It was a week day morning and things started out the way they always do. I crawl out of bed, wonder to the coffee pot hoping not to stub my toes on the table as I walk there. Turn the coffee on and settle in my chair. I open my Bible take a deep breath of coffee and smile as I get to spend some sweet time with Jesus. Thirty minutes go by and I am at such peace just me and my Savior. As soon as I get up from that chair things just go south. I begin the normal routine of waking up 3 children and getting everyone ready for school. I should just get a bull horn and shout let the chaos begin because somehow that's what happens. There are teeth to be brushed, that lets just face it I have to force my 7 year old son to do, hair to be brushed and put together and its not mine. In all this where is that sweet wonderful husband of mine? Well he is getting himself ready while my 4 year old is screaming she doesn't want the crust on her poptart today! How was I supposed to know that because just yesterday she yelled at me for taking it off! So here comes my man, oblivious to the chaos and ready and relaxed to start his day. He not one time notices the kids are running around like wild animals and the dog is peeing on the floor!
My time with Jesus seems like something that happened 10 years ago and not just 30 minutes ago. Then like lightning a switch goes off inside me. Instead of acting like a beautiful woman of God out comes Malifacent! I mean full blown fire breathing dragon. I yell and scream and pout and say things I really don't mean. I pull myself together and with fire still on my lips and black scales on my skin I kiss those sweet kids good bye and hug my husband and send them off to work and school. The door closes behind them and I wait and then find myself sitting on the floor crying. Then the accusations come "Your crazy who acts like that to there family?" "You are worthless and will never be good enough for them." " You are such a disappointment, they will never love you like that." "Everything you do fails."
It was a familiar place for me. I have been on that floor telling myself those lies many times. Satan has been hissing those lies in my ears for years. I believed them too. Believed every single one and believed I truly deserved to be on that floor crying. Something happened one day that changed everything. As I sat believing the lies I heard a loud sweet voice. "STOP, Melissa it doesn't have to be this way, STOP." It wasn't hateful or demeaning it was sweet and tender. I sat bewildered, I knew that voice. I have heard it before but never when I was on the floor completely hating myself. I heard it again in my ear a small whisper "No more, this is enough." I knew it was Jesus there coming to my rescue. The one and only healer of my heart coming to my side. "No more, you have lived like this for far to log. Get up read my word, its true, its promises are true. Deal with this head on with me and your sword (Bible). I love you and this is not my plan for you."
So I pulled myself up, got back in that chair and opened my Bible. I was tired, tired of being in that place. So I opened my Bible and turned to the concordance and found tired it lead me to Isaiah 40:30 but I decided to start in verse 28.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
I sat there and cried. It was that good cry, a cry of relief. The Lord my God is everlasting. He will give us strength and even though we may fall apart we can soar on wings like eagles. You see I figured out that day it would be a tough journey but God's plan for my life, your life, is to not just survive but to soar! To fly. Fly above the way you see yourself and to begin to see yourself as the beautiful treasure you are to Jesus. Fly to a place where the love of God and the love he has for you erases every doubt, and fear. A place where disappointment doesn't rule you and lies no longer command you. He alone will give you the strength in each and every circumstance that may come. You may grow tired but have you not heard? He NEVER grows tired. He is always fighting for you.
So let's get up off that floor and run to the one who has his arms wide open waiting for you. He wants you to Fly.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
FREEDOM REIGNS
I love super heroes. I mean it is so bad that I am sure I will be at the theatre the day The Avengers: Age of Ultron opens. I have always been fascinated by the epic war of good verse evil. Throw in some super powers and web slinging, bow shooting, hammer throwing, flying, shield throwing, and great combat skills and I am like on adrenaline overloaded after the movie. I honestly want to fight for something good. Fight for the underdog, lonely, forgotten, abused and used. I admire our real life freedom fighters, our soldiers and police men and women who fight for our protection and freedom daily.
My love for this freedom fighting comes from feeling like the oppressed, the forgotten. I want and long to fight for them to be the one that runs in and saves the day at the last minute. Although, I will never be a soldier I do belong to the original freedom fighter. The one who came and saved the day for us all, Jesus. He came into this world to buy our freedom with His life. He bled, died, and rose again to free us from our sin and give us eternal life. Freedom reigns with Jesus.
Our freedom does not stop at salvation. Sure we are forgiven of past sin and now belong to the One and Only God of all creation but guess what? We still mess up and we still sin. We are human and we still fight against our flesh. Jesus is faithful and just and He forgives us when we confess and repent from our sins. However we do NOT have to be slaves to this life of sin.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed form sin. Romans 6:6-7 (NIV)
Jesus came and died to set the captives free! You and I are captives to our sin but we can be free. Freedom reigns with Jesus.
A slave or a captive is someone who is one dominated by some influence. (Webster's New World Dictionary) We can all be free from these chains of influence. We do not have to be dominated by them. We have everything we need to be freed from them. We just have to use it. Freedom can and will reign in our lives when we surrender to the power of the WORD. Jesus teaches us in John 8:31-32 that the truth will set us free but first we must hold to his teachings.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. Hebrews 4:12
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
God's word is alive and active and it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It can and will set us free if we hold to it with all that we have! Freedom reigns in our life when God's word reigns in our hearts. Scripture has the power to break every stronghold of
bitterness
envy
strife
grief
hatred
anger
unforgiveness
discontent
pride.
Whatever you struggle with God's word has the power to break the chains!
