Reflections, November 1, 2009

Sunday, November 1^st, 2009 

Reflections: “Is God Invited?”

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6 

Scripture Reading For This Week: Psalm 31; Proverbs 3:5-8; 16; Song of Solomon 2; 8; Jeremiah 31; Matthew 22:1-24; Luke 11:37-44; 12:1-12; Revelation 2:4; 3:19... 

God has long since had a standing invitation for all those that would choose to believe that, Jesus Christ, is the Son of God, and that God sent Him that we might be saved. And that whomever believes would have eternal life. It's been an open invitation; free of charge. The price having already been paid in full by Christ. 

Yet, is there an open invitation on your end? Is God invited into your life? Is He invited into your day to day living? Do you acknowledge God when you are making plans?

It is my sincerest prayer that this week's, Reflection will be a source of encouragement and an opening for fresh and honest dialogue between you and the Heavenly Father. I pray that your hearts are prepared to receive all that God has ordained just for you. 

I've asked myself this question a few times; especially recently. I find myself being under attack by the enemy quite often lately. Now I understand clearly that when you are doing something for the Lord, and you are destroying the enemy's plans; he is bound to get a bit tight! But I wanted to make sure that the “hell” I have been experiencing, is because I am stomping on the enemy's feet, destroying his plans; and not because I am going solo, and have wandered out of the will of my Father. 

I asked myself: did I invite God into my plans? Have I invited Him into my decision making, as far as my marriage, business, ministry, and life in general? Sometimes we forget that we are not alone; that we are in a partnership with God. We are working diligently with the Lord, as we are the temple of God, and we what we do affects our relationship with God, those around us, and the life we live in general. 

1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” 

In all that we do, or would hope to do; we should be inviting God to direct us. We should be acknowledging His presence and His will that He has ordained for our lives. God, better than anyone, knows what is best for us and which path will bring us to the expected end that He has for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” 

Could the dire consequences of our actions be based upon the fact the we have yet to invite God to be an active part in our lives? Many of us take for granted that having accepted Christ as our Savior is enough. Many believe that going to church, a few Bible studies, (if that!) reading a Bible passage every now an then, constitutes a sincere and healthy relationship with the Lord. And we wonder why we are experiencing so much trouble in our lives. We wonder why the enemy is able to defeat us at every turn. We wonder why God has seemed to have abandoned us when we need Him so much.

Could it be that you've never taken the time to invite God to be a part of your life? Could it be that you have never once thought about acknowledging God in ALL that you do, and ask for His opinion, guidance; just His blessing on what YOU want to do?—not given thought to what He would have you to do?

God is not like an employer, who just wants to tell you what you need or should do. He is our partner. And not a silent partner. He desires to work with us. He gave us the freedom to choose; and with that freedom comes responsibility. As our partner, He desires to be invited into the decisions that we are making that not only affect our life, but those around us. 

Any good partnership requires communication, reciprocation, and understanding. Would you expect to be in a partnership with someone who only shows up when they want something? Think about it: you are the one with all the capital. You willingly and gladly partnered with someone, because you believed in their innate ability to run a productive and thriving company. The only problem is; as a partner, you are not given the courtesy of being informed when major decisions are being made or planned. You are not invited to sit in and discuss the possible changes that will affect the operation and success of this business. Yet, when the plans fail you are called upon to write another check to keep the company afloat. Does that seem fair? No doubt you would sever this partnership, and take it as a loss. 

However, we can be most grateful that God, our heavenly Father, is not like this. As much as we mess up, and go on our own; He stands waiting with outstretched arms to be invited; even into the mess that we've made all on our own. He is not willing to sever ties with us. But is willing to sit at the table and talk it out; work out what needs to be done to ensure we gain solid footing and stability again. He just loves us that much.

Jeremiah 31:3 “...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” 

Psalm 31:23,24 “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” 

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 

We should be seeking out the council of God in everything that we do. We should have the confidence of God's Word backing us up. The Father says that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Diligently! Why would God say this? Because He knows that it is most vital to our relationship and walk, to always seek the face and will of God. To invite the Lord to be apart of our lives and daily decision making.

Perhaps you feel that what God has told you to do doesn't make any sense. That sounds about right! Majority of the time, (I must speak for myself), the things that God will have you do seems totally outrageous, impossible, and sometimes downright insane. But the question is: insane to who? Man? What is man? What power does he have above God? What wisdom or understanding does have, but what God bestows upon him? 

There is absolutely nothing that God will not do for his children that love Him, and that walk in obedience. When you seek God to be a full=time partner in your life; you are inviting the blessings of God to continually manifest in your life, your family's life, and those who come in contact with you.

I have to admit; the greatest joy I have ever experienced is when God has instructed me to do something that was totally impossible for me to do on my own. Not only could I not do it on my own; I knew that it would take my partnership with God to make it happen. No one will ever know you better than God does. No one will ever know what it is you should do, to get all that God has ordained for you, but God Himself. And all that God asks of us, is to be invited into our daily lives, and the plans that we have. There is nothing greater on this earth than when you have God's blessing; His green light; upon all that you are about to do.

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” 

Revelation 3:19 “as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” 

One of the many wonderful things about our Father is His second chance...His third chance...His fourth chance...etcetera! You get the point! The Father has been standing at the door of our heart for a long time; knocking, waiting to be invited in.  

God has been waiting on us to invite Him into our lives. He's been waiting to be invited back into our pews and pulpits. Oh, we think God is there. We think the Holy Spirit is present and having His way. We think Christ is in our hearts. But we'd be shocked to know how far away God is from our lives, and our houses of worship.

Where the Spirit of God is, there is: love, life, healing, deliverance, miracles, forgiveness. When God has been invited in, there is no mistaking His presence. There is no mistaking the joy that is present; even in the midst of sorrow. God just has that kind of effect.

I encourage you to invite God into your life full time. Acknowledge God in all that you do—even if it's choosing a brand of toothpaste! Invite God into every part of your life. I pray that the spirit of peace and prosperity visit you in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. God is knocking; will you invite Him in? Be Blessed. 

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.