We live in a world that sees being obedient as being dominated and giving someone control over us. Our culture screams that obedience takes away freedoms and pours hate and intolerance into our world. The world teaches us that we should create our own destiny while God offers us the Way to a better destiny - through obedience to Him. There's a difference between obedience to the world and obedience to the Word, and obedience to the Word always leads us to a better destiny.
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
God loves us so much that He paid the ultimate price, sacrificing His Son on the cross so that we may be justified and come into a right standing with Him through the salvation and acceptance of Jesus. We are so deeply loved that His blood was shed so that we could come into relationship with Him, and receive all that He wants to bless us with, and all that He promises us.
Obedience is how we show our love and gratitude to God as we are sanctified, growing spiritually, purified of sin, and learning to live more like His son who sacrificed Himself for our sake. When we express our love for our Father in Heaven this way, He fills us up with His Spirit, who is our helper as we learn to obey God’s commands and keep His Word.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
It is easy to cling to this selfish, dark, broken world. We’re seeing intense examples right now as society rips itself apart over the things we cannot have or do while this pandemic rages. We had grown so comfortable day-to-day and now God is reminding us that He is the one who gives and the one who takes away. When He is put first, above the world, above fleshly desires, above people, we open the door for Him to bless us. When we trust Him to provide all we need we will see Him show up time and again. We must cling to the provisions of the Lord and trust His promises. If He calls you to it, He’ll provide for you through it. Trust God over people, money, and things. He will never fail you, but the world always will because He is the only one in control and He provides the only Way to eternity, salvation and freedom. He provides out of love, and we are called to obey Him out of love.
'Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.'
Through various seasons and trials of our lives we will stray from His Word and commands. We will lose our passion sometimes and need to regain our craving for Him. This is not a one and done, it is a daily choice. Obeying God is strengthened through practice, through acting with intentional faith, prayer, and surrender to Him again and again. We cannot accomplish this on our own, and cannot conquer the storms of life on our own. We need to spend time with Him in prayer and in His word every single day to hear from Him more, recognize His voice better, learn about Him, apply what we learn about how we’re called to live, and become stronger in our faith and trust for Him. Faith and obedience are built through obedient perseverance which builds character that glorifies Him and habits that honor Him. His commands revive our souls, provide clarity throughout life’s circumstances, give us wisdom to live by, and His Spirit will guide and remind us along the way.
And I heard the voice of the Lord say “Whom can I send? Who will go for Us?” and I said “Here I am! Send me!”
Have a heart so filled with love for the Lord that you obey His call without worrying about the mission or the cost. Grow closer to Him through prayer, His Word, His Spirit, and His salvation. Yearn for Him in all you do, and be so filled with love for Him you develop a habit of obedience and overflow with His love into the world around you. Obedience to God is an act of love and gratitude for all He does and promises. It is a beautiful gift that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us so much He takes all of life’s burdens and provides us with all we need to survive this dark, broken, sinful world.
One of the most commonly asked questions in life is "what is my purpose?" We spend years wondering what our calling in life is, and many of us spend many more years thinking we have it all figured out but still missing the vital answer to this question. We go about our days feeling like we should be content, but there's still a void we cannot seem to fill. This is a space we cannot fill on our own, and a question we cannot answer alone.
We have three essential purposes, or callings, in life. These callings set us up for a satisfying, while sometimes painful, road of discovery and fulfillment. In order to unlock a full life, fill the empty space, and satisfy the persistent question of what we must do with the time we have we must look to Jesus as our answer.
To Accept Christ
In looking to Jesus we learn that the first big purpose we are called to in life is to accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour; to acknowledge Him and choose to give our lives in service to Him. Through accepting Christ we take the first step into a close relationship with God that He desired so much He sent His Son to die so that we could have abundant life. We should seek forgiveness from our loving Heavenly Father, welcome the Holy Spirit as our guide, cast off our old selves, be transformed, and take our place within the body of Christ.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
As part of the united body of Christ you then begin to learn how to have abundant life through our second calling to follow Christ. There is a difference between a believer and a follower. Following Jesus means you live like you believe. Your belief becomes your lifestyle and identity. The Holy Spirit transforms you from the inside out to help you conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the glory of God and you commit to learning more about Christ and how He calls you to live differently than before you knew Him.
