Author: editor

‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”’ Matthew 11:28-30(NLT)

‘God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. ‘ Hebrews 4:1-3(NLT)

‘Yet I am confident I will see the Lord ’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.’ Psalms 27:13(NLT)

I don’t want to live a heavy life, carrying around weights and burdens that I was never intended to carry. Doing so would make the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ of none effect. Why take on all of our sins at the cross if we were going to rebel and pick them all up again? I aim not to disrespect the sacrifice of Christ.

I’m ready to receive the promise of rest, knowing that it doesn’t mean that I’ll never have problems in this world. However, the problems I do have won’t be as a result of my pride, arrogance, unbelief and disobedience. As scary as it may be at the moment, I’m just gonna close my eyes and follow Him. It may not be easy, it may kill your flesh and destroy your pride. But what do we have to lose? We have to know our God and if we’re not in a place of trust, tell Him. I promise you that He won’t be offended. Open your heart and your mouth and lay it all on the line. He desires to draw us to and through Him to the best parts of Himself. Trust me when I say that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

‘And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.’ Matthew 13:58(NLT)

‘But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ‘ Romans 10:14(NLT)

A lot of times we rebel because we don’t think God knows what he’s talking about. As if our 30, 40, or 100 years on earth trumps the wisdom of the creator of universe. In our flesh and from our worldly point of view, it’d seem like we know everything about the situation we’re in. God has noooooooo idea how I’m feeling, what I’m going through or my plans. He’s just up there in the sky somewhere being Godly!

This I know: every time I work out of my self, I fail. When I pay attention to and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, I win. I get in the Word of God and then something I’m reading is confirmed by a minister of the gospel, or simply my best friend in conversation. I’m comforted to know that God will get a message to me even in the midst of my rebellion to lead to me out. 

I choose to be a believer so that God can make miracles happen in my life.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

‘Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.’ Psalms 106:35-36(NLT)

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ‘ Hebrews 12:1-2(NLT)

Rebellion is so tiresome; it really is. You’re literally running in the opposite direction of everything that is God. Even in the most treacherous of storms, there’s comfort in knowing that it is a God-ordained storm rather than a storm of your own making.

In Psalm 106, the Psalmist highlights the disobedience of ‘The Children of Israel’ and it is a tiresome tale. By the end of the scripture, you’re just like, ‘Obey already!’ But oh goodness, isn’t that they way the angels of the Lord look at us? Like ‘C’mon people, obey already!’

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live my life in my own power anymore. I’m tired of scraping my knees and bumping my head at every turn. I want God’s direction and I want God’s blessing, so that even in the tough times, I know they’re not in vain.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

‘God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.’ Psalms 68:6(NLT)

‘Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”’ Luke 13:3-5(NLT)

‘If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.’ Isaiah 1:19(NLT)

Have you ever been in a dry season? A season where absolutely nothing worked. You’re fighting with your spouse, you’re not booking any new clients, making any leeway at work, or your kids are not engaged in anything you’re trying to do with them. Is this all happenstance, or are you in a parched land?

Everything is not going to go perfectly at all times, but there are times in my life where nothing is working and I know it’s because of an action or inaction on my part. I was willingly disobedient in an area, putting my thoughts higher than the His thoughts and as a result, nothing was working. 

I have a cure for you: repentance. I’m not talking about Sunday repentance at the altar. I’m talking a simple, ‘I’m sorry Lord. I submit. I change my mind’. The reaction and results of your repentance may not be immediate, but it’s the first step in the right direction. Keep saying yes, not matter how hard it may be. Your life will change.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

‘Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord , he has rejected you as king.”
Saul Pleads for Forgiveness
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord ’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. ‘ 1 Samuel 15:23-24(NLT)

‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.’ Proverbs 16:18(NLT)

I don’t willingly not listen to the Holy Spirit…I mean, I do, but not in a bad way. I don’t raise my fist, stomp my feet and yell like a grounded pre-adolescent teen arguing to go out with her friends. What I do, however, is put on my ‘know-it-all’ headphones and ignore the direction in which the Spirit of God is leading me, especially if it’s a place that I don’t want to go.

I do this in my marriage, my business and other areas that I’m not ready to submit to the Word and will of God. Who wants to ‘submit to one another’ when your husband wants to take a job across the country away from family and friends. Or submit to a plan of healthy eating and exercise, especially during the holidays. But scripture says that this constant rebellious attitude is like witchcraft—yes, witchcraft and sorcery and our stubbornness is as bad as idolatry. We have set up ourselves, our wills, and our emotions against God. 

I don’t want to be God’s enemy. I want to be his daughter. I want my life to sing and my obedience to be worship. I’m going to submit…will you? 

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean