Daily Journal: 16 June

Opened Locks

Doing hard things can seem like using a key in the wrong lock.

Things we find confusing, hurtful or overwhelming can cause us to feel weary, diminished or even defeated, but they don’t have to lock us out of a successful way forward.

God has given us the bible as the key to meditate on day and night, so that we are changed and transformed by it.

We can often shut out the light of God’s Spirit by not allowing ourselves to be examined by His truth. Is there disparity between what God’s Word says and what is apparent in our life? If we allow God’s Word to examine our life we need to be willing to make changes, rather than excuses.

If we shut our spirit and our minds against God’s Word, God’s Spirit can’t proceed in us. Whatever door we’ve unlocked is what proceeds in us. Have we opened the right lock?

Proverbs 20:27 (AMP)

The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being.

How are we reasoning? How are we allowing God’s Word to examine us and change us?

We need to graft ourselves like branches to a vine, through the Holy Spirit, moment by moment, acknowledging His place of ownership and authority in our lives.

John 15:5-11 (Easy-to-Read Version)

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honour to my Father. “I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and he continues to love me. In the same way, if you obey my commands, I will continue to love you. I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.

Our surrender to His Lordship is the key that opens the lock. Once we open the door to God, our lives change and take on a new meaning. We have to continue to lay our own reasoning down and be watered and nourished by God’s Word to produce His fruit.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NCV)

But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.

I pray that we walk in the wellness of His Spirit today, opening the right locks to the things that He has for us today.