“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” ~ 2 Tim 3:16-17 (ESV)

We own an old, blind dog. Although his sight is gone, he knows where his food bowl (he sometimes steps in it) and water supply is. The funny thing is he picks and chooses his food. Believe it or not, but the potatoes and carrots fly across the room every time he eats. It is really annoying, because I have to sweep up the discarded food every day (and have to pay for the fillers that our dog does not eat). Even when the meaty part is all gone, the veggies are left in the bowl (or floor)…

As I was watching Bandit the other morning, flinging potatoes and carrots across the room, I was reminded that we sometimes pick and chose Scripture. We discard some Scripture passages, saying they are ‘not modern enough’ or ‘they were only fitting ‘in old times”…

I am the first to admit that I have had passages to process that I did not ‘feel comfortable’ with. For the longest time I really had to swallow hard when I read Eph 5:22 (ESV). I kept saying: ‘Lord, are you serious? You want me to submit to my husband?’…

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I always loved my husband, but submitting? Humph…Yes, on this passage I had to chew a long time to really get it, pray, digest, pray, struggle with, pray.

You see, we often pick and choose Scripture passages that ‘fit into our life-style’. We can not do that. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy… ‘ALL Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…’ Yes, we might struggle with a particular passage. If we do, we need to take it to Lord to help us understand the meaning. It might take years, but believe me, it is so worth it…don’t discard His Word because you might not feel comfortable with it…

As for our old, blind dog? I will continue to sweep up the discarded pieces and let him have only the meaty part (I wish dog food manufactures would not add fillers in form of potatoes and carrots – you don’t see wild dogs dig out the veggies in the fields )

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I thank You for guiding me when I struggle with Your Word. Lord, help me to understand; help me to gain insight when Scripture does not make sense to me. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. ~ Amen

Thank you for stopping by today…Be blessed today and always…

Many times before I speak I will pray publicly even if there has already been a prayer. Not because I think my prayers are any better, but because it is very calming for me and gets my focus on tract. I get terribly nervous and that can result in many words spoken that should have never come out if I am not focused and calmed! One of the things the Lord prompts me to pray so often is that He will invade every cell in our body so that we (myself and those listening) will not leave the same after the event. I actually never thought of it as being a high scriptural thing I was praying, but more of just a plea and invitation for the Holy Spirit to take full reign of the moment and do His thing in us and through us!

Luke 1:35 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you….” When translated into the original Greek language the phrase “come upon you” means to arrive, invade, resting upon and operating in a person according to my commentary. This scripture is the conversation between Mary and the angel Gabriel. Gabriel is giving Mary, teenage Mary, betrothed Mary, the 411 of what is going to happen to her in the coming moments, days, weeks… We don’t know exactly the time she became pregnant with the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, but we do that Gabriel was kind enough to warn her of this invasion.

Mary of course being well aware of the language in which the Spirit spoke to her, knew immediately this was not just a drive through kind of “come upon you”. Mary even at her young age knew this was going to be a life altering blessing and adventure. We have proof of her excitement in verse 46-47 of the Magnificant. She would never be the same, but most importantly the world would never be the same from the moment the Spirit invaded her with the Savior of the world!

Isn’t that what you want? That is what I want each and every day. I know according to the scripture that I am in the palm of the Lord’s hands and no one or thing can snatch me from His grip. And as a matter of fact nothing I could ever do or have done could take me away from Him either. My relationship with the Lord is eternally secure!! Hallelujah. But I do have to pray and ask the One that is residing in my life to fill me up with His power to the fullest degree each and every day. He never leaves me, but because of my sin it diminishes my ability to be used by Him. I ask that He put me in over my head so that all dependence is on Him and Him alone! I know that Mary had not asked for this, but she got it and she got it! She was invaded and was in over her head.

Being out of control and not having things just the way you want them can be tough. In different areas of my life I am a control freak, but God is breaking me of that each and every day. I want the Holy Spirit to resting upon and operating in me. I want to walk so closely with Him there is no question people see Jesus in my life. I want to be invaded in such a way that I will never be the same. Don’t you? Line up with the favor – invite the invasion!