There is freedom in Jesus. We do not have to live in defeat. We do not have to live life in chains caused by sin and circumstance. We have power through scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit to demolish every stronghold. ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) We have power to walk in freedom and we must hold tight to the freedom we have in the truth. Jesus says "When the SON has set you free you are free indeed." John 8:36 Let us walk and live in that freedom. Freedom reigns in Jesus.
For me it is a daily struggle. Sometimes it is much easier to get up and put the chains back on because it is comfortable. Sure, I long to be free from them but the fear of not knowing what to do with them keeps me putting them back on. If I actually let go of them then what? If I let go of the unforgiveness that I have carried what will I do? If I let go of the anger then what? It is a daily, I will repeat myself, a daily fight. After all the struggling and fighting and finally surrender the victory is so sweet. The grace, mercy, peace and love that comes from Jesus is so sweet. It is always better than we can imagine. Jesus is worth every ounce of the fighting to rid myself of the chains. Freedom reigns in Jesus.
I fight for the truth daily. As a soldier who puts on his uniform and gets ready for war, I daily get up and put on my armor because I know that our struggle is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-18) I also pray for you daily, though I may not know you I truly long for you to be free in Jesus. I fight for you to know the sweet truth of Jesus that sets us all free. As a former slave myself who knows what it is like to wear chains of sin I tell you the truth that I have tasted of the Lord and he is so good! He is loving, faithful and true. He is kind and gentle and trustworthy. He is forgiving and just. He is so good. So I fight in the Spirit for your freedom daily. Fight today, wield your sword, choose to believe, call on the power of his name, surrender to the Holy Spirit and let freedom reign!
Freedom reigns in Jesus.
My love for this freedom fighting comes from feeling like the oppressed, the forgotten. I want and long to fight for them to be the one that runs in and saves the day at the last minute. Although, I will never be a soldier I do belong to the original freedom fighter. The one who came and saved the day for us all, Jesus. He came into this world to buy our freedom with His life. He bled, died, and rose again to free us from our sin and give us eternal life. Freedom reigns with Jesus.
Our freedom does not stop at salvation. Sure we are forgiven of past sin and now belong to the One and Only God of all creation but guess what? We still mess up and we still sin. We are human and we still fight against our flesh. Jesus is faithful and just and He forgives us when we confess and repent from our sins. However we do NOT have to be slaves to this life of sin.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed form sin. Romans 6:6-7 (NIV)
Jesus came and died to set the captives free! You and I are captives to our sin but we can be free. Freedom reigns with Jesus.
A slave or a captive is someone who is one dominated by some influence. (Webster's New World Dictionary) We can all be free from these chains of influence. We do not have to be dominated by them. We have everything we need to be freed from them. We just have to use it. Freedom can and will reign in our lives when we surrender to the power of the WORD. Jesus teaches us in John 8:31-32 that the truth will set us free but first we must hold to his teachings.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. Hebrews 4:12
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
God's word is alive and active and it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It can and will set us free if we hold to it with all that we have! Freedom reigns in our life when God's word reigns in our hearts. Scripture has the power to break every stronghold of
bitterness
envy
strife
grief
hatred
anger
unforgiveness
discontent
pride.
Whatever you struggle with God's word has the power to break the chains!
There is freedom in Jesus. We do not have to live in defeat. We do not have to live life in chains caused by sin and circumstance. We have power through scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit to demolish every stronghold. ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) We have power to walk in freedom and we must hold tight to the freedom we have in the truth. Jesus says "When the SON has set you free you are free indeed." John 8:36 Let us walk and live in that freedom. Freedom reigns in Jesus.
For me it is a daily struggle. Sometimes it is much easier to get up and put the chains back on because it is comfortable. Sure, I long to be free from them but the fear of not knowing what to do with them keeps me putting them back on. If I actually let go of them then what? If I let go of the unforgiveness that I have carried what will I do? If I let go of the anger then what? It is a daily, I will repeat myself, a daily fight. After all the struggling and fighting and finally surrender the victory is so sweet. The grace, mercy, peace and love that comes from Jesus is so sweet. It is always better than we can imagine. Jesus is worth every ounce of the fighting to rid myself of the chains. Freedom reigns in Jesus.
I fight for the truth daily. As a soldier who puts on his uniform and gets ready for war, I daily get up and put on my armor because I know that our struggle is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-18) I also pray for you daily, though I may not know you I truly long for you to be free in Jesus. I fight for you to know the sweet truth of Jesus that sets us all free. As a former slave myself who knows what it is like to wear chains of sin I tell you the truth that I have tasted of the Lord and he is so good! He is loving, faithful and true. He is kind and gentle and trustworthy. He is forgiving and just. He is so good. So I fight in the Spirit for your freedom daily. Fight today, wield your sword, choose to believe, call on the power of his name, surrender to the Holy Spirit and let freedom reign!
Freedom reigns in Jesus.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
All You Need
It is tax season. I know some people love this time of the year because it means a nice refund. However, I do not share the same excitement. I actually dislike this time of the year with a great passion. With Eric being a minister filing our taxes gets real tricky. So as we gathered all our necessary paperwork last week my frustration heightened. I could not find one paper! That one paper created a mess on my closet floor as I dug and tossed out paper after paper. Finally the paper I needed and a mountain of papers I did not. Out of frustration I decided I was going to burn those useless pieces of paper. After all I was burning up they should be too. I went outside and tossed them in the fire pit. John grew very excited because,for some reason I can not understand,little boys sure do like to play with fire. He begged to be the one to set those papers ablaze. I reluctantly let him since I was really ready to take out my frustrations on those papers. John lit the papers and at first they burned fast and hot. Then after a little while they died down and burned steady. After awhile I thought the fire was out but I poked around and moved some papers and WHAM! The fire took off. In a moment I was not only hit in the face with large puffs of smoke but a whiff of truth as well. We all as Christians have all we need to live a life blazing for Christ.
Those of us who have read the Bible at all or who have attended to church know that we are more than conquerors in Christ. (Romans 8:37) We know we can do all things in Christ who gives us strength. (Phillipians 4:13) Yet, it seems, that many of us do not actually live that way. We start off our Christian walk just like my fire, hot and burning up for Jesus then we allow life to get in the way and our fire slowly but surely becomes so small that it barely burns at all. Life comes at us hard and fast and we curl up in the corner and live defeated. We have all we need to live a life on fire for Christ every minute of every day. No matter what the circumstance, no matter what the situation our fire in our soul should not have to die down.
We have a promise given to us from Jesus himself. "But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13 The Holy Spirit WILL guide us in ALL TRUTH. He will guide us and will speak to us. Jesus did not say maybe he will. He did not say if the Spirit feels like it. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide us and speak to us. We have all we need to live this life on fire for Christ.
The Holy Spirit lives in us who believe. God gives us the Spirit with out limit. (John 3:34) We have all we need right there living in us. We can call on him day and night. He doesn't sleep, doesn't take a lunch break. The Spirit is always there with us. He goes with us in all situations. He walks with us in all circumstances. We have all we need to live in victory not defeat.
How? Right? How do we live this life when it is more than we can bear? How do we have power when its unfair? How do we have victory when all we feel is rejection? How do we have patience when we are tired of waiting? How do we have peace when everything is all over the place? How do we be bold when we are scared to death?
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) Pray and ask God to give you wisdom and he will give it to you without finding fault. (James 1:5) Don't be anxious but instead pray and give thanks. (Philippians 4:6) Tell God what worries you because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up/ (James 4:10) Seek God first in all you do and all things will be given to you. (Matthew 6:33) All you need is found in him and him alone and God has given you the Holy Spirit to speak to you all truth so you can live!
The papers in my fire pit were smothering the small fire. When I moved them around the fire was allowed to breath and that small fire took hold of those papers and caught fire and burned. If we would rearrange the things in our life and allow the Holy Spirit room to move in our life we would burn bright. If we allowed to Holy Spirit room he would be in every part of our life and we would hear him when He speaks the truth of God's word in our heart.
We can truly have victory in all things because the Spirit of truth resides in us. We have all we need we just have to use it and allow it room to move. Jesus gave his life and defeated death so we could live. God sent us the Holy Spirit so we could live in truth not defeat. We have all we need to burn brighter than the sun.
Would you be willing to ask God to show you what and if there are things in your life that need to be moved around? Would you be willing to ask God if you are truly listening for his voice in all your situations? Would you be willing to pray like King David Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
God loves you deeply and longs for you to live in victory not defeat. You have all you need.
Those of us who have read the Bible at all or who have attended to church know that we are more than conquerors in Christ. (Romans 8:37) We know we can do all things in Christ who gives us strength. (Phillipians 4:13) Yet, it seems, that many of us do not actually live that way. We start off our Christian walk just like my fire, hot and burning up for Jesus then we allow life to get in the way and our fire slowly but surely becomes so small that it barely burns at all. Life comes at us hard and fast and we curl up in the corner and live defeated. We have all we need to live a life on fire for Christ every minute of every day. No matter what the circumstance, no matter what the situation our fire in our soul should not have to die down.
We have a promise given to us from Jesus himself. "But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13 The Holy Spirit WILL guide us in ALL TRUTH. He will guide us and will speak to us. Jesus did not say maybe he will. He did not say if the Spirit feels like it. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide us and speak to us. We have all we need to live this life on fire for Christ.
The Holy Spirit lives in us who believe. God gives us the Spirit with out limit. (John 3:34) We have all we need right there living in us. We can call on him day and night. He doesn't sleep, doesn't take a lunch break. The Spirit is always there with us. He goes with us in all situations. He walks with us in all circumstances. We have all we need to live in victory not defeat.
How? Right? How do we live this life when it is more than we can bear? How do we have power when its unfair? How do we have victory when all we feel is rejection? How do we have patience when we are tired of waiting? How do we have peace when everything is all over the place? How do we be bold when we are scared to death?
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) Pray and ask God to give you wisdom and he will give it to you without finding fault. (James 1:5) Don't be anxious but instead pray and give thanks. (Philippians 4:6) Tell God what worries you because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up/ (James 4:10) Seek God first in all you do and all things will be given to you. (Matthew 6:33) All you need is found in him and him alone and God has given you the Holy Spirit to speak to you all truth so you can live!
The papers in my fire pit were smothering the small fire. When I moved them around the fire was allowed to breath and that small fire took hold of those papers and caught fire and burned. If we would rearrange the things in our life and allow the Holy Spirit room to move in our life we would burn bright. If we allowed to Holy Spirit room he would be in every part of our life and we would hear him when He speaks the truth of God's word in our heart.
We can truly have victory in all things because the Spirit of truth resides in us. We have all we need we just have to use it and allow it room to move. Jesus gave his life and defeated death so we could live. God sent us the Holy Spirit so we could live in truth not defeat. We have all we need to burn brighter than the sun.
Would you be willing to ask God to show you what and if there are things in your life that need to be moved around? Would you be willing to ask God if you are truly listening for his voice in all your situations? Would you be willing to pray like King David Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
God loves you deeply and longs for you to live in victory not defeat. You have all you need.
