He must increase within us

I’ve just come home from a 1.5 day ladies retreat. I go to a Bible study at a local church called Vineyard Keepers with a group of God fearing, Jesus worshipping, Holy Spirit filled women and we spent the night together at a local Christian camp. We sang beautiful songs together, laughed together, cried together, ate DELICIOUS food together and studied the living breathing Word together.

It was a phenomenal time, a time to come together and fellowship with sisters in His great name, an impenetrable bond; His love. I am so filled and so encouraged right now, I ask you to forgive me if I ramble on a bit and make absolutely no sense. I am so filled with the Spirit right now that I just had to take the time to sit and reflect on the weekend. 

There were 40+ women that came together in His name, 40 women who had 1 sincere and earnest desire—grow intimately with the Creator. 

I cannot speak for the other women, but I can say my goal was most assuredly accomplished. 

He revealed Himself to me in so many new ways, ways that I never could have imagined. And He does that at every single moment if we are His children. He never ceases to amaze us; and He never will. He is so absolutely amazing that we can never truly learn everything about Him while here on this earthly plan … but praise God that this world is not the end. Praise God that we have a home waiting for us in His kingdom; one that is far greater than our tiny little brains can imagine.

I learned so many things this weekend; but the first one that I wanted to write about was from the book of John.

“He must increase, I must decrease”

John 3:30

Now of course, this Scripture itself is not new to me. But, the truth in me had to be released, and I urge you with deepest affection that you examine the truth within yourself….are you living this out? 

Are you dying daily, allowing Him control of every facet of your life? Are you aware of your absolute inability to live this life without Him; your absolute unworthiness of His love, His grace, His mercy? Do you see your life as worthy only of His wrath but aware of the constant grace that He allows? And if so, do you want to allow Him to increase inside of you because of this? 

I thought I understood this. I thought, yes, I want Him to increase and I want so much to decrease. But, my flesh constantly warred against His Spirit. I constantly was at a battle within, a loud raging battle in which I fell victim each and every day. 

I wanted Him to increase, but I didn’t want to truly let myself go. I still wanted to “be me”. I wanted to find out “who I was” as opposed to who HE IS. 

That’s the beauty of the indwelling of the Spirit. Once we have decreased …. IT’S HIM THAT SHINES OUT. We are no longer in the way and He is allowed to shine forth in a bright and mighty way. 

That is my prayer. That people no longer see me; that from this moment on it is Jesus Christ that they see when they look at me. He is my everything; my very best friend, my love, my strength and stronghold. 

He makes me whole, in trouble He is my peace. He is the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star and I want nothing more than to allow Him to illuminate my every single step. 

I plead with you tonight, if you are holding back a piece of yourself from Him – LET GO! He is more capable of leading your life than you will ever be. 

Allow Him to increase within you. 

Allow Him to drive you along your path, allowing yourself to truly take the passenger seat.  

I can assure you, He will NEVER fail you. He will never forsake you. He will lift you up when you are weak; He will love you when you feel unworthy. He is worthy of our praise and all the glory of the heavens and the earth. We are empty without Him, void of true life until we have allowed Him to take the place within us that He created us for. 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10