Hello Beautiful People!
"God, I know you are with me, but I cannot feel you because I'm drowning in sorrow and disappointment."
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV
1. He said it, so we can absolutely believe it!
They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. Psalm 18:18 NIV
When traumatic events hurl us into darkness, we often question God's presence. We become vulnerable to the enemy who uses our trauma to spur emotions that make us feel like life is out of control and in utter chaos. His goal - to encourage cessation in our communication with God, so we'll become victims of our circumstances and settle into life as a pit-dweller.
Fixing our hope in the Lord is the best thing we can do when we feel beaten down by life. There is nothing He cannot redeem, in time, with His tenderness. Though He may not answer our "why?" He will ALWAYS answer us.
Seek peace by meditating on His Word, especially when your mind and heart begin to fill with negative emotions. I promise He will teach you great and unsearchable things you could not learn any other way. (Jer 33:3) When we stay connected to Him, through His Word, God will lead us out of our hard times - in time - in victory!
What does it mean to be a person of faith? Maybe you'd say it means you believe in Jesus and have accepted Him as your personal Savior. While that's true for all who claim to be Christians, knowing and doing are two separate things.
๐๐ปBiblical faith is the trustful human response to God's self-revelation via His words and His actions. (Source: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
Using the Biblical definition above, would you still say you're a person of faith? No judgment here, my friend; I'm having to get real with myself before answering this question too.
๐๐ปKnowing how to respond to life's challenges in a godly way requires that we know God through personal experience.
๐๐ปWe also need to know and be obedient to His directions for life as revealed in His written and revealed Word.
Jesus explains it this way; If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:17 ESV)
Jesus says He reserves His blessing not merely for those who KNOW His will but for those who DO it as well.
๐๐ปGenuine faith always moves us to obedience, godly action backed by the confidence that whatever God leads us to do will be used powerfully for His glory, even if we can't yet see how. (Phil. 1:6)
We all long for security, but we rarely seek the right source first. I used to think excelling in my career, and the financial success that comes with it would guarantee my future stability. How wrong I was; I wore myself out trying to outdo my performance and stay ahead of my colleagues. Even when I succeeded in my efforts, I felt no peace or lasting contentment. It wasn't until everything I'd relied on crumbled that I realized Jesus was the only one still standing by my side, just like the Scriptures promise:
๐๐ปNo one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. John 10:28b-29 NLT
๐๐ปI cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:8 NLT
Oh, how thankful we can be that we are not secure because we hold tightly to Jesus, but because He holds tightly to us!
I'm a rule-follower through and through, so having clearly defined boundaries is something I desperately crave. Sanguine personalities naturally want to please people; however, there's a big fat lie behind my need to please. If you struggle with perfectionism, you might believe the same lie too.
Our desire to do things right isn't wrong; it's the motivation driving the desire that's the problem. Perfectionist tendencies are most often rooted in early childhood experiences and parents with excessive standards, whether spoken or unspoken. We see the difference in our parents' demeanor when we do something well or make mistakes. Avoiding failure and judgment becomes our focus. In our minds, unconditional love does not exist because others' affection and approval depend on a flawless performance.
Breaking an unhealthy cycle that's patterned our way of living for decades requires strength beyond what we possess. We need a daily dose of God's Word to wash our minds clean and give us a correct understanding of who we are: flawed and sinful people who are perfectly loved and redeemed by God.
Too often, when we don't have to depend on God for everything, we think we don't have to depend on God for anything.
I used to think I wanted to live an easy life, free of unexpected circumstances and disappointments. But when I reflect on the barren seasons, I'd never have survived without Jesus; I crave the deeper intimacy that overshadowed my sorrow and revitalized my somber soul.
After many prayers to replicate this feeling - minus the pain that usually accompanies it, I've come to realize it's impossible. Utter dependence is the missing magical ingredient to true intimacy.
Father, thank You that when we feel weak and lonely, it doesn't make it true; You are never nearer than when our lives are void of all but You. So given a chance to choose, I'd rather be needy, always needing You!
