Walking with Jesus

Are We Puppets on a String?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”   Philippians 2:13

God created man and woman after HIS image. He made them to have free agency. Like himself, HE has given us the ability to imagine, create, and choose. At the same time, HE has given us a heart of self-preservation. We are naturally self-centered. Whatever we desire, we can immediately pursue, or we can delay gratification. It is our choice. It also takes willpower to refrain. This is the battle with the self between the mind, heart, and will.

Yet Paul writes here that God is also at work in us. This raises the question: How can we be considered free if God can manipulate us according to HIS will?

A friend and I recently had this discussion. He was scratching his head and asked this question. How can we be free people if God could manipulate us like a Marionette string puppet?

Yes, God is sovereign. He has the last word. He can intervene and do what HE wants to do anytime and anyplace. Yet, HE made humanity to function after HIS image, though limited in the physical realm. The book of Genesis states that humanity has authority over everything on earth. God has given us the responsibility and accountability to perform. To make this a flourishing world. Yet what happens when we fail to fulfill our responsibility? Who are we accountable too?

HE wouldn’t be God if HE would close HIS eyes so we could destroy everything HE has made. What parent would allow their children to destroy everything around them including themselves?

This Scripture is addressing the believer. One who has already chosen to surrender their kingdom under the authority of King Jesus. As a believer, Jesus lives in you via the Holy Spirit. He is your Lord and Friend. He is there to walk with you and share HIS life with you. As HE shares HIS life with us, we learn to share our life with HIM. Life then becomes like a ballroom dance. The two are working together around the dance floor of life. They are acting in unison to the rhythm of the music expressing themselves with the sounds and beat. The two operate as one.

God’s work and pleasure is for your training and development of becoming more like HIM. HE will take the time to discipline us. HE will take the time to support us in doing good work for HIS glory. His desire is for you to find rest in HIM. To learn and appreciate the grace HE provides to help you live a meaningful life – now and into eternity. If you don’t want HIS involvement in your life, HE will keep hands off. HE respects you and HIMSELF to follow the relationship boundaries HE has placed at the start.

No, humans are not puppets on a string. But free agents able to choose which partner we will dance with through life. So, choose wisely.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Your Expectation of Jesus

Dr. Mike 2025 , ,

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come… the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelations 1:4-6

You experience life from what you focus on each day. Yes, everyday there is the possibility of the unexpected to confront you. But most often, you experience what you plan for the day. You go about your routine to fulfill your responsibilities. Your world may include taking care of other family members. You may have customers to serve at work. You may also intermingle with those in the community as you run errands for the day.

Yet, what is your expectation of walking with Jesus in HIS kingdom this day? How do you include HIM in your daily affairs? What do you expect from HIM this day?

Learning to walk each day with Jesus is an experience rarely seen in movies or even in most homes. In fact, I recently watched some preachers and teachers of HIS word on YouTube this past week. Very few even discussed the subject. Most focused on the acquisition of theological knowledge. Some even spent more time pushing the sale of their merchandise. But walking with Jesus as HIS disciple in the marketplace wasn’t their concern this week.

Jesus promised to be with us till the end of the age. But where is HE in your walk with HIM today?

If you aren’t sure HIS Spirit resides in you, you may want to spend some time in prayer with HIM. You may want to ask HIM to reveal himself to you today. HE may not reveal himself the way you expect, but HE will in a way you will grasp.

There is a certain confidence you gain knowing that you know that HE knows and HE knows you know. HE is with you. HE is for you. HE is rooting you to become the person HE needs you to be for HIS kingdom.

Learning to live in HIS presence each day assures you of HIS involvement in your life. When faced with a difficult decision, you can turn to HIM for advice. When confronted by a difficult person, you can rely on HIM for insight and wisdom. When interacting with the store clerk you can allow the spirit of Jesus reach out and share HIS love with them. In fact, if the opportunity presents itself, you may even share the gospel with them.

The best time to position Jesus in your focus for the day is upon arising. When planning out the day’s activities, include HIM. When crossing out the items from your to-do list, thank HIM. When messing up for the umpteen time, let HIS grace shower you. And when your children mess up for the thousandth time, let HIS grace also shower them.

Jesus is more than a Savior. HE is also our King and Lord. The Bible also reveals HE is our elder brother and friend. So why not let HIM be so as you venture out and experience life the way HE is preparing you for eternity.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Holy Swagger

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

David had the walk. Peter also had the walk. So did Paul. And so have many others who have embraced our Lord’s purpose. But have you?

The walk is the confident sureness one has of having seen God Almighty intervene in your life so often, you know you are a child of HIS. You have witnessed the work of the Spirit morph you from that self-centered, ego maniac into a humble, serving student of God’s Kingdom. You have experience in yourself and watch others become more and more Christlike. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is becoming more and more alive in you and through you.

The outcome of your surrender and commitment to Jesus Christ is that certain walk I call Holy Swagger.

Paul writes here to Timothy, a young minister, reminding him of the work God has started in him which includes giving us a spirit not of fear, but of “gevurah, ahavah, and havchanah” or miraculous power, love, and sound judgement as the Jewish Orthodox Bible translates.

The power we have been bestowed upon comes from heaven. God’s power alive in us. The more we deny our self-carnal desires and allow God’s Spirit to penetrate the core of our being, the sooner we begin to experience HIS character through our heart and mind. We become “little Christs” as C.S. Lewis would refer to the definition of a Christian. 

When you know God is for you, with you, and in you, your entire disposition changes. You are at awe and you are humbled. At awe how God is working to change you from a broken person to an engaged, spirit-led witness of HIS handiwork. And so, you are also humbled that HE chose you and given you the opportunity to experience HIS riches in your life today.

Yes, the outcome is that confident walk that let’s the world know you know who is in control, and it’s not you, but your Heavenly Father. Your walk includes an attitude of spirit that resembles the fruit of God’s Spirit which includes the love, joy, and peace that surpasses understanding. In fact, your Holy Swagger begins to mimic the heart, mind, and worldview of your Lord and Rabbi, Jesus Christ.

You probably have experienced the Holy Swagger walk many times in your past. But only for a few periods of time. But as we mature in the faith, and witness more and more of God’s workmanship in the lives of others and in yourself, the walk becomes more and more evident. Before you know, you find yourself walking into the next chapter of life facing some of humanities greatest evils with a peaceful, loving, self-control disposition that you smile, lift your eyes to heaven, and prayerfully thank God for the opportunity to be HIS witness at a time like this.

The glory, honor is HIS. The Holy Swagger is also HIS. You know it. HE knows it. Now we shall let the world know it.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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