When I woke up this morning, I was just moved to drive down to a beach. It was raining heavily, but I was just moved to go ahead. I took my Bible and my keys and just drove down straight.
I wanted to have this quiet moment with the Lord. In the hustle and bustle of life, I realize I have focused so much on issues that I was just longing for this quiet moment with the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, when I reached, the rain subsided.
As I meditated upon the Word of God, the Holy Spirit led me to read the Book of Romans. Reading through the Bible chapters in a quiet place was very refreshing. This verse caught my attention.
Romans chap 8: 6 (NIV)
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
I wanted to understand this verse further, so I tried reading part of the chapter in the message translation.
Romans chap 8:5-8 (Message)
5-8 Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God and ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
While meditating on this verse, I realized focusing on self is the opposite of focusing on God. When we are carnally minded, meaning our focus in life is just about us. Our job, achievements, family, finances, and children. We measure our success by how the world measures them. We focus on the Law and operate according to the logical senses of our human body. We try fixing things or situations. We focus so much on self, meaning we focus so much on the problems. Without realizing it, we become worn out. We become tired daily. We clock in and clock out daily. Tired within ourselves.
Our prayers have been around the same issue for months, probably years. The mess ends up getting bigger and bigger. It has become a bondage, and you may feel trapped. How do we stop this cycle?
The Holy Spirit reminded me today. The only solution is to be spiritually minded. Being spiritually minded gives us the peace and life needed. I asked the Holy Spirit, how do I do this? How do I become spiritually minded?
I had a moment this morning with the Holy Spirit and told Him there is no way I can fix this current situation except that You can do it. It was just beyond my human capabilities. I was trying to add all the maths needed, but I realized it was to no avail. I was just lifting my hands unto the Lord as a posture of surrender. This posture of surrender gave me the peace I needed, knowing every detail of my life was well taken care of.
I believe someone out there who is reading today’s note is at a crossroads in life. You may be going through a health challenge, relationship issues, or financial struggle, one way or another. I would like to encourage my readers to take a few minutes in a day to come before the Lord in a posture of surrendering unto the Lord. There is ultimate power in surrender.
Spend time in reading the Word of God. We have to prepare our hearts to know this God that we serve. The Gospel was never meant to be complicated. If you have a situation where you need God to come to pass in your life, shift your focus to God and not problem. How do we shift our focus to God? It returns to the basics, which take time to read the Bible daily. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Gospel’s insights and mysteries of the Word of God.
John chap 1:1 ;In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
Most of us spend so much time thinking and crying over a problem we face. It doesn’t work that way. We pray and pray over the same problem and end up becoming more worried about the situation. When we bring a situation unto the Lord, we must have faith we have totally surrendered the situation unto the Lord. There must be peace in our hearts. Spend time with the Holy Spirit. If you speak in tongues, spend time speaking in tongues. Minimum of 15-30 minutes a day.
Acts chap 2: 4; And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Have family prayers together. Families that pray together encourage each other to stay focused on the Lord. One person needs to take the lead.Don’t expect your husbands or someone else to do it. You have to take the initiative.
Attend church together. If you have been comfortable with online services, it is time to attend a local church nearby. It is necessary for your spiritual growth.
Always know our inheritance comes from the Lord. We are children of God. We can always go to Him in a posture of surrender, knowing He who is faithful will do it for us.
Matthew 19 : 26 (NIV); Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Zechariah 4:6(NIV) ; So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Acts 1:8 ; (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Say this today: I thank you, Lord, you are faithful, and You will do it.-R.J.JOHN
Prayer for today: Abba Father, I thank you, Lord, for all my readers. You guide them through each situation of their lives. I pray for an encounter with the Holy Spirit as they read and meditate again upon this note today. I pray, Lord, you open their hearts to receive from you. Amen
Application: Have a spiritual gateway for yourself. Just you and the Holy Spirit periodically. Dedicate the whole day unto the Lord.
Partnership: If you have been blessed with this note, I encourage my readers to share it with their loved ones, subscribe, and keep me in prayer as I continue writing for the Lord. It is my desire to fulfill God’s call in my life. It is a journey of a dream. A journey dependent unto the Lord alone. If you wish to partner with me in bringing these writings to translate, publish, or edit them, feel free to contact me. If you have a testimony after reading the note, please feel free to email me at r.j.john25@gmail.com
If you have been moved to partner financially, feel free to invest in this journey of writing for the Kingdom. Not my writings.His writings. He is using me as a vessel to bring His writings to Judea, Samaria, and the earth’s ends.
I am a simple girl from a small town with simple faith, wanting to do big for the Lord. I know with God on my side, nothing is impossible. Allow me to move to my next level of faith. If you believe in this dream, I invite you to partner financially with me – R.J. John.Banking details are as below.
Bank: Maybank
Bank account number: 112054094018
Bank Payee Name: Rowena John
Overseas Transfer Swift Code: MBBEMYKL
Thank you, readers, and remain blessed.
Contact author today: r.j.john25@gmail.com
Joy of the Lord is my Strength Note Series 