The kind of "lay off" ya want, and need

I have said it before and I have heard it before..." Would you just lay off already?"  In other words, let it go, give me some space, I'm not taking all you are saying too well.

Through quiet time alone with God today I was reminded of why it is important to "lay off" sometimes.

We "lay off" not because the person we are "laying into" doesn't need to hear what we have to say, not because they don't need an awaking or a revelation and not because they should be allowed to go on hurting us or others. They need us to "lay off" because God needs to be able to work. 

God can do ANYTHING but He asks us to leave certain things to Him alone because He works with the will of the other person.  He will not go against a person's will, sooo if we are making the person discouraged, angry or even vengeful, their will changes. They may go from wanting to change to feeling like a victim themselves or feeling entitled to this sin or hurtful act.  When we back off...even if we have already tampered with God's plan, He can then go in and fix what we have done and heal the person.  The longer we mess with God's plan for healing the person, the longer the person stays in their sin and the longer we and they are hurt.  There are times God says speak and He will give us encouraging words.  His words will never be condemning, convicting but not condemning.  Many of us have a hard time not condemning when we have been hurt, and especially then it is best to "lay off".

When I believe I heard from God that things in my life were going to change for the better I was shown that through the testimonies of others, my past experiences with trying to do it on my own, and other details not involving me, my "laying off" was going to make what would take a decade or more be over in practically no time. 

I believe so much of the rapid progress through tough areas of my life as happened because I daily pray God's will and not my own, I read His word, I listen for THE still small voice, I do not listen to the voice of the stranger or even my own and I obey what I read and hear .  Now I say this and I want to make it clear...the listening AND obeying is not 100%, but each time I stumble I learn and I get closer to the 100%, because I will not repeatedly make the same mistakes. I will never be 100%, because I am not God, but that is not going to discourage me from working toward 100%.  It is easier to lose obedience then it is to gain it and if I get discouraged over not being perfect I will not hear as well and then progress diminishes till I "get it" again.

So is there someone we need to "lay off" of?  All of our best efforts can never amount to what God is capable doing in just one tiny moment.  The only questions are who do we trust more, the creator of Heaven and earth or ourselves?  Who has the consistent track record?  With Who are all things possible?

God Bless

Isaiah 55:9

For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 12:19
Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Leviticus 19:14

You must not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you are to fear your God; I am Yahweh.

Romans 14:13

Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way.
Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Hebrews 10:23 
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

1 Peter 2:15
For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.




*Everything I share and most things we learn all have "exceptions".  I never pretend to have all the answers BUT the things I have done which work have come from the place with all the answers...The Word of God.  The problem with sharing any message or testimony is there are questions each person may have which may go unanswered, one person may hear/read something one way while another hears/reads it another way.  These different views are based on past experiences in our lives.  What I am sharing cannot be shared in great enough detail to cover all bases.