I struggling today. I'm so tired of digging out of this hole. I'm so tired of having to work to stay on the right path as my flesh resists with each step. I'm so tired of being that strong shoulder and keeping everyone around me lifted up and encouraged. I don't feel like I'm getting any encouragement at all from anyone but myself.

Thank you, Lord for your Holy Spirit. That as I feel tired and let down, that Your Spirit lifts me back up as I totally surrender to Him. Thank you that my obedience comes from my heart and not from my head or my flesh, but that they are both coming in line with the spirit.

As I keep the willing heart established and do what I can, GOD WILL MOVE.