Two Spirits

Friday, November 1, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 1:18

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Jeremiah 27-29 Titus 3

Two Spirits

There are two spirits in this world:The spirit of Almighty God and the spirit of the enemy.

God is love.

The enemy is hate.

Whenever and wherever God moves in the hearts of His believers, the enemy's fury moves to extinguish it. Hate destroys everything around it. That's why haters burn their own cities. It may not make any sense to us but destruction is the enemy's job.

Now, what about our own behavior where we live? Hate destroys wherever it is. If we let our guards down and give the devil a foothold, we are back under the control of the wrong master. (Amplified Bible-"And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness, Ephesians 4:27.)

It has become such a natural thing: to react in hateful judgement. We are the only ones who will stop it in our lives. No one else will stop it. It is the free will God has given us. God inhabits us, yes, but Jesus said we must take up our crosses daily, Luke 9:23, because He knew the great challenges of the human mind that will come from the enemy.

Peter told us to 'not think it strange' but rejoice in our verse of the day,

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.—1 Peter 4:12-13

The trials may not be physically 'fiery' as they are in some parts of our world so the enemy hits us with all he can emotionally and psychologically. This means we must always be vigilant. As Peter told us to be 'sober-minded'.

Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently,

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

But we have not been given a spirit of fear so we must live as Jesus intended.

Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Springs of Life-this is our life in Christ when we make the right choices. Is your heart 'springs of life'?

Make the right choices right now. Choose to take up your cross and seek Christ and His righteousness.

Springs of Life...should not be strange in our lives. He died so we could live this truth.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I am not consistent. Forgive my weakness for fear. Fill me with desire

for You.

Great and merciful Father,

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen