Contemplation

Contemplation

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, www.livingjoyministries.com, http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com  

Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”

Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly (spirit).”

Contemplation (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)

Concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion, a state of awareness of God’s Being, the act of consideration with attention, regarding steadily

The word “contemplation” itself intimates a spiritual surrender of focus that must be rendered in totality.  As human beings we have the intellectual ability to divide our attention and focus in many different directions.  It is this characteristic that must be harnessed when we enter contemplation.  Through contemplation the Holy Spirit of God leads us to a place where God desires us to occupy.  The purpose of this leading is to guide us to a place of firmness in our faith.  Contemplation also guides us to a place of awareness of the Father’s continual presence in our lives.  Contemplation is a natural progression of the Christian faith.

Contemplation is the spiritual bedrock of intimacy with God.  It is the act of being still for the purpose of knowing God.  It can be entered into by simply finding the quiet time to “be” with the Father.   Our human spirit is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27), simply meaning that when God wants to talk and commune with us, He speaks primarily to our human spirit. The physical area of our bodies in which our spirit lodges is the “belly” or stomach area.  It is here, deep in our being where the Holy Spirit stirs us to commune with the Father and Jesus Christ.

We can approach His awareness, His presence, His abiding, and His will by simply entering into   “quiet time” with Him.  This time has no set agenda.  It is away from others and distracting elements.  It is not a prayer request session, nor is it a time away from busyness.  It is rather an “entering into” the presence of the Father to fasten attention upon Him.  It is also to regard or to attend to Him steadily, consistently, and unwavering.  It is entered into in silence.  Every thought is “taken captive” (2^nd  Corinthians 10:5) and focused on God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is an exit from fleshly attentions to spiritual focus.  The agenda becomes His.

Contemplation is a plateau that naturally progresses as you grow in your walk with God.  You will literally be summoned by God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into this place of fellowship.  It is growth.  It is a place that dissipates fear, chaos, self–obsession, and disobedience.  It brings the Oneness of the God-head front and center in you.  You experience the overwhelming power of His love imparted to you.

Contemplation ends up being an opportunity to allow God to ignite our spirit with His presence, His love, His compassion for us, His thoughts toward us, His heart for His creation, and the list goes on and on.  It also builds our relationship with the Father.  It employs and fulfills the purpose for which He created man in His likeness and image (Genesis 1:26).  That purpose was for fellowship with Him.  God wants to rest and abide in us. John 14:23 says. “If a man loves Me, he will keep My words:  and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Contemplation gives birth to a hunger to be in the presence of God for the purpose of knowing and fellowshipping with Him.  It also allows the peace imparted to the human spirit to enter the soul and body.  It ultimately brings us to the same relationship (1^st John 4:17) with the Father that Jesus had when He was here on the earth.  We enter into the “Sabbath- Rest” spoken of in the fourth chapter of Hebrews.

Contemplation is initiated by the Holy Spirit as we faithfully walk with God in this life.  It is a natural progression of the Believer who is growing in their faith and intimacy with God.  It brings peace in all circumstances.  It brings an exceedingly growing faith as you see the repeated faithfulness of God.  Because you visit Him only to be with Him, it brings you to a place that God can call you, “friend”.

Enter into Contemplation…for Eternity.

Are You Jesus Yet?

Are You Jesus Yet?

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, www.livingjoyministries.com, http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

God spoke this sentence to me in September of 2006, “Our bodies have to move into being Jesus on the cross”.  I understood that He was speaking to me and I went to my computer.

The body of man is the last frontier to be conquered spiritually.  We begin our journey with God by accepting Jesus Christ.  Our human spirit is then reborn.  We continue our journey by allowing our soul (intellect, will, and emotions) to be led into the will and purpose of God.  This is guided by the Holy Spirit and the word of God that we receive.

 The body is flesh, blood, and bones.  It is the house that our spirit and soul lives in here on earth.   The term “flesh” refers to the ungodly manifestations in the soul (mind, will, & emotions) and body of man.

When we continue to receive the word of God and live for God wholeheartedly, we come to a place in life where there is nothing else to do but die (to the flesh). This death is one that is a long time coming and sometimes never comes to those who accept Jesus Christ.  If you are on the path of eternal friendship with God, you will ultimately come to this place where there is nothing else spiritually you can do but die ((to the flesh). 

