Day 3 of 31: Her Eyes (Part 2 of 2)
Theme Scripture:
Matthew 6:22-23“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Memory Verse:
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Focus Verses:
Matthew 6:22-23, 33
Galatians 5:16-26
2Corinthians 10:1-6
2 Corinthians 5:7
1Corinthians 6:19-20
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Romans 6
WE ARE SPIRIT
Matthew 6:22-23 speaks about our eyes being the lamp to our soul. Our SPIRIT is the lamp to our SOUL! our very being. We are seeing things through the spirit. We are spirits with bodies. Not bodies with spirits. We are made of 3 compartments. Body (flesh), soul, and spirit. Our soul is where our emotions come from or centered around. Day 2 we discussed how our perceptions can affect not only how we speak, but feel as well. The soul. Today we are speaking about what affects our soul. The spirit. Our spirit is where our personalities exist. The very essence of who we are. What makes me, Jenny, and what makes you, you! Our spirit may be one of the MOST important to speak on, because it affects our body in whole. Not only how we perceive things which in turn can have an affect on how we speak, but also how and why we do things the way we do, the way we think, the way we surrender to God, and so much more. (see video below) .
DISTRACTIONS
We must be willing to submit our eyes, our desires/ wills, our spirit to God. One way to look at it is, what are you indulging yourself in?
We have to be careful in what we are seeing and calling it “Truth”. This can include TV, what we read, imaginations, and etc. We are to glorify God with our bodies, not only what is coming out, but what we are putting in. Our bodies are His Holy Temple (1 Cor.6:19-20) and we are to glorify Him in body AND spirit. What goes in always come out! If all we ever fill our eyes with is sin, our bodies will be so corrupt with that sin. If all we ever focus on is evil, what’s wrong, what’s worrying us, we will produce that fruit that only encourages more worry, more corrupt sin, and so forth. But, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, and He is the remainder of our focus, not only will our perception in life change, but the fruit we produce will be Christ Like character. We become more and more like Him. We will produce more fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22.)
In Romans 6 Paul states how we are no longer bound to sin or this flesh, but we have rule over it! We have power (dominion) over it!
We have to be careful in what we indulge ourselves with. For me, it was TV.
I used to have a horrible addiction to the TV. I can still remember the first day God said I had to fast from it. Completely! Turned off! My response? I literally cried in tears asking my sister and a friend of ours to pray for me, because I felt as though I couldn’t do it. I found comfort in TV. Majority of the time (that year) this is how my family and I spent time together! This is what we do! I felt it was IMPOSSIBLE, and couldn't understand why God was leading me to do something that was completely IMPOSSIBLE! As if, He was setting me up for failure. God then showed me a vision of the enemy standing in front of the TV screen in the house with his arms crossed, and instantly I felt the Lord dropped in my spirit that it was a strong-hold in my life! And that how satan can try and manipulate the gift (visions) God had given me that I was beginning to grow in to at the time with the usage of TV. I prayed and cried. I made up my mind that I am going to try and do this thing! Eventually, I got the strength to begin.The strength to begin and endure came from the Lord, supernaturally. It’s not how you start, but how you finish. On the first day, I was watching TV and didn’t know I was watching TV until the commercial came on lol. But, I can say, it did get easier. And I’m glad He took me on that personal fast. I got to spend MORE time with Him, read His word more, His voice was SO MUCH clearer, and the understanding to questions I had in regarding my life. I realized then TV had a huge impact in my thinking, and how I perceived things to be. But for just that one week, things changed! And, oh my, how did they change!
*I thought the Lord was setting me up for failure, He was setting me up for success!
So at the time, the Lord had to show me to be careful, not ONLY what I was watching but also how much time I was spending into it. Or even allowing myself to indulge in other things. Some of these things I had to fast from, to take away or delete the appetite of this flesh, and have to tell this flesh who is boss, who is in charge. That is me! My spirit.
Romans 8 says our flesh are enemies with God! Don't let your flesh rule your life, don't let the desires of this world, rule your life! If I can do it, you can do it! What is God calling you to fast from? God can call us to fast from anything. There were many times people asked me, "why is God punishing you from watching TV?" It's not that He is punishing us, but that He loves us so much that He desires to erase that desire/appetite of our flesh that keeps us separated from Him or moving in closeness towards Him. It's so that we can HEAR Him, so we can KNOW Him, so we can EXPERIENCE Him, in greater heights, and deeper depths. So that we can live the life that we desire.
Many of us desire to be closer to the Lord. We don't desire to be this distant, sinful being. We desire to be closer to our Father, and be all that God has already said that we ARE! We desire to be that woman of God that He ALREADY sees within us! He desires it more than we desire! So many times we believe that we will NEVER be this woman, that we will ALWAYS be this sinful person, lacking something.
