We’re going to take the online road trip on this blog. I believe that this is the best way to go, so that everyone will be on the trip as well!
To recap, God is calling us to come away with Him on a summertime road trip. We’re volunteering to walk out of our jail cells. Remember? He opened the door Himself, and the cost for the key to our cell was His blood. He willingly got that key for us! He died – and all of a sudden the door opened wide! He arose again and wants to be with each one of us. Yay, God!
For some reason, I have stepped one foot outside the door. I have taken His gift and I am His. But I’ve got only half of myself out the door. Can you visualize this? The breeze is blowing and the door sways back and forth just a little bit. The cell looks inviting enough, with bright lights and what seems like wonderful things.
But when I look closer, things are not what they seem in this cell. The walls are a facade; you can poke your finger right through them. They’re fake. In fact, everything in the place is fake. Canned spray is keeping the air smelling good, a fake “good smell.” These chains that I put on myself are not locked. God is so kind. I cannot take myself out of His Hand! When I became His, I became truly free! But I’m not living like it. So I take these self-made chains off by the authority of The Spirit and in the power of the blood of Christ.
I am very tired of this. This saying I am His and only halfway acting like it. Tired. Of. This.
Are you game? Shall you and I walk the rest of the way out of the cell? God is calling those who believe in Him, those who have already taken His gift of salvation, to completely walk out of the cell and join Him. Jesus is out in the yard, under the huge, green tree, waiting for those who want to go on a summer trip. There’s His Voice, can you hear Him? “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
When I walk out of this door, I am walking OUT! With the help of The Spirit, I will not return but will leave it behind.
Goodbye, cell. Goodbye…no, not goodbye. Good riddance!
Out in the yard the air is sweet and clean. The breeze blows and under the tree there are people gathered, laughing and talking! It’s exciting to plan and go on a road trip. Jesus is standing among everyone. First, we’re going to pack.
Pack four things. None are optional:
PRAYER – REQUIRED Jeremiah 32:17 – Pray large, pray lots, pray without ceasing. Every turn, every step, every day. God will show you how. This is the gas in our vehicle. When we run out of gas, things do not go well.
CO-OPERATION – REQUIRED God is not your genie…He requires your cooperation. He can do anything without you, that much is obvious. Why do you need to do your part? This is because He wants to be with YOU. If He does things magically, where would the relationship be in that? Nowhere, that’s where. Your cooperation is required in order for this trip to be the trip of a lifetime.
BELIEVING – REQUIRED Those who have asked Christ to be their Lord have already exercised faith. Now, you must take further steps. Don’t stress over this, simply ask God and He will lead you step by step into stronger faith. Believing God is a choice, a way of life, and in order to move along in belief you must pack the next item.
WEAPON – REQUIRED You have been given one weapon. The word of God. The Spirit of God will tell you when to use it and how to use it. In order to use it you have to speak it. Pack your Bible, but in order for the trip to be successful, you must read it – and speak it out loud! The enemy can’t read your mind, only God can read your mind. You must speak out loud the word of God. Jesus is our model. He used it against Satan and expects us to do that as well.
Remember that the things you pack all link together. The more you pray, the more you co-operate; the more you co-operate, the more you believe; the more you believe, the better you can use your weapon. These four link, they zig-zag, they connect in beautiful ways. All four must be packed in order to receive what The Spirit has in store for you this summer.
God is about to create a new work within your heart, and draw you closer to HIMSELF! Pack your “heart-luggage” today.
Scripture to ponder: Galatians 5:13-26
Today’s weapon: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1