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It was just a moment. A quick moment during dinner when everything felt surreal. I gazed at my dinner in front of me. The haddock I had chosen for dinner was now mid bite. Lights flashing, music playing, people chatting.

My cousin, the third of the six grandchildren on my father's side had gotten married. My cousin, the one whom I played with, made up dances with and had sleepovers with was now married. How and when did this happen? Weren't we just little girls giggling about the latest celebrity cutie on Disney?

I had to snap myself out of the moment by taking another bite of my meal and tuning back in to the conversations happening around me.

Some days when I feel like time is flying by, I long for a do-over. I want to go back and relish those childhood memories with my cousins. Those long held traditions that I took for granted I wish to live over again. What if I'd only been more content back then? What if I'd only stopped and smelled the roses more?

But I can't turn back time and living in the past is a sad and dangerous way to live. I can't go back and relive those times, but I can relish in the moments given to me today. I can be grateful for what I have now and learn to be content.

Is it any wonder that God has been teaching me thankfulness? Is it any wonder that I found myself ordering Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts?" No it's not a coincidence. God is helping me to live fully, today! He's showing me the power of gratefulness and living in the moment. It's not an easy lesson, but it certainly is what I need.

I'm learning how powerful gratefulness can be. It takes what we have now and helps us to relish in the moments we're given. Gratefulness turns an ordinary life into an extraordinary one.

Seeing my cousin get married was amazing. She looked so happy! And while I still am praying that the remainder of the three grandchildren will also get married, I'm also learning that the abundant, filled life promised to us through Christ doesn't happen only when marriage does; the abundant, fulfilled life happens now. We shouldn't let it pass us by.

I don't want to come to the end of my years and look back with longing on today wondering why I didn't stop and smell the roses, relish the moments and live in the present. I want to look back and realize that I made the right choice by choosing to live each and every day given to me. I have a choice to make today!

Thankfulness is a way for all of us to realize the abundance that is right before our very eyes, in this very moment, living for today.

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I didn't expect to work in a school after college. In fact it was probably the very last thing I expected, which is definitely strange when I think about it because I adore working with children. Truth be told though I didn't want to work in a school because I had a hard time in school when I was a child.
Academically I did fine but emotionally it was tough. As a fearful, anxious little girl I rarely felt safe being away from my mother for long periods of time. I mostly was fine on play dates, those were fun, school however was long and sometimes even tedious. Thankfully though there were quite a few teachers who came alongside me and made things a whole lot better. I still remember them fondly after all these years and am grateful for the time they took to nurture my heart.

A year ago I found myself working at an elementary school after college. It wasn't my plan to work there but somehow upon learning about an available position a peace washed over me about applying. After a series of events I eventually landed a job within the school and am back there this year. Wednesday was the first day back and already I feel that peace again; like I'm supposed to be there. Seeing each child everyday and being able to help them grow is absolutely amazing. I love what I do! Now I have the privilege to nurture a child's heart and come alongside them in love. It's an honor and a blessing!

This wasn't what I planned on doing, nor would it have been what I would have chosen for myself. Nevertheless I am glad that God had planned this and chose me to do this work right now. I don't know if His plan for me is to this job for the rest of my life or even for another two years, I do know that His plans will stand and it's my job to trust in His plans for me because they are good.

I write this to you today because I want to encourage you all to trust God fully; He has a plan for you and it is oh so good. His plans for you are numerous and it's not something you can ever fully comprehend or understand, especially on your own. But God is faithful and will guide you each step of the way into His perfect will for your life. Trust in His plans.

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Months ago I came across a beautiful quote from a book called Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer  written by a man named Brother David Steindl-Rast. I still have not worked through the whole book yet but nevertheless highly recommend it. It's a very deep, thought provoking and spiritually stimulating read. This is the type of book you need to read, re-read and re-read again; there is so much to take in and spiritual insights that renew the soul. It gave me a new perspective on prayerfulness, gratitude and abundant living.

Today I wanted to share with you this quote because I believe that these words, along with 1 Kings 19:11b-12, make up the name of this blog. Whispers to the Heart is about the whole person, fully alive, living life in communion with the One True God.

                                                                                (Image courtesy of [David Castillo] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

"The key word for speaking of the heart is 'together.' The heart is center of our being where intellect and will and feelings, mind and body, past and future come together. When we discover that spot where our life holds together, we discover the heart. That is why I call the heart the taproot of the whole person. When we grasp the taproot of a dandelion to be pulled, or of a dogwood tree to be transplanted, we know that we have taken hold of the whole plant. And there are moments when something touched that very root of our being. It went to our heart."