 When you come to this place, everything and every circumstance you experience is orchestrated for the express purpose of assisting you in this death process.  Here is where many fail because of a false belief that they are now in a venerable position.  The false battle then becomes to secure and protect yourself from what is happening to you.  When you engage in this falsely motivated battle, you begin to try to keep yourself alive.  You then miss the whole point of what Father God is doing in your life.  He is causing death (to the flesh), so that life may spring forth!

Isaac did not resist Abraham’s positioning of the wood, being bound, and being placed on the altar (Genesis 22:1-24).  He just knew that He had a good father and that everything was going to be alright. If you don’t submit to the death (of the flesh) process, you will miss the whole purpose for which you came to earth.  Jesus was not the only one sent to earth to die.  Each believer must understand that death (to the flesh) is the key to abundant life on earth.  Without it, there will be no completion of your God intended purpose. 

Jesus ministered profoundly when He was here on earth; however His primary purpose for coming to earth was to die.  That is our primary purpose also, for if we don’t die to our flesh, we can do good things and great things but we will never be able to say as Jesus did, “It is finished.”

He finished the work of His Father, not His own flesh desire (John 5:30).

So what is accomplished when we move into being Jesus on the cross?  We first of all understand that when He was on the cross, He had already conquered the battle of being there.  This battle was conquered in Gethsemane when He had His freedom and had to choose to perform God’s will rather that not perform it.  The battle ends when you make a choice to die to your flesh.  It is simply a decision you make that has no “exit clause”.

God expects us to follow our perfect example, Jesus.  We must make a conscious decision to die to the flesh at a point in time when we have the freedom to do otherwise.  This is called choice.  Some choose not to die (to the flesh) and remain in a “spiritual holding pattern” throughout their walk with God.  They never really get to the intimacy that life after death ((to the flesh) can bring.  Others, like Jesus, give up the search for “another way to accomplish this” and go willingly by decision to death (to the flesh).  The results become life.

When Paul talked about a “living sacrifice”, it was literally an oxymoron.  The literal interpretation is a “living dead.”  You cannot be a literal “alive dead person.”  It won’t work.  We understand the spiritual meaning of what Paul was saying.  You must die to the flesh and live in Christ Jesus.  We must “move into being Jesus on the cross.”  It was eminent death that produced eternal life through Christ Jesus.  He died to produce life for us and we must die (to the flesh) to allow His life to flow in us.

Both Isaac and Jesus were brought into the death process willingly, but there came a point at which they were in the hands of the Process (God, Holy Spirit) and not in their own hands.  It was the “nevertheless, Thy will be done moment.”

When we submit to dying to the flesh, the process is then out of our hand.  God chooses and uses whatever means He has ordained to accomplish His will.  We must simply give up to the process.  It’s in His hands.  It will be for our good.  His plan is a good one for us (Jeremiah 29:11)

Have you given up to the process?  When the scourging and mocking and temptations come, do you want the flesh to come down from the cross of Jesus?  If you have truly surrendered, regardless of how the present moment feels, you are committed to die and you move right into being Jesus on the cross.  He performed His duty to His mother; He ministered to the dying thief.  He did not exhibit hostility toward the instruments of death.  He simply gave up His spirit into the hands of God.

Have you done this?

You are invited by your heavenly Father to move into being Jesus on the cross. Are you Jesus Yet?

About Temptation

About Temptation

James 1:14 says, “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Temptation originates with the person.  You will be drawn to what is in your heart.  Satan lays the trap, but the heart of man gets him into the trap.  That is why scripture says , “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life”, Proverbs 4:23.

Temptation gets to be tricky.  1^st Corinthians 10:13 says, “There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear;  but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  God will help you if you want to be helped.  Your heart’s desire must be to do what is right and Father will give you a measure of faith and strength to do what is right.

1^st John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.”

Temptation proceeds out of these  three distinct things.

·    The lust of the flesh

·    The lust of the eyes

·    The pride of life

The Lust of the Flesh

This temptation promises pleasure to the flesh.  This is the lust for all physical satisfactions which are outside of the ordained  will and purposes of  God  for man.  This includes perversion of any kind. 

The word of God and faith in that word helps Believers to see and comprehend that the pleasures of sin are only for a season.  Pleasures are short lived and they have no power to satisfy permanently.  You must repeat, repeat, and  repeat the sin for the brief momentary pleasure.

