Commitment

Who or what are you committed to? Who or what has your attention? What are your priorities? Well the standard answer in most Christian circles would be, personal relationship with God first, family second, personal ministry third if applicable and job fourth.

If that is the way you would answer does it always hold true? Do your commitments and priorities change, should they change?

How are you allocating your time? This time last year I would have said my personal relationship with God was first, but I wasn’t committing the time to Him that I should have. My job unfortunately held a pretty close second tied with my family. My personal ministry, or Gods call on my life was last.

You see I was neglecting the thing I love the most, which is serving God in the purpose and plan He has chosen for my life, because my priorities were wrong. I was too focused on my job, oh yeah, and I forgot. To unwind I’d fill my weekends with watching all the television programs I’d recorded throughout the week. Thank God for His mercy and His grace I’m also grateful as we read in Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

I believe our first commitment should be to God. He says in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths. He also says but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

He is telling us when we do things His way we need not be concerned about the cares of life, what to eat what to drink what to wear. He will take care of not just the small things, but everything that matters to us. Who knows us and the things that we need better than the One that created us?

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the cares of our lives that we are unable to focus on the things, or purpose God has placed us here to serve.

The job of the enemy is distraction. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but because of the hedge of protection God has around you the enemy will distract you with the cares of this world. He wants you to worry about your finances, your health, your family; any and everything that you hold dear, or that that you think is needed to survive. Notice the emphasis here is on the word you.

God says take no thought for these things. He knows we have need of them. If He takes care of the lilies of the field surely He can take care of you.

To listen to the message in its entirety click on the link below and select Commitment

http://www.gretahillman.com/#!audiovideo/cd8l

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Don’t Allow Time To Defeat You

Sometimes as Christians we can become so focused on ensuring we are following God’s will we either exhaust ourselves trying, allow ourselves to think we are confused or think we may have missed God. Notice how each of these stem from our own self effort or perception.

Let’s face it. We all want to be in God’s will.  I know that I do. I believe God’s will for my life is to encourage others to seek and follow His will for their lives, to help others understand He loves them and has a plan that will bring them joy and fulfillment. As we read in 3John1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth. Sometimes I can become so focused on “getting God’s word out” that I may neglect other things which require my attention or become frustrated when I don’t think I am hearing from God.

 
As I’ve just stated I believe I know what God’s will is for my life But when things do not progress as quickly or in the manner that “I” would like for them to I may begin to question whether or not I am actually in the will of God.  My mind begins to wander, I wonder if there is something else I should be doing. I wonder if I am doing everything I should be doing. I wonder if I am on the right path.  I believe God gives us many gifts or talents. They all have a purpose. It is my opinion that He creates a desire in us when it is time to use a specific gift or talent. You may be a gifted writer, singer, dancer, speaker, artist, chef or motivator. You enjoy doing these things but they may or may not be your passion. They just come naturally, they are a gift from God.  God may have placed a desire in you to use one of your gifts. You think this is it. This is what God has called me to do. You begin to follow what you believe is your destiny. Doors open. After a while you feel there is no movement. You feel stagnant. You begin to wonder if it was God’s desire or your desire.

 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. I believe when we are seeking God our desires align with His desires. If there is a period of time where there is no movement that does not mean what you are doing is no longer what God wants you to do. You may be in a period of preparation. He may want to bring out another gift that He has placed in you.

Let’s take a look at the following description of David taken from 1Samuel16:18 it says he is skillful in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. If we continue to read through this passage of scripture we find Saul calling for David based on the recommendation of one of his servants for his cunning playing of the harp. We also find He is later anointed as King.  David used his gift of playing the harp to drive the evil spirit out of Saul. As King he drew on his skills of being a mighty valiant man, a man of war and a prudent man. Did he still possess his harp playing skills? Of course he did but he was using his other gifts or talents.

It’s all a matter of Gods timing. God is always with you. His gifts are without repentance and they will make room for you. Whatever God has placed in you He has placed in you for a reason. Don’t allow time to defeat you. He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.