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." Luke 5:5 ESV
In reading passages from the Gospels, it's easy to assume Jesus' disciples were great men of faith from the first moment they met Christ. But they had to grow in their faith and personal experience of Jesus, just like we do.
Peter and Andrew spent time with Jesus before their miraculous encounter on the Sea of Galilee. (John 1:35-51) Scholars also suggest James and John did, too; at the very least, they knew Jesus' reputation from John the Baptist's teachings. Careful consideration of the Scriptures reveals all the disciples invested time with Jesus before responding to His call. In Mark 1:19, the original language hints at the preparatory work of God.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Mark 1:19 NIV
The apostle Paul uses the same Greek word translated preparing in Galatians 6:1 for humbly helping a fallen believer get back on the right path. When used literally or figuratively, katartizล means to repair and restore the broken, how wonderful since we're all in need of restoration sometimes. But here's the part I like best, and I bet you will too --
๐๐ปwhen applied to moral principles, katartizล means to strengthen, perfectly complete, to MAKE ONE WHAT SHE OUGHT TO BE! (emphasis mine)
Friends, God knows the steps we must take before we can give Him our Yes. His process includes preparation, restoration, and completion. God initiates, but we must respond to the yearning He places in our hearts by seeking to know and experience Him, not merely know about Him. Head knowledge is useless in the kingdom world; God wants followers, not fans. Which one are you?
"I know You said You have good plans ahead for me, but I don't want to move on; I'd rather stay comfortable in my misery." said no one - EVER. ๐๐ปYet, when we become permanent residents of our past, that's exactly what our actions say to God.
2. God not only promises to use everything for our good
But He can also work through us to help others in similar circumstances. (Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:4) I can testify to the wonders God will do when we allow Him to use our story to connect others to the hope they can have in Him. About a year after I shared publicly about my divorce, I received the message below from a friend who'd unbeknownst to me, was also in an emotionally abusive marriage:
"I will tell you that your writing and your candor and your sharing the painful and tough parts of your life as well as the hope, joy, and love you have found today has literally saved my life. I am divorcing my covert narcissist husband. I would never have known the depths of abuse I was enduring - all in the name of. "I deserved it." Nope. Nada. That is not love nor God's plan for me. Thank you, dear sweet sister. I owe my future and my life to your bravery. If you ever have a bad day, think of me."
Friends, because our hope is in Christ, the past does not have authority over our future, so why would we surrender to it and miss out on a meaningful life? We have two choices; submit to a lifetime of battling lies in our minds and a victim mentality. Or relinquish our past to God and trust in His goodness. ๐๐ปPraise you, Jesus, for always going above and beyond anything we imagine You can do!
If living a life that testifies to our faith in Jesus was supposed to be easy, He'd never used the words overcomer or conquerer to describe His followers. Not only does He offer us encouragement through Scripture, but He also shows us how to overcome obstacles with peace. Listen to what Jesus said to His Father, just before His arrest:
...Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you....Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. (John 17:1, 5 NLT Jesus' Farewell discourse)
Jesus knew exactly what was about to happen to Him, yet He looks past the Cross He'll soon bear, and grabs hold of the promise of glory afterward. God's Word is filled with promises for strength and courage no matter what earthly situation we may encounter. I think we sometimes fail to rest in those promises because we believe they're contingent on the strength of our faith rather than the omnipotent power of our God.
Friends, the next time the enemy puts a giant in our path, let's refuse to look inward and look Godward instead...
"Here, Jesus. I'm bringing my problem to you because I KNOW you have the answer. I trust You to show me what to do and to take care of the consequences!"
