A Life Commitment

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Luke 23:46

These were the last words of Jesus on the cross.  Are these words required only at the moment of death?  Our spirit, the very breath of life was breathed into us by our Creator (Gen 2:7)—what becomes important is how we exhale, the intentions we release. 

The Message paraphrases Jesus to have said, “Father, I place my life in your hands!”  Our life journey embraces a multitude of situations and emotions which can entangle and control life.  Too often many Christians live “their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun” (Luke 8:14, The Message).  When you call out to God “with a loud voice,” what are you calling out for?  Are you calling out to God in for wealth, worries, and wants; or do you cry out in a loud voice, committing to Christ?  Are you calling out to satisfy pride or humbly calling out in surrender of self to the purpose of the Master?  Who is you life, your spirit committed to?

Breathing for Him,

Owen <>< 

Not my might - By His Spirit

“All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you — that's the agenda for rejoicing.” (Luke 10:20 -The Message)

The context of The Message passage brings out what the glory of God does for us and how we should maintain humility before God.  Jesus’ Word, stated differently, tells us, “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v20, NIV).  We have received the promise of the Spirit of our Lord living in us and empowering us.  This empowerment Jesus mentions is to over come evil, or stated, as having authority over spirits, such as rebuking demons.  However, the first step in receiving anything from God is in humility, whereby we are empowered, or as Jesus says, he will exalt (lift up into His Kingdom, empower) the humble (Mt 18:4, 23:12; Lk 14:11, 18:14).  Being exalted takes you from the state of a lost and empty orphan and lifts you into the presence of the King as a child of righteousness.  Oh! The awe struck wonder and joy that fills me as I rejoice in humility; holy, holy is He.  It’s not what I do, it’s what he does for and through me – in surrender I rejoice.  Hallelujah!     

God Bless,

Owen <><

In Denial

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34b



The Lord says things to us that, well, we don’t like. We cringe when we think of what we may have to give up, or worse give away. We’re much more comfortable when all we deny self is what we’re willing to give God—leftovers and second-hand furniture. But, when Jesus asked us to deny self, His teaching wasn’t about financial or material things, but how we look at ourselves decreasing and placing our focus upward, increasing God in our lives and pouring God outward to everyone around us.

The first thing we are to deny is our place of importance. We are to surrender obediently, giving reverence to God—His Word, His power, His being our Creator—and then submit to all the Lord desires to pour out upon us. Ah, what we have received is then poured out upon others around us—His Spirit. Denial is not ignoring the truth, but accepting the truth, denial is complete humility before God—humbleness to listen, to receive, to respond to all He is and will do in our lives. Denial is fulfilled in our humility to God. Denial is humility to give self to God and to others.

Denial is emptying of self. When you deny self, you kill pride. Then, He begins pouring upon you miracles, wonders, love, joy, compassion, and all that you cannot receive without God.

I pray you’re in denial, Owen <><