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discerning the spirits, exhortation, experience, following Jesus, God, God's voice, heart, joy, light, Nicolas Chamfort, peace, Satan, Satan's voice, the new self, the old self, thought life

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Rev 3:7-8 ESV)
(Picture taken from http://www.alive.com/health/from-confusion-to-clarity/)
Let’s say some people request you to do various things for them, but you immediately see that it would be an impossible task to do everything during the free time you have been given by God. If you are like me, you might have tried to do ALL things as quick as possible, though. In fact, I always thought that would be loving, kind, and polite to act that way. However, lately the Lord showed me how unloving it was. Not that I had been unloving toward others, but it began to dawn on me that I neglected my own needs extremely, or in other words, I hated myself. On Saturday I discovered an interesting quote on my daily calendar in the kitchen. It reads,
“The ability to give voice to the word ‘No’ is the first step toward freedom.”
(Nicolas Chamfort)
Well, during the last few weeks I have learned to introduce this very word more and more often in my relationships with others and I also put an end to some of them. At first I feared the reactions from others extremely and was wavering in my faith like a nutshell on the ocean. Nonetheless, two days ago during my time alone with the Lord, I learned an interesting lesson regarding this issue. Resting in His peaceful presence and talking with Him about everything that kept bothering me, He gave me very helpful advice. As I was just thinking about whether to answer or not to answer to some people’s expectations, Jesus said, “Think the whole thing completely through. Imagine you do it the way you always did… just perceive how your feelings change after having done so.” That sounded quite simple. 🙄 I did as He had suggested and – lo and behold – as soon as I would think about meeting or responding to certain people, the hamster wheel of thoughts including worries about the future set in and the emotional confusion that followed could not be stopped until Jesus said, “Look at me instead!” Beholding Him with my mind’s eye, I felt His soothing light and His joyful peace coming back to me at once. Wow!! 🙂 Actually, God is the One who makes us think of and focus on Him; we cannot even do this on our own. As for me, I always forget about Him unless I feel a tender nudge that reminds me of His permanent presence again.
Furthermore, I realized lately why I cannot have relationships with everyone, whether Christians or not. Not only that I do not have the time to be with several people in different places at the same time, it also has to do with the fact that I ask the Lord for His guidance while many others don’t do that at all. They keep living according to their own thoughts and standards, personal goals and dreams. As for Christians who still live in their uncrucified self that tells them what to do and what to avoid (which is not God’s voice, for sure), it has often been as if two realms collided when I tried to pander to others’ whims and emotions instead of looking in the first place into my own heart where God dwells. Actually, I saw that we are indeed only able to let go of man’s approval as soon as our heart has been gripped by Christ who has become our first and only love. If there is still any love in our life that is more important than Him (spouse, kids, parents, friends etc.pp.), then there is still confusion and no clarity about what God wants us to do. This confusion springs from a divided heart that tries to keep its old habits and life while following the Lord. This will never work. Either we choose the narrow way, lose our old life and die to our old nature or we will never see God’s face, for it is written,
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Ps 24:3-6 ESV)
Or in Jesus’ words,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8 ESV)
This is a wonderful discovery, dear Susanne. Singleness of heart, putting Christ first and seeking HIS voice and will in everything we do is our survival in this world where thousands of voices and wills are pressing in on us from all quarters. Even two opposing voices (like two bosses) are one too many! And only God is the One who wants what is perfect for us. Those were wonderful scriptures you quoted. I was reminded of a couple more as I read your blog…
“We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in [the open door I saw in your blog]. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever: for in the LORD GOD is everlasting strength:” (Isa 26:1-4, KJ2000)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (Jas 1:5-8, KJ2000)
We cannot serve two masters. In the case of us trying to please everyone instead of pleasing Christ in every situation, WE are the other master in our lives because we are the one who is trying to be liked by everyone and meet their expectations. It is a kind of self-worship out of fear. This is why we must fear the Lord only and let the chips fall regarding the whims of others. Being single minded toward Him is our salvation. Once we have our minds stayed on the Lord, then HE can show us what is right for others through us as HE wills and it won’t always be what THEY want, but it WILL be what they NEED.
