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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Like Living in a Goldfish Bowl (11/07/13)
Once we become Christians we have surrendered our lives to Jesus forever, so our lives belong to Him. No one can hide from the face of God, but especially not the Christian. Psalms 139: 1-12 (NKJV) Even when we climb to the highest mountain or dive down into the depths of the sea; there is nowhere we can go to escape from God's presence. There is no privacy with God for He is constantly making us into His image through everything we face in our lives. God sees all of the issues we hide inside of our heart and He knows our own unique struggles with sin.

God knows the mess we are in and longs for us to just come to Him in sincere honesty. We think we can keep hiding from God behind all of our religiosity, but we only fool ourselves. He keeps nudging us until we see our sin as He sees it and come to repentance. For many years I was a backslid Christian, not going to church even though I felt God calling me to go. I would resist His call and would fall prey to the enemy’s excuses. God kept prompting me until I got completely honest with myself as well as with Him. We can desire to please God, but if we truly love Him we will follow His commands as written in John 15:12-14 (NKJV). This will also include not forsaking the assembling together of other believers; not living life as I had been doing inside of my own personal ‘goldfish bowl.’

Wherever we go and whatever we do we cannot escape the grace that God has for us but I don’t think we would want to. When we allow God to come eye-ball to eye-ball with us in our own little ‘water-tank’ that is where we can get a good grooming and actually become more free than ever. True freedom lives on the inside of one's soul. It is always better to submit to God’s will and plan for us than our own. But that is our choice as to just how much we allow God to control our lives by handing Him our daily schedule. James 4:8 (NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

From birth He has called us and will not cease to form and fashion us according to His will. We are the ones who rebel against what He is trying to do in our lives. He has been there all along watching us, waiting on us, and hoping we might recognize His work. Sadly we don’t even see Him or what He is doing, yet He sees us perfectly. He desires us to submit to His plans and purpose for our lives. We often treat God like we are on an operating table requiring surgery yet not trusting Him to do the needed work; instead we hop off of the table before He can even stitch us back up.

With God there needs to be unlimited access to His children--no boundary markers for Him! God sees us each uniquely and has called us by name; however, we need to be willing to live in His personal goldfish bowl to receive the gifts He has for us.
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This article has been read 637 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
11/14/13
Beautiful sentiments and choice of scriptures. Lovely message.

God Bless~
Colin Swann
11/16/13
I like this a lot. Well written and interesting and very informative. Thanks!
lynn gipson 
11/16/13
That "Cloak of Love' is what keeps us safe and warm and always under His wings.

This is a wonderful devotional to our Lord and Savior. Beautifully written and a joy to read.

Thank you for sharing this inspirational article and reminding me I am never out of His sight! Blessings...
Danielle King 
11/16/13
An inspirational message and a good use of the topic. Great job.
Amelia Brown 
11/16/13
Nice take on the topic, and very inspiring. Keep writing.
Liana Wendy Howarth
11/16/13
Lovely devotional ... thank you ... under His eternal watchful eye. We try and hide under the world's 'little rocks of circumstance etc' but there is no escaping.
LaVonne Wood
11/17/13
This is a good take on the topic - God is always watching us. So thankful you returned to Christ in a deeper relationship.

Thanks for sharing, Blessings!
Sheldon Bass 
11/18/13
I truly enjoyed this piece. Great testimony of God's providence over us and His desire to continue shaping and growing us into the image of His Son.

I sense that perhaps God has called you to write for His glory. And He will continue to increase your talent with the written word.

Keep up the good work!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/21/13
This is a lovely message. You did a nice job of backing your message with Scripture.
Congratulations on ranking 3rd in your level and 25 overall! (The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.) Happy Dance!!