Author: marquitabp

Are You Willing?

"As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.  Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish."  They immediately left their nets and followed him. As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets [to go fishing].  He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.  Mark 1:16-20 GWT

As I'm learning now, it is not a matter of can God use us and our lives, but better yet, are WE willing to be used by God.  I'm sure you can relate to this.  When I was growing up it was not necessarily "cool" to be really smart or different from everyone else.  Really smart people were ostracized or the target of rumors and bullies; the artistically inclined or people who wore what made them feel great not the current trend were the people that were ridiculed.  Or to relate to the scriptures above, those that had calls on their lives, calls from God to stand out and away from things of the world, now they were really picked on.  The apostle Paul prior to his conversion was one of those people that picked on the early Christians, and was responsible for their deaths.  Ask yourself, are you really willing to yield to whatever God is asking of you and why not?  Because there is no one to believe in you, no one to encourage you.  Or is it because you think you're too young or some tradition says that its out of the norm?

In the scriptures above, it does not tell you why the disciples simply followed Jesus.  But it tells you that they were willing because there is no sense of hesitation noted here.  They willingly went with Christ.  I'm sure it was not easy walking with the Lord because so many people wanted to kill him–anything that is different and rubs people the wrong way is the accelerant to a volatile situation.  I find myself struggling daily with embracing the things God wants me to do, primarily because I do not want to stand out.  But I know better than that!  From the way that I dress to the way that I talk and think, I know I wasn't made to blend in.  I know that I have to take on the character of the Disciples and willingly go wherever God leads me.  Do you think you can reap the full benefits of God's plan for your life by simply ignoring Him, turning away from Him, or ignoring those things He put in you?  I'm sure you don't want to have a Jonah experience–feeling that you are in the pits of hell because of your refusal to do God's will.  It is much easier to give God His way.

"Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me" John 12:26 NLT

Revive Your Faith

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."  Romans 1:17

I apologize for the hiatus…as life goes on, many are the road blocks.  In my case, much of my own problems were caused because of my own "busyness".  I hope you all enjoy!  Be blessed and I plan to bring you more soon!

Marquita

Revive means to restore life, to bring back from the dead.  Because God through Jesus Christ is life to us, a "revival" is the restoration, the return, the bringing back to Christ.  How is a person revived?  By a confession of faith in Jesus Christ's sovereignty.  Without faith, we cut ourselves off life support–we pull the plug on how God could have changed the situation.  Without faith, you cannot know God, you cannot please God, and you cannot walk with God.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

We must learn to trust in God's promises.  You see, this was what I have been suffering from.  My faith had been choked like the seeds among thorns (Luke 8:14) by every little obstacle I encountered.  I somewhat cut myself off from God by not daily reading the Word.  I would be drained by giving advice, wisdom and divine insight to everyone else, and I would not use the resource I needed to refuel.  I would still spend time praising and worshipping God–communicating in a one-sided way to Him–which is not communicating!  So all the while my faith is withering away, because I am not using all of my lifelines to God.  Yep, I was in desperate need of revival.  God laid it on my heart that much like I cultivate friendships with others by spending time with them and talking to them, I needed to spend time with Him and talk to Him–but more importantly allow Him to talk back to me.

We need to revive our praise, our worship, and our communication to God.  All of these things are essential to developing our faith.  But the most important thing I learned is that we cannot do only one or two of them and not the other.  We must give them all to Him: all of the praise, all of our worship.  We must communicate with Him else the lines of communication get warped and we turn away from Him.  Go back to God because He wants it all.  Let the love of God within you revive your faith in His works and restore you to life.

"But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat."  Luke 8:54-55

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"No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of God and their righteousness is of me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17