(Brother David Steindl-Rast: Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer)

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Have you ever stopped to watch the waves of the ocean crash and recede? I mean really stop and watch? I have. Every time I do I'm overtaken with a sense of awe and beauty. Subconsciously and without little to no effort on my part I'm drawn closer to God. An atmosphere of calm and an indwelling peace that I'm unable to fathom wash over me like the very waves I'm watching. But why is this?

Aside from the creation of God proclaiming His majesty His creation also is fully surrendered to Him. The waves crashing on the sand are fully surrendered to Him. The crashing, rolling, receding waves are at every moment fully abandoned to the Creator.


God's word is full of inspirational verses that remind us what surrender looks like. Here are some of my favorites:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25

 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’"
Matthew 22:37

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:11 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:20

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Struggles with Comparison

Last week I wrote a post called Just Be You. This post was a challenge not only for others but for myself as well. I often fail to take my own advice and this specific post was no exception. I admit that comparing myself to others is a sin I regularly tend to fall into. It's not that I want to compare myself with others, it's just a long overdue habit that needs to be given the boot.

Can I ask you ladies a question? Am I alone in this? Do you ever struggle with comparison too?

I was feeling it more so again this past week and went straight to my journal to think it through. I often tend to journal about things that weigh heavily on my heart. As I re-read the entry again this morning I've decided to post some of my thoughts here on the blog.  So without further ado, here are some of my own heartfelt ponderings on this issue of comparison.

From My Journal

The ages and stages of life are still somewhat of a mystery to me. 

Why is it that God ordains some women to marry at the age of 20 or 21 while others who long for marriage aren't married until 35?...

I've often considered myself to be a late bloomer. Now whether that's because of the trials I went through in my early years or because that's just the way God made me, I'm not sure.  Perhaps it's a little bit of both.

Of course this issue also brings  into question certain standards. Who's to say I am a late bloomer? The world? Culture? Modern society? What if, in God's Sovereignty, He decided I would take root and bloom exactly at this age and stage in my life? Then of course the world's standard is brought to nothing and I would no longer be a late bloomer.

Ordained Bloomer

The thing is, I often end up comparing myself not with God's standard but with the world's standard. The world may say I'm a late bloomer but God says that I've taken root and bloomed exactly when and where He ordained me to.

Question is, how do I, you, we live this out and truly believe that we are exactly where we should be right now in life. What would living fully in this age and stage look like on a day to day basis? I don't know the complete answer to this question but one thing is for sure, comparison no longer has any place to steal our joy, peace and growth when we fully live in the place where God has ordained us to take root and bloom.

Comparison to the world, comparison to others and comparison in general ceases to exist when we embrace who we are at this very age and stage of life and allow the Lord to grow us each step of the way.

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All the good noble and upright deeds we do are merely a reflection of the truly good, noble and righteous deeds done by our God. Likewise the honorable careers that humans may have on this earth are also reflections of the jobs that God fulfills. He is Sovereign and always working.

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As a woman I know I'm not the only one who struggles with comparison. I've heard from far too many other women, both single and married that they often spend a lot of time taking mental notes of what others have and what they may lack. It's too easy for me personally to critique my own hair, skin and clothes with others, and begin to think that if only I looked more like them, then I will be accepted. Maybe if my hair is straight, curly, up, down, short, long, layered, angled.... (you get the picture) then maybe a guy will notice me better or at least strike up a conversation with me. Or perhaps if I were more quiet, loud, gentle, extravagant, outgoing, flexible... (sigh) you catch my drift.

But this comparison game is dangerous and more often than not will lead to doubt, fear and discontent. It becomes a vicious cycle of compare and contrast without a second thought as to whether or not what we're doing is right. Can I let you in on a secret? It's not right. Comparison, especially vain comparison, is definitely wrong. Now I'm not saying that it's wrong to want to aspire, to want to cultivate certain qualities of someone else we may admire just as long as we remember that we are unique and not the same as them.

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Every once in a while the inner child within seems to awaken from her sleep. The joys I once felt long ago get stirred up inside me again; it's in these moments I begin to experience intimacy with the Lord in a new way.

Simple yet profound.

I used to sit in the backseat of my car and stare up at the sky as my parents drove down the highway. Lost in my own imagination the sensation of flying would overwhelm me. The clouds would become beds of angels, the stars would become the angels themselves and I would become caught up the the Heavenly city where anything was possible.

