Disobedience - Unbelief, Unfaithfulness - They Wonder Why God Does What He Does

It was a quiet voice, a stirring in your Spirit, the feeling that you shouldn't...the Holy Spirit was being used by your Creator to prevent, protect, and progress you, and what did you do?  You remember those days of disobedience (unbelief in Our Savior and unfaithfulness to God), rebellion against people and things designed to instruct and better you, and a steady decline spiritually due to a variety of sinful distractions.  Back then, you ignored what you know to be true, right, and could help you as well as others.  Could you still be acting that way?  Maybe it is one of your loved ones that calls his or herself a believer, yet you don't see any fruit on that tree due to disobedience.

When you view media stories, notice the signs that the "victim" was being disobedient.  He or she will claim that one didn't know, had no clue, and wasn't warned, but not so for the Christian!  He or she knows better, God speaks, but the question is "Was the believer listening?"  As much as we demonstrate kindness, respect, generosity, patience and love toward our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we also have to caution as well and remind/rebuke them for their disobedience and straying away from the Lord as God leads.  The "victim" who is still in a state of rebellion will get angry and wish evil on us as they utilize our assistance and take our hand-outs, but truth is truth!

How many times does God have to use people, places, and things to warn his people in advance to do things like: move away, let go of sin, trust Him, follow His precepts, and more before believers finally listen and obey?  There is a disturbance in our spirits for those we love the most, but also are not where they should be in Christ.  We know that it is only a matter of time that God's directive will be, "Let him go...don't help her any longer.  We have other things to do."  It is then that the disobedient one will be left alone, set up to pay a dear price for sin.  Sometimes people have to hit rock bottom in order to see the light at the top.  Others (like what happened to Jonah) have to gradually fall before they realize they are off the God ordained path.  They run from God and his commands, forget what Jesus did for them, and don't want to heed the warnings that they are being given leading up to death.

The truth be told due to disobedience many rebellious believers have prematurely entered their graves, lost relationships with children and grandchildren, buried many loved ones (while declaring themselves blessed to be alive), have told many lies and are reaping the consequences, sleeping with the enemy, and giving themselves over to all sorts of false doctrines and false teachers. The pain of witnessing such things for the obedient can be too much to bear sometimes.  This is why we have to look forward and not behind otherwise we can end up like Lot's wife.  A rebellious people who are under judgment are not friends, but are foes and will continue to go through much until they submit to the will of God.

Nothing or no one is worth disobeying a mighty God who is responsible for life and death.

Scripture references to consider:

I Corinthians 6:18
Galatians 5:19-21
Romans 1:18-30
Jonah 1:4-10
Acts 27:13-26
Jeremiah 25:15-33

Nicholl McGuire

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Don't Let Life Get in the Way of Your Spiritual Self

How many times must one be reminded that he or she is more than just mind and body?  You are spirit too!  Yet, too often we forget about that spiritual self that yearns to be nourished.  It is the basic building block that stabilizes us, keeps us out of trouble, and protects us when the storms of life get us down.  However, if we ignore the Spirit and allow life to get in the way, we ultimately make poor choices rather than wise ones.  We find ourselves taking years rather than days to get our desires met.  We argue with people who mean us well and do other things that bring us emotionally, physically and spiritually down in the dumps.

Living this life comes with its highs and lows, pinnacles and pitfalls, but it is up to us to stand strong to defy the odds of defeat and to allow our personal successes to be great motivators.  I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy feeling a void, incomplete, or my back up against the wall because I neglected my spiritual self.  I don't like to be emotionally and physically drained by people who could care less about spirituality.  I despise going anywhere or doing anything without a moral compass, so I am very protective of mine.  Yet, people will show up in our lives all-too-willing to appease the flesh while ignoring the Spirit, and don't mind encouraging you not to listen or obey the one true God who made heaven and earth.  It is almost laughable that anyone would even consider ignoring the one who created not only mind and body, but our spirits too.

Life has it's share of challenges, but we don't have to fall prey to the temptations that lead us away from our spiritual selves, rather we learn and grow from them.  We pray to the heavenly Father and ask Him to strengthen us spiritually, mentally and physically.  We trust that He will guide us and put us on the right path so that we can come up higher.  We rely on the Great Shepherd not just during tough times, but pleasant ones too. 

You are not alone, God is indeed with you!  So don't ignore Him, allow your spiritual self to embrace Him this day!

Much love to you who is fearfully and wonderfully made!
Nicholl McGuire

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What to Wear to Church and Other Places of Faith

A place of worship is just not the place to wear items that head turn, distract, or misrepresent who you are.  Just like you wouldn't wear certain things to work, you would exercise the same caution when attending a church or similar place where the focus is on one's personal faith and not on self and others.  So what to wear to a church setting?

Most respectable women wear long skirts or dress slacks depending on the type of congregation.  They don't display a lot of skin and wear light make up and accessories or none at all.  Men usually dressed in clean clothes and look like they are going to work or to a formal event once again based on the kind of church they attend.  From Dockers to jeans or shorts (those that cover thighs), casual churches tend to be quite laid back about how their members dress. 

Some people of faith will think twice about advertising anything like a sports team, popular cliché statements, graphic tees, or something else that takes away from the purpose of gathering together in the first place.  Minimal attention given to your wardrobe is especially important if you are not one for drawing people to you.  Yet, there are those individuals that don't bother to think about the kind of people they are attracting when they wear things like Yoga pants with the outline of their private areas in plain view or form-fitted shirts where all the world can see things they would prefer not.

Take some time to look at what people wear that have attended the church for quite some time like the leadership or staff if you are still quite confused on what to wear.  Are they dressed in their Sunday best, casual, or is there a mix of attire?  Of course, many well-meaning believers will say, "Come as you are..." However, once again be mindful of your appearance.  That statement isn't meant for visitors to take advantage and dress inappropriately.

Nicholl McGuire is the owner and manager of this blog.

Put Your Adversaries in God’s Hands

“For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together…” Psalm 71:10 (NKJV). You might have an enemy or two that don’t like you for any and every reason. It doesn’t matter if these men or women are family members or not, unrelenting enemies are out to destroy you.  But there comes a time when the favor of God rests upon you and you will hear of stories related to your adversaries being brought down low!

When one is a hindrance to the people of God, he or she becomes an enemy of God. We shouldn’t wonder why some things happen to our adversaries or even rejoice in their demise, the battle wasn’t with us, but with our Creator. Since time began, men and women think of themselves to be gods or godlike. They hurt others when people stand in the way of their slow rise to god status and when their selfish needs go unmet. They also consider older people, children, the poor and others to be beneath them, so they talk quite negatively about all. And God sees and hears the attacks made on his people.

I think of a time when a family member argued much with others about a variety of things. There was a period of peace for a time before the quarreling whether to one’s face or behind his or her back started back up again. The battles were unnecessary and were centered on the backslider’s selfish motives. It wasn’t long before the people who supposedly gave this person the most grief was removed out of one’s life. Sometimes people make themselves an enemy without fully realizing the consequences of their actions.

Our adversary above all, Satan, doesn’t want anyone happy.  He orchestrates plans to target the vulnerable and make them his footstool. At times people will offer themselves to Satan without realizing it by doing unrighteous things. Their minds refuse to listen and obey God. A rebellious people refusing to turn away from their wicked ways will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If one wants God near him or her, he or she has to put his or her trust in Him.  “Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:4.   

Nicholl McGuire is the owner and manager of this blog.