i need to be consistent in my relationship with God Exodus 9:27-28, 34

Exodus 9:27-28


 ²⁷ Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said to them. "The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. ²⁸ Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer."

Exodus 9:34

³⁴ When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.

 The Lord sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh to ask that he allow them to go into the desert to worship God. They had already been warned that Pharaoh would harden his heart and now allow them to go. Moses continually went to Pharaoh with his request and each time Pharaoh refused. God sent plagues to show Pharaoh He was God and He was serious. When God sent hail to destroy the land, Pharaoh finally admitted he had sinned and agreed to Moses' request. As soon as the hail stopped, Pharaoh once again hardened his heart and refused to agreed to the request.

Pharaoh showed a patter in his interaction with God. God would reveal His will. Pharaoh would refuse. God would send things into Pharaoh's life to get his attention. Pharaoh would ignore them. God would continue until it became unbearable. Pharaoh would acknowledge his sin and repent. As soon as the  calamity was over, Pharaoh would harden his heart all over again. My life has been much like Pharaoh's. God has a plan and includes me in it. I ignore God until He has to go to extremes to get my attention. I repent and submit. Once the crisis is over,  I go back to my selfish ways. I want to be the person who can consistently follow God in good times and in bad. I want to be sensitive to God's call in every area of my life and submit to His will as soon as it is revealed to me. Sometimes I have trouble recognizing it but most of the time it is just my stubborn and rebellious attitude. I need to learn and grow so that God doesn't have to start over with me whenever He calls me to a task. I know His plan is best and deep in my heart I know I will do it His way eventually. What I need is a desire to submit when I hear the call and not surrender after the battle. I have no trouble following God when it's easy, it's when he calls me to a challenge that I struggle. I need to be more consistent in my relationship with Him and live a life that pleases God more than me.

Dear Lord,
I know You want the best for me. I know Your plan for my life is perfect. I trust You to take control of my life but I have a stubborn spirit. It is easy for me to submit to You when things go my way but I struggle when called to submit to Your plans when they don't fit easily into mine. Forgive me for making You work so hard to bless me and use me to bless others. Change my heart that I would be willing to submit to Your will without hesitation. Help me to live a life that pleases You and follows You through good times and bad. Let me be Your servant and not Your adversary in all I do. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

When God want to use me I have to obey Exodus 3:10-12

Exodus 3:10-12 (New International Version)



10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you [a] will worship God on this mountain."

Moses had a heart for his people and showed that by his reaction when he saw them mistreated. God recognized Moses' heart and chose to use him to deliver the Israelites from the oppression from which they were suffering. Moses cared about his people but didn't see himself as a leader. When God approached him all Moses could think about was "who am I?" because he did not see himself in that role. He rejected the idea of speaking out for God because he felt he lacked the skills necessary. When Moses let God down, God had to use Aaron to complete His plan. Moses was willing but hwe lacked faith in himself and in God.
 
God called Moses to be His hands and feet here on earth. Moses had not prepared himself for that task and was concerned he did not have the skills to succeed. It was true, Moses didn't have the skills, but God was able to give him whatever he needed to guarantee success. God has used me to do many things for Him I could never do on my own. I have learned through experience that when God calls me to a task He will give me the skills I need to succeed for Him. Moses said no to God and He had to bring in Aaron to finish the job. I have said no to God only to see Him bring someone else along to do the job I thought was not possible. I have learned to trust God and obey Him when He calls. The more impossible the task, the bigger the opportunity for God to reveal Himself in the situation. I am nobody. I don't possess special skills or superpowers, but when God is working through me there is nothing I can't do. I need to remember this more and trust God enough to say "yes" whenever He calls.
 
Dear Lord,
I know You have a plan for Your people and I now I am a part of that plan. I have experienced Your work through me and have recognized when You have done things through me I could have never done on my own. Forgive me for doubting You as I have and rejecting opportunities to be Your hands and feet. I learn from my failures but You know what a slow learner I am. Give me a heart to say "yes" every time You call. Give me a boldness to reach out for You without fear of failure or concern for the results. I know You will succeed but I need to be reminded. I am weak in that area and need Your strength. Grow me from who I am into who I need to be. Use me to make a difference for Your kingdom. In Jesus' name.
 
Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Freedom has a new meaning in Christ Galatians 5:13

Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

 ¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature^[a]; rather, serve one another in love.

 the Galatians were struggling with their new found relationship in Christ. They had received Christ and were growing in their relationship with Him when some believing Jews cam along and told them circumcision was necessary as well. They wanted the Galatians to follow Christ and still follow the old testament law as well. Paul took the time to explain that life in Christ frees us from the law. It does not free us up to sin but it frees us up from sin and allows us to live our lives like Christ and for Christ.