In hindsight I now understand the words of Jesus: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

Children can see God's kingdom in a different and unique way. Their vision has been mostly left untouched by this world. The inner child within still lives though, even as the years continue to pass by.

I drove down the highway a few days ago and as I turned my eyes to the sky the inner child was once again aroused from sleep. Only this time I was experiencing it as a child of the Most High King.

Joy unspeakable filled my heart and in that precious moment God whispered.

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I love little children. There is something so sweet, precious and innocent about them that I just can't resist. The love they give and trust they have in others is like a little glimpse of heaven on earth. The tiny fingers, rosy cheeks, bright smiles and yes even messy faces are a blessing to behold. These fleeting years of childhood are a gift and it's become even more evident to me since I began to help teach some wide eyed kindergartners.

I went in to kindergarten hoping to bless these children by helping them learn their alphabet, numbers, counting, reading and writing. Little did I know though that these children would be the ones teaching and blessing me.

God has taught me a lot through these precious babes, and over time I began to think about some of the many the lessons I've learned from them. I would like to share them with you today.

Lesson One: Don't Be In A Rush.

Schedules are a good thing. We use them to plan out our day and get things done. Without them time may be wasted and we can become unproductive in our work; however, schedules aren't set in stone either. I'm often tempted to hurry along these children to begin our next lesson (counting, writing etc). They, on the other hand, have a tendency. It was easy for me to try and keep them under a tight thumb even if the clock wasn't against us, so to speak. But really it was those moments when I let the kids take their time, ask a question or two, and allow for some wiggle room that our time became more productive and the children (myself included) were less stressed. I do my best with the time given but rushing isn't the answer. If the Lord rushed me every time He felt like I "needed" to get something done, I don't think I'd be where I'm at today. For this I am grateful.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22

Lesson Two: Whistle While You Work

Ah, the carefree attitude of children! It's like a cool glass of water on a hot summer's day. I remember a show I used to watch when I was younger that was about the funny things children used to say. I laughed through most of the program. Children back then had a sweet carefree attitude and children today still do. One little boy I work will often times begin singing silly songs while he's working. He gets the other children laughing and feeling happy as well as myself. It's a sweet reminder to incorporate play into our workday. The saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" really does make sense! Even God took delight in His work!

And God saw that it was good. 
Genesis 1:10b

Lesson Three:You Shouldn't Be Too Old To Dance In The Rain

Rainy days can be exhausting both mentally and physically. The grey skies tend to bring moods down and keeping the little ones inside and entertained is no easy task. I'm not particularly fond of rain, and I know that most people would probably agree with me. One day though I had a sweet conversation with a little girl about umbrellas which then prompted her to tell me that she enjoyed jumping in puddles. She loved to jump in then when it rained outside. A big smile crept across my face as I asked her more questions. I realized then and there that I'd succumbed to common thinking amongst adults. I'd been going about it all wrong. God made the sunshine and the rain. Who was I too complain about one day over the next? Each day given is a gift from Him. We can choose to complain about the grey skies or we can choose to rejoice in the day and dance in the rain. This sweet girl helped me to remember such an important truth.

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 
Psalm 118:24

I've learned so much more from these precious ones than just the lessons mentioned above but wanted to share with you these three. Children still need direction, training and lots of discipleship from godly older adults, but I think we sometimes forget that God can use a child to teach us older ones a lesson or two. Children really are a blessing from the Lord and I'm just beginning to experience the true meaning of Jesus' words, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

                                              

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Evil, Brokenness, Suffering

There are truly no sufficient words I can write that could ever explain or fathom the evil acts, brokenness and suffering that took place last week. I watched with deep sadness in my heart the live-streaming broadcasts of pain and suffering that happened at the Boston Marathon. A great tragedy took place on the streets my family and I have walked before. Innocent lives were taken away and damaged, due to hostile forces and tragic choices. A tragedy such as this creates a ripple effect in the surrounding communities, nation and world.

It's tempting to question God in the midst of all this; to ask why. Why? I think God wants us to come to Him with those deep questions. He's ready to wrap us in His comforting, loving arms as we weep. These emotions don't bother Him. Jesus experienced these deep, heart-wrenching emotions too.

Jesus Wept.

