In the garden of Eden Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The ultimate betrayal. They were created as God’s companions but chose to be disobedient and eat from this tree instead. And we tend to think this was all their doing, why did they do that?! But every day we do the same, we eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That is what news and facebook etc is. Whatsapp posts that are consumed and distributed far and wide. We need to know the latest corruption that the enemy perpetuated, we need to be the one to alert every one else.
And we eat from this tree every day for hours, instead of spending time with God. This is the reason he created us in the first place. To spend time in relationship with Him. So every day this betrayal plays out again, even by us who are supposed to be on fire for Him, so much “better” than all the other people playing church. I do this every day. But He forgives me every time I come back and say I am sorry.
Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring’s heel.
Genesis 3:15For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:22
Yesterday in worship the Lord took me to this place of complete freedom and openness, a place where nothing is impossible, all healing and provision, time and deliverance. But He told me it flows out of focusing on Him, and spending time with Him first. Nothing else matters. So powerful. And something He has told me before, and that I know, but find it difficult to do consistently every day, as distractions and life gets thrown in. But He confirmed to me again, it does not matter what my calling is, or my purpose or next project, it will all flow from this place of complete freedom that happens when I surrender completely to him in trust, faith and obedience.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2
I could see this network of deceit and deception and corruption that cover the earth and has done so for many years (as we know) taking over everything on earth from food, media, healthcare, school systems, agriculture, governments. But in this place I was above all that. It was glorious. It felt like nothing else mattered. And from this place of daily complete surrender, He is able to show me what to do for the day, and bring me to a place without limits in Him.
I asked Him to help me get to this place every day. As I cannot do it on my own.
“If you would direct your heart right
And spread out your hand to Him,
If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
“Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and not fear.
“For you would forget your trouble,
As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
“Your life would be brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
“Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.
“You would lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would entreat your favor.”
Job 11:13
Words: Mariana Engelbrecht
Please share below and subscribe to receive future words via email or Whatsapp.