Happy Easter! In church, Pastor spoke about the resurrection of Jesus and how the disciples didn’t understand it. They had the scriptures, and Jesus explained it to them, but they still didn’t comprehend what was happening. They couldn’t believe it when He died and were surprised that He rose again. Pastor reminded us that it’s important to be in the word and to know what scripture says. I realized that I feel more of a need for Jesus when I haven’t been reading God’s word. I feel out of whack, and I long for Him as for water on a hot day.
Thankfully, the Lord is there when we are ready to go to Him.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ~ James 4:8
Sinners, Double-minded. We are all sinners and can be double-minded. When we allow ourselves to get out of the habit of Bible reading and prayer, we allow ourselves to get distracted by other things that are not as important. We allow ourselves to be attacked by the negativity that is in the world as a result of sin and Satan. With one mind we consider the things of the Lord, and with another mind, we forget about Him and focus on other things in life, such as struggles and challenges in our jobs, families, and the world around us.
Draw Near. If we feel out of whack, all we need to do is go back to the Bible and read God’s promises. One thing He has promised to do is draw near to us. He wants to continue the relationship that we have. If we draw near to Him, He has promised to draw near to us.
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” ~ John 15:10,11
Cleanse, Purify. If we want to get back on track, we cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. Just like physical handwashing gets rid of germs, spiritual cleansing gets rid of the distractions that dirty our relationship with the Lord. Cleansing may look different for different people, but it starts with going back to scripture. Within scripture, we find God’s promises and the hope that provides strength and encouragement to continue to pursue our goals.
“Incorporate daily programs on positive thinking as a counterbalance against the negativity you may encounter in pursuit of your dreams.” ~ Ken Poirot
Satan preys upon our weaknesses and offers plenty of negative influences to depress and discourage us. The Bible draws us back to the positive thinking we need to counterbalance the negativity in our lives. God gives hope, peace, and joy, which overcome everything else. Pursuing my dreams means I pursue hope, peace, and joy through Christ. Positive thinking and productivity will follow.
Are you focusing on positive things or negative things in your life? Are you drawing near to God?
How often do you focus on scripture and the promises of God?
I strongly encourage you to go to scripture. God’s Word will meet you where you are and provide the hope, joy, and peace that you need.
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