Friday, January 23, 2015
No Need to Perform
WE live in a performance driven world. It seems if we perform more it will make us more of a somebody. It seems we are driven by parents, coworkers, friends, and media to do more. If you make better grades you can get into the right school. If you get into the right school you get the right job. If you date the right person you will have the perfect marriage. If you parent by the book ( I might need that book) then you will have the perfect kids. We drive ourselves crazy and make ourselves exhausted performing to reach something that let's just face it isn't real.
I believe it is a horrible lie satan has fed us that in order to be somebody we must kill ourselves trying to be someone else. We look and compare our lives to others on TV, at work, other families and we think that is how our lives should look. We believe we must do more to be loved and accepted by others. It is as if we are anything but ourselves then we are something. If we let people see the "real" us then we might not be accepted. So we do more, try harder. I am in no way saying we shouldn't work hard at things, in fact, we should do all things as if unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:17) We just shouldn't perform for others to be accepted.
I believe sometimes we take this same mentality into our spiritual life. We try to perform and please for acceptance and love from Jesus. I know I have. I would try and try to just do more. Join anther team, take on another project, get more girls involved in Bible Study, teach more, write better, do everything. It was as if I did more than I could take all those things to Jesus and say "see all these things I am carrying and doing now will you love me. Am I worth your acceptance now?" Yes, me a girl who has been in love with Jesus for 12 years now was trying to gain love by working. I don't believe it started out that way. It started off as service out of my deep love for him and then slowly I started to believe the lie that I had to perform.
As I was sitting in my chair one morning talking with Jesus I just started crying. I said "Lord I am so exhausted from doing all these things for you.' He sweetly whispered back " I never asked you to do all those things. Some I did, but not all of it." I argued, yes argued " If I am to be worth you dying for, and if I am to pay you back for paying my debt then I have to work for you." He whispered, "All I want is you. All I ever wanted was you." Right then and there I felt all the chains around my heart and hands fall. I felt freedom. Freedom that comes when you hear the truth and it sets you free from every lie. Jesus says, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
The truth of it is all Jesus wants is us. There is no need to perform. He wants us to come to Him and give Him our heart. He did not die on the cross for us to make ourselves exhausted doing "churchy" things. He didn't die for you to become exhausted working for acceptance. He didn't die asking us to work oursleves into the ground trying to earn salvation and acceptance. In fact he died wanting just us.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.(NIV)
He loved you before you were even trying to gain acceptance. Jesus loved you when everything you were doing was against him. What kind of love is that? Pure, true love. Love that even in our ugliest, darkest, nastiest self Jesus died for us. He did not carry that cross and die on it because we were doing something good. Jesus was beaten, mocked, nailed to a cross and crucified for our sin. Our dark and ugly self. That is how much he loves us. He accepted us long before we chose to accept Him, There is no need to perform. We were saved by grace.
Grace, is what saves us, not our deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
Our life in Jesus is our gift from God He showed us grace, favor we do not deserve because He loves us and wants to know us. We can not receive gifts with our hands balled up into fists. We have to open our hands and accept and receive it. We often perform with our hands balled into fist and wonder were God is in our works. We know in our heart he has saved us and we didn't earn it but our actions do not show that. We work without accepting the love. If we would dare to open up our hands, lift them up to the Jesus in anticipation of receiving those promises I wonder what our works would look like then? I am 100% convinced if we lived our life with our hands open we would shake this country to the core and revival would brake lose. I believe if we lifted up open hands and lived in the acceptance of Christ love for us the Holy Spirit would move in power. We our saved by grace, no need to perform.
I know what you may be thinking. So you are saying we are to be saved and then do nothing? Nope, not at all. The Bible says in Ephesians 2: 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
God has a plan for your life. He has set you apart to do good works. Frist before you can even begin to do those good works you have to accept His love and forgiveness. You need to realize He loves you and wants good for you. Then those good works you do will not be out of a need to perform. You will no longer feel like you have to do something good enough to earn salvation or pay Him back for what He did for you. You will do good works because the love you have for Christ will pore out of your life. It will never be an obligation but a privileged to serve the One and Only Jesus. Jesus' love will pour into your life and out as you work for Him.
If you are up for it I dare you to go somewhere and be still with God. Lay bare your heart to Him. Ask God to show you through the Holy Spirit if your works are performed out of His love for you or if you are trying to gain acceptance. Ask God to renew the joy of your salvation. Go to Him with all your heartache, worry, sadness, pain, joy and happiness. Sit still and let the maker of the Universe wrap his arms around you and just receive His love. Give Him your heart I promise He will give His back to you. He is faithful and true and loves you beyond measure. Nothing can keep you from His love.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Come just as you are to Jesus, open your heart and your hands to receive His love. He loves you just the way you are. There is no need to perform.
I promise if Jesus can take a sinful, messed up, broken girl like me and make her beautiful He will do it for you. He just wants you. Just run to Him I DARE YOU!
P.S. If you can listen to David Crowder's "Come as you are". Google it, youtube, whatever it amazing.
I believe it is a horrible lie satan has fed us that in order to be somebody we must kill ourselves trying to be someone else. We look and compare our lives to others on TV, at work, other families and we think that is how our lives should look. We believe we must do more to be loved and accepted by others. It is as if we are anything but ourselves then we are something. If we let people see the "real" us then we might not be accepted. So we do more, try harder. I am in no way saying we shouldn't work hard at things, in fact, we should do all things as if unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:17) We just shouldn't perform for others to be accepted.