As we learn to live as Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit, a natural result is to produce the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives that we then share with others. Through this, we discover not only what all followers of Christ are called to, but we then open the doors to the individual paths God has built for us and calls us to.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Accepting and following Christ are the first callings we receive. Living a life of obedience to Christ, our third purpose, comes as we strive to learn more about Him and His ways and apply it to ourselves. As we navigate this new relationship and allow Him to transform us, we grow from immature Christians into strongholds for God's glory and are called to take His love, truth and teachings deeper into this dark world.
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
God has prepared a path for each of us that is paved on the foundation of Christ and the building blocks of God's blessings and instruction, and all lead to the shared promise of eternal life in Heaven. We each receive our unique missions and opportunities every day to go out into the world in the ways and time we are guided to. Each step taken on this path is one of faith in His plan.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God will bless us with skills, talents, and resources, and place us where we are so that we can put it all together with the fruit of the Spirit and use it all to honor God in the unique ways and places He calls us to. In this we establish our place in the body of Christ, taking on an essential function for the operation and furtherance of the great calling. The body of Christ is the Church, and much like a physical church has many roles needed for it to fulfill God’s plans, we perform our roles to strengthen, uphold, and add to the Church.
'For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. '
To fill the void and fulfill our life’s purpose by accepting Christ, following Him, and obediently living out the path He calls us to. To live as Christ is to live a life of love, the result of which is to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, share that fruit with others, and help the body of Christ learn about and grow closer to Christ.
The closer we are to Christ, the more we learn, the more we grow, the stronger we become, and the more fruit we produce in the world. As we live out our callings obediently, passionately, and faithfully we step deeper into a relationship with our Heavenly Father and closer to the ultimate hope of Heaven.
Whatever we are called to in this life we should be serving the Church with all that God provides, always seek to strengthen the body of Christ, help it grow both in numbers and in faith, and stand united together, sharing the knowledge God blesses us with through experience and relationship.
'For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. '
'And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, '
'And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. '
We all put our trust in something. Every one of us places high value on something that we expect to help, guide, provide, or uplift us. There is something in our lives we place as the pivotal piece of our life’s foundation, that we rest upon, rely on, have faith in. If Christ is not this cornerstone then we may as well be building our lives on shifting sand.
And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.
In Matthew 21, we see Jesus explain to the Pharisees in the form of a story that those who reject Him also reject God. Essentially, those who place anything other than Him as their pivotal foundational piece, their cornerstone, will crumble. When we place earthly things; money, popularity, position and status, material wealth and possessions, or people, above Christ, we rest our foundation on things that disappoint and disappear. Only through truly placing our trust in and resting our foundation on Christ can we come into a relationship with God and receive the blessings He has in store for us. Christ must be our cornerstone.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Putting Christ as the pivotal, strengthening piece of our foundation is a daily, constant choice. We will face countless temptations every day and fight against the societal norm in order to intentionally keep Jesus as our focus and ensure He is where our trust remains. As we strive to learn more about Him we will continue to learn more about how to live better, and also about the promises we have from God through this relationship with His Son.
'I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. '
When we make the decision to live for, live as, and learn more about Christ we discover who we are called to be. Over time we open up more and more to His instruction and receive blessings and guidance for our lives. In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus explained, again through a story, that God blesses each of us “according to his abilities” (v. 15), just like the servants in the story. Each was blessed, but not all went and multiplied their blessings in the world. God wants us to use what He blesses us with to go out into the world and bear even more fruit so that more people will also come to know Him through His Son. As we go out in obedience to be generous, serve, and bless others, He continues to bless us in a multitude of ways.
'For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. '
We will be given opportunities to trust Jesus as our cornerstone; rely on His strength and instruction, trust His guidance even when it seems insane, lean on Him when we’re hurting, give when and how we are called to. One of the best ways to strengthen His position as your cornerstone is explained in yet another of Jesus’ stories.
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In Luke 10:25-37, after confirming God’s law to “love your neighbor” a lawyer asked Jesus in verse 29 “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered the man by telling the now-famous story of the Good Samaritan, where a man was mugged and beaten, left half dead. Multiple people walked by the man, disregarding him, but one man, a complete stranger, a traveler himself, saw the broken man and took him to an inn where he saw to it the man was cared for. Jesus then instructed, “You go, and do likewise.” (v. 37).
So, how can we strengthen Christ as our cornerstone? By loving broken strangers; meeting people where they are on their journey, seeing them for their brokenness, but choosing to love them as God commands us to love and also loves us, with patience, kindness, and without judgement, slander, harm, arrogance, or resentment.
' Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. '
God sees our broken world full of broken people, like this dying man on the side of the road, and chose to send His Son down to pay the ultimate price for our brokenness to ensure we have a way to receive Salvation and come to the Father. He picked us up, brought us into a place of grace and healing, knowing we were broken and loving us anyway.
We are called to show the same love and grace toward friends, fellow Christians, family, and even strangers and enemies. By doing this, loving broken people the same way Christ loves us, we strengthen His position as our foundation. We must intentionally put our trust in Him as our Saviour, our strength, our provider and guide.
'you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. '
Life is not easy. Loving people is messy. Let’s face it, we aren’t always loveable either, but God loves us so much He paid a price greater than we could ever repay so that we could all come into relationship with Him, receive His unimaginable blessings, and go out into the world to be a blessing to other broken people.
All of this is possible only because Christ has set Himself up to be our true, sturdy, reliable, trustworthy, strong, eternal cornerstone. Trust God, love people, and have grace with one another’s brokenness. Meet people where they are, remembering we are all at different places in our journey and strengthen Jesus’ position in the foundation of your life and faith by being obedient to His love and instruction for your life.
' “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. '
One of the most important things I've learned in my relationship with God is that transition and change will absolutely test our faith. When we face change we have a choice to make; to be bitter, upset, defy or reject it, or to use the opportunity to thrive, learn and grow. We can choose the path to victory or the path to defeat.
We are not intended to stay in the same place; we are called to move, change, grow and learn every day. Life is all about transition, and our relationship with Christ requires transformation, and it will be extremely challenging at times.
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
We’ve all been in a season of transition for the past six months. It’s been difficult to cope and understand, and many of us have experienced great fear and anxiety over the changes happening and the uncertainties that lie ahead. Our world is hurting, our nation is in pain, we are all caught up in a storm of a society in agony and unknowns.
As someone with a relationship with Christ, though, we have received not only encouragement but a command, repeated over and over again, to not be afraid. In fact, God tells us throughout scripture to not be afraid as many times as there are days in the year.
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’
When we fail to trust that God is bigger than the battles we face we close ourselves off from the blessings He has in store for us, and we miss opportunities. If we lift our worries to Him He replaces them with peace and a door to great growth and prosperity opens for us. Being obedient to Him, who is in control of every battle we face, brings us a great victory. He can then help us through every circumstance, provide for us in every situation, and comfort us in every pain.
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In order to receive the victory He has won for us, we must stand firm in our faith. By committing our life to Christ, believing that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save us from our sins, and giving our life to be led by Him we then open the door to a relationship with God and allow peace and healing to begin flowing in.
We receive the Holy Spirit as a guide and are led by His voice and ways. As we strive to live as Christ better day after day, stumble and rise, fail and learn, lean on God and stand firm, we will become stronger in faith.
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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The more we lean on God, spend time studying His word with a true desire to learn and understand, and pray to Him with our whole heart, the closer relationship we will have with Him, and the more we will learn about how to live better. As we learn more, we live in deeper faith and allow God to work in us and bring us to victory again and again.
Change is not something to fear; it is something to look forward to and a necessary part of life that we must choose to tackle knowing God is fighting for our victory. Embrace change, learn what you can, grow every day, pray with your whole heart, and keep faith in God who is bigger than all of it.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
When we make the decision to give our lives to God believe that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins, and commit to living like we believe, we must seek God, confess our sins to Him, ask forgiveness, and receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is done through passionate prayer. Praying for strength is a beautiful way to surrender to God when we lack our own strength to keep going.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Every relationship with God begins with prayer and shouldn't stop there
Once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we now have the Holy Spirit within us, guiding us every day. We do our best to learn and grow in God's ways as this new person we've suddenly become, but how do we know when we are on the right track? How will we know what to do, how to do it, or when?
In order to hear God we must open up the lines of communication through spending time in His Word and prayer.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Prayer is not something we do to check a box for the day. Prayer is a primary and necessary means of staying connected, in tune, and in communication with God. When we pray with intention, powerfully and passionately, truly seeking God out we open ourselves up more to hearing His answers and seeing Him working in our life. We allow Him to empty us again of ourselves and fill us up with more of Him. Prayer gives us a way to seek forgiveness, help, peace, provision, and even comfort from the Lord. Prayer is having a conversation with your Heavenly Father.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Life gets tough sometimes. We will face trouble; He knows it better than we do and tells us to give Him our worries, present our requests to Him, and be faithful in prayer. God wants us to talk to Him and trust Him with our struggles. There is incredible power in passionate prayer. Seeking God out and bringing our troubles to Him is a faith practice that helps us to both act out our trust and faith in God, and also to strengthen it as we break down the barriers and let Him in.