Living in a world of brokenness, evil and suffering is not easy. We wait, hope, long for the day when all pain will be gone and our tears are dried up at the source. What a glorious day that will be when everyone walks in unity, love and peace; when tragedy ceases to exist and the lion lies down with the lamb. What a glorious day that will be. Until then though, we live in a world that is not perfect. Jesus  told us this before He left the world. He also told us not to be afraid. It seems an impossible task, especially at times like these, but nevertheless still the words of Christ.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." 
John 14:1

As we begin the slow and often painful healing process, we needn't be afraid to turn to God. He is ready and willing to bind up our wounds, tend to our pains and comfort us in all things. Reading the Psalms seem to be especially comforting for me in times of confusion, hurt and sorrow. As you will see in the entire book of Psalms, God is not afraid of our questions and emotions. In times of brokenness God is still with us. He still cares. It's in these times that we often can feel His presence in ways that go beyond our understanding.

One day when Jesus comes back to bring in the new world all pain, evil and suffering will be gone. We look with hope for that future day yet still carry that hope in Christ with us today. 

"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."
John 14:2-3

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." 
John 16:33

Join me as we continue to pray for everyone affected by this tragedy and slowly begin the healing process.

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God Calling You Out of Your Comfort Zone

"Yes" I said. "Yeah, I can do that for you."

It was almost an involuntary response. It was like something, or rather Someone was encouraging me to take a leap of faith, try something new and (gulp) get out of my comfort zone. By saying yes to this new opportunity in front of me, I was confronted with a myriad of emotions: apprehension, joy, peace and discomfort. Right then and there I internally felt like God had asked me to expand my horizons, trust in Him and walk in faith as I stepped outside my comfort zone for a little while.

God will call each and every one of us out of our comfort zones at one point or another. In order to grow in our walk with Him we need to be stretched from time to time. It can be hard, a little nerve wracking and sometimes a little painful, but God is working something even greater in us and for us. Rest assured though, He will get you through whatever it is He has called you to do.

Biblical Examples

Some of the greatest biblical men and women of old were also called way outside of their comfort zones. Abraham was called to leave his country, family, everything familiar and to go to a place he did not even know about; yet God blessed him greatly. Abraham became the father of many nations because he was faithful to God's call and stepped outside his comfort zone. See Genesis 12

Gideon was a man who was called outside of his comfort zone as well. God called Gideon to fight for Israel and deliver them from the hands of the Midianites. (Midian was a country that was greatly oppressing Israel at that time in history and were enemies to God's chosen ones.) Like you and me, Gideon had his doubts, questioned God and put a fleece before Him to test whether or not God really called him to do something so great! Eventually though, with the help of Deborah, Gideon responded to the call of God, stepped outside his comfort zone and saved Israel. See Judges 6

Even King David was called to step outside his comfort zone. Before David was King of Israel, King Saul wanted David dead. Saul was jealous of David and sought his life for years out in the wilderness. David was on the run for a very long time but he trusted God throughout it all. He held fast to the promise that he would become King of Israel and knew that God was faithful. Despite the many discomforts, hardships and persecutions, David was victorious because God always comes through.

These are only a few examples of people God called to step outside their comfort zones. Hebrew 11 lists many more of the men and women who had great faith to respond to the Lord's call.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is biblical. God doesn't just want you to survive, He wants you to thrive. Thriving means enduring some uncomfortable situations and leaning totally upon God for your well being and victory.

Take A Leap of Faith

As I stepped outside of my comfort zone a couple of weeks ago, I grew in ways I never would have imagined. Sure, I was stretched and almost quit at one point, but I am grateful that I didn't. It was a great experience to not only pitch in and help other people out at my job but it also was a great learning experience. By God's grace I followed through with the thing that was asked of me and leaned totally upon God each step of the way. Not only did He help me do something that was a bit outside my comfort zone but He taught me a lot and for that I am extremely grateful.

Is the Lord calling you outside of your comfort zone? Is He asking you to do something that is hard? Listen to Him. He will bring you through, and more often than not He has something He wants to show you along the way. You won't ever be disappointed for taking a leap of faith and getting outside your comfort zone when God is the One Who calls you to do it.

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Books Galore

I adore books. Reading a variety of books is a must in my opinion. There is so much to be learned! There is knowledge to take in, wisdom to be gleaned and ideas to potentially adopt into our own lives. By reading books we can enlarge our thinking, challenge limited mindsets and begin to see things from another person's perspective. Not to mention we can also learn a trade, teach ourselves an academic and learn from our ancestors of old. Reading books also helps us to step outside of our own society and stay humble before God.

I can't even begin to tell you all the things I have learned by reading many books. I've enlarged my thinking about others, God's Sovereignty, the culture around me, apologetics, God's creation and even fictional stories! It's been a blessing to glean this information, see how it line's up (or doesn't line up) with the Holy Scriptures and either accept or reject the ideas given.

