Overcomplicating Jesus & claiming him for what he isn't.

Why is it so hard for people to decide to give their life to Christ? Why are people resentful to God, questioning of God and half in and half out? Why do people twist the Word? Why are people against Christ?

There is many possible answers to these questions.. I am sure we each have our own or can't answer them at all.. but I feel like it has gotten insanely complicated to follow Jesus & we make it a million times more difficult to do so. I personally would say it's not supposed to be complicated- yes it can get messy, costly at times and difficult, but not complicated. It's not supposed to be easy to follow Jesus, but it's not supposed to be complicated either. Its suppose to be somewhat simple. Society has done well at reminding everyone we must do all we can to get everything right. We must get the right job with our degree that we pursued to make the most money to have the big wedding to move to a nice house and then also travel and make time for friends and do "self-care" but rest and enjoy every moment. Wow that sentence was literally hard for me to type, let alone live out.

That's because when we are truly in love with the Lord; we don't live that way, well we aren't supposed to be. When you get the main thing right; all of the other things fall into place.

Check out Matthew 6:33. It says "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added to you." Now that doesn't mean we seek God to receive all the other things. But, if my heart is in alignment with him and i'm truly in love with the Lord, the Lord will bless me with what I need when I need it; and I won't be seeking every worldly desire anyways because I am content with the Lord.

Philippians 4:6-7 has been my GO TO verse lately in my day-to-day craziness. It says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." what a reassuring verse. God knew your craziness was going to happen. He says here what to do. We bring every worry, doubt, decision we make, question we have and fear to God in prayer. He will guard our hearts with his peace that surpasses all understanding, but not only our hearts, our minds. Every single worry I have had this season I have had to learn to present it immediately to God. Not my fiance first, not my best friend first, not seeking social media first, I present it to God. Because only he can fulfill me, and he is the ultimate healer. He is the one who can provide a supernatural peace that comes from the relationship with him.

I know how it feels to read the words of someone telling you to "take it to Jesus". you're probably thinking right now "you don't get my situation, you don't get the heartache, you don't get how I am feeling". You're right. I don't know, but I do know this: trusting Jesus with the concerns of my life, the anxious thoughts I am having and the turmoil I am experiencing does cause me to not spiral as much. I receive peace from him, and you can to.

You have a choice.

Read that again. yes you. you have a choice. we all have a choice to make. This is a choice every single day I have to make, and sometimes it really feels highly forced. I sit back, examine my situation and note what I have control over, and what I don't. Then I "ask myself what is making me so anxious?" and then I ask myself "do I trust God with it?". Lately, it's been a really back and forth kinda thing with God. Like yes I trust you with it, then something happens, and instantly i'm like "okay God, I trusted you with it yesterday, but today after everything i'm just not sure anymore." And moments like that are okay, we are human and have feelings; but we cannot let our feelings take over. That causes an uneasy and unstable relationship with Christ. We must choose to give him the situation and trust him with it no matter what is going on. We have a choice. You have a choice.

In partnership with this choice and trusting him with our situation and our anxious thoughts, we also have a choice in how we spend our time with him. Are you talking to him? Are you praying? Are you reading the bible? Are you in godly community? We don't have to do these to prove ourselves to him, we do them because they lead us into a closer relationship with God. These things allow for peace in chaos; and not only do his words show that, my close loving relationship with him comforts me with that. We know this and can be confident in it because we are in constant conversation with him. But you have a choice.

Discipline is good.

I am sure that's a confusing statement for you; but in regards to our relationship with Christ, discipline is good. I stay disciplined because I expect there to be trouble in my life and an enemy who wants to attack me. I stay connected to God and faithful to his word because so I can fight the enemy with it. Paul writes in another passage the armor of God. The belt of truth-scripture. The breastplate of righteousness-obedience. The gospel of peace, the shield of faith the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. How can you have the power and knowledge of his world to take the enemy if you're not accessing the weapons and tools God has given you. GIVEN YOU. It really is that simple. Armor up. Make the choice. Fill yourself with scripture and know we have everything we need in God alone. Simple faith, not overcomplicating Jesus is trusting him everyday, walking with him in every situation, believing he has everything we need in mind regardless of our circumstances and choosing to spend time in his word. We don't need to be the strong one. We can depend on our God! We have that ability. But how can you depend and trust someone you don't know? How can you declare his word over your situation if you don't know his word?

He is your Father. Your first love. Your friend. Your first call.

Don't overcomplicate him... like really. Fall in love with your Father, spend time reading your Bible, choose to declare scripture over your situations and discipline yourself to that everyday. He is so Holy, loving and near to the brokenhearted.. and he wants you to simple rest and come to him... Matthew 11:28-30 says,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." This is Jesus desire. His heart for you, your neighbor, your co-worker and the stranger next to you. We must go back to his heart, his holiness, his Word & stop overcomplicating Jesus and mistaking him and replacing his Word for what it isn't.