Prayer is not only something we do for ourselves or when there is trouble. We should give thanks to God, pray for others, even including our enemies, and praise the Lord in our prayers. How we talk to our Heavenly Father has a huge impact on our attitudes and heart. When all we do is bring our wants and needs to God we tend to get stuck in despair and create the breeding grounds for selfishness.
When we are praying to check a box we let ourselves become distant from God and it becomes easier for our faith to waver. When we give Him our heart, thank Him even for the smallest things it breaks through the despair, rekindles the fire, and we begin to see and hear Him clearer. When we pray for others we help them lift their burdens and open our eyes to seeing what God is doing in the lives of others.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Every relationship with God begins with prayer and shouldn't stop there. Pray everywhere, in all things.
Putting our heart into our prayers, truly desiring to communicate with Him and see what He will do in and around us will reap such powerful blessings. This is an essential part of our ever-growing relationship with Him and a constant faith exercise. All relationships require healthy communication and this is true of our relationship with God above all others. There is never a time, situation or place where prayer is not needed. No circumstance is ever inappropriate for prayer. You have never gone so far, so long, so bad that He will not hear your prayers and welcome them. Develop relationships with His people as well and help one another lift your burdens and praises to Him. You are not in this alone, and you don’t have to know what to say, but reach out to God from your heart and you will open yourself up to a deeper relationship with the One who is bigger than all of it.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
A - Adoration: Begin your prayer with praise. Praise God for who He is. Praise Him with a grateful heart. This aligns our heart to Him and serves as a great reminder why we pray to God - because He is who He says He is. Thank Him for who He is to you right now.
C - Confession: Open up to God about whatever you want forgiveness for. Sometimes we won’t know what we need to be forgiven of but don’t skip this - seek forgiveness anyway and ask God to work in you and open your eyes to where you need to change. Be honest with God about your confessions. He knows all that we do, think, and feel already and bringing it to Him for forgiveness has such freeing and healing powers.
T - Thanksgiving: Thank God for what He is doing in your life, as well as in the lives of others. There is always so much to be thankful for. All we have is from Him, so all we have deserves thanks to our provider. Even thanking God for waking you up today, for choosing you, for being who He is has power and let all the thanks of your heart no matter how big, small, mundane or ridiculous it may seem just flow out to Him. This helps us to open our eyes and see how He has blessed you and those around you.
S - Supplication: Pray for yourself. Bring to God whatever is on your heart for yourself, your needs, your wants, healing, guidance, help, peace. Pray for others as well, bringing their requests to Him. Whatever it is you need or want, bring it to Him. Notice this is the final step of prayer after you have set your heart on praise, forgiveness, and thanks. Submit your heart to God and accept that His will be done, not yours.
'Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. '
Throughout this Healthy You study we've gone deep into some wonderful, uncomfortable, intense ways God works in us and calls on us to live. We've studied how we are called to find rest in Him, what it means to have loving relationships, that God paves the way for a fruitful life, and defined our identity as children of God. Now we will explore why God made each of us unique.
'Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. '
Our world is constantly pointing out differences as if it were a terrible thing not to be molded to confusing worldly expectations. We cry for conformity while chasing away inequality. We shout for love and unity while creating hate and division. While the world is drowning in mixed messages, seeking acceptance yet missing the point more often than not, we are blessed yet again with another way our Heavenly Father provides clarity. God has blessed each of us with our unique individuality.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
We were each created as unique parts of the body of Christ and given a place in His plan, paved just for us. Our whole being was designed by our divine Creator, and each of us called to a special mission aiming for the same goal. Every one of us has different skills, traits, talents, struggles, successes, failures yet all of us were blessed with our specific set of tools for an ultimate purpose.
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”'
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven He told the disciples that once He was gone they were to make disciples of all nations. They were given what we call “the Great Commission” and called to teach others about Christ, far and wide. When we come into a relationship with Christ we too inherit this commission.
God gives us so many instructions throughout scripture about how to live and carry out His good work, and Christ also showed us that there are different ways to do His work in a variety of situations. The ways we carry out this great work will be particular to who God has made us as individuals, what blessings He has given us, and will be catered to the situation and persons involved.
