Functioning in the Body.

I'm quite familiar with the verse in 1 Corinthians that speaks about the many members that make up the Body of Christ but the past few days I've been reflecting on what they actually means for me. We've been having some fellowship about the function of the PGG group within the church and quite honestly I had no idea. We agree that we need to be united by the same vision but to me that's was just Christian lingo that we throw around because it sounds right. In reality we haven't received a clear vision from the Lord and that's why there's been so much confusion.

Being in the PGG group is a unique period of life. We are at a point where we are starting to serve in multiple capacities in the Body: the children's ministry, worship team, middle or high school groups, CGG, adult ministry. This is a blessing but I feel that at times we can easily get lost in these services and lose sight of why we're doing them. I'm not sure if I have the answer but I think that our function as the PGG group within the body is to bear one another's burdens.

Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Galatians 6: 2, 10

What better time than now for us to learn to bear each other's burdens and to serve one another, whether through diligent prayer or actual acts of service when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Being single really frees me up from a lot of the responsibilities so I should view this time as a blessing, the perfect time to learn how to function in this way in the body. Who knows what life will be like once I'm married with kids. lol I definitely won't have the same freedom to just drop everything and serve when led by the Spirit. I am however reminded that all this must stem from love. Without the love of Christ it will be impossible to function in this way with a joyful heart. 

A Little Leaven

I was convicted by the Lord today about overstepping the line when it came to trying to make the "right" decision about a situation. Throughout our conversations I felt like we were going in circles and we always ended up more confused than we had started. Tonight I suddenly felt the Lord telling me why things were so confusing, we had forgotten to ask the Lord about His decision. I had allowed man's voice and reasoning to enter into my mind and had blocked out the voice of our Lord, That's why I couldn't feel peaceful about any decision that was being made. So often we seek after the advice of man, and the advice might even be good, but unless we ask the Lord for His way, we will never feel at peace. 

As I was getting ready for bed I was led to read Galatians 5 where it talks about walking by the Spirit. 

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 

Galatians 5:7

It doesn't take much, just a little leaven, and we lose clarity in our life. It is only when we walk by the Spirit will we be able to resist the desires of the flesh. We don't need to stray far from this path and all of a sudden the thoughts of the flesh come flooding in and we lose our sense of direction and peace. If He calls us to do something we need to follow, we cannot allow anything else to persuade us otherwise.

I think I was reminded of this not only for myself but that I need to trust the leading of the Spirit in my brothers and sisters. We may not see what they see, but we need to trust that they are sincere before the Lord and that the Lord is working in their life. We all make mistakes but that's why we need the Blood of the Lamb. He is gracious and merciful towards us and as long as we have the heart He can continue to work. 

To Contend.

When it comes to everyday tasks I can be a somewhat proactive person. I like making lists of what needs to be done the next day and it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can mentally cross them off. However, when it comes to spiritual matters I must confess that I am rather passive. I could argue that I'm allowing the Lord to have His way in me but if I were being honest with myself I would see that that isn't the case, my self-will is still very strong. 

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16: 8

I've been reminded that choosing to follow the Lord is an active decision that must be made daily. It is so easy for the enemy to convince us that we don't NEED the Lord to get through the day and in some ways he's right. I may miss devotions one day and find that I have no problem getting through the day. I may even miss them two days in a row and I can still finish my to-do list. This is what the enemy does. It's such a gradual lie that we don't realize we are slowly drifting away from the path of our Lord. Then when things start to get rough we wonder how it happened. As I start off each day I must make the conscious decision to choose Life, to set the Lord continually before me. 

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11

2014

2013 was a rough year but I am thankful that through the difficulties the Lord was able to reveal more of Himself to me. As I move into 2014 I pray that I would not forget the hard lessons I learned but that I would be able to build upon them and grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord. I haven't set any new years resolutions for many years because I was always disappointed by the fact that I could never keep them but I feel like I should at least try to form some concrete resolutions for this year. I understand that I can't keep them by my own strength but that as I bring them before the Lord He is faithful and is the one that does the keeping. 

The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.

Psalm 12: 6-7

So...here are my prayers before the Lord for the year 2014:

1. To be able to find joy in Him.

There are many things that may happen this year that I will be not content with, whether it is life circumstances or perceptions I have about myself, but I realize that this should not define my sense of joy in the Lord. Being content in the Lord doesn't mean that I need to be happy with life on this earth; being content in the Lord is a deeper sense of satisfaction that exists even when I'm unsettled by my earthly circumstances. 

 

2. To treasure His Words.

Finding satisfaction in the Lord is impossible if I don't spend time with Him. I've struggled with spending quiet time before the Lord in the past and my prayer is that the Lord would burden me with the desire to treasure His word and the time I spend in His presence. This blog was created as a way to document the work that the Lord has been doing in my life but I haven't been very good with staying consistent. Honestly, it's probably a pretty good reflection of my condition before the Lord. My prayer for this year is that I would give Him the time He deserves each day and use this blog as a way of remembering His speaking/working in my life. 

3. To be obedient before the Lord.

In the parable of the blind man, the Lord placed mud on the eyes of the blind man but he needed to be obedient to the Lord's command to go to wash it off. The Lord sometimes burdens me with something or reveals something that He's doing in my life but I am unwilling to take the step to obey and submit to His leading. In this next year I pray that I would allow Him to soften my heart so that I would be obedient before Him, whether it is letting of something I've been clinging onto or taking up something I've been avoiding.