Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:23-27
Loving the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit isn’t about the boundaries but the center. Those that love God want to serve Him the best they can, they aren’t looking for the limits of what they can or cannot do. The enemy on the other hand is all about the legalities. How far can they ‘push it’? They are always testing the boundaries to see how far they can go with their ‘mark’ (which is you by the way).
So… my questions often to my own heart is “How quickly am I willing to obey Him? How long will I put off …what I know I should do? How long will I debate with the Holy Spirit? Are my reactions getting in my own way? How stubborn am I being?” As you can see… I still wrestle with my ‘flesh’ and my own desires over what I know He has told me. This is the state of this realm / dimension, where we have to choose at every turn ‘Whom’ we will serve (myself or God). It has become all about our own will and choices we make. How much do the enemies make us question and fear? Can I recognize their voices in my own mind?
What decision will move me into His peace? Not looking for my own comfort, but His instructions and direction to my spirit. Am I quick to agree with Him? Am I sensing more of the fruit of His Spirit in my life? (Galatians 5:22-23) Am I quick to prayer or to argument? Am I quick to ask for His understanding rather jumping to my own conclusions on a matter? Am I slow to my own thinking and quick to ask for His instruction on a decision I have to make? Am I doing this with my own spouse? Am I treating them the way Jesus would treat them? Do I love them the way He does?
As you can see… it isn’t ever about what I can get away with, but working on knowing the very ‘center’ of His heart on a matter. What is my motivation in my decisions? (My own or His will?) Sometimes we have to stop and ask Him. We can convince ourselves of so many things that aren’t His way. Do I maintain an attitude of surrender to Him throughout my day? Am I working out His love or for my own desires? I must admit I must surrender to Him so many times during my day. Getting my own ‘flesh’ out of my way is a constant battle. I SO want to be at the center of His heart and will for me!
Father YOU are who I worship! Jesus YOU are my best friend and show me the way! Holy Spirit YOU give me life and constantly direct me back to the Words of Jesus.