desire – Brian Friedl https://brianfriedl.com Making Your Life's Mission Possible Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:48:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.17 64732294 Desire For Holiness https://brianfriedl.com/desire-for-holiness/ Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:48:52 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/desire-for-holiness/   

When we truly grasp the promises of God, we desire to be holy and He is holy. What are those promises mentioned here specifically? If you turn back a chapter we find these these:
1) We are the temple of the living God

2) He will dwell with us

3) He will be our God

4) We will be His people

5) He will be a Father to us

6) We will be sons and daughters to Him

If you are a believer, the one true living and sovereign God over all the universe has taken up residence in you. Furthermore He has chosen this place as His temple.  

Let that soak in for a minute. Much more, He has chosen us as His sons and daughters. 

This truth should, through His Spirit and grace, cause us to desire for that temple to be clean and undefiled. There should be no corner left unexamined. As I write this, I am convicted and encouraged by what the Lord is showing me. I am renewed even more that I must defend the testimony that He has given me and clean the Lord’s temple (my flesh and spirit)

May we meditate on these promises today and examine our lives honestly. May we also confess and turn from any sin that is defiling us, placing our complete trust in Christ and His finished work at the cross. 

@brianfriedl

#truthtalk4life

]]> 933 Be Good For Goodness Sake https://brianfriedl.com/be-good-for-goodness-sake/ Sun, 04 Dec 2016 12:22:22 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/be-good-for-goodness-sake/   
It can be so frustrating watching people who cheat the systems of life and seem to be getting ahead.  Take heart for a man will reap what he sows.  Surface goodness with a wicked heart will soon be exposed and those who have truly delighted in the Lord will be given the desires of their heart.  Note: This does not mean that if you do a bunch of stuff for God, He owes you and will give you stuff.  

As we come into the Christmas season, I’m reminded of the phrase “Be good for goodness sake”.   While this seems yet to be a trick for parents to get some good behavior out of their kids for at least one month, I see something deeper.  The Lord knows our heart.  When we desire and delight in Him and all His goodness , He will give us the desire of our heart.  This holiday season, let’s truly honor and desire Him.  What better gift could we receive than God Himself and all His goodness.  

Be content in Him and be good for goodness’ sake.

]]> 920 Do I Need A King? https://brianfriedl.com/do-i-need-a-king/ https://brianfriedl.com/do-i-need-a-king/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:14:52 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/do-i-need-a-king/   
The people of Israel wanted a king like all the other nations; someone to lead them into prosperity and victory.  Someone who even looked the part.  God gave them Saul, comely and a head taller than the rest.  Philistines had their giant and so did Israel. 

Three truths hit me as I studied his passage this morning. 

We Have A King Already

Who has been leading the Israelites thus far?  God has led them out of the bondage of Egypt, declaring, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt”. He provided manna, water and later meat as well.  He is led them to the Promise Land.  He protected them from Pharoah’s elite army of chariots, guiding them every step of the way.  What king in all of history has done such things? Only one and you already have Him!

A King Apart From God Is Rejection Of God

God chose to give them their hearts desire.  Why would he do that?  Sometimes stubbornness can only be conquered by self-realization. A person may have to see the failure of their choices to see their rejection of and need for God. God is not anxious because He is sovereign.  While we have free will, He is still sovereign.  Know this, there is one throne in our lives and it is meant for God.  Any other king means rejection of God. 

Our Greatest Threat Of Wanting A King

We may compare this example to the upcoming elections in some ways.  We are all wanting the “best” president.  We invest emotions and argue point along with the best of them.  When it’s all said and done rulers are overseen by our God.  We should not desire a president more than we desire our God to be king. Traffic on this going to be sad or

Furthermore, an external ruler is chosen infrequently, the greater threat is the tendency for us to take the throne as king of our lives.  We think we can do it better than anyone else, including at times, God Himself.  If we are to live the life God has purposed for us, we must abdicate our throne and be overjoyed to have Him sit it, calling all the shots as our King of kings. 

Personal Reflection

Feeling convicted yet?  I am.  Today’s reflection is short and sweet…surrender.  Take time today to confess any part of your life where you have not welcomed God as king over.  Rejoice that we have a King above all kings!

Prayer Focus

King of kings, we humbly ask for forgiveness as we continue to try to sit in your seat.  We praise you for your mercy and patience as you show us your lovingkindness and just rule.  May you be fully King of our hearts today and may we serve you with all of our hearts, now and forevermore in Christ Jesus, Amen!

#KingOfKings #OneKingOnTheThrone #TruthTalk4Life

@brianfriedl

]]> https://brianfriedl.com/do-i-need-a-king/feed/ 1 629 Does Your Outside Match Your Inside? https://brianfriedl.com/does-your-outside-match-your-inside/ https://brianfriedl.com/does-your-outside-match-your-inside/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:39:49 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/?p=486   
There is nothing new under the sun.  This proverb is timeless for sure!  From the beginning it was intended that God would be the ultimate desire of our hearts. We were designed to delight in His law, precepts, and statutes. 

Take a close look at verse 3.  Sacrifice is an outward expression of an inward obedience.  The challenge is that we can sacrifice or do something on the outside with no real desire for God or obedience behind it. Hence the need to our weigh hearts.  He knows every thought and motive contained therein.  What a mighty God we serve!

Personal Reflection

Let’s face it sometimes we get distracted and just go through the motions of trying to be good or maybe we don’t think about our relationship with God at all.  If you’re in that place today, wake up and make time for God today.  Confess to Him that you have neglected your relationship.  Make a plan to be in His Word.  Invite someone else to study with you so you are more likely to stick with it.  Get serious about your relationship. Choose for Him to be the 1st desire of your heart. 

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, distraction by things in this life seem to be one of our biggest enemies. Help us to invest in our relationship with you.  Make our hearts desire you above all else.  Give us discipline to be in your Word that we may know you and walk with you everyday; always; in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

@brianfriedl

#pureheart #desireGod #truthtalk4life

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