I believe sometimes we take this same mentality into our spiritual life. We try to perform and please for acceptance and love from Jesus. I know I have. I would try and try to just do more. Join anther team, take on another project, get more girls involved in Bible Study, teach more, write better, do everything. It was as if I did more than I could take all those things to Jesus and say "see all these things I am carrying and doing now will you love me. Am I worth your acceptance now?" Yes, me a girl who has been in love with Jesus for 12 years now was trying to gain love by working. I don't believe it started out that way. It started off as service out of my deep love for him and then slowly I started to believe the lie that I had to perform.
As I was sitting in my chair one morning talking with Jesus I just started crying. I said "Lord I am so exhausted from doing all these things for you.' He sweetly whispered back " I never asked you to do all those things. Some I did, but not all of it." I argued, yes argued " If I am to be worth you dying for, and if I am to pay you back for paying my debt then I have to work for you." He whispered, "All I want is you. All I ever wanted was you." Right then and there I felt all the chains around my heart and hands fall. I felt freedom. Freedom that comes when you hear the truth and it sets you free from every lie. Jesus says, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
The truth of it is all Jesus wants is us. There is no need to perform. He wants us to come to Him and give Him our heart. He did not die on the cross for us to make ourselves exhausted doing "churchy" things. He didn't die for you to become exhausted working for acceptance. He didn't die asking us to work oursleves into the ground trying to earn salvation and acceptance. In fact he died wanting just us.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.(NIV)
He loved you before you were even trying to gain acceptance. Jesus loved you when everything you were doing was against him. What kind of love is that? Pure, true love. Love that even in our ugliest, darkest, nastiest self Jesus died for us. He did not carry that cross and die on it because we were doing something good. Jesus was beaten, mocked, nailed to a cross and crucified for our sin. Our dark and ugly self. That is how much he loves us. He accepted us long before we chose to accept Him, There is no need to perform. We were saved by grace.
Grace, is what saves us, not our deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
Our life in Jesus is our gift from God He showed us grace, favor we do not deserve because He loves us and wants to know us. We can not receive gifts with our hands balled up into fists. We have to open our hands and accept and receive it. We often perform with our hands balled into fist and wonder were God is in our works. We know in our heart he has saved us and we didn't earn it but our actions do not show that. We work without accepting the love. If we would dare to open up our hands, lift them up to the Jesus in anticipation of receiving those promises I wonder what our works would look like then? I am 100% convinced if we lived our life with our hands open we would shake this country to the core and revival would brake lose. I believe if we lifted up open hands and lived in the acceptance of Christ love for us the Holy Spirit would move in power. We our saved by grace, no need to perform.
I know what you may be thinking. So you are saying we are to be saved and then do nothing? Nope, not at all. The Bible says in Ephesians 2: 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
God has a plan for your life. He has set you apart to do good works. Frist before you can even begin to do those good works you have to accept His love and forgiveness. You need to realize He loves you and wants good for you. Then those good works you do will not be out of a need to perform. You will no longer feel like you have to do something good enough to earn salvation or pay Him back for what He did for you. You will do good works because the love you have for Christ will pore out of your life. It will never be an obligation but a privileged to serve the One and Only Jesus. Jesus' love will pour into your life and out as you work for Him.
If you are up for it I dare you to go somewhere and be still with God. Lay bare your heart to Him. Ask God to show you through the Holy Spirit if your works are performed out of His love for you or if you are trying to gain acceptance. Ask God to renew the joy of your salvation. Go to Him with all your heartache, worry, sadness, pain, joy and happiness. Sit still and let the maker of the Universe wrap his arms around you and just receive His love. Give Him your heart I promise He will give His back to you. He is faithful and true and loves you beyond measure. Nothing can keep you from His love.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Come just as you are to Jesus, open your heart and your hands to receive His love. He loves you just the way you are. There is no need to perform.
I promise if Jesus can take a sinful, messed up, broken girl like me and make her beautiful He will do it for you. He just wants you. Just run to Him I DARE YOU!
P.S. If you can listen to David Crowder's "Come as you are". Google it, youtube, whatever it amazing.
Friday, January 16, 2015
He Sees
It's been a long week. You have worked over time and a half it seems. The report your boss asked you to do seemed completely impossible. However, you were up for the challenge and threw everything you had into it. Tons of out of the box thinking went into the report, as well as a lot of coffee to keep you up while working on it. The time comes to turn in the project and you are as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve. As you turn in the report to your boss you stare intently at his face looking for the same excitement that is obvious on yours. Yet, all he does is grab the report from you and toss it into his inbox. Your face sags a little as your disappointment rises. Does he not know how much work went into that report? He didn't even look up from his computer screen. It was as if you were invisible.
Has that ever happened to you? That feeling of being invisible?
Maybe you worked on a paper for school and put everything you had plus some into it. You turned it in believing with all your heart that it was the best paper the school has ever read. You eagerly await your grade only to find out you received a C! Average! How could that paper be average? How could the teacher not see that it was anything but average? Invisible?
What about in your everyday life? Ever feel invisible there? You do all the extra steps. Get up a little early to make the coffee before your spouse is awake so its ready when they wake up. You make what seems like 80 lunches, and not one of them is even for you. You cook, pick up the kids, and all the chores and do it all without complaining. Not one thank you. It's just become expected. You say the same things over and over and no one remembers it. Invisible?
