Saying All the Right Things
Growing up in a Christian home, I learned early how to speak faith, but it wasn’t until much later that I realized I didn’t really live like I believed what I was saying.
Have you ever felt that way?
It’s easy to repeat back what has been poured into us, but it’s a little more challenging to stop & put into practice those truths that we take for granted knowing all our lives.
Head Knowledge Vs. Taking Action
I can know with a head knowledge, the things of the Bible, but until I start asking God how I can live like they are true, I will not really benefit from knowing the truths I know.
You see, God’s Word is not meant to be used for us to just sound righteous… It is meant to show us how to LIVE righteously.
And to be clear, we are not meant to just do all of the “right” things, but to trust God & His Word so much that we are willing to live a life obedient to His Word.
Not with Eyeservice
God mentions this sort of thing in the Bible where it says, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”
God doesn’t ask us to just look like good people on the outside.
He also doesn’t ask us to try to be good on our own, but as an outpouring of His goodness in our lives. We have to be actively trusting Him for Him to teach us & guide us in righteousness.
Not Natural, But Possible!
This of course does not come naturally to us. From birth, we feel the need to look out for ourselves & have life revolve around our needs. We may even feel cheated if life does not go our way. And sometimes we even feel panicked when life is out of our perceived control (hint, it’s never really in our control!)
Surrendering to God’s way is definitely not the easy way, but it is the best way.
The Best Way
And I don’t say this as a, “look what a great Christian I am to say that we should obviously believe God’s way is the best!” I am not even saying that because I always trust in it immediately above my own will/way.
No, I am saying His way is the best way because it simply is, whether we believe it or not.
I may not always understand it or want to obey it, but God is God & I am not.
His ways are higher than mine.
He Sees It ALL
We see the world in such a limited view, but He sees the vastness of time from beginning to end, how every piece fits together.
He sees the consequences of every mistaken or selfish choice & the ripples it creates.
He KNOWS.
I may THINK I know, but He KNOWS.
And because He knows, He knows that His way is best, whether we see it or not.
I Surrender All… One Piece at a Time
And the more of our life that we choose to surrender to His way, the more we see the benefits of trusting His way above our own.
One benefit of being a Christian is the opportunity to know God & to believe what He says.
But as I said, this isn’t a natural or instantaneous result of knowing Christ.
It comes with practice.
Every piece of our life that we choose to lay before His feet, exchanging our way for His, our eyes are opened to the beauty of His truth.
Don’t Just Talk the Talk, Learn to Trust & Live It
You see, it’s easy to talk like we believe & rehash things we learn, but until we start laying down our hearts & lives to doing & living out the truth of God’s Word, we will never see the benefits that come from trusting Him.
He doesn’t just want robots who blindly do whatever He says because He is God.
He doesn’t want slaves living a life of misery & subjection to Him as a harsh ruler.
He doesn’t aim to guilt or shame us into serving Him.
Rather, He calls us to a life of trust & action through His love for us. His fervent, lavish, never-ending love for us.
To Know & Love God MORE
Beth Moore stated in her study, “Breaking Free,” that one of the most life-changing things she has ever prayed regularly was that God help her to know & love Him more.
This is my prayer for us today, that we ask Him to teach us how to know & love Him more.
He doesn’t just want you to submit your life to Him because He has that right as King over all, but because you trust His love for you. You can obey because you can trust that His love for you is pure & His ways are good.
God IS love. It is not stated just as WHAT God does, to love us, but as a definition of WHO He is. He IS love.
That is how we can willingly surrender our all to Him & His ways, because we can trust His deep love for us.
Let His Love Wash Over Everything Else
So, take a moment to pause right now. Close your eyes. Take several slow, deep breaths in & out. And ask Him to teach you how to know & love Him more. Ask Him to help you see & trust His lavish love for you.
The more you know God, the more you will see His love for you, which will make your love for Him grow. And the more your love for Him grows, the more you will want to know Him.
Ask Him
Ask Him to help you to trust Him & to therefore obey Him out of your love for Him, because He first loved you.
If you don’t know how to live out your faith or how to live the commands that God asks in His Word, start by asking God to help you know & love Him more, because the more you know Him, the more you will love Him, leading to a willingness to give your all to His love.
Let His love rule your hearts & minds as you learn to trust & obey His truth.
Shine Hope. Live for His love. PRAY.
Coming Next Week
Make sure to check back next Monday morning EST for some more encouragement. Love you!
A Note from Michelle:
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Weekly Special Spotlight:
Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Northern Lights Studs
Empowering Women Out of Poverty in India & Haiti!
These studs hold labradorite stone, displaying multiple captivating colors that vary in different exposures to light, just like the Northern Lights themselves. Flash-plated posts.
Artisan Information:
The women we partner with in India do so much more than just create beautiful products. With every purchase, another woman is empowered out of poverty to be self-reliant & these women have the opportunity to earn an income, attend financial management classes, & receive education and healthcare. These women are now able to give their family a promising future because of your purchase!
Purchase this piece and empower a woman in India!
(*Also pictured: Jubilee Necklace & Jubilee Bracelet Set from Haiti!)
Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
