Have you ever been with a group of friends whose conversation is wrapped around other people and the the things they are doing that the group is disapproving of? It is ridiculous how catty we can be as women, isn’t it?

Often we call this concern... or say it is simply wanting to pray for someone. God sees our heart and knows if it is a true desire to pray or a catty judgment towards someone who does things differently than we do.

We suppose we are “right” and others are “wrong”.  Shouldn’t that amount of pride concern us about ourselves?

People do things differently than we do. And, believe it or not, different people have different convictions about things. If we waste our time being concerned about the minors, we will be wasting precious time that could have been spent in accepting, loving and have relationship with others.  Paul was addressing a people who were nit-picking every little thing in other people. Judging those who did not have enough faith in God to be free to eat all things, and assuming that their weak faith made them wrong. Paul teaches that we are not to be concerned with this, but to be concerned instead with our own areas of weakness, focusing instead on how we are standing before God. When we keep focused on others, we are wasting time! There is a better way.

Here is the deal…each person answers to God, period.

You answer to God, I answer to God, the last person you passed judgment on answers to God. And, if this be so…why oh why do we waste time and energy being unaccepting of other people? Get over it and turn that energy on the things you must answer to God for yourself.

Today’s Truth: Romans 14: 1-4

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone Else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

You and I are God’s servants. He is our maker and our master. We live unto Him. When we are unloving and unaccepting of others we must answer to the God who loves that person. When we are weak, it is to God we personally are accountable to, and it is God who has the power to turn our weakness into strength.

So what does it matter is someone does things differently than you do? They answer to God…leave it alone. You and I have a need to concentrate daily on standing before the Lord ourselves. Let’s put our energy there, quit judging or nosing down others, and live in the reality that we are God’s servants and answer to Him.

Today’s Prayer

Help me Lord each time I am tempted to put someone down in thought, speech or action. Remind me today that I stand before you in everything I do. Take me, my weaknesses, and my life once again, and shape me for your purposes.

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When I wake up I am all about the outfit. What to wear….

But, today I am not speaking about my physical dress, but am speaking about something much more important than that. I used to be much more about my physical outfit, the clothes, shoes, accessories. I admit I love all three…clothes, shoes and accessories, and still enjoy a good find in any of the three areas. But, now I am much more aware that the clothing that I wear on my physical body is not near as important as the intentional act of daily clothing myself in Christ.

How do you dress in Christ? By intentionally taking off the things that are just your flesh… your human nature. When clothed only in SELF, we do what we want to do, and give no consideration to a God who we are ultimately accountable to.These things do not encourage a walk in the Spirit, but encourage an increase in the amount of indulgence we live in. Simply carrying around jealousy over another is being clothed in our flesh. Flesh might be fashionable to the world, but is clearly not fashionable for the woman who is desiring spiritual growth and for the woman who desires to live as His woman.  Take a look at what Scripture says about this.

Today’s Truth Romans 13:13-14

“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Now from the Message

“Make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first  believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander those precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about.”

Dress yourself in Christ today. Get before him and commit this portion of Scripture to prayer. Ask God to show you what it means to clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ. Sit with this all day.  Check your outfit from time to time. Is it the flesh? Or are you clothed in the Spirit of the living God?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I admit I do not know HOW to walk with you in all areas. I am asking you to continue to be my tutor, my guide, and my counselor. Your Word says that you teach me , guide me and counsel me. I am asking you to do that in this practical daily area. I don’t relate to drunkenness, but certainly relate to indulgence, bickering, grabbing for what I want when I want it, jealousies, etc… As you know, I need you. Teach me to Dress in You each morning.

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Short and Sweet, Pure and Simple…Whatever you want to call it, today’s verse is straight to the heart and to the point.

Today’s Truth: Romans 12 :18

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

• Your part is always possible
• Peace is sometimes not a possible reality because it takes two.
• You can not control the other half of the equation
• But, you can do the part that depends on you.

Note that it says everyone…not just those you want to live at peace with. This means your difficult people, those you don’t like, and even those who have hurt you. In order to do this we must go back to the beginning of Romans 12, where the foundation for all this life changing stuff was set….

• Offer Your Self as a Living Sacrifice
• Do not Form Your Life around this World.
• Be Transformed, Changed, by your mind wrapping around the Truth

Today’s Prayer: Ok Lord, I need you help. Remind me to daily surrender, to be aware that I have a side in all things. Keep me focused on living at peace and show me what that looks like in each situation.

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