Hunger Pangs.....
Today's Reading: Matthew 28:1-20
Find the Reading plan here.
We have a winner of that beautiful bracelet that Kim Jaynes donated last week! My daughter, Presley, drew the name last night from a bowl. So, blame her not me. ;)
Nicole, from Osteen, Florida is our winner!
Nicole, you will LOVE this bracelet! I cannot wait to send it to you. What a perfect Easter gift! Please email me at shinegirlsshine@gmail.com and I will mail you the bracelet. Congratulations!
As we finish the book of Matthew today, I am a little sad about moving on. I have treasured our reading about Jesus and His final days on Earth.
Have you found this week to be especially sacred and holy? Besides the obvious of this being Holy Week, the week of Easter, our reading has been in alignment with this monumental week. Only God could have arranged such perfect timing for our reading. Isn't He amazing?
If you had a chance to listen to the video I posted on Monday, you heard about the emotions I have been experiencing this week. Each day as we approach Easter, I grow more and more in love with Jesus. My heart feels like it will explode out of my chest as I pray to Him and thank Him for dying for me, for loving me, for saving me.
Sometimes I think the more drawn to sin our flesh tends to be, the more grateful we are for the One who saved us from the death of sin. My flesh is just as drawn to sin as anyone. However, due to this conflict of the flesh, my spirit pants all the more for Jesus.
When you have tasted even a morsel of the Living Water of Christ, there is nothing that you crave more. This craving can get skewed when neglected. We turn to other things, other people to fill this craving.
We often forget the true and wholesome fulfillment that comes from the One thing our soul needs....Jesus Christ.
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
Last week I was having a conversation with a friend about something that the Lord has taught me over the past couple of years.
He has taught me that when I starve the flesh, I feed the spirit.
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13:14
Meaning, when I have a sin issue going on, I have to choose to starve it to death. Each day I neglect that sin, by starving it, my spirit is fed by the nourishment of Christ.
Many times, when this happens, we have physical and emotional symptoms of this flesh starvation. We must make sure to not attach ourselves to another sin as we starve one. We can get sad, irritated, lonely, depressed, angry....as the flesh/sin is starved.
These symptoms are very temporary. The final result of the death of that sin will be an overflow of peace and joy in our spirit!
God will fill us to the brim and overflowing when we feed on the Word, and spend time in His Presence in prayer. It's just as simple as that.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be trouble and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Jesus knows all too well the temptations of the flesh and of this world. That's precisely why He died the ultimate death, taking our sins on the cross, and dying for our redemption.
He redeemed us on the cross. He carried every one of our sins. As His body was being crucified on the cross, His flesh was starved and ravished. However His Spirit was awaiting the ultimate Feast.
The Feast of Everlasting Life for all who will believe in Him.
Jesus starved the flesh, and fed on the Spirit of the Living God.
Why would we ever want to hang on to those sins that Jesus died for?
Starve them.
Feed your spirit.
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" Isaiah 12:3
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-29
hungry for Him,
jill
Find the Reading plan here.
We have a winner of that beautiful bracelet that Kim Jaynes donated last week! My daughter, Presley, drew the name last night from a bowl. So, blame her not me. ;)
Nicole, from Osteen, Florida is our winner!
Nicole, you will LOVE this bracelet! I cannot wait to send it to you. What a perfect Easter gift! Please email me at shinegirlsshine@gmail.com and I will mail you the bracelet. Congratulations!
As we finish the book of Matthew today, I am a little sad about moving on. I have treasured our reading about Jesus and His final days on Earth.
Have you found this week to be especially sacred and holy? Besides the obvious of this being Holy Week, the week of Easter, our reading has been in alignment with this monumental week. Only God could have arranged such perfect timing for our reading. Isn't He amazing?
If you had a chance to listen to the video I posted on Monday, you heard about the emotions I have been experiencing this week. Each day as we approach Easter, I grow more and more in love with Jesus. My heart feels like it will explode out of my chest as I pray to Him and thank Him for dying for me, for loving me, for saving me.
Sometimes I think the more drawn to sin our flesh tends to be, the more grateful we are for the One who saved us from the death of sin. My flesh is just as drawn to sin as anyone. However, due to this conflict of the flesh, my spirit pants all the more for Jesus.
When you have tasted even a morsel of the Living Water of Christ, there is nothing that you crave more. This craving can get skewed when neglected. We turn to other things, other people to fill this craving.
We often forget the true and wholesome fulfillment that comes from the One thing our soul needs....Jesus Christ.
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
Last week I was having a conversation with a friend about something that the Lord has taught me over the past couple of years.
He has taught me that when I starve the flesh, I feed the spirit.
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13:14
Meaning, when I have a sin issue going on, I have to choose to starve it to death. Each day I neglect that sin, by starving it, my spirit is fed by the nourishment of Christ.
Many times, when this happens, we have physical and emotional symptoms of this flesh starvation. We must make sure to not attach ourselves to another sin as we starve one. We can get sad, irritated, lonely, depressed, angry....as the flesh/sin is starved.
These symptoms are very temporary. The final result of the death of that sin will be an overflow of peace and joy in our spirit!
God will fill us to the brim and overflowing when we feed on the Word, and spend time in His Presence in prayer. It's just as simple as that.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be trouble and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Jesus knows all too well the temptations of the flesh and of this world. That's precisely why He died the ultimate death, taking our sins on the cross, and dying for our redemption.
He redeemed us on the cross. He carried every one of our sins. As His body was being crucified on the cross, His flesh was starved and ravished. However His Spirit was awaiting the ultimate Feast.
The Feast of Everlasting Life for all who will believe in Him.
Jesus starved the flesh, and fed on the Spirit of the Living God.
Why would we ever want to hang on to those sins that Jesus died for?
Starve them.
Feed your spirit.
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" Isaiah 12:3
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-29
hungry for Him,
jill