God has ordained that we be led by His Holy Spirit and live out of our human spirit.  Our human spirit is where the word of God that we have  heard lies.  It was never God’s intent for us to live to satisfy the lust of the flesh.  The lust of the flesh is managed by a decision to follow God’s word and allowing God to make that “way of escape “ for us.  First comes the word of God, then comes the decision to follow the word, after that, prayer, fasting, and following the leading of the  Holy Spirit.  All of these bring the lust of the flesh under the power of the Holy Spirit and brings peace to the life of a Believer.

The Lust of the Eyes

This temptation originates from all that is seen in the world.  The eyes covet and want what is seen.  It matters not if it belongs to others, is forbidden by God, or detrimental to the spirit, soul, and/or body. 

Our comfort should come from God’s material blessings on our lives.  The word of God says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings, Proverbs 28:20”.  We have no need to covet and lust after the world’s treasury.  “All things are ours pertaining to life and godliness, 2^nd Peter 1:3”.

1^st Timothy 6:6-7 says,  “Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we carry nothing out.”.  Having more, more, and more, pales when you realize that it does not satisfy and cannot be taken with you.   Seek the eternal treasure of doing God’s will, blessing others, and quietly enjoying the material blessings in your life.

The Pride of Life

The lust for the approval and recognition of men is called pride.  The assertion of one’s own self above others is also called pride.  The word of God says, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, Proverbs 16:18”.  Pride is a killer.  It shows up is so many ways and often disguises itself.  It is deadly to relationships.

The Believer should expect any honor that comes to him to be from God. We should not seek to position ourselves to be favored by men.   John 12:43 says, “…For they loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God”.  Pride will take you captive if your treasure is of this world.

Faith in God settles the heart.  Many years ago God spoke directly to me in my spirit and said, “I will not be better to others than I am to you.”  This “rhema” word settled my heart regarding my relationship with Father.  It has caused me never to be in competition with others and to understand that my blessings are those that God has provided for me.  I give thanks for what I have, for what I have is what God has provided for me.  There may be much more to have in this world, but contentment comes to me from knowing and trusting my Provider and Supplier Who is Jesus Christ (Father, Holy Spirit).  I lack nothing because of Him.

God (Good) Advice

Expect your entire honor from God.

Use no bargaining tactics with Satan to gain the glory of this world.

(Your spirit will be disquieted when you engage pride in your work for God)

Study the lives of apostles, prophets, and foregone saints to see their triumph  over pride and lusts.

Pride is a door opener for temptation. Do not let pride open doors for you to be tempted.

Blessings and honor will come if you do God’s will.  The challenge then becomes keeping your eyes upon the Creator and not created things (man, wealth, power).

 About Temptation?  I think not.  Let us be about our Father’s business.

The "Staged" Christian Life

The “Staged” Christian Life

Marsha Deveaux Johnson

God recently gave me a vision of the life of a Christian portrayed on a performance stage.  I was challenged by Father to review some of the “staging” that goes on in His children.  This message is timely, relevant, and should be heard and heeded by the body of Christ.  The “staged” Christian life brings no glory to God.

Staged = “designed to project a superficial image”

Staged Action:  Deception

Open Door:

Staging by design is set up to be superficial and without depth and reality.  This opens the door for deception.  The “deeper” Christian life is found in the pursuit of obedience to God’s word.

Closed Door:

Saying, seeing, proclaiming, and living by what God’s word says and demands

Staged Action:  Larger than life Appearances

We believe that our actions are “larger than life”, meaning that everything we say, do, accomplish revolves so much around ourselves that Jesus Christ is not the center of our lives.

Open Door:

The presence in our lives of self centeredness, self importance, self promotion, inordinate self-love, the “Me First” mentality, worshipping the vision of ourselves as we are seen by family, friends, enemies, and self, all of these open the door for the destruction of the God-life (Zoe).

Closed Door:

Doing what Jesus said to do, deny self, take up His cross and follow Him.

Staged Action:  Props

Staging uses props.  By design props superficially give a façade, a picture, a support that cannot sustain real usage.  There is no substance to a prop.  It is one sided, without depth, without reality, without God.