God has pledged His love to us forever. He walks with us through every disappointment and hardship - nothing can ever separate us from the Father's love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Robert McCheyne, a Scottish preacher and poet, provides the most beautiful explanation of the Lord's love I've ever heard:
"Some of you are longing to be able to love God. Come into His love, then. Consent to be loved by Him, though worthless in yourself. It is better to be loved by Him than to love, and it is the only way to learn to love Him. When the light of the sun falls upon the moon, it finds the moon dark and unlovely; but the moon reflects the light, and casts it back again. So let the love of God shine into your breast, and you will cast it back again. The love of Christ constraineth us. 'We love him because he first loved us.' The only cure for a cold heart is to look at the heart of Jesus. (Source: Andrew A. Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne)
Oh, how blessed we are, my friends! God leans down and meets us where we are with kindness motivated by deep and everlasting love. He longs to do the best for us - if we will only let Him.❤️
When work becomes stressful, the temptation to grumble and complain often trumps our role as heaven's ambassadors. In our weakness, we forget that non-believers form their opinions of God through what they see in us. Jesus understands the frailty of our human condition, as did the apostle Paul who included a reminder for believers in his letter to the Colossians.
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. Colossians 3:23 TPT
Friends, when we shift our thinking and regard our work as an act of service to the Lord, it fosters an attitude of gratitude that outshines the frustrations and struggles we sometimes face. Lord, we thank you for the strength to undertake every activity with joy, integrity, diligence, and vigor through your power living within.
"Integrity is doing what you ought to, even when it costs you." Andy Stanley
"If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write." ~ Martin Luther
LORD, in the morning, you will hear me; in the morning, I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer. (Psalm 5:3 NET)
King David illustrates the importance of earnest prayer and acknowledging our dependence upon God as the true sovereign King over all. The more desperate the circumstances, the more urgent it is to begin each day seeking God’s intervention and watching expectantly for Him to answer. Not only will this habit strengthen our relationship with God, but it will also create a greater awareness of His nearness and unconditional love for us. When we take our cares and concerns to God before our minds become jumbled with problems, He enables us to operate from His strength rather than our weaknesses.
In doing this, we also strengthen our relationships with those closest to us because we are no longer looking and expecting them to “complete us.” Regular communication helps any relationship, and it certainly builds a stronger relationship with God. So talk to God regularly and honestly. Start doing so as soon as you wake up in the morning. He is interested even in our groaning. Do you make time to pray and read God’s Word each day?
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 NLT
Have you ever experienced the power and encouragement available to you through memorizing Scripture? I'm confident I'd never recovered from the fallout of betrayal and divorce without the power of God's promises tucked away in my heart. There were times when the lies in my mind were so loud my only escape was a tactic from childhood. I'd put my fingers in my ears and repeat, "You will keep her in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because she trusts in You," as long as it took to chase away the darkness. (Isaiah 26:3)
Friends, God's command to read His Word isn't because He wants to boss us around; it's for our protection. When we make the Bible's wisdom our road map for daily living, it equips us to face any and every challenge that comes our way. Even if we don't always remember passages word for word, Jesus promises when we "hide and store" them in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will use them to empower us and bring us comfort in tough times. (John 14:26)
Do you want to experience the unstoppable power of God's Word in your life? Each time you read the Bible, ask, "Lord, what can I do to put this Scripture into practice today?"
Before Jesus became my best friend, a shadow of insecurity was my constant companion, but that was a secret I learned to hide well. From the outside, everything looked perfect; my makeup expertly applied, every hair in place, and my body adorned in overpriced designer apparel. What you couldn't see is I'd made settling for less than God's best a habit because past pain left a permanent stain on my hopes and dreams for the future.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Had anyone suggested the word "masterpiece" as an adjective applied to me, I'd have thought they were plum crazy. But then I discovered the treasure of God's Word, the only divine substance that is touchable and tangible in this fallen world. Life in the Word wiped away all my history so Christ could become my new identity, and He'll do it for you too!
We discover the good works God's planned for our lives when we:
(1) confess and abandon sin as soon as we recognize it in our lives;
(2) be continually and unconditionally surrendered to God;
(3) study the word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do;
(4) spend time in prayer each day;
(5) seize opportunities to serve as they arise;
(6) cultivate friendship and community with fellow believers
Friends, no one understands us better than God— including ourselves. He created us with a unique, fulfilling purpose, and through Him, we can accomplish wondrous things even while living in this foreign land.❤️
3. Our beliefs, not our intentions, drive our emotions and our behavior
Friend, do you struggle with the battle in your mind? Is the disease of discontentment robbing you of joy and peace? I've been there and know how frustrating and defeating life can feel when lies wallpaper our minds. Praying the NLT version of Psalm 119:29 always brings me comfort because I know it is God's will for His beloved children to know the truth.