I have felt invisible. Truth be told I feel that way to often. Satan likes to put me in that place. I think he likes to whisper in my ear I am invisible because of the way it makes me feel. I feel rejected, all alone, unworthy of peoples time and of little importance to them. Then when I feel this way I tend to act out. Yes, act out like a little child. After all any attention is better than none, right? Wrong. I act out and get tons of negative attention and feel even more worthless. It is such a lie that satan feeds us. You are not invisible, God sees you.
God sees you. He sees me. Psalm 169:15-16 states clearly He has known you before you even were. He knit you together in your mothers womb. He saw you before anyone else. He numbered your days and planned them out. He saw you then and He sees you now. The prophet Job tells us that he sees us and counts our every step. (Job 31:4) He sees you and is so in love with you.
Though you may feel rejected by man, God never rejects you. Never. He is pleased to make you his own. For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 1 Samuel 12:22. Pleased, yes pleased to make you his own. Let that sink in a moment. The King of all, the LORD God Almighty, is pleased to make you his own. You are not invisible to him. He does not reject you. He sees you and is pleased to make you his own. That makes me so excited. Excited to know I am so deeply cherished and loved that it pleases God to make me his own. Excited to know that no matter how much I mess up, and oh boy do I, he still will not reject me and he is pleased to make me his own.
He thinks you are so worthy. He so loves you. You are worth every thorn, every beating, all the mocking, all the spit in his face. He loves you enough to take all your sin, and pay your debt so you can be right with God. He loves you so much he died for you. You are loved by God. He sees you. You are valuable to him. He calls you his child. (1 John 3:1) You are a child of the King and he sees you. You are not invisible.
It doesn't matter what you have done or what you feel. He sees you. He knows you. He watches over you. He loves you. He loves you just the way you are. He accepts you and longs for you to accept his love and receive life. Life that is never ending in Him! Life that will be filled with trouble, but filled with peace, joy, love and more life than you can imagine. You are loved, accepted and seen by God. He sees you.
In those times you feel invisible remember he sees you. When satan takes those moments and whispers in your ear that you are rejected and worthless remember God sees you. Wield your sword, call on the power of Jesus' name, and remember God sees you. You are visible. You are worthy. You are loved. You are the child of the King. God sees you.
O Lord you have searched me and you know me,
You know when I sit and you know when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O LORD
You hem me in - behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is to wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from you Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
If I settle on the far side of the sea
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:1-10
Has that ever happened to you? That feeling of being invisible?
Maybe you worked on a paper for school and put everything you had plus some into it. You turned it in believing with all your heart that it was the best paper the school has ever read. You eagerly await your grade only to find out you received a C! Average! How could that paper be average? How could the teacher not see that it was anything but average? Invisible?
What about in your everyday life? Ever feel invisible there? You do all the extra steps. Get up a little early to make the coffee before your spouse is awake so its ready when they wake up. You make what seems like 80 lunches, and not one of them is even for you. You cook, pick up the kids, and all the chores and do it all without complaining. Not one thank you. It's just become expected. You say the same things over and over and no one remembers it. Invisible?
I have felt invisible. Truth be told I feel that way to often. Satan likes to put me in that place. I think he likes to whisper in my ear I am invisible because of the way it makes me feel. I feel rejected, all alone, unworthy of peoples time and of little importance to them. Then when I feel this way I tend to act out. Yes, act out like a little child. After all any attention is better than none, right? Wrong. I act out and get tons of negative attention and feel even more worthless. It is such a lie that satan feeds us. You are not invisible, God sees you.
God sees you. He sees me. Psalm 169:15-16 states clearly He has known you before you even were. He knit you together in your mothers womb. He saw you before anyone else. He numbered your days and planned them out. He saw you then and He sees you now. The prophet Job tells us that he sees us and counts our every step. (Job 31:4) He sees you and is so in love with you.
Though you may feel rejected by man, God never rejects you. Never. He is pleased to make you his own. For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 1 Samuel 12:22. Pleased, yes pleased to make you his own. Let that sink in a moment. The King of all, the LORD God Almighty, is pleased to make you his own. You are not invisible to him. He does not reject you. He sees you and is pleased to make you his own. That makes me so excited. Excited to know I am so deeply cherished and loved that it pleases God to make me his own. Excited to know that no matter how much I mess up, and oh boy do I, he still will not reject me and he is pleased to make me his own.
He thinks you are so worthy. He so loves you. You are worth every thorn, every beating, all the mocking, all the spit in his face. He loves you enough to take all your sin, and pay your debt so you can be right with God. He loves you so much he died for you. You are loved by God. He sees you. You are valuable to him. He calls you his child. (1 John 3:1) You are a child of the King and he sees you. You are not invisible.
It doesn't matter what you have done or what you feel. He sees you. He knows you. He watches over you. He loves you. He loves you just the way you are. He accepts you and longs for you to accept his love and receive life. Life that is never ending in Him! Life that will be filled with trouble, but filled with peace, joy, love and more life than you can imagine. You are loved, accepted and seen by God. He sees you.
In those times you feel invisible remember he sees you. When satan takes those moments and whispers in your ear that you are rejected and worthless remember God sees you. Wield your sword, call on the power of Jesus' name, and remember God sees you. You are visible. You are worthy. You are loved. You are the child of the King. God sees you.
