To what will we respond.

 Response-able, we are all able to respond to circumstances and happenings within and around us. This is what makes us responsible for ourselves and our actions. I owe it to myself  to respond in love and kindness toward myself and others. Any other action or emotion towards myself or others is destructive. My words matter, how I choose to respond in word or thought matters to God, it matters to me. We can tear down or build up with our words. What comes out of my mouth is directly a response to what is in my heart. If hurt, resentment or bitterness is in my heart then hateful words will be there. The opposite is true, if my heart is whole, healed and being guarded by offenses then loving, encouraging, positive words will flow more easily. 

So how well are we guarding our heart? Who can guard my heart so that words will build up and not destroy? Philippians chapter 4 gives us an answer to this. As we come to God in prayer, with thanksgiving and petitions, presenting our requests, the God of peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The enemy of our soul seeks to steal, kill and destroy but the God who saves your soul longs to give you more than you could ever ask or imagine. This is his heart for you and this is his heart for me. 

So what voice do I listen to or allow to impact or guide me in this? For years I could not discern or recognize the difference between the noise of the world that is just too loud and that still small voice inside me that alerts me to problem thinking or problem believing. We all are shaped by our experiences, whether good or bad they teach us something. Just because I believe something to be true doesn’t necessarily mean it is. For instance, growing up I believed as long as I behaved well and did what I was told, I was loved. Behaving badly, I felt I lost being loved. Or another example, is to get something good I had to be good…can anyone relate? 

Well, although the world would love for you and me to believe these lies , because the world would be a better place if everyone did what was right, right? Follow these set of rules and you will be right, loved, approved of . Nope. 

The truth is we all fall short of perfection every single day. We all are in need of love no matter what we have done good or bad. We will miss the mark of doing good in the sight of God and man every single day. Religion will tell you to follow God’s laws and sometimes even ones they have made up, their laws. Which ends in controlling behaviors and a lot of self effort. I am not here to say God’s laws are not good, they are Holy. They are a standard that cannot be met in our own strength or effort. God has provided a way that is actually a better way… He says, Come to me all who weary and have heavy burdens. He has already fulfilled the law of love and righteousness found in his commandments. This is all in Matthew chapter 11. He says,  Come as you are and know that I provided a way for you to be in relationship with me. So love me with all your heart and all your mind and strength. Lean on me and I will show you the way forward. 

His voice, his truth in scripture is what I seek, what I let shape my thinking and doing. It is in this relationship that brings freedom to be me. Not by following rules but a love that flows from relationship with the One who knows me, who created my inner most being. 

I am not the state I’m in. I am not what is happening to me.  I am not what has been done to me. What I am, is my stance in Christ. My state can never change my stance. What I have done or ever do will make me anymore or anything less than a child of God. I have right standing with God because of Christ’s righteousness, not by my works but by his grace through faith. This grace is given, it is a gift. How do we receive a gift ? By saying thank you. So what do we do with this gift? We abide in him, we take pleasure in him. We learn from him. He is meek, he is humble and gentle, he longs for us to rest from our weariness from trying to please him and instead would prefer our trust in him. What pleases God? Faith. Faith in the One who died and gave himself for us. Faith in his promises found in Scripture. He says throughout scripture, “ I will never leave you or forsake you.” 

Search the scriptures for yourselves and see his goodness to you. 

When his Words touch your heart and soul there is no greater joy. The joy of knowing his voice to you. The joy of meeting him right where you are. The joy of your Savior  wanting your heart, not your next move. He will lead you into all truth and this truth will set you free. Free to be who he created you to be. 

With you and love you!

Tracey Hanko.