Not everyone will be called to the same conversations, service, relationships, or situations and we will all be given wisdom and guidance in our own time and way as God determines.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It is too easy to fall into a trap that claims we have to preach the gospel, talk about Jesus, and teach others all in the same ways as one another, but God didn’t make us cookie cutters. He made each of us different in our own ways. He blessed us individually with the Holy Spirit to guide us along our unique path, and He calls us out onto different creeks and rivers all leading to the same ocean. Our differences are blessings to use and unify us within the one mission to bring others to Him in the different ways God knows are needed in this world.
'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. '
Each of us has a unique story and testimony, different from anyone else's, and each has been given our different skills, blessings, and path to be used for the glory of God’s great plan. Our differences are designed to be cherished and used for good. We are not meant to be like the world, but instead thank God for making us the way we are on purpose - for His purpose. Let the Spirit guide you on the path God paved for you and in the ways He calls you to carry out your calling.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Have you ever been denied? Rejected? Trolled? Shunned? Wronged? Have you ever wondered "who am I supposed to be?" or “what am I supposed to do?” So many things can impact our identity, but only one thing should define it.
Growing up I experienced all of these forms of rejection and more as I struggled to navigate life's raging waters toward self discovery. I was never satisfied and never happy. I wanted so badly to make a name for myself, but the only names I was making were "loser", or worse. I took on these names given to me by my peers and that became my identity. I conformed to how others thought of me, and I paid dearly for it.
Even though I'd accepted this as my identity I longed for something more. I knew there was something more for me than this fate as a doormat nailed to the earth.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
When I made the decision to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, I gave up the identity my peers had tagged me with. All the years spent believing I was worthless, unlovable, disgusting, and useless no longer named me and I began to heal. I began my journey as a Child of God.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Being a child of God is to be completely transformed, from being led by the world to being led by the Holy Spirit. You seek to please God, long for His love, and obey His instruction. You are no longer chained to your worldly, sinful brokenness, but set free by the love of Christ who paid with His life so that you could be forgiven and be in a relationship with God.
'For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.'
With this new name comes your calling as a part of the body of Christ. Each part of this body is given a path and calling, guided down the path He has instructed you to go. As you walk down this path with Christ, growing in faith as you learn more about Him and how to trust Him more, you also learn how to live better as an example of Christ and this identity as a Child of God.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
As we grow into this new identity, growing in His guidance and care, experiencing tests, trials, failures, and successes, we find that there is so much grace, blessing, and wonder in this relationship. We begin to bear fruit in this world, putting Christ on display, and sharing with the world what it means to identify as a Child of God in hopes of planting seeds that will also bear much fruit in their own time.
Bearing fruit is not easy work, and we will face a new kind of rejection as we plant and sow, but while we may be rejected by the world we will always have God to lean on, look to, and sustain us through any trouble that comes.
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I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Coming into your new self is a beautiful experience. It has its ups and downs, it is not always easy, but it is always worth it. If you have yet to take on your new identity, you can do that now, today, if you seek God out, bring your sin and brokenness to Him, seek forgiveness from a Father who loves you, and believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior who paid with His life and rose again for your sins so that you may be forgiven. Seek a place in this family and allow God to transform you into His child as He so desires you to be. Take on your new identity as a Child of God and see what wonders God has in store for you.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
I think we can all agree that talking about this pandemic is like playing a broken record. It is hard to feel like anything new, let alone anything good, could come from this whole experience. By now a lot of us are exhausted by worry, absorbed by the questions we all want answers to, completely stir crazy, and stuck between not wanting to hear another word about it and feeling like we need to hear every detailed update all at once. I think we can all agree that none of us were prepared for times such as this.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
When we live in a constant state of worry and panic, and we focus on all the chaos suffocating our society, we become preoccupied with things of the world and lose sight of what God is doing in the midst of it all. God has a plan. God is prepared. We can trust in God's plans because His plans are for our good, our future, and for hope. He literally knows every detail of the past, present and future and has already determined how all of it is going to be used for the good of those who love Him. We can choose to be guided by God's wisdom, hope, and good or we can make our own path focused on things we have no control over, leaving us stressed, worried, and no better off for it.
'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. '
Generally speaking, our purpose is to come to Christ, then go out into the world and bring others to Him as well. More uniquely, we each have our own God-given calling that is special to each person. God not only provides the plans but also provides everything we will need in order to accomplish that plan.
