Spiritually Busted, Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Reading: Matthew 5:3, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed” means balanced or connected to God. The first way to be connected to God is to be “poor in spirit”. That means to be broken. Brokenness is the beginning of change. Jesus is not talking about finances. He’s talking about surrender. Realizing we need a way out. We need Jesus.

To be poor in spirit, we must also be humble. It is not a lack of self-importance. There is strength in knowing you need God. Humility is others first. It’s not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of others more. Jesus thought only of us. When He was in heaven He knew we needed a Savior and He was the only one who could do it. So, He went; a hero in action and strength while blanketed with humility.

The message translation of Matthew 5:3 says, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.” In a poll of men, the toughest things for men to say are: 1) I’m sorry, 2) I need help and 3) I can’t do it. It’s time to change the pole.

If you evaluate your typical day, how much of it is you and how much of it is God through you? (literally write a percentage or something to indicate the difference)


In your typical day, how much do you think about yourself and your needs and how much do you think of others and their needs?


Challenge: Today, put yourself at the end of your rope. Realize your need of God to take control. Also, think about others and their needs more than yourself and act on those things.

REVIEW
 
How were you able to allow God to take control of your life today and demonstrate less of yourself and more of God?



How were you able to demonstrate your consideration of others more than yourself?