As a follower of Christ I am no longer "under the law". The law was a bunch of rules that were good to live by but were put in place to show me I could never meet God's standards without a relationship with Christ. The relationship I have with Christ frees me from the burden of the law. that does not mean I am free to ignore the law and sin all I want, it means I can now focus on Christ and pleasing Him. If I focus on all the rules I spend my time worrying about what not to do and trying to stay inside the lines. If I focus on Christ and pleasing Him, I am drawn to the center and don't have to worry about the boundaries. Both have the same goal, but only one way is attainable. I have tried it both way and the only way I have found success is in Christ. There is freedom in serving Christ in that I don't have to focus on doing a thousand things right, I only have to focus on one thing, pleasing God. When I use that as a guide, the path for my life is more defined and easier to identify. With a clear picture of a defined path I am free to move forward pleasing God as I go. That gives freedom a whole new meaning.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for the new found freedom I have in You. I thank You that You have freed me from a life of sin and given me a new life following You. Help me to grow in my appreciation and understanding of the freedom You give and all that it offers. help me to focus all my efforts on pleasing You and trusting the path You have laid out for me. I know that I will continue to sin. Let me see my sin for what it is and the bondage it brings. Expose my sin so that I can turn from it and back to You. Use me in the lives of others so that they might discover and enjoy the freedom that is found in You and You alone. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

I want to please God more than people Galatians 1:10

Galatians 1:10 (New International Version)

 ¹⁰Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 Paul had lived a life impressing and pleasing people. He was a well known and well respected pharisee. Once Christ revealed Himself to him, Paul was no longer worried about making people happy. He lived only to please God. The way he lived and the things he preached alienated him form all his old friends and way of life. He was hated and hunted. He put his own life at risk numerous times. He did this because it was more important to him to please God than to please men. Paul showed the evidence of a changed life. he was willing to follow God and please Him no matter what the cost. Paul know all the sacrifices he made were worth it. He paid whatever price knowing it was worth the cost to follow Jesus. By living out that example, Paul convinced the people around him this was true and continues to convince people today.

I too was like Paul. I thought I had it all figured out. I was a "good guy". People around me liked me. It wasn't until Christ came into my life and changed my heart that I understood how misguided I was. I do my best now to live my life to please God. It is not an easy path bu tit is fulfilling in ways I never imagined. As Paul said, "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ". To serve Christ is to put Him first in all I do. It is not just a change or an adjustment I have made, it is a completely different way I live my life. This new paradigm has changed the way I do everything and this change has been good. Living for God requires sacrifice, but that sacrifice has proven to be worth it many times over. The new life I have in Christ has meant many changes but living to please God is much more fulfilling and much more satisfying than living to please myself and the people around me.

Dear Lord,
I thank You and praise You for the new life You have given me. I feel I have something to live for. Living to please You and do Your will has brought peas and fulfillment in my life that I have never known before. I no longer want to live to please myself or others, It is my goal to please You. I know there is sacrifice in that but You have shown me many times the sacrifice is more than worth the cost. Help me to grow in my desire to please You and make a difference for Your kingdom. Let all that I do your You be the evidence to people around me of a changed life in You. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

I want the vision Joseph had Genesis 50: 19-20

Genesis 50:19-20 (New International Version)

 ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

 Joseph's brothers had treated hm poorly as he grew up. They plotted to kill him and sold him into slavery. Once their father, Jacob, died the brothers were at Joseph's mercy. They were afraid that Joseph would take advantage and exact revenge for all they had done. Joseph recognized there was more going on. He saw that while his brothers meant to harm him, God meant it for good. Joseph didn't hold a grudge. He had forgiven them long ago because he saw God at work even in his difficulties.

Joseph dealt with hardships and difficulties his entire life. Every time things started going well he was dealt another blow. When God revealed his plan in a dream, Joseph was sold into slavery. When he started to do well there, he was wrongly accused and sent to prison. Throughout the hardships and struggles, Joseph saw through his circumstances and kept his eyes on God. He know God had a plan for him and trusted God to see it through. No matter what his current circumstances were, he lived his life to please God. Nothing could dissuade him from it. That focus allowed him to excel during the good times and carried him through the bad. Even at his worst people around Joseph saw God through him. Joseph had the vision to see God in every circumstance and he responded appropriately. Joseph trusted God and was blessed for it.

I want to be like Joseph, but I struggle with that every day. I know God has a perfect plan for my life. He has been faithful time and time again. My problem is that I lose focus. I take my eyes off of the big picture and lose sight of God. I am so busy worrying about my problems or my situation that I fail to see God at work. I need the vision Joseph had. I need to see God at work during the bad times as well as the good. I also need better long term vision so I can see and stay focused on God's bigger plan for my life. I need the strength and the vision to keep looking up instead of just looking around. If I can keep focused on God and keep His vision in my sight I can more effectively live a life that pleases Him.