I love the things He is showing you and the changes He is making in your dear heart, my sister! I know that He desires to do many of these same things in my heart as well. Oh, what fellowship and joy divine as we lean on His everlasting arms together! ⭐ ⭐
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This comment has been very encouraging for me to read, dear Michael. Thanks a lot! 🙂
Yes, having had two bosses once almost drove me nuts since it did NOT work as both worked into opposite directions and it often felt as if I was on the reck (streching bank).
As you said the Scriptures I quoted were wonderful, I was wondering whether I indeed had quoted any Bible verses at all… 🙄 Oh, blessed self-forgetfulness! Just rereading them myself! XD
Both the Scripture from Isaiah and the one by James are two of my favorites in which I have learned to trust with HIS help.
Trying to be liked by everyone is something that never works, but we automatically tend to do it if we have NOT submitted to Christ first. In fact, it did never feel as if I was the master of my life in such cases. Instead, it was like being kept imprisoned by the wrong spirits. Not fun, indeed! 😛
I was happy to hear that you “love the things He is showing” me. As for the changes in me, sometimes they happen so quickly, though always without me knowing HOW and WHEN He changed something in my heart, that I am truly amazed at His wondrous and subtle ways of dealing with us little human beings. 😉
I am very thankful to God and to you for our fellowship IN Him, my brother!
Susanne 🐱
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Susanne, as I read your reply of how well meaning people try to get us to do their wills or even try to get us to do what their religious traditions which they equate with the voice of God, I was reminded of this story about Jesus in the gospels…
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (For not even his brothers believed in him.) Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee. (John 7:1-9, nrs)
His own family and the traditions of their religion compelled Him to go up to Jerusalem and observe the Festival of Booths or “Tabernacles.” We read their worldly thinking, “Jesus, you have power and can do miracles. You need to get out of this little Nazareth and make the big time. Go up to Jerusalem where there will hundreds of thousands of Jews and show them what you can do! It pays to advertise! Think of the following you will get!” And it is here that we read, “Even his own brothers did not believe in Him.” What they said that seemed so caring and reasonable to the natural mind were really words of the Devil who wanted to kill Him coming through His own family He grew up with!
To those of the world, THEIR TIME IS ALWAYS! They can gird themselves up, stretch forth their hands and go where they want, when they want. But for those led by the Spirit, like Christ, our time is NOT always. We can only do what the Spirit prompts us to do and often it will be totally against the wills of the carnal people who surround us. They will get angry with us for not doing THEIR wills, but we must hold our ground if we are to continue to abide in the fellowship of our Father just as Jesus does. Yes, the world will hate us for the same reason it hates Him for we are not of the world.
Stay the course my dear sister. You are a great encouragement to us as you do.
Sorry for the long reply, but sometimes the Spirit puts a fire under me to write.
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That is a poignant example, Michael. Very good! Thanks so much for sharing.
It is really “OUCH” but, alas, so true what you wrote here,
“We can only do what the Spirit prompts us to do and often it will be totally against the wills of the carnal people who surround us. They will get angry with us for not doing THEIR wills, but we must hold our ground if we are to continue to abide in the fellowship of our Father just as Jesus does. Yes, the world will hate us for the same reason it hates Him for we are not of the world.”
Matches my own experiences completely! With Him I will try to stay the course, of course. 😉
Not sorry, it was a wonderful and encouraging reply, Michael! ⭐
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This is timely! Thank you!
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You’re very welcome, dear Becky! ❤
I am glad the post was timely. 🙂
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“it also has to do with the fact that I ask the Lord for His guidance while many others don’t do that at all … it has often been as if two realms collided when I tried to pander to others’ whims and emotions instead of looking in the first place into my own heart where God dwells.”
The Lord has been showing me much the same thing, Susanne. Though honestly, I have been reluctant to look at it because it grieves me deeply and seemingly leaves me further from the fellowship I’ve hoped to have in this world.
The Lord has used our brief foray back into man’s traditional church as a means to teach me from John 10 and the difference between the Good Shepherd who is Jesus, and the hireling, thief and robber, who come to steal, kill and destroy. My wife and I are committed to following the Good Shepherd and to remain in His pasture; whereas many with whom we have tried to fellowship, are following a hireling. As often as my wife and I talk to them about Jesus, they respond by boasting of their hireling, their church, their choir, their worship band, their programs, ad nauseam.
The sad truth is, we are submitted to and looked after by different shepherds. How can there be fellowship between sheep of different shepherds?
