Saturday, January 12, 2013

Becoming Desensitized

When have you been in trouble and cried out to the Lord to rescue you? Is that prayer made in desperation; a way to hopefully free you from the immediate situation that presents itself? I too have been guilty of this! Today, God reminded me of the importance of not just turning to him in the bad, but faithfully serving Him always!

Moses was sent by God to free the Israelites from the Egyptians, yet Pharaoh's heart remained hard time and time again! Do you remember Pharaoh's response after each plague? Pharaoh would repent, confessing that he was wrong and begged Moses to have the Lord end the plagues, and he would let the Israelites go (Exodus 8:8; 9:27-28; 10:16-17). However, as soon as the immediate trouble had ended, the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:13; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 34-35; 10:20, 27). Did God intentionally harden Pharaoh’s heart? No, God gave Pharaoh multiple opportunities to heed His warnings. Yet because Pharaoh was stubborn he refused to listen. Pharaoh choose on his own to resist God. God hardening his heart was only a confirmation of what Pharaoh freely choose. How many times do you ignore God's warnings? The more you resist and ignore God, the harder and harder it will be to hear his voice! Now is the time to act!

Romans 2:5-11
"But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism."

Have you ever noticed that the more we allow negative things into our lives – we become less aware of its presence? For example, television and movies... I think of the movie "Click" with Adam Sandler. If you've seen that movie, were you completely deaf to the foul language that filled each and every conversation? Were you aware of the sexual innuendos that covered the screen? Now, I know this because I've seen about half of the movie. But I am blessed with parents that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obedient to his voice, because of that we recognized these things and walked out of the movie theater while the movie was still playing! How obedient are you to the Spirit?  Have you become desensitized like Pharaoh?  Not hearing the Spirit’s still soft voice.  Do not be dominated by sinful nature, but be filled with the Spirit of God, becoming sensitive to His voice!

Romans 8:5-8
"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God."

 “Slow Fade” by Casting Crowns
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
  

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