Steve Simms's Blog, page 48

Gratitude (Without Table Blessings)

I don’t like religious table blessings, but I love the positive emotion of gratitude! Here’s why.

I seldom pray out loud before I eat. Why? When I pray, I want to pray with all my heart. When I am praying while food is waiting to be eaten, people don’t want me to pray passionately. I feel great pressure to disobey Scripture and quench the Spirit (who I feel stirring up my heart) so that the food doesn’t cool off and so that people don’t get irritated with me for a long, fired-up prayer.

Having been an ordained traditional (Presbyterian & non-denominational) pastor for several years, family members and friends would call on me to “say the blessing.” I’ve prayed a few long, heart-felt ones, but after a while I learned to cut it short (quench the Spirit) and make it simple and sweet. It’s easy for a table blessing to become a religious quicky. Maybe other people don’t feel stirred up to pray intensely before a meal, but I do, so rather than do a half-way prayer, I tend to pass. (By the way, I don’t know of a Bible verse that tells us to pray out loud before all our meals.)

Occasionally I feel prompted by the Spirit to say a blessing. When that happens, I am raring to go. (I’m speaking from my own experience, not intending to put this on others. Short prayers can be sincere; however, they usually stir me up to want to pray more and longer!)

Sometimes the Spirit leads us to pray short prayers and sometimes to pray long ones. Usually when I start talking to God from my heart, an inner flow rises up from deep within me. When I’m at the dinner table with other people I feel compelled to stop that flow so that I don’t get them irritated with me. In that case, I usually give in to the fear of man and follow religious tradition rather than what God’s Spirit is releasing in and through my heart.

Casual Christianity is counterfeit Christianity. Christ-followers are called to so much more than comfortable religious routine. Eyesight without insight and foresight dims your inner light with oversights and blind spots that keep glorious, tangible hope out of sight.

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Beyond Goal Planning to Beautiful Inner-Leading

Holy moly, what a goalie! The most amazing goals transcend our own planning. They arise from within us and lead us forward with a burning desire to fulfill their deep sense of purpose, service, and high calling. They are gifts of inner vision that we don’t plan for but which we can receive, embrace, and pursue.

The leading of the Holy Spirit isn’t found in the subjective inaccuracy of your thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions. The leading of the Spirit is the inner manifestation of the reality of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It occurs when a person inwardly hears, discerns, and follows the direct objective communication of the living God — His “still, small voice” — the witness of the Spirit that aligns with Christ’s love, mercy, His call to repentance, and His forgiveness. The leading of the Spirit produces visible objective fruit in a person’s life: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Many people go to church every week and yet have no idea what it means to be daily led and directed by God’s Spirit.)

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The Emergency Preparedness Plan That’s Out of this World!

The name that Christians should say more than any other name is the name of Jesus! The names people shout out today will be forgotten in a few years, but the name of Jesus is forever! Jesus is the best emergency preparedness plan!

The Humble Place of Pure Dependence on God

Good times or bad,
Rely on God.
Happy or sad,
Be still and know
That He is good.
Jesus is the way.
Everyday
Train yourself
To trust and obey
His presence.
No matter the test
Let your faith
Continually rest
In nothing less
Than the reality
Of Jesus’ blood
And righteousness.
Always cultivate
The humble
Inner confidence
Of pure dependence
On “Christ in you,
The hope of glory.”

If you’re oblivious to how Jesus is working and communicating inside you, you’re overlooking life’s most amazing experiences. If the risen Jesus has become real to you, it’s important that you open your heart and use words to tell people how that happened. The word of our testimony is a mighty spiritual weapon that Jesus has given to all of His followers. We need to use that awe-inspiring weapon much more often than we do. It is time that Christ-followers stop criticizing others and instead begin to witness to the glorious things that the risen Jesus has done (and is doing) in our individual life.

I was an agnostic, and a Christian kept inviting me to an informal gathering of believers on my college campus. I finally went and I heard two different guys each give a short (2 or 3 minute) version of his salvation testimony. As they opened their heart and shared, something amazing happened deep within me. Like switching a switch, the Jesus I didn’t believe in became real to me, more real than my physical environment. Ever since that moment, through all my ups and downs, I’ve been continually aware of and blessed by His presence, His love, and His reality.

I’ve discovered that true confidence flows from a heart that stays open and surrendered to God. A heart that doesn’t stay open to God become callous. It hardens and shuts out God’s deep inner probing, prompting, and testing. It refuses to fully hear, obey, and be led by the inner witness of God’s Spirit. Like the heart of Saul of Tarsus, it kicks against the pricks.

When an emergency occurs the time to get prepared has already passed. Cultivate an intimate relationship with the living Jesus long before the rough waters hit your shore. If you fail to prepare the way of the Lord in your heart, you’re preparing your heart to fail when the ways of this world crush it. Make your heart a never-ending hospitality zone for the risen Lord Jesus and all of His followers.