In His Word we just read how He just said that if our eye (spirit) is good, our WHOLE body will be good! One thing I realized myself is that once i follow my spirit, and do what it wants to do in the Lord, I find my body following behind. When I follow my spirit before I follow this flesh, good works begin to happen, by itself. Not necessarily by itself, but I had to make a decision. My mind was literally made up! I said, "God You know what? I'm not doing this no more. I don't want this anymore! This is not where it's at. This is not who I am. It's done! It stops here!" When I made this decision, you know what happened? Not only did those spirits that were NOT of God leave, but my flesh got in check,and it KNEW Who God IS! It began to serve God!
In Gal.5 Paul says we MUST walk in the Spirit and not of the Flesh. But we must know what is of the Spirit to walk in the Spirit. The FRUIT of the Spirit is the best place to begin. In Galatians 5 (Focus Verses). Self control, love, patience, gentleness, Kindness, joy, peace. We should always be working and striving toward these! Growing in the fruit of the Spirit. Love is the greatest gift of all (1 cor. 13). So when we walk in love, you'll be walking in the Spirit. You will be at peace if you are loving, you will be in patience if you are loving, you will be in joy if you are loving, you will forgive, if you are loving. If you are loving others, yourself, and God.
What is God calling you to fast from today? God wants us to have a stronger appetite for Him. He wants us to rely upon Him, His Spirit, His love, His truth. Just trust and believe in Him. This is what God has called us to do. Be His daughters, and love Him above all things. Above our flesh. It is very POSSIBLE. He is right there with you and within you. He will lead you, guide you. He is merciful.
Sometimes we say we don't have time to pray and study His Word. Well, during this fast, we will. There's no excuse. You wanna hear God? You wanna experience God? You wanna see God and all His glory for yourself? This is that moment to do it. Trust Him!
- What are somethings you are currently indulging yourself in now?
- What is something God has been calling you to take a break from, or put on rest? What is distracting or pulling you away from God? Maybe it's a thought, Facebook,worrying over a situation, food complaining, a bad habit, a guy, TV, certain music, phone, how much time you hangout with other people?
- Why do you think it may be difficult to pull away? *Pray about this NOW and record in your journal what the Lord may be pulling your heart strings to do.
IMAGINATIONS
Another thing we must be careful of is imagination! Sometimes, we play with the images and situations in our heads that aren’t given from God! This again follows with perception. When we don’t seek God, when we instead play with them, they begin to manifest themselves in the natural. This could be situations being played out which can cause jumping to conclusions, this can be sexual images that can cause sexual immorality, this can even be lies being spoken over, and when you focus on that you begin to walk in that! This must not be so! Instead, when that thought comes, and it’s totally against God, cast it down right then and there to the obedience of Christ. (2cor.10:4-6)! You can do this by prayer. Start praying in your heart and your spirit. Seek God in the midst, and manifest that! What we see can affect our living, our imaginations, our thinking, and more. Don’t give the devil reign with your sight. Keep your focus on none other than Jesus!
Consider These Questions
- In what ways can things can filter our perceptions in life?
- What are somethings you are currently indulging yourself in now?
- What is something God has been calling you to take a break from, or put on rest?
- What is distracting or pulling you away from God? Maybe it's a thought, Facebook,worrying over a situation, food complaining, a bad habit, a guy, TV, certain music, phone, how much time you hangout with other people?
- Why do you think it may be difficult to pull away? *Pray about this NOW and record in your journal what the Lord may be pulling your heart strings to do.
- Describe a time when God called you to pull away from something so you could hear Him, and clear out the confusions, and gain clarity. How did this affect your life and relationship with Christ?
- List 3 imaginations that can be from the enemy and not God. List 3 that can be from the Lord.
- Why must we not play with imaginations or a thought that we know is NOT given from God?
- Why must we give EVERY thought to Christ?
- List a few ways to give these thoughts to Christ in your daily living with the Lord.
The Daughter: Her eyes are holy, and do not trust in everything that she sees. She understands that her eyes are the lamp to her soul. Therefore, she glorifies God with her eyes and what she chooses to see or watch. And with her eyes she seeks and keeps her focus on His Son. She is careful at what she sees and allows to impact her thinking! She understands the wisdom in seeing, and constantly seeks her Father’s hands in helping her to see His way…even when she fails, she still calls on Him. Her trust is in Him alone and that He will give her the true sight to see, which is in His Spirit.
The Challenge: Pay attention to what you are seeing today rather by perception, imagination, thinking, and also your activities throughout the day. Today’s challenge includes TV/Media (YouTube, Netflix, even Facebook.) Glorify God by what you watch today.
*(optional)Bonus: Fast from TV/Media ( or what you sirens midst of your time doing i.e. social media, skipping, phone, food, worry, complaint, etc.) for today or the rest of the week.*
Journal: This morning, set some time aside for you and the Lord today and pray. Journal as you feel led. Rather a prayer, a love note to God. Begin to ask God to help you with not only your perceptions in life, but also what are you allowing to enter your body. After reading today’s challenge, what came to your mind? What spoke to you personally the most? What are some of the things you seen needed changing? What have you allowed to affect your thinking/imaginations? Seek Him in what needs to be changed throughout the remainder of these 31 Days in regards to your seeing rather perception or what you are allowing in. As the eye is the lamp to the body.
