CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

FROM FIGHT : I want to “BE SOMEBODY”. I need to be noticed. I will prove to everyone that I can be a success. {Deception}

TO FLIGHT: I have been destroyed. I want to hide. Leave me alone. It’s hopeless.{Despair}

TO FOLLOWING: Maybe there is someone who really cares. He doesn’t think I’m just a loser . He has a WAY. HE IS THE WAY. HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD. {Deliverance}

“...He was despised...He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.” Is.53.3,7

MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR ME TO SHUT UP. I’ll stop complaining to everyone. I’ll stop rehearsing the past. I’ll stop the bitterness and resentment flowing out of my mouth.

HOW JESUS?

“..to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; but he trusted to him who judges justly.”

WHEN I SHUT MY MOUTH FROM ALL SELF DEFENCE I AM FOLLOWING HIS STEPS - LIKE A LAMB LED TO THE SLAUGHTER - THE LAMB OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO SAYS “Follow Me”.

“...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing....for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Rev.5:12,10

GOD, I CAN SEE IT AT LAST! YOUR PLAN FOR ME, ESTABLISHED THROUGH JESUS THE LAMB IS FAR BIGGER, HIGHER, GREATER THAN ANY PLAN I EVER HAD FOR MYSELF. I GIVE UP MY INFERIOR LIFE PLAN IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PLAN FOR MY LIFE.

‘..if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself”.

I HAVE BEEN DECEIVING MYSELF THINKING I COULD MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN GOD OF MY OWN LIFE AND ALL WORLDLY SUCCESS COULD NOT COME CLOSE TO THE PLAN GOD HAS FOR ME.

“If anyone would come after me (follow in my footsteps) let him take up his cross and follow me.” Mat.16:24

I HAVE DECIDED TO SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF GOD BY FOLLOWING JESUS , YIELDED AND DEPENDENT ON HIM IN EVERY DECISION AND DIRECTION AS A LAMB . THIS DECISION IS AGAINST MY NATURE TO FIGHT AND STRIVE AND COMPETE. THIS IS THE CROSS, THE PLACE WHERE MY NATURE DIES SO I CAN TAKE ON THE NATURE OF CHRIST.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, ...Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others to get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to land a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Instead , he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honoured him far beyond anyone or anything , ever. Phil.2:1-11 Message Bible

JESUS, HOW CAN I DO WHAT YOU ASK ME TO DO? I AM WILLING BUT I DON’T TRUST MYSELF.

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way,anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moments notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”Jn 12:24-26 Message Bible

JESUS, BE LORD OF MY LIFE, AS MY PROTECTOR AND PROVIDER, BE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHOW ME HOW I CAN BE DEAD TO THE WORLD.

“The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. Say the welcoming word to God, - Jesus is my Master- embracing body and soul. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then; you say it right out loud, “God has set everything right between him and me.” Everyone who calls help God! gets help.” Rom.12:10 Message Bible

THANK YOU GOD, I HAVE ASKED YOU FOR HELP AND YOU HAVE REVEALED MY TRUE HELP IS JESUS AS MY MASTER, ENABLING ME TO DIE TO MY OLD NATURE BY FOLLOWING HIM IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH THE WORD IN THE BIBLE SPEAKING TO ME CORRECTING AND ENCOURAGING ME. NOW “MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME, AND TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK” JN 4:34 TEACH ME THE LIFE OF TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON YOU FATHER FOR YOUR WORD SAYS “The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing...The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing.”Jn 5:19

FATHER, JUST AS JESUS SPOKE AND CONTINUES TO SPEAK THE WORDS YOU GAVE HIM, I NOW MAKE HIS WORDS FROM YOU MY WORDS TO YOU. “I’M HERE TO DO IT YOUR WAY, O GOD, THE WAY IT’S DESCRIBED IN YOUR BOOK.”Heb10:9

“CHEERFULLY PLEASING YOU GOD IS THE MAIN THING, AND THAT’S THAT I AIM TO DO.”2Cor5:9 Message

“I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus name....You newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.

And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all, and you newcomers- such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important-has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out - but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1Jn 2:12-17Mess.