Monday, October 15, 2012

Are You OCD?

Read this blog post to find out if you display signs associated with OCD.


Are you Obedient to the Lord, Committed to God's plan for your life, and Desperate for the Holy Spirit's constant presence?  If so, dear reader, then you are OCD!  I bet you have never been so happy to be diagnosed with anything in your whole life!  If you have symptoms associated with OCD, then you are in good shape!  Below are some tips to help you cultivate and foster obedience, commitment, and desperation for the triune Alpha and Omega!

1. Obedience to the Lord:  When I think about obedience, I often think of authority figures in my life: parents, teachers, doctors, bosses, etc.  Many people in our current, hedonistic society frown on obedience and smile on rebellion.  If you are a believer, you know that obeying God is part of the call He has placed on your life.  You also know that it can be a bizarre, risk-taking, and unreasonable call by earthly standards!  Isaiah 55:9 says it well:  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Sometimes, we don't  understand God's plan, but we must be obedient.  There is a level of worship in childlike obedience that blesses God beyond measure.  With obedience comes blessing on your life!  Isn't that awesome?  We are called to be obedient, and because we do what we are supposed to do, God blesses us!  What an AWESOME, GENEROUS, LOVING God we serve!  However, do remember to "test everything. Hold on to the good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

2. Commitment to God's plan:  Have you ever done something for someone to get something in return?  I know I have.  I find that many people pray to God with attached conditions.  Question:  Who are we to tell God what we will do ONLY if He does something for us in return?  Answer:  We are people saved by grace (by the blood of God's OWN son, I might add), yet NOT deserving of anything!  Let us remain humble and staid on God's Word and His plans.  God is ALL GOOD ALL THE TIME.  His plans for us are that we would prosper and have hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Just because this is God's best for us does not mean that we always reap His best if we are not sowing obedience!  Why should He give us His best yet we try to give Him our lukewarm efforts based on emotion?  News Flash:  Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, but we know that they are good for us--like cutting back on sugar, exercising, following rules, etc.  God makes this promise to us in Psalm 32:8:  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”  Let's commit to the TRUTH of God's Word with unwavering faith!  I promise He won't disappoint.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”
3.Desperation for the Holy Spirit:  When we invite the Lord into our hearts, "[God] identifie[s] us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us" (2 Corinthians 1:22).  From the moment we say, "Yes," to the Lord, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us.  Isn't that exciting?  Romans 8:26 explains that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."  What a gift from God!  The Holy Spirit intercedes on each of our behalves!  It is crucial that we remain obedient and committed to God's Word in order to be in tune with the Holy Spirit within us.  When we are practicing this plan of action, we are more likely to be guided by our spirit man than our flesh man.  Keeping the Spirit's "house" clean helps us exercise the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  The Holy Spirit's presence and discernment go together like fried chicken and okra!  When we are operating in our spirit man, our gift of discernment helps us stay obedient and committed.  With this plan of action in full effect, we can't go wrong! 

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!