Was thinking of all the blessings sent my way and realized the most precious is His Word that He writes upon our hearts as we seek Him through prayer, meditation and pondering on the written Word. It made me think how much I take this most precious, intimate relationship I have with YHWH for granted. How often do I push Him aside ("just a minute YHWH") when I am led and called to stop and listen to Him? How often do I wrestle with a choice because of a desire of my own flesh I feed instead of instantly obeying and submitting to YHWH? Wow, this was very sobering for me today and thought I would share the things He spoke of.
This Day’s Choices
(YHWH Blesses)
I was pondering today about righteousness and about leaving our flesh (carnal thinking behind). I was thinking about our free will and the choices we make daily; about the times we choose with little or no thinking before hand and especially about the times we do think and know better but decide “this once” or “I deserve” or even “I’m going to anyway”. There are times we tell ourselves that it is a small or insignificant selfishness or desire we are giving into; that it doesn’t harm anyone; but, in reality it harms us. It harms our walk in YHWH.
As I began to read this Proverb today, the first verse made me stop and think:
Pro 29:1 One often reproved, hardening his neck, Is suddenly broken, and there is no healing.
When we think back to anything we have learned, we see that it was best learned by practice or by repetition. The best example I can think of is riding a bicycle. For me, riding a bike was hard to learn as balance is something that I struggled with. Boy did that take a lot of practice; so much so that when I did get the hang of it, it became natural for me. That is probably why we have the saying, “it’s like riding a bike”. Something that was so hard to learn at first now comes back to you quite easily no matter how long it has been since you last rode.
Old habits are the same way; especially our mindset. It is so easy to pick right back up where we left off before we committed ourselves (with our lips alone perhaps?) to walking in and serving YHWH.
The biggest danger here though, is when you go back to the old ways of putting ones self above YHWH; going back to seeking the ways of the world, clinging to the carnal mindset even in what we might consider the smallest of ways…… there is a great risk to become hardened and thus set in that way. Some versions use the term “stiffnecked” and that is a good description for it depicts us unwilling to be pliable to Him and unwilling to live His truth. For living His truth is not when we feel like it, when it is convenient, when we want something from YHWH, or when it is easy to do; but, it is instead a lifestyle. It is how Yahushua lived and taught us how to be.
Much is written in the Word of what not to be like and what to be like……things to “practice”, things to think upon and do until they are like “riding a bike” and living His truth becomes our mindset and the place from which we bring forth all thoughts, words, deeds and actions.
2Timothy 2 speaks of choosing to follow after Yahushua and in staying the course:
2Ti 2:11 Trustworthy is the word: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
2Ti 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also shall deny us.
2Ti 2:13 If we are not trustworthy, He remains trustworthy, it is impossible for Him to deny Himself.
2Ti 2:14 Remind them of this, earnestly witnessing before the Master, not to wage verbal battles – which is useless – to the overthrowing of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Do your utmost to present yourself approved to Elohim, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.
2Ti 2:16 But keep away from profane, empty babblings, for they go on to more wickedness,
2Ti 2:17 and their word shall eat its way like gangrene. Humenaios and Philetos are of this sort,
2Ti 2:18 who have missed the goal concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and overthrow the belief of some.
2Ti 2:19 However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this seal, “יהוה knows those who are His,” Bem. 16:5 and, “Let everyone who names the Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteous-ness.”
2Ti 2:20 But in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some unto value and some unto no value.
2Ti 2:21 If, then, anyone cleanses himself from these matters, he shall be a vessel unto value, having been set apart, of good use to the Master, having been prepared for every good work.
2Ti 2:22 And flee from the lusts of youth, but pursue righteousness, belief, love, peace with those calling on the Master out of a clean heart.
2Ti 2:23 But refuse foolish and stupid questions, knowing that they breed quarrels.
2Ti 2:24 And a servant of the Master should not quarrel but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
2Ti 2:25 in meekness instructing those who are in opposition, lest somehow Elohim gives them repentance unto a thorough knowledge of the truth,
2Ti 2:26 and they come to their senses, out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his desire.
When I read the above and read about loving others as myself, even those that despise me and I tell myself “well do the best you can each day”; I then think about Proverbs 29:1…..
Pro 29:1 One often reproved, hardening his neck, Is suddenly broken, and there is no healing.
and I realize that it takes more than just telling myself to “do my best” for that mindset allows room (or even an excuse) to miss the mark. For in my stubbornness I then stay in the desires I choose to follow.
This day I do not want to miss the mark. This day I do not want to harden my heart, my mind, my eyes, my ears, and I do not want to harden my neck so that I can not be pliable in my Potter’s hands. For if I do continue to choose my way over His, my free will that is used to go after my desires of the flesh will become set (like riding the bike) and the vessel I will have become will not be a vessel YHWH can use.
May we “practice”, the things of YHWH and live His truth until it becomes the mindset we do all things from. May we never let our guard down so that we again pick up the old ways and desires of the flesh.
May we hold all others dear and steadfast; remembering they too are in this struggle.
May we forever glorify YHWH our Potter for turning the willing into usable vessels for and of HIM.
HalleluYAH!