Day 12: Dependable Love.

Today we are reading Proverbs 12 and Psalm chapters 56-60. Before starting, ask God to join you for your study time. Ask him to be present with you while you read his word today.

-Read Scriptures-

I personally feel like one of the greatest gifts we can give God is our submission. We have talked about this concept before, and yesterday we discussed being broken before God, but you don't have to be broken to submit yourself and all you have to him.

Submission is a bit of a dirty word in today's culture (going back to the authority issue.) But for me, submission is an attitude of admission. Admitting God is sovereign. Admitting God is and has all power. Admission that all we have, is his to do with what he pleases. That God is the only one that can save us, protect us, and give us true victory in this life! Not our spouse, our children, or job can give us fulfillment. God alone.

Submission is an attitude of dependence:

"When struck by fear, I let go, depending securely upon you alone. In God-whose word I praise- in God I place my trust. I shall not let fear come in, for what can measly men do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4 The Voice

"For you've been a safe place for me, a good place to hide. Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you- God, my dependable love." Psalm 59:16-17 The Message

Submitting to God is also about accepting his will/direction for your life. The road may be different or more difficult than you thought, but acknowledging his sovereignty over your circumstances. Understanding that he sees the whole picture, that he knows what we need, even when we don't. And that when we find ourselves in need, we look up. When we lack a necessity, when we find ourselves in trouble or dispair, we look to our heavenly father before we look to our right or left.

The acknowledgement of dependence is an act of submission. Declaring your dependence and reliance on God is essential. It molds our attitude and posture towards God. It keeps us humble and open handed. And it also makes sense that if everything we have comes from God, then only God can give us victory.

"Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory..." Psalm 60:11-12 TNIV

To help with practicing an attitude and posture of submission, I want you to find a physical postion you can take when you want to express to God your admission of dependence and admitting his sovereignty over all situations. Find a position and rest there, telling God what you need to. This is also an incredible tool for worshiping. Being in a physical position has a definite impact on our mind and heart.

Abba, give us undivided hearts, clear minds, and peaceful attitudes. Give us the things we need to truly live in submission to you. Allow us to live in such a manner that our service and submission to you shines and directs those around us to you. Let us depend on you alone, not on fellow man. We can always depend on you, you are always there, you are indeed our dependable love. We submit ourselves and all we have to you today.

Amen

Day 9: Our Epic Battle.

Before we read Proverbs 9 and Psalm chapters 42-45, ask God to open your heart and mind to receive any truth he has for you today.

-Read Scripture-

You know that quintessential scene in your favorite cartoon/show where the little angel is on one shoulder and the little devil is on the other? Or the scene in your favorite movie when an enemy is tempting your protagonist and you are biting your nails, knowing what could hang in the balance...

Why do we get so invested in these stories? They resonate with us because we identify with them. We identify with feeling torn, tempted, and dealing with the choice between good and evil. We live in a constant state of battle. You may not feel like you are living in the middle of "Lord of the Rings", but it is just as epic non the less.

Proverbs 9 tells us of two opposing forces, both vying for our hearts and minds:

Lady Wisdom, "She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point in the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!'" Proverbs 9: 3-4 TNIV

Lady Folly, "She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!'" Proverbs 9: 14-16 TNIV

Spiritual warfare is very real and it is happening all around you, wether you believe it or not. Wether it scares you or not. Most importantly, wether you are prepared for it or not. The bible is super clear:

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

Everyone falls in one of two categories, you are either being fought for, or fought against. You are either choosing between the two Proverbs Ladies, or if you have already chosen Lady Wisdom, you are being fought against!

We've already established that you never know what hangs in the balance of our decisions, but when you understand that you have an enemy, who's only goal is to destroy you, then you tend to look at things differently. You begin to understand the weight of certain decisions.

The biggest gift/weapon that we have is the Holy Spirit. Sometimes when I read Psalms I feel sad for the Old Testament followers who didn't have the spirit. But that didn't stop David from understanding where his power and victory came from, "You are our victory, pushing back the enemy; at the sound of your name, we crush the opposition. I don't trust in my weapons or in my strength to win me victory. " Psalm 44:5-6 The Voice

God is our victory, and he lives IN us. We should never fear the enemy or his attacks, we should live and fight boldly, flying our God colors. :)

Going back to Lord of the Rings, even though Frodo had all the help he needed, if he had not realized he was in the middle of an epic journey/battle, he would not of lasted very long. If he had refused to accept that his life was being threatened, he would not of made it to act 2.

It's time we get our heads in the game and realize what we are in the middle of. It's time to wake up and join the fight! It's time to realize that God needs YOU to accomplish & protect what his enemy is trying to steal and kill. Choose Lady Wisdom, then get ready for the opposition.