Christ is ready to be your friend if your heart and mind be so. When the risen Jesus prompts you to say or do something be ready to promptly obey. The prepared heart frequently encounters the risen Jesus.

How desperately this world needs to see and hear from Christ-followers who go beyond routine religion and daily demonstrate the reality of being led by the Spirit! Western culture greatly needs an eternal emergency preparedness plan. When a culture considers the killing of prenatal infants to be a right, something is dreadfully wrong. Prenatal or postnatal, the killing of infants is infanticide. The risen Jesus is the only essential emergency preparedness plan.

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The Word “Good” is Way Overused

Daily writing promptWhat is a word you feel that too many people use?View all responses

“I’m a good person.” “Good choice.” “They’re good people.” “Good day.” “It’s good.” “I’m good.” “Good job.” “Be good.” “Good call.” “You’re a good person.” “Good for you.” “Good shot.” “Good boy.” “Good girl.” “He’s a good guy.” “Good move.” “Good idea.” “Good for nothing.” “Good buy.”

The truth is that we humans aren’t very good at discerning the difference between good and bad. We misjudge the thoughts, desires, feelings, opinions, and behaviors of other people and even our own. Our knowledge of good and evil is frequently misguided. We think bad is good and good is bad.

The Bible describes a time when people had abandoned God’s moral standards and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25.) That’s the first sin that is described in account of the Garden of Eden when humans turned away from God’s presence, guidance, and wisdom, which is described as the Tree of Life, and replaced it with their own thoughts, desires, feelings, and opinions by partaking of and embracing what is described as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

I listed various aspects of the Tree of Life in yesterday’s post. Now I’ll list various aspects of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Which tree do you partake of most frequently?

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil consists of things like these:

Making your own rules,Rebellion,Self-focus,Human opinion,Proclaiming yourself to be a good moral person,Self-gratification, Rejection of accountability, Judgement,Breaking the law,Lack of compassion, Unforgiveness, Hard heartedness, Ignoring the humanity in other people, Criticism,Jealousy, Moral anarchy, Using people to get what you want, Being your own god,Overriding your conscience, Self-promotion,Idolatry,Disrespect for human life,Denial,Dishonesty, Deception,Evaluation,Mocking people,Defining yourself by your desires, Pride,Hostility toward people who disagree with you.Self-righteousness,Bondage to sin,Ignoring God, Denial of responsibility, Hostility, Ongoing anger,Perversion,Violence, Self-justification, Pleasure seeking, Greed,Manipulation, Bullying. [image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." tabindex="0" role="button" src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-40669" />Photo by Anastasiya Badun on Pexels.com

The Tree of Life

Daily writing promptWhat brings you peace?View all responses

The Tree of Life is:

Heart-to-heart intimacy with God. *God’s perspective, not my perspective, *“Joy unspeakable and full of glory,” *Ongoing surrender to the risen Jesus. *“The peace that passes understanding,” *“O taste and see that the Lord is good,” *Daily reliance on the living Jesus. *“Be still and know that I am God,” *“Rejoice in the Lord always,” *“Being a new creature in Christ, *“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” *“The way, the truth, and the life.” *The comfort of the Holy Spirit, *The kingdom of God, *Hearing Christ’s voice, *Being led by the Spirit, *The wind of the Spirit, *God’s will, not my will, *God’s righteousness, *The Light of the world, *The gifts of the Spirit, *The fruit of the Spirit, *The flow of the Spirit, *The breath of God, *Experiencing God, *Wholesomeness, *A renewed mind, *Transformation, *Lovingkindness, *Cheerfulness, *Compassion, *A pure heart, *Forgiveness, *Brokenness, *Innocence, *Revelation, *Inspiration, * Insight, * Humility, * Honesty, *Meekness, *Loveliness, * Mercy, * Truth, * Awe, *

I Admire Personal Growth Coaches and Inspirational Writers

Daily writing promptWhat profession do you admire most and why?View all responses

There’s so much unutilized potential for good in every human being. I admire people who recognize that and dedicate their life to helping other people see beyond the organization and ordinariness of the rut of daily routine.

I appreciate people who consistently try to encourage, inspire, and help others to see unseen possibilities. I look up to people who boldly and humbly speak the truth with kindness, not to prove a point, but to assist people in seeing beyond the blind spots that hold them back.

I admire personal growth coaches and inspirational writers who do those things, especially those who consistently and courageously direct people to biblical truth and to the risen Jesus Christ. My life has been touched and transformed by many people like that. My goal is to be that type of a person. That goal is deep in my heart.

A few people become famous and make a lot of money by encouraging and exhorting others. I most admire the many people who have a hard time getting paid well in that profession, but they do it anyway, volunteering to listen to people with an open heart and to compassionately walk along side of them.

That’s my purpose. That’s my vision. I don’t do it as a profession but as a Spirit-prompted passion, a gift from the living God that causes my heart to care about all people whether we agree or disagree about politics, religion, lifestyle, or any other issue. I hope my words assist you as you struggle through the troubles and trials in your life. Here are some words that came to me this morning:

If You Mentally Check Out, You’ll Miss Many Miracles!

