What makes her different?

 

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord” –Psalms 1:1

Blessed is the man who does not think, see, hear, talks, or acts according to this world. Her behavior may be seen as odd, different, weird, strange, lame, boring to others because she doesn’t act or think the same way as everyone else but she doesn’t care. God’s voice is more valuable. She finds delight in his word and teachings. This is what makes her different from everyone else.

My Family Will Never Change!

 

After Jesus was baptized in waters, with the Holy Spirit, and with fire, he left Nazareth, his town, to begin his preaching in other places. Jesus, then returned to his own town where he also healed, liberated, and preached to people. "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town." -Matthew 9:1 

Jesus is teaching us how many people want to help assist, heal, liberate, and preach to all the people around them in places such as their school, work, within the own church, friends/acquaintances, strangers etc but when it comes to the people under the same roof as them, their family, they don't have the same energy, desire, or willingness. 

They say that their family is:

• a lost case
• will never change
• why even bother trying

Serving and following Jesus, starts within the own home. We have patience and are persistent with strangers and yet, with our own family, we don't? 

Jesus knew he had to help others but he also knew he had to help those in his own town too. You may say:

• It's hard because they already know what they have to do.
• It's hard because they're so stubborn and prideful.
• It's hard because I've tried talking to them but they don't listen

Everyone knows what they have to do but if it were that easy, everyone would've done it by now. The secret isn't to force or to "convince" them because the reality is, that's going to push them away even more from doing what they have to do. 

Do your part. Focus on changing yourself and work on having a solid relationship with God. When we do this, God begins to mold and change you. He will give you patience, self-control, love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness towards your family. Something that you alone, will not be able to  have or do.

As a result of your change, the people around you and even within your own home, will see this change within you and will desire it and eventually seek for it. Your actions will speak much louder than your words.

Another thing, the only one that can truly convince a person to change, is God. Not us. Our part is to fast, do purposes, and vows for our family. Remember that our fight isn't with flesh and bones but it's a spiritual fight! (Ephesians 6:12)Spiritual battles can only be fought with spiritual weapons. Through these sacrifices, we will be helping the people around us. 

A Blessed Life or A Cursed Life?

 

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. -Matthew 7:6

If you give an animal something of value, sacred, worth etc, they will not treasure it the way one does. An animal will not recognize the worth of a Louis Vuitton purse for all it sees is a chewing toy. 

If you hand over something of value to someone else, maybe that person won't see it with the same eyes that you do. They won't handle it with care as much as you do because for them it's just an object. 

The same way goes for the devil. If you give to him what is valuable and sacred, which is your life, he will not treat it as such. He will trample it under his feet. This is the reason as to why many people have problems in all aspects of their life. 

• Financially, the person is failing because they have not yet recognize the value of tithing, which is giving God the first 10% of all income that comes to ones hand! Instead, they are tithing their own way or are not tithing at all and this is an opening door for the devil to come inside your life and create debt, losing your job, low income, always short on money etc.

• In health, the person is failing because they still don't recognize the value of having a relationship with God who will do what no medication, doctor, witchcraft etc, can do! Instead, they continue to depend on medication, witchcraft, doctors etc to "heal" them and this has opened the door for the devil to shorten peoples lifespan or end their life, go into debt or lose money due to paying for so many medications, missing days of work due to so many doctors appointments etc.

•  Spiritually, the person continues to fail because they haven't recognized the worth of obeying the will of God!  Instead, they continue to live life the way they want because church or reading the bible is "too boring" or because they "never have time" or because God is asking for "too much". This has opened the door to the devil to create depression, suicidal thoughts, anger, doubt, unhappiness in their life etc.

• The wife or husband continue to fail in their marriage because they still have not recognize the value of prioritizing themselves! it's not their job to try to change the other person but to change themselves first! Instead, they continue to use the same excuse "if he/she doesn't change first, I'm not changing" "he's the one who is wrong, not me!" "I'm a good person, he's the bad one". This has opened the door for the devil to create infidelity, separation, arguments, domestic violence etc.

The list goes on! Do you see the consequences of giving the devil the most valuable thing in your possession? He will not cherish and value your finances, health, spiritual life, marriage, family etc. On the contrary, once you give that to him, he will take it, trample it under his feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces!  

Look within your life and see if any apply to you. Is your life a blessing or a curse? Once you answered this, you will know if you have been giving the devil what is most valuable to you. 

I Have So Much To Do, I Don't Have Time

 

God knows and understands that we have a busy life. He understands that we have needs, responsibilities, and goals that need to be fulfilled and/or accomplished. So how can we show him that he's still important to us no matter how busy we may be?

God wants us to make time for him. If we are on our way to an appointment, work, gym, school, etc. talk to him in your car, on the drive to your destination. 

If you are at work, school, or with your family and there is no way to talk to him the way you would want too, take a small break, go inside the restroom for 5 minutes and talk to him. Remind him that you haven't forgotten about him and let him know that you still need and want him.

 If you're home, before you start your busy day, go into your room, bathroom, kitchen, living room etc and seek God. Don't ask God what you want him to give you or to resolve that problem that you have pending, but use that time to really ask him to change you. Ask him to show you what he wants from you. Ask, what do you need to do in order to get to know him. Ask him to guide you through the day so you can remove what is holding you back from living a life with Him and/or to show you what you need to do more to get closer to Him.

 Finally, you can also take some time to participate of one of the church services in the morning before you start your busy day or at night, after you're done with your busy day. For example, I work overnight and I work 10 hour shifts every day. On Fridays, as soon as I am off, I go straight to church and attend of a short service of an hour. Then and there, I am proving to God that no matter how tired and sleepy I may be or the long day I had at work, nothing is going to get in the way of my commitment that I have with him. During the service, my faith is fed, which makes me spiritually stronger, and I also talk to God during the prayers and I let him know everything I have within me. By the time I arrive home, even though my sleep was cut shorter, I have an assurance that my God is with me the same way I am with him.

We are all busy but it's in the small things that we do, that we truly show God that in the midlist of our chaotic and busy day, that we still want him no matter what.