Don’t Move

There is an instinct that all living beings have, it is called “fight or flight”.  It is the thing we do when adrenalin kicks in.  It can be instigated by fear or pressure or stress.  It is a natural part of our make-up.  It is what we do without the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We either run or stand firm against the attack. 

However, if we are rooted in Christ we will always stand firm.  Let this scripture go down into your heart, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:1-3 (NRS) (Emphasis mine)

Now, consider that you are that tree and the Holy Spirit is the river that your roots are drinking from as they are deeply rooted in the soil of Christ.  No matter what storm or disaster comes at you, you don’t budge.  You stand firm, as do the other trees around you creating a forest of security for those who enter into it.

Yes, you may lose some leaves, a bit of fruit or even a limb or two in the onslaughts of the in-climate weather, but your roots and trunk are still there, aren’t they?

There will even be seasons when you go dormant, your leaves and growth seemingly dead, but this is actually a time of refreshing and renewal.  When the Spring comes, you will have new leaves and fruit.  Each year more abundant than the last.

To truly be able to stand firm, you have to keep yourself from the ways of the world.  “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thess. 4:11-12 (NIV) (Emphasis mine)  In the world everyone is always in everybody else’s business.  Judging and criticizing, this is a critical spirit and is not of Christ.  If you find yourself doing this….your moving…  “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58 (NIV) (Emphasis mine)

How completely are you giving yourself to the work of the Lord?  Do you give Him the time leftover in your day, week, or even your month?  Psalm 1 states that we can stand firm if we meditate on His word day and night.  Not just when things are going poorly, or when we are at church.  Our pursuit of holiness must be consistent.  We have to inundate our lives with Him, as He inundates His thoughts with us.  If He didn’t we wouldn’t exist.  He never forgets about us for one nanosecond, can we say the same?  When we hear something are we praying to ask God how we should be responding to it, rather than just having a knee-jerk “old-mind” reaction?  If not, we are moving, not standing firm.

If you want to stand firm and not be moved you have to dig deep into His word and drink deeply of what the Holy Spirit has to give.  There is a reason Jesus used the metaphor of “living water” when He referred to Him.  (See the story of the woman at the well in John 4).

Would you like to live a life where the situations and circumstances of life do not move you.  Become like the tree in Psalm 1 by reading, meditating, praying, and communing with God day and night.  Walk as one with Him, and as He promised, “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14 (NIV)  This water allows us all to grow, bear fruit, and stand firm.  Because, we can’t bear fruit if we are always moving.  At the very least, it will fall off from the motion of our own movement.

From Light for My Path – Prayers & Promises

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:5 (NIV)

When worldly temptations press in on me, I’m glad You gave me this promise, Jesus.  It’s hard to be in the world and not fall into its traps.  But as I believe in You, who have overcome the world, I overcome it, too.  I don’t have to settle for giving in to the world’s temptations and wickedness.  You’ve given me the ability to fight back, in You – and to win through You.

I want to enjoy Your blessings for this life without being trapped in wrong thoughts or actions.  Where You have overcome, I don’t need to be defeated.  Keep me faithful to You, Jesus, and my battle will be won.

In Jesus name,

Amen.