For me, I've spent almost 60 years getting myself exactly where I am today.  I’ve made many choices, me no one else.  Some of them might be considered good choices but lots of them were bad.

Before I surrendered my life to Christ, I only served me and made a lot of foolish decisions that began shaping my life and the path on this earth I’d follow that began in my early teens, (Ephesians 2:1-3).  The LORD certainly wasn’t blessing me with heavenly blessings back then, though He still allowed me to live, breath, eat, etc, all things that ultimately came from Him, (Matthew 5:5)!

As I now attempt to continually walk out my life on this earth following and obeying Christ, (Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12), I still sometimes do things that The LORD will never "bless" me in or use me at.  Still other times He's willing to use me but I instead choose serve myself, my flesh instead of allowing The LORD to use me. (Romans 7:14-20).

But what I strive to do daily is to deny myself and serve, honor, and obey Him and then He allows me to be part of what He is already doing wherever I happen to be, (Matthew 16:24-27)!

I am where I am because I brought me here. It is no one’s "fault" but mine! Not my parents, not Mary Jo’s, not my children's, not the government’s, my surroundings, my circumstances,  or society, it was all my choices for years and years that have brought me exactly where I am today!

We need to surrender our will to The LORD.  We need to realize that apart from Christ we are nothing.  The best we think we could offer is but filthy rags.  When we truly humble ourselves in full submission to Christ, (Luke 18:9-14, James 4:1-10) He then, by His grace, mercy, and love, can take our broken vessel of a life and use it for His purposes as part of His master plan, (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-12, 2 Timothy 2:20-23).

I often times ask The LORD why am I going through this or that, even though I realize how much I played a part in what’s happening to me, but if I, in any way, blame Him, then I need to ask for His forgiveness.  It’s OK though to ask Him for wisdom in the trial I’m going through and what He wants from me, (James 1:5-8).  The reality is that when and only when I’m loving and obeying God, ALL things work out for my good, making me more like Christ, (Romans 8:28-29) and that trials and tribulations that The LORD allows in my life are for my good to perfect me, again, to make me more like Christ, (James 1:2-4).

Following Jesus does NOT give me the right to do whatever I want and then expect The LORD to remove my consequences and put my life here on Earth back to a place that satisfies me. Don't believe me? Ask the thief on the cross!  He repented of his sinful life but Jesus did NOT remove his consequences in this world, he still died that day.  What Jesus did remove was the penalty for the sins he had committed on this earth and that very same day He was in heaven with The LORD, (Luke 23:39-43).  Notice also in this passage that the thief didn’t make any excuses for his behavior, he truly humbled himself in repentance to the one and only true God of the universe!

As Christians we need to stop doing stupid things that are not only ruining our lives here on Earth but are also causing eternal issues, NOW!  We just need to stop it!   We need to deny ourselves and the lies this world has sold us, turn from our wicked ways, dig into God's Word, and live it, NOW! Then God will allow us to be part of what He is doing, and He will heal our hearts which will in turn cause those around us to want to know Him and that is what will bring change in our world, but that's another devo!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc.  We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!

Love y’all and LORD Bless,

Curt & Mary Jo