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. Psalm 119:9 NLT
It's a scientific fact; a lie believed as truth will affect our lives as if it were true. (Rational Emotive Behavior) We can be saved all day long and yet never experience the joy of our salvation because we allow our personal histories and circumstances to tell us who we are rather than our identity in Christ. Unless and until we come to know the love of Christ through personal experience and begin to see ourselves the way God sees us, we'll go through life striving for something we will never get.
How do we wait well when we're waiting on God's timing? Having an objective look at my past and how things worked out when I ran ahead of God gives me strength and helps me trust His plan is best for me.
Though it wasn't super obvious at the time, hindsight shows my decisions while still having an inner lack of peace never worked out well and often caused unwanted pain. Yet, God's very best yeses are consistently on the other side of situations where I kept my feet firmly planted until God said go - even when everything in me and those around me told me my decision did not make sense.
Friends, when waiting is hard or doesn't make sense, let's remember God has a purpose and plan that's better than anything we could ever ask for or imagine. The route He asks us to take matters because it develops and strengthens our spiritual muscles๐ช๐ป so we'll be able to maintain ownership of whatever promised land we're waiting for when we get there!
Friends, we can never avoid strife in the world around us, but when we fix our thoughts on God, we can experience perfect peace even in turmoil. As we focus our minds on God and hold on to his Word, we become steady and stable. Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos (Phil 4:7).
Do you long for peace? Keep your thoughts on God and your trust in him.❤️
Jesus doesn't beat around the bush,"...if you remain in me and my words remain in you..." (John 15) Notice He doesn't say go out and tell other people about what we learned on the latest episode of our favorite podcast - it is HIS words abiding in us that produce the kind of life that leads others to Him.
Don't get me wrong, I love listening to podcasts but friends, let's be honest, how can we even suggest that listening to a podcast could somehow substitute for one-on-one time with The Father?
If you want to experience a love that doesn't just "complete you" but leaves you speechless, pick up your Bible and get to know Jesus. You will never be the same again, nor will the people who come to know Him because of you❤️
Before we come to know the heart of God, our perception of His character is limited to our earthly experiences. I "got saved" when I was six but spent my entire life walking on eggshells because love wasn't part of the equation. The hell-fire and brimstone teachings of the Old Testament are all that I remember, so I thought God was a punisher, only actively involved in my life to catch me when I did wrong. Whether He loved me or didn't love me was conditioned upon my behavior.
If we want to know God, we cannot rely on someone else's thoughts on Scripture. The best place to start is in the book of John because he knew Jesus better than anyone on earth. Not only was he in Jesus' innermost circle of three (a/k/a the triumvirate), with Peter and James; he was the only apostle to witness Jesus' death on the cross.
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. John 3:17-18 NLT
Jesus' words, as recorded by His beloved disciple, assures us that He did not come to earth to judge us but to save us. What that means is ๐๐ปWE ARE ALREADY FORGIVEN.
๐๐ปThe purpose of the incarnation was to offer a plan of salvation for all who would receive it.
๐๐ปWhen we place our faith in Jesus, we are accepting that He has already fully and successfully taken our punishment upon Himself.
๐๐ปThose who refuse Christ's offer simply remain in the condemned state they were already in. Or, in C. S. Lewis's words,
"There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'Thy will be done.'"
There's a private place reserved for the lovers of God, where they sit near him and receive the revelation-secrets of his promises. (Psalm 25:14 TPT)
The Hebrew word translated as revelation-secrets implies intimate personal communion, a secret counsel. (cf. Job 29:4; Ps. 55:14; Prov. 3:32). David's point ๐๐ปthese things are not secret because God tells them to a chosen few but because too few seek to know Him; stick with Him long enough to find out!
Friends, God wastes NOTHING. When we cultivate intimacy with Jesus through daily reading of His Word, our relationship with Him will be a solid anchor in every storm. ๐๐ปIF we are WILLING to see, God uses EVERY difficulty and assignment to confide deep things to us, and their lessons are not complete until their beauty has been revealed.
๐๐ปLet's make up our minds to resist our attention deficit's option to settle for bearable, rather than waiting with God for what He makes beautiful.๐
When God's Word became the main dish in my daily diet, EVERYTHING began to change. I soon discovered that although it's impossible to make myself stop thinking stinking thoughts, I can choose to replace them with Truth, and so can you!
Winning the battle in our mind is not for the faint-hearted; it's serious business that requires constant attention, a heart governed by Truth, and earnest prayer. I don't say this to scare you off, but as a setup for my story. You see, my mind was a hot mess before I submitted it to Jesus. I grew up in an environment where negativity and criticism were our native language. So much so that when I took a friend home from college, they made the following remark after witnessing a few short hours with my extended family and me...
"Wow, I've never seen people who supposedly love each other talk to one another that way!"
4. Whatever mental image came to your mind
I can assure you the reality was probably more dysfunctional, so take courage, sweet friend; Jesus can handle whatever nonsense your mind can throw at Him, with your participation, of course.
It is most definitely God's will to see His children freed from any kind of bondage that keeps us from experiencing the joy of our salvation. (1 Peter 1:8) Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of the most common false beliefs we struggle with and specific scriptures to dispel them. I encourage you to sit down and have a chat with your Father; express your desire to partner with Him on this journey to freedom. When He knows you're all in, He guarantees you'll be a winning tag team!
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Ephesians 5:8 NLT
Having crossed the threshold of living half a century, I have a long history of God's faithfulness - but not always mine. In my 20's and 30's, I chased after the things of this world while my Bible sat on a shelf collecting dust. Yet, God never gave up on me, and He won't give up on you either, my friend, because there is no past too dark for the love of God.
Even Saul, who became the apostle Paul, attests to this Truth:
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:12-14 NLT)
If you're struggling with your past, I encourage you to find a quiet place and talk to God about it. He won't judge you because He already loves you - just as you are. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience, the light of God's love broke through the shadows of my past and set me free, so I could finally be me!!
Whenever we face trials, we know one thing is absolutely true:
๐God is producing something excellent in us.
In fact, there are times He allows us to go without any earthly comfort so we will turn completely to Him and experience His joy, comfort, power, and assurance.
๐In this way, He teaches us not to react to trials emotionally, but to respond with faith in His perfect provision. When we learn this, we can endure anything because our character is strengthened and our focus is on Him, rather than our circumstances.๐๐ป๐
We will never change the world by GOING to church. We will only change the world by BEING the church.๐๐ป๐
There is NEVER a time when God refuses to answer the earnest prayer from a heart fully submitted to His will. The 3 ways God answers prayer are as follows:
1. Yes!
2. Yes, but not now.
3. I have a BETTER yes for you.
So the next time you feel like your prayers are unheard or unanswered, remember God will always answer in the way He knows is best for you❤️๐๐ป
Wait and patience; two words most of us do not like to hear or do, am I right? Especially when it comes to waiting on God to answer prayers that we've prayed over time and not seen any evidence of fulfillment on the horizon. But I'm hoping what I'm about to share with you will change your perspective
My favorite Hebrew word is qavah, the word most commonly translated as "wait," as in I will wait upon the Lord. Qavah means "to tie together by twisting" or "to entwine" or "to wrap tightly."
Waiting for God never involves passivity; it's a divine invitation to linger in His presence as we entwine our hearts with Him and His purposes. When we spend our "in the meantime" seasons cultivating intimacy with Jesus, they're no longer painful - their downright bountiful!
When I cannot see God's Hand, I will choose to trust His Heart.❤️
One of the most wonderful feelings in the world is a sense of profound relief when our doubts and fears evaporate in the warm glow of fresh confidence in God's goodness and grace. This quiet confidence is a by-product of intimacy with Jesus, which we cultivate as we spend time reading God's Word and getting to know His character. Only then will the eyes of our hearts become open and receptive to God's love and His amazing grace.
When we're waiting for God to come through for us, a minute can sometimes feel like 1,000 years. Staying rooted in the truth of His Word prevents discouragement and helps us keep our eyes fixed on Christ.
