Are we wasting our privileges?

Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. "


We are commanded to love one another.  True love for God can be seen by our willingness to meet the needs of others we're capable of serving.


I'm not wealthy, nor do I desire to be wealthy; other than my hope is to be wealthy in God.  Wealthy in His love and whatever God desires to give me financially, I hope that I'm giving it to the poor and needy; those who are so much less fortunate than I am.  It's all God's money anyway.  This is all temporary.  


Are we wasting what God has given us to use while here on earth, to meet our own needs?  We have a lot of potential with the privileges God gives us.  They can either make us prideful or make us a blessing to others.


Are you willing to let your privileges transform you into the person God desires you to be?

Dianne Petrey Comment
Are you procrastinating?

Proverbs 27:1 - "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."


We all do it.  We say we're going to do something, then before you know it the day has went by and we have yet to do it.  One cure for procrastination is more diligence, regardless of the task.


There is no time to waste, when it comes to sharing the gospel with others.  Are we guilty of this?  Life is so short; none of us are promised tomorrow.


Procrastination is such a bad habit, but especially when it comes to spreading the gospel.  It's a bad habit that can have eternal effects.


Tell someone today about Jesus.  It's up to them to accept Him.

Dianne PetreyComment
Where are you right now?

Where we are right now doesn't have to determine where we end up.  


James 4:14 - "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."


God created each of us individually, with a specific, personal and unique plan for our lives.  He gifts each of us with all we need to accomplish His purpose for our lives.

Where are you right now?  Are you in a good place in your Christian walk?  Are you serving God and others around you?


Ask God to prepare you to fulfill the purpose which He has called you.  


God uses all our experiences, whether they were good or bad, to steer His children in the right direction.


Stay on track with God.  Don't lose focus on the creator of the universe.  Wait on God's timing, and while you're waiting, serve Him faithfully.

Dianne PetreyComment
Are you God's treasure or possession?

Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."


So often Christians find themselves loving the thought of being treasured by God, but are we content that we're His possession?


It's natural to want to be treasured.  But if we're a possession of someone or something, it means that we lay down our lives and become subject to someone or something.  It means that we're giving up control of our lives.  This is where some fall short.  To be a disciple of Christ means we have to turn our lives over to Christ, completely.  Not on Sundays or certain times of the year, but daily.


Let God take possession of your heart; your soul.  God treasures us already as His child.   God deserves our everything.  He deserves our obedience and our daily commitment to serve Him.


Be possessed by God.  It will change your life!

Dianne PetreyComment
Are you in bondage?

James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."


Satan prowls around us, looking to steal our joy, bind us up and deceives our very thoughts.  But, the good news is, if we are in Christ and know who we are in Him, then we can dissolve a lot of these cases from ever evolving.


We must keep our eyes in God's Word and our minds on Him.  Ignorance of God's word is a tool that Satan uses every time.


Guilt will give the enemy room to move in and make you feel worthless.  This will keep you fighting from a defeated position.


Break out of bondage, and look to Jesus for guidance.  You cannot take on this world by yourself.


Don't be caught off guard by Satan.  He's waiting on you to mess up.

Dianne PetreyComment
Who's driving your car?

I think a lot of people are treating God like a hitch-hiker.  They see God on the side of the road, pick Him up and either put Him in the trunk so they'll have Him if they get into a bind; or they put Him in the backseat, in case they need to ask Him a question, or they might even put Him in the passenger seat so He'll be available to grab in hard times.


God needs to be in the driver's seat of our lives.  He's the One who needs to be guiding us down the highway of life.


Don't treat Him as a passenger, or shut Him away in the trunk.  Bring Him into your life and let Him breathe the breath of life into you. Let Him steer you in the right direction.  After all, God's GPS is already mapped out to Heaven.


Isaiah 30:21 - "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Dianne PetreyComment
Unsuspecting people

God often chooses people to do His work, who are normally simple/inexperienced people who you would never think to put in that role.  He will select these type people to go out and share God's love to a hurting world.  Most times, these people have more in common with those who are hurting, and therefore can be trusted by the world.


John 13:16 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."


I feel privileged when God chooses me.  I hope to always submit to His authority.  We should be respectful towards God because we fear Him and trust that whatever He asks is within His Will for our lives.


God has a calling on all of our lives.  Submit to His authority as we patiently endure the suffering.  When you face suffering for your faith, ask yourself "how would Jesus face this suffering?"


Keep Jesus' example before us at all times.


Who knows.  God may choose you today!

Dianne PetreyComment
Is the Holy Spirit leading you daily?

John 3:5 - "Unless one is born of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God."


You have to intently focus when you want to make a change in your life and it takes practice.  To make a change in your lifestyle you need to intentionally practice it for a while until it becomes natural to you.

This is how the Holy Spirit works.  If we intently allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, and lead us in our daily lives, then God will automatically fill us up on this fuel so that we can run well throughout the day.


One of the most important ways to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance is to be familiar with God's Word.  As a Christian, we are to meditate on the scriptures and commit them to memory.  Living this close to God allows Him to reveal His Will for our lives.


The Spirit helps us in our weakness.   If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will continue to see signs of maturity in our lives, and they will become evident to others as well.


Make this a habit in your life.  Pray and study God's Word and this will allow us to recognize and follow where the Spirit is leading us.

Dianne PetreyComment