Above All Else
I'm a little peculiar, I only listen to worship music. It's really all I've listened to since I became Christian at 11 years old. My evenings are spent in God's presence, there's nothing I enjoy or desire more. Even if we have company, I must excuse myself and and run to Him. Minutes can quickly become hours and it's hard to pull away. Yes, it seems strange to others, but let's face it, our greatest pleasure is found right here, in His presence and nothing matters as much! I don't watch or listen to anything that may defile me. It's just not worth it! I don't want anything to separate me from my Bride Groom. I'm not perfect by any means, but I must remain diligent to keep my heart in check and repent when my thoughts, words or deeds stray from His goodness and truth.
I'm not telling you this to judge or condemn anyone. These are my choices and they have brought such incredible pleasure and blessings to my life. Though I have been blessed in very tangible ways, that's not what I'm talking about here. The peace, joy and love that permeates my heart is inexplicable! You see, anxiety, worry, fear and dread, though they can come very natural for me, they no longer control me! My time and devotion to Jesus has filled me with such hope, even when surrounded by hopelessness. It's bathed me in peace and calmness, even when complete devastation and chaos bids for my attention. It's brought fulfillment, healing and love to my soul, even though it was once abused, broken and angry.
You see, my devotion to God doesn't come from a place of perfection and natural strength, but from a realization of my desperate need of Him! Every breath I breathe, every beat of my heart cries out for more of Him!! I know how alone, hopeless and what a mess I am without Jesus and it makes me chase hard after Him!
Don't wait till your good enough or feel deserving of a deeply passionate relationship with the Lord. Your life, the life you were meant to live, depends upon the time you spend seeking Him! It just comes down to how desperate you are for change, how much you love Him and what you're willing to give up to make more room for His Spirit!
NOTHING in this life is more important than Jesus and though we all know this, our lives must begin to reflect it above all else!
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Romans13:11-14(TPT) To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon. We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others. Instead, fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.
Galatians5:16-18 (TPT) Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit. But when you yield to the life of the Spirit, you will no longer be living under the law, but soaring above it!
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