Hello my dear friends.....a warm, heart-felt greeting to each one of you. Allow me to pose these probing questions to you: how hard do you have to work at becoming spiritual enough? how much is enough until you think the Lord is pleased with you? when is it okay to get off of the spinning wheel and rest?
These are all good questions for any follower of Jesus to ask....and then discover the answers that will set us free from a performance-based Christianity.
May we all experience the provision of His green pastures and His quiet waters.
Denny
PS. Thanks to all of you who have purchased your copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. The first printing run is almost sold out. Order your copy now of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace. For more information, follow this link to my website,
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Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #43
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2
Core Value: Grace
One of the negative tenets of our western culture is the mistaken belief that we must work harder than God in taking care of our spiritual needs. We think if we pray more, study more, fast more, share more, and serve more, we will become more “spiritual.” Well, the Pharisees did that too and we know where that got them. Yes, there is a place for the believer to work on spiritual disciplines; but they are only the means to an end. The end goal for the disciple of Jesus is to have a closer relationship with Him and this goal is only fulfilled when we take the pathway of grace.
In his book, Follow me: experience the loving leadership of Jesus, Jan David Hettinga writes:
“Grace, the supernatural forgiving love and transforming power of God, is released through the deliberate act of giving up the kingdom of self. Giving up is not a ‘work.’ It is a cessation of resistance. It is the losing wrestler surrendering to the winner. God repeatedly makes it clear that He resists the proud (those who are full of their own egoism) but gladly gives grace to the humble (Psalm 18:27, James 4:6-10, 1 Peter 5:5-6). The faucet that turns on the pipeline of saving grace is the voluntary choice of humility. This is the heart of repentance. The event of salvation then immediately becomes the process of humble obedience. And enabling grace keeps on flowing.” Pg. 141-142
“Submission is an event, and then a lifetime process. Once we start kingdom living, we must keep submitting our wills to our King. That’s what repentance means—turning from our way to God’s way, as a lifestyle. When we stop repenting we start regressing. The reason this happens seems elusive but it isn’t. When we stop humbling ourselves, we shut off the free flow of the supernatural ability that God calls grace.” Pg. 182
The Shepherd wants us to lie down our will and submit to His. The Lord seeks to lead us away from chaos and turmoil into a place of inner rest. May God give us the heart to accept His grace as we rest in His abundant provision and restful peace.
Principle #43 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ experiences the blessing of abundant provision and restful peace when one submits one’s will to God.
• Grace allows the disciple to experience God’s best
• Grace moves the human heart to stop fighting for “my way” and to lie down into His green pastures of rich and abundant provision
• Grace moves the human heart to stop fighting for “my way” and to allow Him to lead me beside His quiet waters of peace and security
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I have to choose between my way and God’s way, what is the “tipping point” (the reason for my decision) for me when I choose between one and the other?
When is the last time I’ve experienced the Lord’s green pastures and quiet waters?
What practical things do I need to do in order to make green pastures and quiet waters a normal part of my Christian life?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I so want your way and not mine. Pour out Your grace upon me and help me to lie down in Your green pastures of blessing. Pour out Your grace upon me and lead me beside those still, peaceful waters where I feel safe and secure in Your love.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
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