Kingdoms

We can build up personal kingdoms in our  lives that are contrary to the Kingdom of Christ.  We don't call them kingdoms tho...we call them "preferences" or "expectations"

God has an established kingdom. His kingdom is the kingdom of love, the kingdom of truth, the kingdom of right thinking, right believing, right choices, humility and grace. 

(Matthew 6:8)  your kingdom come your will be done


 why is that how we should pray? 


I believe its because God knew that we would be prone to erect our own personal kingdoms.  Kingdoms that we set up in our hearts. 


within these kingdoms are buildings "chambers of  idols"  These idols are:

personal freedom of choice idols
things need to be THIS way idols  
my human nature  idols    
I was raised with this  preference idols
I don't have it in me to do ______ idols


and the list can go on, but you get the idea.


Not realizing that ALL of these things are rooted in pride (re-read the list) 
What these things are saying is:  "God you are allowed to only have this much of my heart, but these (personal, really sensitive or deep things) I'll keep those for myself. 


Do you ever wonder why anxiety, and unhappiness is so prevalent in this day and age?   I believe its because we truly walk according to flesh or human nature and we view things based off of that rather than walking in divine nature ( 2 Peter 3-4)   as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust


We say things like "I was raised this way" in order to escape changing our negative ways or surrendering our "self" and becoming like Christ.  We live according to how we were raised or how we think we're so supposed to be instead of being crucified with Christ and partaking in HIS divine nature.  


People say: It's not in my nature to forgive, trust, be loving, be nice etc... and you're right! BUT when you're a born again believer it IS your nature because we have been given divine nature!
In divine nature, we can be like the apostle Paul and find contentment in all situations because he realized its not him who is alive anyway... its Christ!


Some people get so far off into their kingdoms that if anything goes against what they've set up.. they become unhappy, despondent, annoyed or angry. 


If something or someone has the power to make you happy or unhappy, engaging or disengaging, pleasant or unpleasant...  It's an IDOL.  


We don't want to call it that because that would mean forfeiting  OUR "man made thoughts" of how things are supposed to be or how things SHOULD be.   Most are not willing to lay it down.  

it becomes a weight because it's not meant to be there! ( lay aside every weight) Hebrews 12:1
The word rendered "weight" - ὄγκον ogkon - means what is crooked or hooked, and thence any thing that is attached or suspended by a hook that is, by its whole weight, and hence means weight.
The word is often used in the classic writers in the sense of swelling, tumour, pride. Its usual meaning is that of weight or burden, and there is allusion here.


Lay aside!  but the moment we do that- we are saying  "God take control" hoping He knows us enough to still give us our desires, but fearful that he won't. (as if the one who knows the number of hairs on our heads doesn't get us?). 

I believe truly it's not about whether or not He'll give us our desires ( He wants to do that) I believe it's about surrender and trust. Releasing fear and truly walking by faith (even when those things we hope for are unseen right now) that's FAITH!!


He is King of kings. He is king of the self made kingdoms and the self made kings of those self made kingdoms. He is Lord of lords! 
"let the kingdoms of my heart BOW  to the kingdom of Christ"
YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done! 

If people would relinquish their need to be in control and truly let God rule their hearts, give Him dominion of their hopes and desires and trust that He's GOD... They would experience a true freedom, and healing like never before. 





Blessings!


Alisa