Kathi Pelton: "How to Walk in Confidence & Humility in This Time of Division"

From the Desk of Steve Shultz:

If ONLY I could go back and re-do or re-live or re-choose so many things in my life.

But alas, some of God's wisdom seemed lost on my youth, and those things I know now, mostly came through making mistakes and NOT listening to the voice of God.

One MAJOR category of life I would love to have lived differently – is the area of humility. There were SO many things I wanted to comment on so others would know my opinions!

So many times I had to eat my words or swallow my opinions.

Make it your goal, no matter your age now, to offer your opinion less and to judge others way, WAY, WAY less.

Humility, however you learn it, is so much more important than pride. Make it your life's goal to obtain humility and dump pride. You will be so much richer for it.

That is what Kathi Pelton delves into below. This is going to help you. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible. To partner with us, click here.

Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you. Donate at:

Give a Monthly Gift

In the midst of a "world gone wild" we, as the Body of Christ, need to be sure that our confidence is in the Lord alone and that our hearts and attitudes remain humble. The moment we begin to become confident in our opinions, our limited "knowings" (we only see in part) or our "side of the divide," then we are in trouble. That is the open door for ego, arrogance and greater divisions.

At the Feet of Jesus: Extracting the Precious from the Worthless

Each one of us has personal convictions and opinions but they must be brought to the feet of Jesus where we ask Him to extract the precious from the worthless. I hold my opinions and my limited "knowings" quite loosely because I know that His ways are not my ways, so I dare not push or force my ways into the lives of others.

"'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD. 'And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.'" (Isaiah 55:8)

My "sure" and absolute confidence is upon God alone and in His Word that reveals His true nature. I yield to His Lordship and rule in my life and in the lives of my brothers and sisters.

Even while Jesus walked on Earth He displayed great humility in the midst of absolute authority. He submitted fully to His Father and walked humbly amid a people divided. The Pharisees were demanding that their interpretation of the law be carried out and traditions upheld, while the followers of Jesus struggled to understand and grasp His words and teachings—even wrestling with one another over who would be the greater one in His Kingdom. It's not a lot different today, and I think that it is safe to say (both then and now) that we have ALL fallen short of His glorious ways and standards—therefore, humility is key.

"...There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24) (Photo via Pixabay)

Opinions

Opinions are just that..."opinions!" And we all have a lot of them! They are not absolutes and yet we often hold onto them as absolutes. We have opinions regarding masks, COVID, parenting, vaccines, Scripture interpretations and politics. Even this article is bent toward "my opinions." When I am given a vision or dream I am constantly having to ask the Holy Spirit to not let me interpret it out of my opinions but to only let His word and truth be shared. Yet, I have no doubt that I have missed the mark more than once.

It seems that the newest opinion to bring a divide is regarding whether or not the prophetic voices missed the mark regarding the elections. Here is my "opinion"...let's hold onto what we have heard and believe according to the measure of our faith and not let this become a divide! Pray in the Spirit and be confident in decreeing His Word while exercising humility with the saints.

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." (Romans 14:1)

Love Is the Measuring Rod

During different stages of my life I have had different measures of faith. I fondly remember how in my youth and during times of hardship I was welcomed and loved by those who were stronger than me. They didn't quarrel with me but rather upheld me and lifted me into a place of greater faith.

I also have been in the company of opinionated men and women that arrogantly demand that everyone else is silenced while they enlighten us all with their opinions. God forbid that we become those who value our opinions more than seeking true wisdom and understanding from the Lord. Love is the measuring rod.

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." (Proverbs 18:2)

We must not take pleasure in only expressing our opinions but be a people who humbly take our opinions to the feet of Jesus—asking Him to exchange them for His wisdom and understanding.

In these emotionally charged times, we must pray with confidence in God alone and humble ourselves so that we do not enter into judgments against our brothers and sisters in the faith.

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." (Romans 14:10-13)

Can we "decide" here and now to ask the Lord to help us to never be a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another brother—especially when it comes to our opinions? I still have opinions and you still have opinions but we must lay down our rights to make those opinions into judgments. Let us daily ask the Lord to let our lives be a clear pathway that leads to unity, rather than a rock in our brother's path that causes him to stumble. This humble posture will close the door to the enemy's attempt to stop the unity of the saints. Unity is not founded upon "like-opinions" but upon the agreement that Jesus is our Savior and King. (Photo via Pixabay)

Be It unto Me According to Your Word

Each of us will give an account before the Lord, therefore, we do not need to constantly position ourselves as our brother's "accountant" (in my opinion). I am not anyone's spiritual accountant, though I am tempted to take that role at times. We can, in love and humility, share our convictions, beliefs and even opinions, but when those opinions come to the point of contention, aggravation and division—it is then that we must pause and ask our brother or sister if we can pray together for our hearts to be united in Christ and not divided by opinion.

My daily and constant prayer is this: "Be it unto me according to Your Word" (see Luke 1:38).

I want, more than anything else, for His will and His word to be made manifest in my life and in my relationships. So yes, I have strong convictions and even strong opinions (even in this hour that we are living in), but I choose to submit them to His Word and His will. I love my brother more than I love my thoughts and opinions.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)

Let us strive for peace while holding fast to our confidence (and true convictions) so that all will see the Lord and His holiness rest upon His people.

Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.

Kathi Pelton
Inscribe Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.inscribeministries.com

Jeffrey and Kathi Pelton live in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Jeffrey is a writer, teacher and book editor. Kathi is an author and prophetic voice to the Church. They walk with nations and individuals to see God's original intent fulfilled. Their ministry, Inscribe Ministries, was founded upon the verse from Habakkuk 2:2 that says, "Then the LORD answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.'"

To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link elijahlist.com/subscribe.

Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here