Day 238

Day 238 of The Red Shoe Project is a much needed day of REST!  Today I am still sporting my RED shoes, but I meditating on this scripture:

"Come to me, 

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

Enjoy a day of REST with me.

Gail

Day 237

As I sit here, on  Day 237 of  The Red Shoe Project, I am wearing my Ruby Reds and thinking about my dad.  Dad died seven years ago this week.  I miss him.  He was a good man, a good husband, and a good father.

While reminiscing with my mom,  she happened to mention that in all their years together,  my dad never told her "NO."  He would merely share a few thoughts for her to consider and let her make up her own mind.  After listening to my mom's story, it seems that her considerations consisted of...  Does this move me forward in the direction that my family is going?  Is it beneficial?   Will it add value to my life as an individual, wife and/or mother?

Today's Topic:

When God says "NO"

The more I think about this, the more I realize that's exactly how God is with me.  Rarely does He come straight out and say "NO."  Instead, I often find myself contemplating 1 Corinthians 10:23

"I have the right to do anything, 

but not everything is beneficial,

not everything is constructive."

All things are permissible, but are the...
    

advantageous?  helpful?    useful?    profitable?    fruitful? 

Will my decision, move me forward in the direction that God is moving me right now?  Or does it move me in the opposite direction?  Does it promote spiritual growth? or does it chip away at it?

Come to think of it... growing up, my dad never told me "NO" much either.  Perhaps that's because I never approached him with stupid thoughts that would warrant  "NO"  for an answer.  Seriously... my dad was a busy man!  Oh.... he always had time for me.  And no question was considered stupid.

But I was brought up in a day 

and time where you thought about 

what you said before you asked it.

Foolishness was unfashionable.  We were encouraged to ask intelligent, thoughtful questions.  I have found that works best with my Heavenly Father as well.  So what's my secret for knowing what God will say  "NO"  to without having to find out the hard way?

The best filter by far is the Bible... 

The Word of God.  

Dad wrote it, Himself! 

If it doesn't align with scripture, I already know not to bother asking God what He thinks... because I know what He thinks.  So that means we're all good in that area,  Right?   NOT!   This is the area that the Natural Man fights me over continuously.  When I'm strong, it's easy to beat off the Natural Man.  But when life has me in the valley, it's easy to make compromises.

Compromises are settlements or trade-offs.

It's when I settle 

for something less 

than what God has for me.

But it doesn't have to be that way.  I don't have to settle.    

God says is Psalm 23:4...

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and staff, they comfort me."

Over the years,  I've disciplined myself to say  "YES!" to God  and  "NO!" to the flesh.  Why?  Because every time that I've gone the way of the flesh -- EVERY SINGLE TIME! --  It's come back to bite me.  I end up remorseful! 

The voices in my head, not to mention the voices of many people around me, encouraged me!  They smiled.  They even cheered me on. They said it was okay... "Go for it!"   But when everything caved in -- when I was left sitting in my sin, discouraged and broken -- when I realized I had "settled" and that that I'd been duped...  Well, where were those people then?  They all retreated to their corners with their tails between their legs.  Not one of them could be found. 

 BUT JESUS... 

Once again, He extended His hand to me.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

"The acts of the flesh are obvious:  sexual immorality ( promiscuity, fornication, homosexuality, adultery, pornography, etc.) impurity and debauchery, (corruption, depravity, immodesty, indecency, lust, immorality, sinfulness), idolatry and witchcraft ( this includes fortune telling, conjuring up spirits, and drug abuse), hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions and factions and envy;  drunkenness, orgies , and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." 

There's one thing that I've found to be true.  No matter how I look at it...

God can't and won't bless me

when I'm dancing with the devil.

He wont put His stamp of approval on something He didn't author and advise.  

If I go with what the world has to offer -- if I settle for less -- That's my choice.

 But the door is always open for me to come Home to Him.  Yes it is!  He's always watching and waiting for me, with open arms!  

I choose His Way!

Until tomorrow,

Gail