Open Door:

We prop ourselves up with people, places, and things that are created rather than with God our Creator.  How have you propped your life?  Are friends, family, money in the bank, political influence, and power sustaining you?  If you are spiritually “propped” up by anyone or anything but God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you will fail in your efforts to live the God-life (Zoe).

Closed Door:  Place all of your dependency upon Jesus Christ.  He alone will sustain you.  

Staged Action:  Revolving Sets

Staging makes use of changing sets to portray different scenes at different times. 

Open Door:

Christians sometimes show different images (faces) to different people or circumstances.

Closed Door:

Complete transparency with everyone, depending totally and only upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

The spiritually transparent life is ordained by God.  Close the curtain on “staging” your life.

How Long did Jesus Stay on the Cross?

                                                   O ne day as I was

running an errand a

service truck turned

in front of me as

I was driving.

It had some kind of rig on the back of it that resembled a huge cross.  It was also brown in color.  I felt deep inside of me that a resurrection message was stirring as Easter was a week away.  As I stared at the cross it became crystal clear in my spirit just how long Jesus spent on the cross for us before He surrendered His Spirit to God.  His willingness to linger there proved His tremendous love for us. Here is how long I believed He hung there for us.

He stayed there until:

Every Issue

Was Settled,

Every Problem

Was Fixed,

Every Habit

Was Broken,

Every Mystery

Was Solved,

Every Relationship

Was Mended,

Every Broken Heart

Was Healed,

Every Fear Was

Replaced With Faith,

Every Tear

Was Wiped Away,

and most of all until

Every Sin

Was Forgiven!

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, (2009)

May every need in your life be met by the One who stayed on the cross for you until everything was finished!

A "Word" Document

A “Word” Document

The “not so New Year” is rapidly passing.  Time is definitely in fast forward mode.  At the beginning of the year I found myself meditating on the meaning, power, and importance of the word of the Lord in my life.  Certain scriptures (sited below) concerning the”Word” were prevalent in my thoughts and meditation.  Revelation comes when you begin to meditate on any aspect of God’s word.

The giant company Microsoft produced a systems program that revolutionized the whole world.  It was simply called “Microsoft Word”.  Every day users with typing and computer skills could create documents that previously only highly skilled people could produce.  This system allowed spelling to be checked, grammatical feedback, and document structure help.  It is a powerful tool released to the public. 

As powerful as the program is, it is yet limited to the skill of the person using it.  Knowledge of the English language and its usage play a large part on the quality, clarity, and outcome of a document produced in Microsoft Word.  In other words, a person must have credible interaction with the processing of the document to get the optimum results.  The system works and can produce an optimum quality document.  However, the user must employ all the available resources of the system skillfully.

“In the beginning, before all time was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God and the Word was God (Himself).  …And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived a while) among us.” John 1:1, John 1:14A.   God did not produce the Word, He is the Word.

The challenge that comes to Believers is that we sometimes don’t understand the “Word” as it applies to our lives.  We look at the Logos word (written word in the Bible) and see a set of principles to be followed.  We look at the Rhema word (inspired Word) and see an occasional specific and sure word from the Lord.  These are both true, but there is so much MORE to the “Word”.  Loving God, loving your neighbor as yourself, dying daily to loving the world and the things in it, are the foundations of building the God-Life (Zoe).   Living in the power of the “Word, (Jesus)” goes beyond the foundations and structures us for Eternity!

Our understanding of the vastness (the power and capability) of the “Word” is going to produce the fullness of the God-Life (Zoe) in our lives.  Every time we encounter the word “Word” in scripture, we should immediately insert Jesus.  He is the “Living Word” and this changes everything.  Supernatural power is available to the Believer who understands this and lives accordingly.  He (Jesus) brings on the scene light, clarity, fulfilled promises, His shed blood, His status with God, the power of His name, and the fact hailed at the cross, “It is finished“ to our circumstance.  The “Word” document produced in our lives must have the full interactive power of what Jesus has already done for us (imputed righteousness). We can then begin to allow Him to work in us (imparted righteousness) led by God’s Holy Spirit so we can know our lives (documents) will conform to the image of Christ.

A document produced in Microsoft Word by a fourth grader on Azaleas is not going to be the same as one produced by a Botanical scientist.  The scientist has more knowledge, experience, and intellectual exposure than the student has.

Believers must study, meditate, and practice the business of the word of the Lord in order to live the successful God-Life (Zoe).  We can be “high functioning” when it comes to God’s word.  Under the authority of the Holy Spirit every “Logos” word becomes a “Rhema” word as we meditate on the power of the Word (Jesus). 

I share with you the “Word (Jesus)” confessions upon which I meditate.  Find those “Word (Jesus) “scriptures that come to mind out of your spirit and begin to meditate upon them.  I assure you that God will send powerful breakthrough revelation into your life.  Your life will be a “Fabulous Word Document” for the Lord Jesus Christ!

7 Confessions Regarding Jesus the Living Word

Psalms 107:20

“He sends forth His word (Jesus) and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction.”

Psalms 119:11

“Your word (Jesus) have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalms 119:89

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word (Jesus) is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens].”

Psalms 119:105

“Your word (Jesus) is a lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway.”

Isaiah 40:8

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word (Jesus) of our God will stand forever.”

Isaiah 55:11

“So shall my word (Jesus) be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Jeremiah 1:12

“Then said the Lord to me.  You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word (Jesus) to perform it.”

The Gospel According To Natasha

The Gospel According To Natasha

(Written in 2005)

God delivers His Word in scripture through prophets, apostles, teachers, and other dedicated men and women.  The books of the Bible were usually addressed by the name of the individual who wrote the book.  Today as we continue to pursue God’s eternal purpose, we are still blessed by the ministry of the Word of God through His contemporary prophets, apostles, pastors, evangelists, and teachers.  Sometimes these men and women are the most unlikely and are found in obscure places in life.  

I recently had been praying for two days, asking the Holy Spirit to help me release, roll and repose every care of my life upon the Lord.  It sounds so easy and yet as I released everything to the Father, I would later find myself dealing with the care of situations front and center again and again (Can I get a witness?).  I soon sat in an accountability group of ministers that meet weekly to study and hear God’s voice.  I asked this group to join me in agreement that my prayer would soon become day to day reality.  I wanted to enter the “Sabbath Rest” that is promised by God.  One of the ministers began to pray and as soon as she did God began to speak to me in my spirit.  He said, “Take you cues from Natasha”.  Natasha is my granddaughter who was seven at that time.  (She is seventeen now.)

God was about to deliver to me the gospel according to her!  He pointed out to me our relationship of closeness and how it manifests when she comes to my house.  At the door, she greets and kisses me and proceeds to wrap her arms around me.  We can do that to Jesus by entering into His presence with worship and adoration.  We can literally wrap ourselves around Him in worship and will thus be drawn closer in fellowship. 

God also said that Natasha’s expectations are high because she has been to my house before and is always blessed with good things that she likes and positive experiences and attention.  Our expectations of God must be good, for He is a good God.  We are drawn closer when we expect God to perform His Word.  It is called FAITH.

Natasha has this practice that started when she was a toddler and has continued.  She goes to my bedroom, chooses a pair of my shoes and walks around in them while she is at my house.  How this spoke to me!  God expects us to walk in the shoes and footsteps where Jesus walked right here on earth.  He was our perfect example. We should not create our own footsteps. When we do what He did here on earth, we will have the same relationship that He had with the Father.  There can be no question of trust if we walk in the shoes of the Living Word, Who is Jesus Christ. 

Natasha always asks about helping me as I am preparing a meal, she seeks ways in which she can help me accomplish tasks that I am doing.  This is how we must draw near to God, with a heart to seek to accomplish His plan, His purpose, and His will.

Finally, Natasha has this practice and her grandmother is spared this one, but Granddaddy participates.  If he is stretched out in an easy chair, she jumps in it with him and throws her full body weight on him!  This is so delightful to her. 

When was the last time you cast the whole of yourself upon the Lord, knowing fully that He is able to bear you up regardless of the circumstances?   Do you cast the full weight of your care in delight upon Him?  Do you carry yourself and your care? 

I was humbly ministered to and given the gospel according to my sweet young granddaughter, Natasha.

 “…Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain them, for of such as these is the kingdom of heaven  composed.” (Matthew 19:14)

P. S.

The corporate anointing of prayer from other believers for my need brought about the release of the knowledge God wanted to place in my spirit.  I am casting the full body weight of my cares upon the Lord.  It gets easier every day!

Summary of the Gospel According to Natasha

·      Wrap yourself around Jesus in worship. Worship frees your mind.