3 Truths to ponder when you're in a season of waiting:
1. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day 2 Peter 3:8 NLT
2. We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 NLT
3. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT)
At the end of his book, Habakkuk reiterated his determination to continue to trust God even when conditions of physical survival would become almost insurmountable. Nothing would deter him from his first obligation as a worshiper of the Lord, to "celebrate" and "rejoice" in him.
Like Habakkuk, we don't have to let the challenges that arise steal our joy or confidence in the Lord; we NEVER have to be victims of our feelings. We can choose to look to God, listen for His voice, and move when He says move. With the power of Christ carrying us, joy can be a reality despite our circumstances.
We live in a fast-paced world that craves instant gratification and encourages us to seek anything our heart desires, regardless of how it affects anyone else. But that's not the way I want to live, and if Jesus is your Savior, neither do you.
God knows the challenges we face in living Christ-centered, others-focused lives; that's why He sent His Spirit to help us until He returns. But here's the part we often forget - God doesn't inject His will nor His power upon us. Both lie dormant within us until we surrender and submit to God's authority.
Friends, God not only equips us with the power of His Holy Spirit; He gives every believer a spiritual gift designed to reveal what we have in our hearts - the Love of God. Imagine how different our world would be if we walked in submission to His will, living out our divine destinies and loving others by exercising our hand-picked spiritual gifts. Let's not just imagine - let's do this together, starting right now!
Lord, we begin this week asking for Your voice to be the sound that rises above the noise that's constantly competing for our attention. Give us eyes to see You, ears to hear You, and hearts that are open and receptive to the doors You open for us today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
5. Faith doesn't make things easy, it makes them possible๐
False beliefs used to wreak havoc on my mind and spew negativity into my relationships, including my relationship with Jesus. But once I started digging into God's Word and pursuing intimacy with Jesus, the Lord opened my eyes to his gentle, loving, and forgiving nature. He began teaching me how to pay attention to my thoughts so I could recognize the difference between what He says is true about me and what is not.
Whenever I start to feel things like guilt, anxiety, or condemnation, the Holy Spirit reminds me that those thoughts NEVER come from God. They originate with the enemy. When he finds one that sticks to us like glue on the bottom of a shoe, he'll use it over and over again unless we chose to listen to God's voice and let His words rule over our hearts and our emotions.
No struggle is greater than our God❤️
Friends, do you realize God has given us the power to alter the course of history through intercessory prayer? One of my favorite illustrations is the Biblical account of Peter's miraculous release from prison that took place at the exact moment fellow believers were praying for him. I'll let the scriptures tell you the story, but you better put on your seat belt because it will be a wild and crazy ride! (see link in bio, Acts 12 Peter's miraculous release from prison)
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The Bible is full of exciting and miraculous narratives that prove the earnest prayer of lovers of God, living in alignment with His will can significantly affect the outcome of events. May we never underestimate the power of earnest prayer - our divine connection to the One who holds the world, and everything in it, in the palm of His hands.๐๐ป
When we're armed with the Word of God, His power works in and through us, allowing us to experience the joy of our salvation while living in a broken and lost world. ❤️
There's a good reason Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. Scholars suggest Ezra may have written it as a repetitive meditation following reconstruction of the temple to illustrate the beauty of God's Word and its ability to help us stay pure and grow in faith. (Ezra 6:14-15)
When reading Scripture is a regular part of our daily diet, it can act like these three things:
๐ Like a mirror, God's Word shows us who we are.
๐ Like a referee, it tells us when we've gone out of bounds.
๐ Like a foundation and an anchor, it provides stability and security.
I can relate to all of these, but the example stands out the most is. Whenever anxiety or worry begins creeping into my mind, and I need to shore up my faith, Isaiah 26:3 is my "go-to" Scripture for comfort, which I personalize as:
๐๐ป"Lord, your Word promises that You will keep her in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because She trusts in You. I am submitting my worry to You and asking you to fulfill Your promise to give me peace."
Can you recall a time when the Bible has served one of these three purposes in your life? Were there specific Scriptures you relied on to get you through that season?
