Run To Jesus
August 2013
"The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe." Proverbs 18:10 NLT
Where is your sanctuary?
Where do you go when you're hurting?
Who do you run to?
Many times when I am disappointed, hurt, or just plain mad I will run to my phone and call my mom to vent. Let's stop here: "Your circle of associates will influence the way you think-----good or bad. Surround yourself with wise, godly people!" Pastor Creflo Dollar
Now, although my mother is my closest friend and although I completely trust her…….AND although she is truly a woman of God……AND although she always gives me great, godly advice…….she is not and cannot take the place of Jesus! The Bible tells us that God is our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1-2) and that the name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe (Pro. 18:10 NLT). These two scriptures tell me who to run to.
"It's easy to forget, and so easy for us to run in other directions. Where we go says a lot about who we are. The "higher ground" we seek reveals the geography of our values." Kyle Idleman
Many times we try to cast our cares onto folks, which leaves us with a temporary fix and a fake sense of peace……..especially if the person that we run to is just as passionately heated up as we are! lol!
BUT the truth is, there is no fix outside of Jesus Christ. There is no true peace or joy outside of the very presence of God.
We have to pursue peace (Psalm 34:14 NIV). And we must also settle in our spirits that our peace can only come from the Prince of peace....not from folks! We also have to continually seek God's presence and His face (1 Chronicles 16:11 and Psalm 105:4). Some of us have indirectly made things and people gods! We search Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest…..etc. instead of the Word of God.
Let stop here: Jesus didn't die so that we could only spend 5 or 10 minutes with Him a day, if we want a deeper relationship with Him, we have to search the Word more than we search the internet/social media!
We desire people's approval more than God's. We seek other's opinions, more than God's. We in many cases value others affection and love more than we do God's. Friend, there is no replacement for He who is irreplaceable! Until that 'god' is dethroned, and the Lord God takes His rightful place, YOU will not walk in the triumphant victory that Christ promised in His Word (2 Corinthians 2:14). "Following anything other than the Word of God will always lead to bondage." Pastor Bill WInston And for the sake of our subject today, I'll say running to anything other than Christ and His Word will lead to bondage as well!
"God is not interested in being president of the board. He is the board. And life doesn't work until everyone else sitting around the table in the boardroom of your heart is FIRED! He is God, and there are no other applicants for that position! There are no partial gods, no honorary gods, no interim gods, no assistants to the regional gods!" Kyle Idleman There is one true God. He is our God, our Savior, and our Lord. He will never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book! NEVER! When you fall, He'll lift you up. When you fail, He will forgive you. When you are weak, He is strong. When you are lost, He is your way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He will heal you. When you are broken, He will mend you. When you are blind, He will lead you. When you’re hungry, He will feed you. When you face trials, He is with you. When you face persecution, He shields you. When you face problems, He will comfort you. When you face lost, He will provide for you! He always was, always is, and always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He is God and that is Who You belong to! That is who we should run to first and foremost.
Hear me well: I am not saying that we should never talk to the people that God has placed in our lives or take their advice, but I am saying that we should always first and foremost run to Christ. So today, I challenge you that anytime you feel upset, angry, disappointed, worried, or anxious do as Psalm 37:7 says and that is, "be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act." Pour out your heart to God. Turn on some worship music and worship Him, because worship is focus. Get in the word and pray. Talk with God and then listen. He will speak. He will comfort you. He will restore you. He will always be there. Give Him the first part of your day, the first priority to every decision, and the first place in your heart!
Start giving God more of your time, energy, and focus.
Allow Him the time He deserves, not just the time you have left. He is worthy of all the honor and all the glory. He is worthy of our undivided focus and our whole hearts!
Seek Him.
Run to Jesus.
Where is your sanctuary?
Where do you go when you're hurting?
Who do you run to?
Many times when I am disappointed, hurt, or just plain mad I will run to my phone and call my mom to vent. Let's stop here: "Your circle of associates will influence the way you think-----good or bad. Surround yourself with wise, godly people!" Pastor Creflo Dollar
Now, although my mother is my closest friend and although I completely trust her…….AND although she is truly a woman of God……AND although she always gives me great, godly advice…….she is not and cannot take the place of Jesus! The Bible tells us that God is our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1-2) and that the name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe (Pro. 18:10 NLT). These two scriptures tell me who to run to.
"It's easy to forget, and so easy for us to run in other directions. Where we go says a lot about who we are. The "higher ground" we seek reveals the geography of our values." Kyle Idleman
Many times we try to cast our cares onto folks, which leaves us with a temporary fix and a fake sense of peace……..especially if the person that we run to is just as passionately heated up as we are! lol!
BUT the truth is, there is no fix outside of Jesus Christ. There is no true peace or joy outside of the very presence of God.
We have to pursue peace (Psalm 34:14 NIV). And we must also settle in our spirits that our peace can only come from the Prince of peace....not from folks! We also have to continually seek God's presence and His face (1 Chronicles 16:11 and Psalm 105:4). Some of us have indirectly made things and people gods! We search Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest…..etc. instead of the Word of God.
Let stop here: Jesus didn't die so that we could only spend 5 or 10 minutes with Him a day, if we want a deeper relationship with Him, we have to search the Word more than we search the internet/social media!
We desire people's approval more than God's. We seek other's opinions, more than God's. We in many cases value others affection and love more than we do God's. Friend, there is no replacement for He who is irreplaceable! Until that 'god' is dethroned, and the Lord God takes His rightful place, YOU will not walk in the triumphant victory that Christ promised in His Word (2 Corinthians 2:14). "Following anything other than the Word of God will always lead to bondage." Pastor Bill WInston And for the sake of our subject today, I'll say running to anything other than Christ and His Word will lead to bondage as well!
"God is not interested in being president of the board. He is the board. And life doesn't work until everyone else sitting around the table in the boardroom of your heart is FIRED! He is God, and there are no other applicants for that position! There are no partial gods, no honorary gods, no interim gods, no assistants to the regional gods!" Kyle Idleman There is one true God. He is our God, our Savior, and our Lord. He will never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book! NEVER! When you fall, He'll lift you up. When you fail, He will forgive you. When you are weak, He is strong. When you are lost, He is your way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He will heal you. When you are broken, He will mend you. When you are blind, He will lead you. When you’re hungry, He will feed you. When you face trials, He is with you. When you face persecution, He shields you. When you face problems, He will comfort you. When you face lost, He will provide for you! He always was, always is, and always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He is God and that is Who You belong to! That is who we should run to first and foremost.
Hear me well: I am not saying that we should never talk to the people that God has placed in our lives or take their advice, but I am saying that we should always first and foremost run to Christ. So today, I challenge you that anytime you feel upset, angry, disappointed, worried, or anxious do as Psalm 37:7 says and that is, "be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act." Pour out your heart to God. Turn on some worship music and worship Him, because worship is focus. Get in the word and pray. Talk with God and then listen. He will speak. He will comfort you. He will restore you. He will always be there. Give Him the first part of your day, the first priority to every decision, and the first place in your heart!
Start giving God more of your time, energy, and focus.
Allow Him the time He deserves, not just the time you have left. He is worthy of all the honor and all the glory. He is worthy of our undivided focus and our whole hearts!
Seek Him.
Run to Jesus.
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