Dear Lord,
I know You have the perfect plan for my life. I know I can trust You to see it through. It is easy to remember that at times, but other times I struggle. Give me eyes to see You in every area of my life. Reveal Your plan to me in a way that I will respond. Surround me with people who will help me stay focused on You. Ly all I do and all I say work toward furthering You plan for my life. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

I want a servant's heart like Joseph Genesis 47:11-12

Genesis 47:11-12 (New International Version)

 ¹¹ So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. ¹² Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their children.

 Joseph was the youngest in his family. God had big plans for him but his family did not recognize it. His brothers hated him and plotted to kill him. They sold him into slavery to get him out of their lives. Years later Joseph had wealth and power because of God's blessing. He ran across his brothers whom he had not seen since they sold him into slavery. he reconnected with them and brought the entire family down to Egypt. He gave them choice land and food to eat. What he did saved the lives of his family.

Joseph had every right to be angry with his brothers. He had every right to hold a grudge. I don't know that I could have forgiven what they did. When Joseph finally reconnected with his bothers he had the power and influence to get even for what they had done to him. He wasn't thinking about getting even. His desire was to serve them. He gave them all they asked for and more. Instead of even, he brought his entire family to him to serve them and make sure they were safe. Joseph had some hardships and disappointments but did not focus on them. He knew God had a perfect plan for his life and trusted that all the good and the bad would work out for God's glory. Even as a leader he was a servant. He served to please God and he did it well. He repaid evil with good and in doing so shared God's unconditional love with people who didn't deserve it. Joseph was modeling a Christ like attitude a couple of thousand years before anyone even knew what that was.

I want to be like Joseph. I want a true servant's heart. I want to see others through God's eyes and get past the hurts to repay evil with good. Joseph had it figured out and modeled it for me. I want to grow to become that type of person. I not only have Joseph, I have Christ as a perfect example of a true servant. I have the Holy Spirit to guide me in my journey. I have the tools, I just need to put the to good use. As I do, I hope to become more like Christ, living my life as a servant of God.

Dear Lord,
You loved me when I ignored You. You reached out to me when I hurt You. You have shown me how to love unconditionally and serve other out of that love. I've seen how You do it and I know what it is, but I still struggle to be the servant You have called me to be. There are times I can't imagine repaying evil with good even though that is exactly what You have called me to do. change my heart and make me more like You. Help me to see others as You do and serve them as You would. Give me the unconditional love for the people around me that You have for the people around me and mold me into an acceptable servant of the Living God. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron

Live for God and let everything work itself out Genesis 41:39-30

Genesis 41:39-40 (New International Version)

 ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

 Joseph was wrongly accused and put in prison. While there he interpreted dreams for two men. The interpretations proved accurate. Later Pharaoh heard of Joseph and sent for him to interpret a dream he had. Joseph told Pharaoh there would be seven years of abundance and seven years of famine. He gave Pharaoh a plan for success. Pharaoh recognized this was from God and that God's hand was on Joseph. Pharaoh said he could find no one else like Joseph on whom was the hand of God. He put Joseph in charge of his entire kingdom.

Joseph lived his life to please God. He had opportunities to take shortcuts in life but always took the high road and trusted God. He did not chase pleasure or worldly desires, he only wanted to please God. It showed in his life and people around him saw that. He was recognized for that and rewarded by both Potiphar and Pharaoh. Pharaoh saw something in Joseph he didn't see in anyone else. He saw someone who live for the Lord no matter what. Pharaoh saw wisdom he saw in no one else because he saw God through Joseph. This could not have happened except that Joseph reflected God in all he did. God rewarded that and others enjoyed the blessing from Joseph's obedience to God.

I am faced with opportunities to take shortcuts and chase worldly desires everyday. I could have success on my terms if I choose. I don't want that, I want the success God has planned for me. I know I can trust God to do what is best for me and give me true success, whatever that looks like. I know this is true but I still struggle when faced with decisions. I want to trust Him when it really matters and let the results be left to God. I want others to see God at work in my life and recognize it's all Him in me. I want to be more like Joseph who was not focused on selfish success or worldly results, but focused instead on living to please God. As I do, I pray that God will give me His success and bless the people around me.

Dear Lord,
True success is found in You and You alone. I want the life You have laid out for me. I want the success in life that comes from You. I know I am very goal oriented. Let my goal above all be to live a life that is pleasing to You. I want that to be enough. Let all the success I have be from You and not from me. Let others around me see that success and praise You, recognizing You are the author of it. Give the people around me a hunger for You because they see the evidence of a changed life in me. In Jesus' name.

Keep the SON in your eyes,
Ron