“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud ‘No!’ to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”‭‭ James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

For us to be able to grow our relationship with God we need to make some very distinctive choices. My belief is if we’re NOT able/willing to be honest with ourselves how can we be honest with God and others? Only God knows the true heart posture of everyone of his children. I encourage you to spend time in the book of James which can help show us if we’re willing to see our blindness…. Specifically chapter 4 which talks about us submitting to God.

We can also take a look on the other side of the Bible in the Old Testament specifically when God is sharing with Moses (Leviticus 16 and 23) about the importance of the day of atonement and what needs to take place and why.  I encourage you to jump in and see the original foundation of where we started as people and how detailed and important everything had to be to sacrifice for the Lord in the Old Testament.

On the day of atonement which was the tenth day of the seventh month, the Israelites were told to do no work or fast from working from sun up to sun down. There would also be a blood sacrifice, an atoning for all their sins.

This is so important because this was the foreshadowing of Christ coming and atoning for all of our sins!!!! He was the blood that Was the perfect sacrifice for ALL of us once and for all! His blood purifies us, it wipes our slates clean.  God can now look at us and see us as spotless, blameless and will declare us NOT guilty.  But only when we believe that Jesus died for our sins and that it’s ONLY by His blood that we are saved. The choice is simple: honor His death by living a life of gratitude for all He has done which means we will strive to live a life that reflects His glory and goodness. Laying down our selfish ways, turning from the ways of the world, cleansing ourselves takes humility and honest reflection so God can reveal the ways we are distancing ourselves from Him.  

Will you surrender your fleshly desires and ways and begin living a life that declares He is worthy?

Today, Good Friday, is an incredible day for us to be in remembrance of this and to walk/live it out more fully than ever before.  Can you just sit with this for a time, that Jesus Christ's death, resurrection and ascension was for ME!!!  May you draw closer to Him, today!

I encourage you to spend time around this song as well today!  I am praying that God shows up in incredible ways for you today!

Quiet My Soul (feat. Hannah Brooks) - Hudson Taylor Jones (Unofficial Lyric Video)