True or False

Am I seeking life the way I want it? Or seeking life the way the Lord wants it?

This week in the chronological reading, I read a lot of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a prophet of God to Judah. At this point most of Judah has already been taken into captivity to Babylon. The Lord prophesied that due to their hard hearts and rebellious attitudes that Judah would go into captivity. Yet the people did not want to believe that God would do such a thing.

I’ve been like that. The Lord warned me over and over not to do certain things. But I didn’t want to believe that a kind and loving God would let anything happen to me.

During Jeremiah’s time, the rebellious people wanted to live the good life. Do whatever they wanted, when they wanted and be merry in their rebellion. So they refused to listen to the prophet the Lord sent telling them the truth to repent and turn from their wicked ways. They chose instead to listen to the false prophets who told them that the captivity would be short. It was just a brief period—not 70 years as Jeremiah spoke from the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:16-17

16 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The LORD says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'

Because they listened to the false prophets, they had false hopes. False dreams. They wanted peace so bad they deceived themselves into believing it was from the Lord.

I have had desires I wanted so bad that I thought it had to be from the Lord. Surely it would come to pass. I listened to teachings that satisfied my flesh and gave me hope—false hopes that is.

I sought the Lord earnestly seeking HIM for what I wanted. I used HIS word to try to manipulate my way. But I learned a hard lesson—God cannot be manipulated. Everything that was false was cut out from under me. I was left barren. All the hopes and dreams I had crashed. Smattered. Shattered. The only things left in my life were what was from God—including the hurt.

I had to be pruned to a stump to see what was false. I had to make a choice—follow what was true or follow what was false.

I chose to follow truth and allow the Lord to reshape me and teach me HIS truth.

I learned that the Lord wants to give me life and give it more abundantly. (John 10:10) But I learned that an abundant life does not mean material things. Because I listened to false teaching, I sought after more material things and did not seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33) I thought that by being a godly person I would experience financial gain. (1 Tim. 6:5) I wanted to be relieved of debts and wanted money fast. What the Lord taught me is He is my gain. I am learning step by step how to live the way He wants me to live. I must be a good steward over what is entrusted to me.

This financial lesson came to me three years ago. It was a very painful lesson and now I certainly try to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I want a correctible and teachable spirit. I want to keep my heart bent toward what is True and put aside what is false.

Let’s heed the warnings spoken by the prophets of old. Let’s ask for a discerning spirit to hear what is True and not take in what is false.

Lord, I seek You this day as it is the day You have given to me. Lord, I pray that by Your Holy Spirit that You reveal what is truth. Lord, I pray that all the false teachings be revealed and I not accept them as truth because my flesh desires comfort and ease of life. Lord, I pray that You guide me on the path that leads to You. Lord, may my life be a life lived in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I pray my life will point to Your saving grace—Jesus Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Engrafted by His Grace—

Shonda

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