"Who told you that?"
Knowing what God says about you and life, in general, will influence every decision you make.
๐If you doubt this is true, pick up your Bible and turn to Genesis 3:1-13, and you'll see how sin entered into God's perfect world.
๐Our beliefs drive our victories and our defeats; even more important,
๐they determine our level of intimacy with God.
๐For believers in Jesus, the Bible is not only our road map for life; it's the ONLY resource we can trust.
In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he wrote,
๐All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)
๐The Greek word translated as inspired is only used ONCE in Scripture and has a SINGLE meaning - given by inspiration of God.
๐Friends, we can trust the Bible without reservation. When we do, we find it's "useful" for helping us grasp all the truth we need to live God's way and not the ways of this broken world.
How much would your life change if everything you believed about yourself and others was shaped by what God says?
๐For me, making this one shift in my life changed absolutely EVERYTHING - my level of peace, my level of joy, my level of satisfaction with life, overall it makes every facet of my life better!
๐Oh, and it NEVER stops - it keeps on getting BETTER and BETTER the more we READ, STUDY and RELY ON God's Word as the foundation of TRUTH our lives are built upon❤️.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1a ESV)
๐God's Word makes things happen; whatever He says is and forever will be.
John's first epistle is a letter of assurance to believers that encourages this woman who wrestles with a performance-based mentality; it leaves no room for misinterpretation regarding my identity and security in Jesus. I love the clarity of this passage in the original language - "that we should be called God's children, and indeed we are." (See also Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26-27; 4:6–7.)
It is the matchless and unconditional love of God that brings us into His family and establishes a divine purpose and calling on our lives. (Eph. 2:10) While this is true for all believers, a specific group of people came to mind while reading this morning; my friends and fellow sisters-in-Christ with a calling on their hearts to write for Jesus.
Every writer struggles with insecurity regarding the words we write and where they ultimately land because the world's way of defining success is contrary to God's. But here's the thing, this mindset spoils the natural flow of our gifting and makes us believe a BIG FAT LIE - we have to earn the title "writer" by having our works accepted and published through professional literary channels.
๐John's reminder - with God to call is to make be frees us from our need for the "right people" to accept our words and allows us to find joy in our purpose to minister to those in need through the words God compels us to write.๐
Oh yes, He does; beauty from the ashes!
Every single day! ๐๐ปHow blessed we are to have a Father who promises to show us the way when we are delightfully dependent upon Him❤️
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:5 ESV)
Imagine sitting in the presence of God while He prepares a royal feast to share with you alone while those who wish to hurt you stand on the sidelines and watch. I know that sounds outrageous, but that's the kind of confidence we can have when we have an intimate relationship with God rooted in loving trust.
When writing this psalm, David intentionally uses the phrases, "you prepare" and "before me" to emphasize intimacy between the Host (God) and guest (David). He combines the theme of provision and rest with protection by adding that the feast takes place in the sight of my enemies who look on helplessly. Therefore, his cup overflows because so mighty is his Host he can enjoy a royal banquet right in front of his adversaries who cannot touch him. Now tell me that thought doesn't bring a smile to your face!
When fleeing from his enemies, David never allowed fear to overshadow his faith in God. Neither will we when we remember the riches of grace that we have in Christ Jesus:
God's love has no limit
God's grace has no measure
God's power has no boundary known unto men
God gives, and gives, and gives again...we can NEVER outgive the goodness of God❣️
Blessed is she that delights in and meditates upon God's Word๐
God doesn't just listen to our prayers; he stoops down to meet us where we are, looks into our eyes, and focuses all his attention on each one of us. As we experience God's faithfulness to answer our prayers, our love for Him grows as does our desire to spend time with him and be obedient to his will.
I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Ps. 116:1-2 NLT)
If you are discouraged, remember that God is near, listening carefully to every prayer and answering each one in His timing to give you his best. Make it a priority to set aside time to acknowledge your desperate need for Him; thank Him for His faithfulness in the past, then wait expectantly for heaven to intervene in your history here on earth.๐๐ป❤️