Romans 12:1-2 "12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Philippians 4:8-9 "8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Proverbs 4:23 " 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life."
The more we indulge in thoughts about Christ, the more we are able to walk as He did. The more we seek Christ the more we desire to be with those who love Him with all their heart. Connecting with the brethren who are walking down the same road as ourselves is a blessing we yearn for when we find ourselves entrenched in life surrounded by those who have little or no interest in walking as Christ walked.
When we love Christ we are able to see things in truth, call them what they are and pray accordingly. Those who can only see happy things, are denying the reality of what is all around us, perhaps so focused on their own personal happiness they are oblivious to the mess that surrounds us, the debauchery, hate and rebellion that dominates this world.
When we can face what is real, call it what it is, only then can we pray correctly, with fervency.
The joy of the Lord never leaves our heart, it is always there, that's why we can see things in truth without feeling devastated by them. However, the grief we feel at times over the wickedness drags us to our knees. We cannot change those around us, that's God's business, but we can seek Him that He work holiness and strength in our hearts as we walk through this world.
And, hallelujah, our inheritance is far greater than anything we experience here. We are in boot camp, we are grieved, but not destroyed.
Romans 8:18 "17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.…"
1 Corinthians 2:16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
2 Peter 2:6-8 "6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—…"
We do not grieve for ourselves, but rather for all those who are on their way to hell and for those who think they are on their way to heaven but are only interested in appearing as though they are, without any interest in self reflection and transformation through Christ.
Our churches are full of those who enjoy their superficial walk of self exaltation, they can only associate with those who praise and fawn over them. As soon as the praise or fawning stops and the correction or rebuke begins, the friendships end. This is very strong evidence that there was never a desire for holiness, rather only a desire to impress others with a "form of godliness, but without it's power."
2 Timothy 3:4-5 "…4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!"
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