Of course, reading books is a worthless pursuit if we believe that through reading we will acquire wisdom aside from God and become puffed up in our own knowledge. The preacher who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes even wrote, of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Also, there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9 and 12:12) We must remember though, these words were penned for the man who did not keep God at the center of his life and found that all these things were worthless without Him.

God At The Center

Reading books is not a worthless pursuit when God is at the center of our lives. Nor will we be easily led astray by other worldviews we may come up against if we keep ourselves centered in God's Word first.


To be quite honest, I still don't read certain books. Romance novels are something I've chosen not to read, along with an outright God-less or God bashing piece of literature. I still try to read to God's glory.

When my walk with God became more serious, I didn't read books that were not Christian oriented. Truthfully, it was a stumbling block for me. I needed to orient myself first in God's Word then ventured out into Christian books. Well, actually I used Christian literature to help me in studying God's Word; I still do! But God's Word comes first. As a young born again believer, I couldn't deal with anything that wasn't Christ-centered. I needed protection against other worldviews in order to grow up in Christ. Just as a child needs protection from the outside world, I too needed protection by reading only Christian literature and of course God's Word. The Bible talks about this very concept.

You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, 
1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready,
1 Corinthians 3:2 (NLT)

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)

New believers need the pure spiritual milk of God's Word and the principles taught in the Bible. Without it the foundation we stand upon will collapse. Like the apostles of old said, only when we drink the milk first can we then move on to more solid foods.

In Light of God's Word

I'm just beginning to read weightier literature that may or may not line up with God's Word. After about three years of reading almost nothing but Christian non-fiction and the Bible, I now feel comfortable to venture out into different reading materials. Some things are still off limits but reading has truly opened up new adventures and understanding in my life.

The book "Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books," by Tony Reinke, which I highly recommend goes into even greater detail about reading books from a Christian perspective.

"As strange as it sounds, our eyes are filled with the Creator's glory in literature because we read in the presence of God's radiance. The motto of the reading Christian is a dazzling doxology: 'in your light do we see light.' (Psalm 36:9) Christian readers can now see and treasure the truth, goodness, and beauty that flicker in the pages of books. The whole thing is like reading books under high voltage stadium lights. We see the illuminating grace of God." (Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books)

Wherever you are in your walk with God, I encourage you to read books. Christian oriented books, poetry, non-fiction, fiction, classic literature etc. By reading books in light of God's Word we can truly grow and learn to see God and the world around us in new ways.


Within the next week or so I will be adding an Amazon bookstore link to this site where I will share some great books that have helped me to grow and blessed me more than I could ever have thought. I pray you too will be blessed by the titles I share.

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Illusive Anxiety

Matthew 6:24

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Losing Our Life

Confession, I have a hard time sometimes walking by the Spirit. Why? Well to be honest, I never really knew what walking by the Spirit really was until recently. I also realized, much to my chagrin, that there is a whole lot of "self" going on in my day to day choices and overall living.
I tend to take the easy route, make choices that will bring me down the path of least resistance and be likely to have an adult tantrum (i.e. complain, mutter, get angry at others, gossip etc) if I'm taken way out of my comfort zone. Yeah, this eye opening and very humbling revelation showed me that I've got a lot of "self" still alive and well. It makes Spirit filled living near impossible.

The Bible paints a different picture for us though. Jesus Himself, Who walked a Spirit filled life addressed this very issue.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 
Matthew 16:24-25

Or as the Apostle Paul puts it in the letter to the Galatians:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

I tend to hesitate to let the self in me be crucified. What will happen if I lose myself completely? Will I be miserable? Will I never be able to say "no" again?

Finding Our Life

Jesus didn't say that though. He didn't say that we'd be miserable or feel burdened by losing the self. Quite the contrary! Jesus said that by losing the self within, we'd actually find real life! It doesn't mean we can't say "no" to people anymore. Nor does it mean that God doesn't want us to take care of ourselves. Crucifying the self means letting go of the fleshly habits that once held us captive and made us miserable, and allowing Jesus Christ to live His life through us. It means living life to the fullest and displaying true Christian love.

Crucifying the self leads to walking a Spirit filled life and bearing the fruit of the Spirit within and without. When we walk by the Spirit we are able to have the right response and allow Christ to shine through us.



  
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 
Colossians 3:12-14

The fruit of the Spirit brings love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)  Walking by the Spirit helps us to love others, be patient, kind, humble, gentle and joyful.

