You know, I'm reminded of God's covenant with Abraham. I'm reminded of what God did for the Israelites, by setting them free from slavery in Eygpt. I'm reminded of all that God has done for Israel. We can redicule the Israelites all day long for how often they forget what God has done for them and for how often they reject God, turn from Him and go their own way, but when we look at Israel's faults and failures, we must remember our own.

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Made in perfection, living in a pretty spectaular place, free to walk and talk with God daily, they knew no pain, no hurt, but lived happily, joyfully. in perfection. However, in Genesis 3, we see Adam and Eve make a concious decision to disobey God. In Genesis 2: 16-17, God told them that they could have everything in the garden, except for the fruit from that one tree. It kind of reminds me of God allowing us to keep 90% of our pay check and only asking that we give Him 10%. It's not that He needs the 10%, but why are we so greedy that we want it all and have a hard time giving God only a small part, though He gives us everything? Just thinking... kind of let my mind run off here. :) Anyway, God said they could eat of any other tree but that one tree. Adam and Eve made the concious decision to eat the fruit anyway. Whether they doubted God's warning in Genesis 2:17 "... you shall surely die" or not, the fact remains. God told them what would happen and they chose to ignore the consequences.

You see, God is light! He can not commune with darkness. It amazes me how He displays this fact everyday of our lives. We come into a dark house at night and flip the light switch. Instantly the light breaks forth and the darkness is gone. The two can't be at the same time. Where there is light, the darkness is gone. Where there is God, sin can't be! God is good. Sin is awful. God is life and the wages of sin is death. Now, because God loves His creation so much and did not want to see His creation spend eternity away from him in a place only created for the fallen angel, Lucifer aka Satan and the 3rd of the angels that fell with him, God gave His only Son, Jesus. The spotless lamb forshadowed through out the Old Testament. Jesus came to take our place... to die in our place. He loves us that much! Now, because Jesus died for our sin and rose again on the 3rd day, we are now able to be free'd from our sin. Yes! All who accept Christ as their savior, repents and turns from their sinful nature, their sinful ways, is set free from sin!

So, after experiencing the ultimate freedom, why do we, how can we forget all that God has done for us and like the Israelites, walk away from God? We know He's everything we need. He is our provider, deliverer, comforter and Savior. Right? Right! So why is it that we too, like the Israelistes, end up walking away from this awesome freedom? I'll tell you.

I'm learning more and more that to truly please God, we must have faith! We must truly depend on God. We must continually seek him. Now, when I say "seek", I'm in no way implying that God is lost. I'm merely saying that we must be purposeful! Our time with God must not become routine, an agenda that we feel we must check off each day. Example: "Dear journal, today, I read X number of chapters. Yay for me!" No! This must never be the case. When it does, we're no longer seeking God, but living according to an agenda.

God's Word is His love letter to us. 2 Timothy 3:16a NASB says, "All Scripture is inspired by God..."God used many different men, from many different walks of life, over a time span that continues to blow me away to convey His love to us. When we take this love letter forgranted and refuse to read it, we make a concious decision to basically snub God and take matters into our own hands. You see, His Word tells us how to live, it's our weapon against the enemy of our soul. You see, 2 Corinthians, 10:3-4 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" and Ephesians 6:12-13a says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand..." Without God's Word we're not only powerless, we're ignorant! Whether we like it or not, we're in a battle for our soul. When we choose to ignore God's Word, God's instruction, we're setting ourselves up for defeat.

Also, if we pray "formulated prayers", prayers that we've come up with to make ourselves sound smart or whatever, instead of talking to God from our heart, our prayers are mere waists of breath. We must pray with purpose on purpose. A prayerless person is a powerless person, yeah, but so is a person who prays only to say they've prayed. If our motives are wrong, we're wrong.

I could go all day on this thought. Our motives change everything. In Jeremiah 17:9 NASB God says, "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." God knows our hearts! He knows our motives! Even when we don't! He knows all things and the amazing thing is, He loves us anyway! His mercies are new every morning, His word says.

So, why do we continually go our own way, reject God and forget all that He's done for us. We begin thinking we can some how make it on our own. We quit reading His Word purposefully or all together, stop praying purposefully or all together, our motives are no longer the right motives but become corrupt by our own fleshy desires and we slowly creep away from that intimate relationship we once had with God.

So, Jeremiah 2:31, God is basically saying, "Have I not given you all that you need? Have I not provided the best for you? Yet you still go about doing what you want. You think I've set you free to do your own thing. So now you say, "I'm free to leave you."

 ------prayer-------

Oh God, forgive me! I've been so guilty of this very thing. It's so easy to just let my mind run wild. It's so true what your Word says. We must guard our minds. We must put on the full armor of God. We must hide your Word in our hearts so we won't sin against you, reject you, walk away from you, our strong tower and safe refuge. By staying in your word, we're reminded daily what we must stay away from and what we must cling to to stay free from sin. Constant communion, prayer, devotion, dialogue with you, God, allows you to speak to us, as we surrender our hearts to be sensitive to your Spirit and allows us the opportunity to confess our faults, express our desires, and bring you praise and glory and honor.

You have saved us from sin. You have purchased us with a great price that no other could pay. Remind us always. You are merciful. Your love amazes me. Hold me close. Never let me go! I want to live in your presence. Fill my life, my home, my family and my church with your presence. It's in your presence that we are liberated! Your Word says in  2 Corinthians 3:17 NASB, "Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." It's in your presence that we truly see you for who you are and who we are in you!

I love you, Lord! You are great and marvelous. You are wonderful and awesome! Help us to never forget all that you've done, but help us to spread your Good News with everyone around us!