O Lord you have searched me and you know me,
You know when I sit and you know when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O LORD
You hem me in - behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is to wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from you Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
If I settle on the far side of the sea
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:1-10
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
CHOOSE TO BELIEVE
I received a present today. Not shocking after all it is Christmas. I reached in the bag and pulled out a large item and tore the tissue paper it was wrapped in. I got a peek of what was inside and my heart leaped and swelled with affection. You may think such a heart warming gift was from my husband or children, but it wasn't. It was from a sweet young lady who has become connected to my heart. I have had the unique opportunity of mentoring four teenage girls for over two years now. Each one has become special and dear to me. This gift from one was a beautiful picture frame with four pictures in it. In those pictures were all five of us. Sweet tears ran down my cheeks as I remembered each picture. I knew where each one was taken, the occasion and the unique place in life each girl was in. It was as if I was staring at my very heart and it was smiling back at me. I had given those precious girls my heart long ago and over time each one has given me theirs.
Then my heart turned from gladness to heartache. My tears became ugly instead of sweet. Eric is no longer the Student Minister and it is no secret that this change in our life has been hard on me. I know longer see those precious girls three to four times a week. They are very much still a part of my life. It is just different and change is hard. I know God is in this change in our life one hundred percent. However, I looked at that picture frame then lifted my face and asked God "but isn't this a good thing?" I headr him whisper sweetly, "Yes, but I have so much more for you to do." So even though one door is closing and I am waiting for the other to open I choose to believe. I have a choice to believe God or allow my emotions to rule me. I have a choice to question God or believe God.
Do I believe God is in control? Of course but it is not always easy when life comes at you from all directions.
Do I believe God loves me? With out a doubt. However when change leaves me feeling lonely and confused it is difficult.
We have to choose to believe. Look at Joseph his life was going the way every good Jewish boys life should go. He was pledged to be married, had a job so he could support his new wife and soon to be children and then life threw him a curve ball. Mary was already with child. This is not what he had planned and he was going to divorce her quietly. Then an angel appeared to Joseph and reassured him that the baby was from the Lord. The angel told him not to be afraid and take Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:18-21) Joseph chose to believe and my all the blessings that came from that choice of belief. I am sure you can argue who wouldn't believe if and angel came and told you what to do. I would say we have the Bible, God's words to us and we still choose not to believe them everyday.
Mary chose to believe. Joseph chose to believe. This Christmas as I celebrate the birth of my Savior I chose to believe.
I will choose to believe; Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
I will choose to believe; He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
I will choose to believe; God is always faithful.
I will choose to believe; He works all things out for good. (Romans 8:28)
Will you choose to believe? Choose to believe that Jesus was born not only to save us from our sins but to set us free from anything that entangles us. (John 8:32)
This Christmas let us choose to believe and not be afraid.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11
We do not need to be afraid to believe because the good news of Jesus Christ has come. He has come to ALL people and brings us great joy. No matter what is happening in our life we have great joy in Jesus if we just choose to believe.
I received a present today. Not shocking after all it is Christmas. I reached in the bag and pulled out a large item and tore the tissue paper it was wrapped in. I got a peek of what was inside and my heart leaped and swelled with affection. You may think such a heart warming gift was from my husband or children, but it wasn't. It was from a sweet young lady who has become connected to my heart. I have had the unique opportunity of mentoring four teenage girls for over two years now. Each one has become special and dear to me. This gift from one was a beautiful picture frame with four pictures in it. In those pictures were all five of us. Sweet tears ran down my cheeks as I remembered each picture. I knew where each one was taken, the occasion and the unique place in life each girl was in. It was as if I was staring at my very heart and it was smiling back at me. I had given those precious girls my heart long ago and over time each one has given me theirs.
Then my heart turned from gladness to heartache. My tears became ugly instead of sweet. Eric is no longer the Student Minister and it is no secret that this change in our life has been hard on me. I know longer see those precious girls three to four times a week. They are very much still a part of my life. It is just different and change is hard. I know God is in this change in our life one hundred percent. However, I looked at that picture frame then lifted my face and asked God "but isn't this a good thing?" I headr him whisper sweetly, "Yes, but I have so much more for you to do." So even though one door is closing and I am waiting for the other to open I choose to believe. I have a choice to believe God or allow my emotions to rule me. I have a choice to question God or believe God.
Do I believe God is in control? Of course but it is not always easy when life comes at you from all directions.
Do I believe God loves me? With out a doubt. However when change leaves me feeling lonely and confused it is difficult.
We have to choose to believe. Look at Joseph his life was going the way every good Jewish boys life should go. He was pledged to be married, had a job so he could support his new wife and soon to be children and then life threw him a curve ball. Mary was already with child. This is not what he had planned and he was going to divorce her quietly. Then an angel appeared to Joseph and reassured him that the baby was from the Lord. The angel told him not to be afraid and take Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:18-21) Joseph chose to believe and my all the blessings that came from that choice of belief. I am sure you can argue who wouldn't believe if and angel came and told you what to do. I would say we have the Bible, God's words to us and we still choose not to believe them everyday.
Mary chose to believe. Joseph chose to believe. This Christmas as I celebrate the birth of my Savior I chose to believe.
I will choose to believe; Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
I will choose to believe; He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
I will choose to believe; God is always faithful.
I will choose to believe; He works all things out for good. (Romans 8:28)
Will you choose to believe? Choose to believe that Jesus was born not only to save us from our sins but to set us free from anything that entangles us. (John 8:32)
This Christmas let us choose to believe and not be afraid.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11
We do not need to be afraid to believe because the good news of Jesus Christ has come. He has come to ALL people and brings us great joy. No matter what is happening in our life we have great joy in Jesus if we just choose to believe.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
A Sword to Wield
I love a good story. I love that I can get all wrapped up in a story and actually be there. I often travel to different places and go on many adventures. I don't mind that they are often in my imagination. My favorite stories are those filled with fantasy, and epic good verse evil plots. Nothing girly for me give this girl a good battle scene any day! I have passed this wonderful trait of mine down to all three of my children and I love it.
