“…Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”
Ecclesiastes 11:9 NKJV
While in a shouting church, it’s easy to claim that God’s ways are higher and better than our own. It’s easy to concede to follow the Holy Spirit while in the atmosphere dedicated to worshipping His Glory. But what happens when Sunday has passed and we are back to daily life? Our culture amps up our youth and following our heart but this verse clearly says we will be brought into judgement for this. When we follow our own desires we are not in the Will and Purpose of God, unless He has given us His desires. Anything that is God-ordained will bring you closer to Him; I think that is the most important distinction when attempting to qualify opportunities, relationships, etc. As a barely twenty-something, I so easily fall into the trap of “enjoying my youth”; I find myself torn in between what I know I should do and what I could so easily do.
For me, it comes down to what I truly value and desire. I know I always want to be in an intimate fellowship with my Lord Jesus Christ and Abba Father. My current struggle is subduing my feelings to my faith. I know running to the Word will help me build up my strength and resolve; I constantly find myself running back to Galatians 5:16.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25 NKJV
In a time for spring cleaning, let us cleanse our minds and hearts. May we empty out ourselves in order to be filled up and used by our Lord Jesus Christ.