W O M E N
F I N D I N G
Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in the presence is the fullness of joy: and at the right hand there are pleasures forevermore." God will show us the path of life...if we are seeking it. He promises to lead us but it's a promise fulfilled only ~ as we are seeking. The Great Divorce is one of my all time favorite classics from C.S. Lewis. I try and read it at least once or twice a year. I have learned from the principles that Mr. Lewis wove into the story. This quote comes from the introduction and ties closely with my thoughts on Psalm 16:11... "We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork you must make a decision." I can say with Mr. Lewis ~ "My thoughts, exactly." The path of life, that leads to God, is about our daily choices and leading from the Lord. He promises to lead, guide, and protect ~ as we are seeking to follow Him, but He does promise. This path is not the favored of choice, nor has it been in any given time period, but it does lead to life. This path leads to life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore...eternal treasure found only in Him and in His guidance, as we surrender to follow His leading. Lovely thoughts this morning from Psalm 16:11 and so worth my four o'clock morning. As Women Finding Grace ~ Let's follow His lead and find the "path of life." There's no other road I'd rather follow.
0 Comments
In II Corinthians 10:12, Paul brings to light a crucial life principle. He is trying to teach the Corinth church how to discern a true apostle from a false apostle, but as I was studying this chapter, an essential key to living godly in this life found in verse twelve jumped off the page at me. He says, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves to them, which praise themselves: but they understand not that they measure themselves with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves." What Paul is teaching here is that these false apostles do not measure themselves against God's Word and the guidelines found in it. They only measure themselves with themselves...Trouble... Pondering on this idea, I had to stop and do a check up on my own life. How do I measure up against God's Word? How are my priorities lining up? My attitudes? My words? ...Even the way I view life and God's plan for me personally... Ouch. This verse was ringing in my ears as my checklist: "The elder women likewise, that they be in such behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not subject to much wine, teachers of honest things. That they may instruct the young women to be sober minded, that they love their husbands, that they love their children. That they be temperate, chaste, keeping at home, good, and subject unto their husbands, that the word of God be no blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5, or this verse: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperancy, against such there is no law." Galations 5:22-23. On this journey called life, I see that there must be a consistent and honest look at scripture as the defining point of our lives. How do I measure up to what is there? And if I see lack to go to the Father and ask for wisdom and the help I need to change my life to be in order to God's Word, keeping myself, my choices, my words, my attitudes, my all, in the perimeters of scripture. It is the only way to find true peace and contentment ~ Resting in Him and allowing our lives to be conformed to the truths found in it. I am closing up these thoughts with one of my favorite verses: "And fashion not yourselves like unto this world, but be ye changed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is." Romans 12:2 As Women Finding Grace ~ Let's be found in the perfect will of God aligning our lives to scripture and the principles found there.
|