Activity: TV/Media Challenge! And journal! *Feel free to share your experiences or what may come to your mind at this time! smile emoticon
As you go through out your day, constantly remain in prayer about your perceptions, asking for change consistently. Journal anything/thoughts the Lord gives you through out the day and read back over those tonight, if any imagination comes, seek God and cast it down by His Spirit. Always keep, and shift your focus through continuous communication with Christ, even if it's a Thank You, Jesus I knew that was You!
Morning Journal
JOURNAL: This morning, set some time aside for you and the Lord today and pray. Journal as you feel led. Start writing about your take on the devotion today. What struck most out to you about the message? What are some areas the Lord has been drawing you to pull away from, but you feel is impossible, and why? Write a prayer letter to the Father describing this, and seeking His hands for guidnace. Express the deep rooted in your heart. Do you truly desire to be set free from the imaginations or appetite of the flesh? Why or why not? What hinders a person from being free? What hinders you personally? *Set yourself personal goals for today's challenge. Write steps that can help you reach that desired outcome/destination.
DEVOTIONAL: Choose to write either the Theme Verse or Memory Verse down. (maybe even both!) Now explain what the theme verse, and memory verse mean to you.
Evening Journal
JOURNAL: Record or write your times in your journal through out the day of when you were able to Accomplish this challenge, or even failed and need more room to grow. PRAYER: Seek and Ask God in prayer for help, guidance, and guarding your tongues
DEVOTIONAL: Choose a focus verse from the day's challenge. Write that verse down. Explain what this verse is speaking to you. List 3 ways you can apply this verse to your life NOW!
Journal Prompts
OK, so maybe you're stuck in what to journal about, or maybe you're not the quite writing person, but you're wanting to get in on this whole journal with God thing. Listen, I've been there before. I've been stuck, made excuses, etc. Maybe the desire was there, but the motivation or creativity surely did not. One thing that helps me the most is pray and be honest with the Lord, and ask for His hand to help. Another thing that has helped many other people (I told you you're not alone lol) are journal prompts. So, for this challenge, I created a few journal prompts below that you can choose from when your feeling lack of motivation, stuck, and etc. Maybe it'll inspire you to create many of your own.
- Write a Prayer
- Write a Letter to God
- Write your thoughts from the day
- How has the devotional impacted you, are there any new revelations you received from the Lord?
- Write down the theme verse and what this verse says to you
- Search other scriptures that can help with this day's challenge and what it speaks to you
- Revisit Morning Questions- Write any new answers/meditations/thoughts you may have received regarding these questions from this morning. Maybe your answers from this morning's questions have changed. If so, write about them, what changed and why?
- Finish a sentence
"I recognize I still have an issue with....."
"I desire change in the following areas:......"
"Lord, I pray that You will help me to see Your hand in........"
KEY TAKE AWAY
*We must be led with the Spirit. Not only be led, but follow His Spirit as well as our own. We must remember who is boss, hint, its not our flesh! To erase the flesh's appetite in our lives, we must feed our spirit with more of Him! It's not how we start, but how we finish!*
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that you continue to be with me and my eyes, my perceptions of truth, and my spirit! Lord, I pray that as you lead me to fast from [..............] that you encourage and strengthen my spirit, my heart to follow after You, and not to replace those things with other things. But help me to hear You, KNOW YOU More, feel you...EXPERIENCE You, my Father. For I know You love me, and desire me to experience You deeper that I've ever gone before. Help me to come to your throne room during this time today. Help me to acknowledge You in every step of my path today, and let You be in control. Let You be God today in my life, and forevermore. Thank You for Your strengths, and mercies in my life. Lord, steer me in Your truths, Your Spirit, and help me to grow and gain, and even learn the fruit of the Spirit, that I may grow and walk in them, and NOT the lust of this flesh. Lord, I kill this flesh today, and everyday. Help me to lye this at Your feet, and do as You will, dear Lord. Heavenly Father, when those vain imaginations come from the enemy, I pray You alert y soul, my heart, and give no room to play with them for they are deceitful and sent from the evil one. Instead, I pray You teach me and show me how to cast them down in Your name, and take them captive to the very obedience of Christ! Lord, teach me your precepts, lead me in Your ways. Have Your way dear Holy Spirit within me. Teach me to LOVE you, far greater than I have come. Take me, have me, mold me, and do as You please. Let Your will be done in my life. Help my eye to be good, that my body and soul will be filled with Your glorious light, and not of my own. Let my faith and my body do and complete the great will of y Lord! Lead me closer to you, to hear you and feel you, and follow you. Make Your ways clearer and confirmed before me dear Lord. I love You, and I praise You, and I thank You! In Jesus Name I love You! Amen!
*feel free to rewrite this prayer in your journal and change any words that will fit the prayers of your heart!
*feel free to rewrite this prayer in your journal and change any words that will fit the prayers of your heart!
Don't forget to Comment, Subscribe, +1, Like, Tweet, Share this post so others can join! Don't forget to sign up to have the challenge sent to your email every day as a reminder!
No comments :
Post a Comment
Comment Below to share your thoughts!