When a sheep from another flock tries to lure my wife and I from the Lord’s flock to the flock of their hireling, are they not in fact serving as robbers and thieves, with the intent of stealing our inheritance, killing our Spirit life and destroying our freedom?
This has been a difficult truth for me to receive about people with whom I had hoped to know brotherhood and enjoy fellowship. When we first went to that little country church upon moving cross-country to our new home, I told the pastor that my shepherd was Jesus and I did not need a pastor, “but” I said “I would appreciate a friend”. Soon thereafter, he set about trying to censor me and control me so I went to the Lord in prayer to ask Him about the “pastor”. The Lord replied that the pastor was “the destroyer”.
The real problem for me is not about the truth of hirelings, thieves and robbers, who come to steal, kill and destroy. I accept that. The problem is in dealing with my need for human affirmation and fellowship. What I want and need only Jesus can give, so I need to stop looking to men to give me what only Jesus can give.
Thank you for writing, Susanne. I am truly blessed by your sharing. Keep up the good fight, sister! 😉
Jack
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You’re so welcome, Jack. I was very glad to read that you have been blessed by what I share on here. 🙂
Well, it is truly a fight as you said above. On the one hand, I see those human beings whom I like and understand, but on the other hand I sense more and more clearly how often the Lord nudges (sometimes even URGES) me to draw a line between them and me when there is danger to be led away from Him since they are worldly people.
Sometimes there are people whom I have known for years and decades to whom I finally need to say, “Farewell! Maybe, we will never meet again.” Sometimes there are newer relationships with Christians whom I like, too, but they are still captured by confusing and/or seducing spirits, a fact that makes it impossible for them to see the whole truth (which is Christ IN us). If you listen to them, you get a horrible mix of truth and lies which will certainly affect you if you do not draw rigid boundaries here. Dear Jack, splitting up with them has NOT been an easy thing for me to do, either, although the Lord helps a lot.
However, what I find wonderful in your case is that you can fellowship with your wife Karen. Did you know that this is a rare thing, indeed? You both are truly blessed by God, my brother! ⭐ ⭐
Warm regards,
Susanne
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Dear Susanne,
Thank you for the blog. I pray for myself that I will not follow a stranger. Jesus is the good Shepherd.
Love in Jesus,
Pat Orr
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You’re very welcome, dear Pat! ❤
This prayer is good since it is so easy to be deceived. As for me, I do not trust in my own reasonings, but I know in Him we can always trust.
Love in Jesus, my sister,
Susanne
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As Becky said–this is very timely–I have been requested to do something that I am not sure on how to respond to them about but your thoughts have given me encouragement–thanks
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You’re very welcome, Ken.
I am glad to hear that my thoughts were of some help for you. I have been praying for you that God might show you the proper decision in that case you spoke of above.
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Pingback: Confusion vs. Clarity | The Road
Thank you very much for the reblog, Tim. 🙂
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That is a great quote:
“The ability to give voice to the word ‘No’ is the first step toward freedom.”
–Nicolas Chamfort
The Bible tells us “let your yes be yes and let your no be no.” (Matthew 5: 37) Great advice and Godly wisdom. The above quote also reminds me of this quote that I read today:
“Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery.”
–Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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Thank you very much for your encouraging words, Tim, and for the wonderful quote from Dostoyevsky.
Actually, while writing this article, I had to think of the same Scripture you mentioned above. 🙂
Flattery is truly much easier than to speak the truth, especially when we know that we will hurt someone whom we love by telling them what they need to know according to God’s will. That is very difficult to do, indeed.
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“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flattery: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and take action… (Dan 11:32, KJ2000)
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Very good, Michael! Inspiring….
And the story is getting more and more detailed after verse 32. We read,
32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.
34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,
35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. (Dan 11:32-35 ESV)
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Yes, Susanne, I read that part as well and decided to leave it for you. The whole things seems to fit the church today. Reading this it is obvious that even the elect can be deceived, “So that they may be refined, purified and made white…”
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You decided to leave it for me… That was sweet! ❤ Subliminally somehow I thought so since you left those dots behind that Scripture. You are so funny, Michael! XD
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You are a “kick in the pants,” yourself! 😀 🐻
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BTW, that is a southern euphemism for something positive. 🙂
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If not, I would have never approved your comment, my brother! XD
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Better ants in the pants than a kick in the very same. 😀 🐱
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