We have this series we are watching on Netflix, it actually a British TV series called Merlin. It tells of the adventures of young Merlin and the soon to be King Arthur. It is a great story filled with the truest friendship, sword fighting and a dragon. One night the kids and I settled in on the sofa and got ready to escape to Camelot and see how Merlin and Arthur were going to get themselves out of their newest predicament. We watched anxiously as Camelot fell and Merlin barely escaped dragging Arthur with him. Arthur was completely defeated in spirit, he lost all hope. Merlin reminded him he was a great king and need only to believe in himself. Arthur just couldn't because good kings don't lose their kingdoms. So Merlin took him to the sword. Yes the sword; Excalibur. The sword was still in the stone and Merlin told Arthur only the true King of Camelot could remove the sword. Arthur took hold of the sword and tried to remove it, but nothing happened. Merlin reminded Arthur all he had to do was believe. Arthur closed his eyes, took a deep breath and freed the sword from the stone. Arthur was free as well, free from doubt and fear because he believed!
As my sweet children clapped and cheered, they really get into things like their momma, I cheered as well. I cheered not for Arthur but because we have an Excalibur, a sword of the Spirit (Bible). As Christians we have a sword to wield. Excalibur was no ordinary sword it was forged from the very breath of a magical dragon and nothing could defeat it. We have a much better sword that has the same promise of victory as well.
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrew 4:12
If we want to fly with Jesus and battle our insecurities, doubts, fears, and all the stuff in life we must wield our sword. Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. The very breath of God is on it. The same breath that spoke this world into existence is at your hands to wield. Wield your sword. It is active and alive and God gave it to you so that you may be equipped . He knows, He knew you would face things in life and that your enemy was coming to get you (1 Peter 5:8) so he gave you a sword to wield.
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Just as Arthur had to believe and trust all you have to do is believe and pull that sword from the stone and fight. God has such good things for you and to often we let life happen and we leave our sword (Bible) in that stone (table, book shelf) and wonder why nothing changes. God does not want you to feel defeated and hopeless. He longs for you to put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and live victoriously. Wield your sword when life gets tough.
How? How do you wield your sword. Pull it out of that stone, believe it and speak it. Speak his words over every situation.
When you feel alone speak his word. I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
When life beats you up speak his word. In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
When you feel like you just can't do it anymore speak his word. I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Believe in him and wield your sword. I promise if you truly believe you will feel Jesus by your side every step of that battle. You can be like the Psalmist who cries out I call on the LORD in my distress and he answers me. Psalm 120:1. He knows, he loves you. He gave up everything for you so that you may have access to him. He didn't just stop loving you that day he gave his life for you on the cross he gave you everything you need to live this life victoriously. Wield your sword, it will do nothing for you if you leave it in the stone.
We have this series we are watching on Netflix, it actually a British TV series called Merlin. It tells of the adventures of young Merlin and the soon to be King Arthur. It is a great story filled with the truest friendship, sword fighting and a dragon. One night the kids and I settled in on the sofa and got ready to escape to Camelot and see how Merlin and Arthur were going to get themselves out of their newest predicament. We watched anxiously as Camelot fell and Merlin barely escaped dragging Arthur with him. Arthur was completely defeated in spirit, he lost all hope. Merlin reminded him he was a great king and need only to believe in himself. Arthur just couldn't because good kings don't lose their kingdoms. So Merlin took him to the sword. Yes the sword; Excalibur. The sword was still in the stone and Merlin told Arthur only the true King of Camelot could remove the sword. Arthur took hold of the sword and tried to remove it, but nothing happened. Merlin reminded Arthur all he had to do was believe. Arthur closed his eyes, took a deep breath and freed the sword from the stone. Arthur was free as well, free from doubt and fear because he believed!
As my sweet children clapped and cheered, they really get into things like their momma, I cheered as well. I cheered not for Arthur but because we have an Excalibur, a sword of the Spirit (Bible). As Christians we have a sword to wield. Excalibur was no ordinary sword it was forged from the very breath of a magical dragon and nothing could defeat it. We have a much better sword that has the same promise of victory as well.
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrew 4:12
If we want to fly with Jesus and battle our insecurities, doubts, fears, and all the stuff in life we must wield our sword. Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. The very breath of God is on it. The same breath that spoke this world into existence is at your hands to wield. Wield your sword. It is active and alive and God gave it to you so that you may be equipped . He knows, He knew you would face things in life and that your enemy was coming to get you (1 Peter 5:8) so he gave you a sword to wield.
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Just as Arthur had to believe and trust all you have to do is believe and pull that sword from the stone and fight. God has such good things for you and to often we let life happen and we leave our sword (Bible) in that stone (table, book shelf) and wonder why nothing changes. God does not want you to feel defeated and hopeless. He longs for you to put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and live victoriously. Wield your sword when life gets tough.
How? How do you wield your sword. Pull it out of that stone, believe it and speak it. Speak his words over every situation.
When you feel alone speak his word. I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
When life beats you up speak his word. In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
When you feel like you just can't do it anymore speak his word. I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Believe in him and wield your sword. I promise if you truly believe you will feel Jesus by your side every step of that battle. You can be like the Psalmist who cries out I call on the LORD in my distress and he answers me. Psalm 120:1. He knows, he loves you. He gave up everything for you so that you may have access to him. He didn't just stop loving you that day he gave his life for you on the cross he gave you everything you need to live this life victoriously. Wield your sword, it will do nothing for you if you leave it in the stone.
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