ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matt 7:13-14
This is the very verse that Father will not let me shake the past week and a half! Our conversations have been Him reminding me about how GOOD HE IS for giving me boundaries! Reminding me that he gives and takes away in order for me to HAVE LIFE!!!!!! If I were to tell you all the boundaries he has set up for me...you would think I was crazy. It varies from ending friendships.......to no cable or computer in my home! Some of my boundaries, like cable, I sometimes flirt with the idea of just getting it! I miss so much HGTV!!!!!! Then conviction sets in and I remember how addicted I can become to tv or the internet. I Praise Him for the boundary and move on about my day. He has created in my walk with him very hard "No caroline" issues. Oh how they hurt when He is building them. Oh how it breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to things or people. Weeks later....even months later........I no longer struggle with that sin and I no longer have to be tempted by it. Then I am Free! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Over a year ago I was in the middle of Beth Moore "Daniel" study and we were talking about denying ourselves. Example....If you have the money to go out to eat or If you have the money to buy the dress........but chose not to because I don't have to eat or buy it just because you can. As Beth said..."I can, but I don't believe I will". That really stuck with me. Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. Then the verse comes back to my mind....
"for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction....."
Daniel prayed 3 times a day! He did it faithfully. No matter what needed to be done. Father was his top priority. Daniel didn't make idols out of things. HIS EYES WERE ON GOD! I want that all the time! I want my thoughts to never linger on things longer than they should. Yesterday I could hardly do my bible study after school because my thoughts were going 90 miles an hour of all the things that have to be done before we head to Houston and today when I meet with the Realtor. For me and my walk...that is totally unacceptable. The boundary he has given me is to stop and focus only on him in the afternoons. Every afternoon! No matter what I have to do!!!!!! I want to be consumed by him. I don't want to short change my God because I have things to do! How selfish of me! I am only here to do his work!
God tells us the answer to chose in Matt 7........."ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE".. we don't have to sit and figure it out because he says it first thing....ENTER HERE, CHOSE THIS, BELIEVE ME, FOLLOW ME THIS WAY. remember that I AM THE WAY!!!!
I don't ever want to resist boundaries in my life. If he says STOP, FLEE, END THIS....i want to be obedient. I love the feeling of safety in his WAY! This is so dear to me this week. With my future totally in his hands, I am left to pursue options, praying he will slam any idea down that is not on the NARROW PATH. It would be so easy for me to just buy the house that I love and move. But just because I love it doesn't mean Father wants it for me. That choice to follow my own will leads me to a wide gate and broad road.......then destruction and oh girls I have been burned there! I do not want to go back! Though I could easily get consumed with things and decorating (in a heartbeat) I have to remember that he supplies all my needs. If I don't have it then He doesn't want me to have it. HIS PATH LEADS TO LIFE! I WANT HIS PATH! I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION!
Oh Father, if you convict me about something make my heart tender to hear and obey. When I become to consumed with things that are not even KINGDOM BUSINESS, convict me instantly. I Praise You for the crazy boundaries you have given me. They allow me to have such tender moments with you. They allow me to walk in Victory instead of defeat. They keep our communication open. Make the road narrow for us all so that we are only seeking first your kingdom!!!!! Forgive me for taking on everything as though I know what's best. Don't let me take one single step towards destruction. You are all I want!
Matt 7:13-14
This is the very verse that Father will not let me shake the past week and a half! Our conversations have been Him reminding me about how GOOD HE IS for giving me boundaries! Reminding me that he gives and takes away in order for me to HAVE LIFE!!!!!! If I were to tell you all the boundaries he has set up for me...you would think I was crazy. It varies from ending friendships.......to no cable or computer in my home! Some of my boundaries, like cable, I sometimes flirt with the idea of just getting it! I miss so much HGTV!!!!!! Then conviction sets in and I remember how addicted I can become to tv or the internet. I Praise Him for the boundary and move on about my day. He has created in my walk with him very hard "No caroline" issues. Oh how they hurt when He is building them. Oh how it breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to things or people. Weeks later....even months later........I no longer struggle with that sin and I no longer have to be tempted by it. Then I am Free! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Over a year ago I was in the middle of Beth Moore "Daniel" study and we were talking about denying ourselves. Example....If you have the money to go out to eat or If you have the money to buy the dress........but chose not to because I don't have to eat or buy it just because you can. As Beth said..."I can, but I don't believe I will". That really stuck with me. Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. Then the verse comes back to my mind....
"for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction....."
Daniel prayed 3 times a day! He did it faithfully. No matter what needed to be done. Father was his top priority. Daniel didn't make idols out of things. HIS EYES WERE ON GOD! I want that all the time! I want my thoughts to never linger on things longer than they should. Yesterday I could hardly do my bible study after school because my thoughts were going 90 miles an hour of all the things that have to be done before we head to Houston and today when I meet with the Realtor. For me and my walk...that is totally unacceptable. The boundary he has given me is to stop and focus only on him in the afternoons. Every afternoon! No matter what I have to do!!!!!! I want to be consumed by him. I don't want to short change my God because I have things to do! How selfish of me! I am only here to do his work!
God tells us the answer to chose in Matt 7........."ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE".. we don't have to sit and figure it out because he says it first thing....ENTER HERE, CHOSE THIS, BELIEVE ME, FOLLOW ME THIS WAY. remember that I AM THE WAY!!!!
I don't ever want to resist boundaries in my life. If he says STOP, FLEE, END THIS....i want to be obedient. I love the feeling of safety in his WAY! This is so dear to me this week. With my future totally in his hands, I am left to pursue options, praying he will slam any idea down that is not on the NARROW PATH. It would be so easy for me to just buy the house that I love and move. But just because I love it doesn't mean Father wants it for me. That choice to follow my own will leads me to a wide gate and broad road.......then destruction and oh girls I have been burned there! I do not want to go back! Though I could easily get consumed with things and decorating (in a heartbeat) I have to remember that he supplies all my needs. If I don't have it then He doesn't want me to have it. HIS PATH LEADS TO LIFE! I WANT HIS PATH! I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION!
Oh Father, if you convict me about something make my heart tender to hear and obey. When I become to consumed with things that are not even KINGDOM BUSINESS, convict me instantly. I Praise You for the crazy boundaries you have given me. They allow me to have such tender moments with you. They allow me to walk in Victory instead of defeat. They keep our communication open. Make the road narrow for us all so that we are only seeking first your kingdom!!!!! Forgive me for taking on everything as though I know what's best. Don't let me take one single step towards destruction. You are all I want!