·      Expect the good things from His Word to manifest in your life.

·      Walk in the footsteps of Jesus, read the gospels, see what Jesus did and do what He did.  Cultivate the relationship with Father God that Jesus has.  Do not order your own footsteps.

·      Be available to God for His purpose (Not only in word, but in deed).

·      Cast the full body weight of your cares upon the Lord in delight knowing everything will be alright through faith and trust and love.

Dr. Marsha Deveaux Johnson, www.livingjoyministries.com

New Year, Old Defeated Enemy

New Year,

Old (Defeated) Enemy

Make no mistake about it, for every person born into this world there is already in place a formidable enemy who wars for their soul (John 10:10, “The thief comes to kill, steal, destroy…).  There is a real enemy (Satan), who exists in a real world, in real time, strategically plotting the eternal defeat of every man, woman, boy, and girl. 

 And yes, it is OK to talk about Satan as long as we understand that what God says about him is truth and live our lives from that perspective.  These four scriptures will give you a biblical knowledge of his existence, state, and future:   Isaiah 14:12-18 (Fallen), Ezekiel Chapter 28 (Fallen), and Luke 10:18-19 (Fallen), Revelation 20:10 (Lake of Fire, final place of torment).

Before you came into this world, the enemy of God Almighty (Creator, Elohim) who is Satan (created fallen angel) spotted you.  Satan carved out a plan, circled your little wagon and marked you for his camp.  This sounds horrific.  It is more horrifying than imaginable if he gets you to follow through with his plan for your life.

Satan has vicious plans for lives dressed up in acceptable clothing that reeks with temptation, accusation and deceit.  The most diabolical of his plans are those where the victim chooses, implements, and manages their own defeat process.  This is despicable and yet it goes on every day in real time.

The values held by this world’s system are in direct opposition to the message of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ brings love, forgiveness, obedience, humility, peace, and self-denial. The system of the world promotes materialism, arrogance, greed, self interest, and hatred.

I must quickly get to the second clause in John 10:10, “…but I am come that they may have life and have it more abundant”!  These are the words of Jesus.   Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit will show you the eternal plan and blessing that is yours.   By simply repenting, receiving, and living the life of Jesus Christ, your eternity arrives to the plan that God has for you.  This plan has existed from before the foundation of the world (Jeremiah 29:11). How does the plan that God has for you operate?  What does it look like when implemented?  And how do you stick with God’s plan rather than Satan’s plan?

First of all, you must find out what the plan is and follow it.  The plan is clearly presented in the Bible, the inspired word of God. We are instructed in the book of James (1:22) not only to know the plan but to do the plan.  God’s word must start to “work” its way into our lifestyle until we look exactly like Jesus.

Many years ago God gave me a key to understanding the place of material things in my life.  He said “I created in you a certain capacity that can be filled with enjoyment of material (created) things.  He created all things for us to enjoy in the earth, but they cannot fill our entire being because we were created for His (God’s) fellowship and glory. 

The deception that can easily be made with material goods (created things) is that you can increase your capacity to enjoy them if you get bigger, better, more elaborate, and  more costly things.  This is never true and leads to insatiable greed and emptiness.  Paul speaks to us of “Contentment” (Hebrews 13:5).  I view contentment as filling the capacity created by God in you to enjoy earthly things (created things) and not trying futilely to increase that capacity. 

Your soul is limited to experience, knowledge, imagination, and emotions.  The soul is self-conscious and if left unattended seeks its pleasure here and now.  Ten months after purchasing the item you thought was “all that”, it is now ready for the Goodwill truck.   The soul wants and demands more and more if you do not allow God’s word to govern it, (“…take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2^nd Corinthians 10:5).

Your human spirit, that communes with God has unlimited expansion, giving you awesome capacity to receive eternity right here on earth.  Continually:

Worship the Creator, not created things.

When self-will, self-attention, and self-importance are well on their way to dying to the need for created things, life gets easier.  By placing God the Creator and created things in their proper place the enemy has lost key tools to implement his plan for you. 

The focus then becomes what is God’s will, what is His way?  How do I live?  Good Questions!  Seek the presence of the Holy Spirit for guidance.  He is sent to do a job in your life.  Let Him guide, let Him lead, let Him impart truth and direction continually (John 14:16, Entire book of John).