He Who Began a Good Work - by Elizabeth Vecchione

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Following Christ vs following your heart

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Christ lives in our hearts by faith once we receive Him as Lord of our lives.  So it would stand to reason that since He lives in our hearts, that if we "follow our hearts," we are following Him.  But that is not the case. Scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful above all else. (see Jeremiah 17:9 ) The heart is the seat of our emotions.  God gave us emotions as gifts.  But they are not to be trusted as gods or sources of truth and wisdom.  Emotions are ever-changing and unreliable.  No, we need more than our hearts to guide us. For truth and wisdom there is only one place to consult: God's Word.   We know that what our heart "tells" us can be the furthest thing from God's Word.  "But I feel  like this is the right thing to do."  "I am overwhelmed with emotion, so it must be God's will."   As women especially, our emotions run deep.  They can also be all over the place! That is why it is crucial to know and stud...
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Keep praying

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Even when you don't see results. Even when you want to give up. Even when things are getting worse. Even when you don't believe. Even when you are tired. Even when you doubt Even when you just want to escape. Even when it seems hopeless. Even when you've had enough already. All of these situations and feelings are when we need to keep on praying and seeking the Lord.   Praying in season and out of season means that not all seasons are alike. Is your horrible "season" just going on and on with no seeming end in sight?  This can be very wearing and stressful on the mind, body, and soul. I don't know why some seasons seem to take forever.  Especially when you have the faith that the season could end with a snap of God's fingers. "Why isn't He answering my prayer?" you ask.  "What is He waiting for?" I don't have an answer for you.   But I do know that we are to keep asking, keep knocking, keep believing, keep seeking, keep, keep, k...
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Just keep letting go

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The Lord is telling me a lot lately to let go.  This is a constant.  In my thoughts, in my ways, all of it, to simply keep letting go. I can hold too tightly to whatever I think I "need" at any given moment.  God is showing me that this is a constant source of underlying stress in my life, if I stay with that way of thinking and being. Life is so much more enjoyable when I simply let go, relax, and trust God to handle and deal with everyone and everything in my life that is causing, or may potentially cause, me emotional stress or discomfort. I believe this can be seen as training! if indeed there are "worse" days ahead for us collectively, then we'd best get used to letting go of it all now so that we may stay  in that wonderful peace that we have in Christ no matter what is going on around us. Whatever we grasp, we lose.  Whatever we hold with open hands, upward to God, I believe remains ours.   Ultimately, Jesus let go of His very life for us. ...
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The wheat and the tares

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I think I figured out why some who call themselves Christians have no interest in a love relationship with Jesus.  There are wheat and there are tares in the house of God.  Jesus said so, so that is true. Wheat wants to know Christ intimately, have a close relationship with Him.  Tares want to do "good works" and are only interested in outer works, not the condition of their hearts; not in an intimate relationship with Jesus. We don't know who's who, because only God knows for sure.  However, I think I've discovered how to get a clue as to who is who! When I talk in a group of women and mention intimacy with Christ, some start nervously flipping through their Bibles looking for all the verses on serving.  They want to justify that their way is best because knowing, obeying, and following Christ as He wants (not how they want) is not what they're after. Of course as Christians we are to serve God and serve others.  But ideally, that is the outer manifestatio...
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Forgiveness is a habit

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  Like any other behavioral pattern we establish, I believe that forgiveness can become a habit for us, too. Instead of our knee-jerk reaction being anger when someone harms us, we can go straight away to forgiving them. How is this possible?  Practice.  Like any other habit, we need to practice it until it becomes second nature - or better yet, first nature! Think back on how many millions of times Jesus has forgiven you your sins.  Do I exagerrate when I say millions?  Maybe.  Maybe not! And when we come to Jesus asking His forgiveness, has He ever once denied us His grace?  This is miraculous, if you ask me!  Does He "hold it over our heads" for a few days until He decides to pardon us?  Thankfully, never!  Can you even imagine?!  It would be torment to our souls if Jesus did not at once forgive and restore us!  And of all people, Jesus has the "right" and power to withhold forgiveness and instead "make us pay."  But He...
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