What do we do when it feels like life is swallowing us whole? Just like Jonah and the big fish.
It's time for some self reflection with the Holy Spirit!
In what areas of our lives are we walking in disobedience to God's perfect will for us? [Jeremiah 29:11]
What choices have we made? Independently from seeking and getting God's approval first, before taking action? [Proverbs 3:5-6]
What has God specifically told us to do that we know we are running in the opposite direction of, in disobedience? [Jonah 1]
What do we need to relinquish full control of, over to our Creator? [Romans 6:21]
John 3:30 is my life verse. I must decrease so He can increase. I have it tattooed on my arm as a constant reminder. But it only helps me if I stop fighting long enough to humble myself and look down.
Disobedience is the big fish!
At the root of disobedience is pride (I am always right, an unrepented heart), fear (what if), doubt & worry (not trusting God), which creates anxiety and control (manipulation) working together to cripple us and keep us from making wise decisions. In the mix could also be rejection and abandonment, which is the orphan spirit. Maybe some self hatred as well. (Not knowing your worth & value in Christ). All of this creates hopelessness in our spirits.
We were created to walk hand in hand with God for every need and want in this life. The orchestrating of Eden was God's design for fellowship connection with mankind to himself, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
He can only be our Jehovah jireh, The Lord our provider, when we fully allow Him to be and welcome him to fulfill that position in every area of our lives, starting with every part of our heart.
Salvation is a one time choice. Keeping our commitment to that life saving choice is how we daily walk out of our faith with fear and trembling. [Philippians 12:2]
It is a daily heart posture of total and continual surrender!
God's love and mercy for us is so great that He often saves us from ourselves, despite the short sightedness of our own sin.[Matthew 7:3]
It is only when we have grown spiritually (repented), admit that we were wrong and don't know it all, after all, lol. That we gain clarity from Heaven's perspective and receive humbling revelation that we have allowed our flesh to be in control and where we have fallen short of pleasing God. (Worship is a lifestyle!)
This is why it's so important to not make quick decisions when we are experiencing an emotional high or an emotional low. Our emotions should never dictate our choices, for every choice determines the direction our lives will go! When the fruit (good or bad), of each choice comes to pass it hopefully becomes clear to us who we have allowed to make that choice for us, our fleshly emotions or the Holy Spirit.
After God has taken us from each degree of glory to glory, we can look back and see, even in the midst of our chaotic mess, where God was saving "me from me" by allowing us to learn and grow from our mistakes.
This is the process of being refined in the fire of God's perfect love that burns up everything in us that is not of Him.
2 Chronicles 7:14 AMPC[
14] If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Prayer:
Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