The Joy of Spirit-filled Living

Living by the Spirit brings great joy! Is it always easy? No. When the self life tends to rear its head, living by the Spirit is hard. In fact, without Christ working in us and living in us it is impossible. We cannot do it on our own. It's just too hard. We have to be purposeful and prayerful to live by the Spirit instead of by the flesh. But more importantly we need to remember that Christ in us is more powerful than the flesh. Living by the Spirit will bring true life, freedom and pure joy. Losing the self actually means gaining the abundant life in Christ. 

I realized only recently (and am still learning) just how much our "self" is tied into our fleshly habits. I'm still learning and won't reach perfection this side of eternity; however, I'm grateful that God is able to do abundantly above all that I could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and that Christ now lives His life through me. To God be all the glory!

Thank you all so much for joining me for this 3 part series of Flesh vs. Spirit Living. I pray that these posts have been encouraging and edifying for you all.

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A Picture of the Flesh

The mercy of God is higher than the skies and deeper than the seas. His compassion, love and forgiveness are beyond anything that we could comprehend. When we fail He does not condemn, and yet even our best works done for Him could never rightfully repay what He has done for us. It’s a mystery and a miracle all wrapped up in one.

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Indepedent vs. Dependent

Last week I posted some thoughts on how we can either live independently of God or dependent on Him. (Link available here) I mentioned in that post, the tendency we all have to live independently of God and thus try to rely on our own strength, knowledge and understanding. I don't know about you, but when I feel weak I try harder to pull through and when I don't understand I end up masking my confusion with an all knowing attitude. (Yeah not good.) But this only causes me to live more independently. Truth be told, none of those things actually benefit my walk with God or my day to day living. Living independently of God won't benefit anybody. It actually hinder us. It opens our lives to temptation, burnout and confusion. And I know that God has much better things in mind for His children than temptations, weariness and lack of knowledge.

Living independently of God or dependent upon Him leads us to either, what the Bible calls, living by the flesh or living by the Spirit. The flesh is based upon what I can do, while the Spirit is based upon what God can do through me. We can either try, try, try and feel extremely guilty when we fail, or we can humbly walk with the Spirit of God by listening, yielding, and following Him. Walking a Spirit filled life means walking in dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Flesh vs. Spirit

In Romans 7 and 8 the Apostle Paul contrasts the life of the flesh and the life of the Spirit. As I read chapter 7, I  can honestly feel his pain as he describes his inner struggle with wanting and willing to do what is right, yet all the while not being able to actually live it out. With his heart and mind he knows what is right, but with his flesh he is unable to act upon it. The Apostle Paul reminds us that this is sin at work in us. When we want to do what's right and try so hard to do so but fail, this is indeed the sin nature at work. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 7.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law (God's commandments) is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 
Romans 7:15-17
                                                                                                                (Image Source: Free Digitial Photos )

I've failed many times. I failed this past week in fact. When I fail, I feel guilty. I know what I need to do yet I don't do it. It's a battle to do the right thing sometimes. I find that the inner struggle within is truly something that I can not, nor ever will, win on my own. I want to do what's right but I don't. I yield to temptation and end up feeling so guilty about it.By living independently of God, in my own strength, power, understanding etc, I end up living by the flesh.  I don't want to, but I do. It's a frustrating often times perplexing phenomenon I find at work in myself. This inner battle is something that every person deals with.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Romans 7:24

When I consider this battle within, it serves as a reminder that perhaps I've been living more self righteously than I realized. Maybe I've been dependent on the self rather than dependent on God. This attitude of self righteousness leads to pride and like the wise King Solomon once said: pride comes before destruction a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) 

Walking By the Spirit

Try and try as I might, I can't. But praise God that what I could not do, Jesus has done!

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! 
Romans 7:25

The Apostle Paul goes on in Romans 8 where he contrasts what living by the Spirit looks like compared to living by the flesh. The very first thing he reminds us is that what we were unable to do, Christ has done for us.


Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  
Romans 8:1-4

God condemned sin in the flesh through Christ Jesus. Jesus did what I could never do. He lived the righteous life for me, for you, so that we can live victoriously and in relationship with the Father. We will still struggle and battle between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit. The good news though is that, if we are in Christ, we are not condemned when we do fail. No. God does not condemn us even in our failures.

Did we ever deserve this mercy, love and forgiveness? No,we never deserved it. But God's infinite love and compassion is beyond anything we could ever comprehend.

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

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