It’s never too late
To go beyond
The usual
And to learn to flow
In the stream
Of God’s will.
Why check out
And wait to die?
Instead, eagerly
Wait for God
To prompt you.
Then let your heart fly
With the thrill
Of obeying
God’s Spirit.

Your best life
Isn’t enough,
Not now, or ever.
You need more than that.
You need “Christ in you.”

I love to let
God’s Spirit
Move my heart
Like the breeze
Moves the leaves
On the trees.

Inner Peace for Sale (Without a Price)

Daily writing promptIf you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?View all responses

This is beyond belief:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” –Isaiah 55:1-2

If you learn reliance
On the living Jesus
And stay in alliance
With the reality
Of His daily presence
You’ll live in defiance
Of doubt, dread, and fear
Because you’ll know He’s here.

Too many Christians
Know a lot about
The life of Jesus
But they live without
Knowing His presence
Till love and faith sprout
Deep within their heart
And grow all out!
That’s why they can doubt,
Be burned out, act out,
And feel down and out.

Christ is constantly trying to communicate with people but if we quickly evacuate from His presence, we’ll not be able to hear Him. The sound of His voice is so sweet that it floods people with inner peace. Quiet your mind. Be still until you taste and see for free that the Lord is good, and His presence is real!

The price for your inner peace, your freedom from guilt and shame, was paid by Jesus when He shed His blood for you on the Cross. Come now to the risen Jesus and receive the gift that is so priceless that it was purchased without money.

Go Beyond Church as Usual

If the words
Of a preacher
Don’t feature
The living Jesus
A sermon is just
A religious
Procedure.

Christians are collectively called to be the Spirit-led body of Christ. For that to happen each Christ-follower needs to begin to individually listen to and obey His inner voice. Then the risen Jesus can personally coordinate and empower all of His followers to work in sync with His presence and His guidance.

The body of Christ in a city isn’t just the members of a particular church. It’s all the Christ-followers in that city. If we focus on one particular church as the gathered body of Christ, we’re overlooking many people who also belong to Jesus.

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I Carry . . .

Daily writing promptWhat is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?View all responses

The most important thing that I carry with me is not a thing at all. I carry hope (both with me and within me). To be a bit more specific, I carry what the Bible calls: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

I want everyone to become a Christ-carrier! No one should miss out on such a glorious lifestyle! That kind of spiritual awakening depends on our full surrender to the living Jesus, not on passive sermon-hearing.

I love to see
Amazing grace
Gleam and shine
From someone’s face.

I love to see
People let
Jesus replace
Their self-focus
With His grace,
And watch Him erase
Their sadness and guilt.

I love to see
Christ’s joy shine
On people’s face
With no trace
Of human pride.
That happens when
They embrace
The risen Jesus
With all their heart.

I love to see
People surrender
To the presence and grace
Of “Christ in you,”
And go far beyond
Routine religion.

Your life will begin to get better when you begin to do the things and think the thoughts that will make it better.

Your life will begin to get better when you begin to do the things and think the thoughts that will make it better.

I Want My Blog to Focus People’s Attention on the Source of True Hope

Daily writing promptWhat change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?View all responses

The reason that I blog so consistently is because I want to point people to the source of true, long-lasting hope, healing, and inner peace. Many years ago, I found that source and it has been like a fountain of refreshing water continually springing up from within me.

God (the Source) is always communicating to people even if we neglect to notice. He often goads or prompts us trying to get our attention. Often, He warns us in order to protect us from danger. He frequently directs us so that we don’t wander aimlessly. He continually calls us to come closer to Him. Sometimes He will even knock us down (like He did Saul of Tarsus in the Bible) to get our attention.

If you train your heart to focus on God, you’ll become aware that He is trying to communicate with you. Then you can be “a witness of what you have seen and will see” Christ do within you, around you, and through you.

That’s why the Bible says: “Be still and know that I am God,” and “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” That’s why Jesus said, “You will be My witnesses.” Thats why Christ-followers can overcome the devil by “the word of their testimony.” That’s why Jesus wants you to testify to people about His presence, power, and present-day reality. That’s why He is “sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified (made pure and whole) by faith in Me.’” (See Acts 26:18.) That’s why Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.”

JD Walt wrote: “The Holy Spirit is at work in every person, witnessing to the reality of God, wooing faith into existence. Men and women everywhere are literally ‘kicking at the goads.’” It’s time to stop kicking and instead to surrender to God’s will and literally go and do whatever Jesus says within you! (Keep in mind that He won’t contradict the Bible or your conscience.) You can begin by forgiving everyone and by loving your enemies.

Is your back toward God? Perhaps it is time to turn around and look at Him. Go with God’s goads and inner promptings today. The longer you delay the harder your heart will become.

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