'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? '
Sometimes where God leads us doesn't fit what we want or expect, and it's easy to grow impatient as we try to navigate His timing. We think we know the right way, the right thing, the right time and it doesn't make sense why we are still waiting. When we focus on our own wants we are quick to veer off His path, but when we stay tuned into God and are patient with Him, we find a much more blessed path than one we would try to create ourselves.
' The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. '
Jesus shows us so many examples of pure faith in God's timing. All the way to the cross Jesus trusted God's path for Him and trusted that God's plan was for good. He was patient as each piece of His journey unfolded, and leaned into God, praying for guidance, and when God said "go here" Jesus went. It took many years and lots of pain and suffering for God's plan for Jesus to unfold, but through that time and pain, God had a plan to bring His people back into a relationship with him.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
He made all of us, and those who have chosen to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, who choose to have a relationship with God through their salvation in Christ, are all called to God's great plan which He has paved for our good. He has the entire plan settled, and He calls us to trust Him and the road He's made. He leads us away from our old selves, leaving behind the desire to live for ourselves and walk with Him in His ways, welcoming His spirit as our guide. We have opportunities every day to walk with God or to walk away, but no matter our choice God is prepared and His plan will always prevail.
'Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. '
' Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. '
Self-esteem feels like a fickle thing. It can ebb and flow with the tides of each day. Sometimes we feel great, floating along as if on water, ready to take on anything that comes our way. Other times we feel utterly wrecked like a ship smashed into a shore being picked apart by scavenger birds. We turn on the news and feel our hearts break or soar. A phone call or work assignment can leave us deflated or encouraged. The words of a loved one, a stranger, or a friend can be the pick-me-up we think we need or the last straw to a terrible day. We surround ourselves with people or things that we expect will satisfy us. We look for our worth in our relationships with people and possessions alike.
Self-esteem is our estimate of ourselves. It is how we feel about and view ourselves, our abilities, and our value. We estimate what we can or cannot do, have or deserve, and our self-estimate can be too easily influenced by someone else's estimate of us.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
When I first came to Christ I had friends I considered the best I’d ever had, and expected them to stay so for years to come. I finally had a recovering relationship with my dad, was close with my siblings, and was surrounded by people for the first time in my life. I changed, though, when I began my relationship with Jesus. It is said throughout scripture that we will become new when we start this relationship with our savior and I was a living testimony of this. I had no idea I was different but everyone around me saw it.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
In choosing a relationship with Jesus most of my other relationships ended. That was a huge hit to my self-esteem. In this, though, I realized that God was calling me out of unhealthy relationships that were crushing my self-esteem with lies and conformity and into a relationship with the one who would show me that I am worth so much more than what the world says I’m worth.
Through this, I have gained new self-esteem that I never experienced while looking at what the world said I should do, what my friends thought of me, and how my family treated me. I no longer estimated myself based on my relationship with the world, but instead found my value in Jesus.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We live in a world full of broken people, ourselves included, who all have a broken estimate of ourselves. God, on the other hand, sees us all as precious and valuable. He made each of us just the way we are on purpose and sent His Son to be a sacrifice so that we could have a relationship with Him, all while knowing we are broken and loving us anyway. God hard-wired us to desire a relationship with Him and His people, but often we disregard Him and chase after worldly things and approval, love, attention, and fulfillment from other broken people, placing our estimate far below God’s value of us.
'You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. '
One of the biggest lessons we can learn while on this earth is that we don't need, nor should we seek, the approval of the world around us. We don't need to seek our worth in this world because God has already told us our worth when He sent His son to die so that we could have a relationship with Him.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Are you seeking approval from other broken people? Are you placing your value in earthly treasures? Is your self estimate based on what others think or say about you? Does your self-esteem plummet or rise because of your circumstances or your relationships with people?
When we put our relationship with God first we find our true worth and learn what healthy relationships look like between people. Coming into a relationship with Jesus allows you to get to know Him better, and in turn learn how to live better. Put your relationship with Him first in your life and He will show you that your true worth is priceless.
'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “ Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. '
In today’s society, we face conflicting views, stigmas, and expectations about rest. One side of the coin touts that idleness equals laziness, time is money so don’t waste it sitting still, and that we should always be doing something. The other extreme claims that taking time for ourselves often and putting ourselves as top priority all the time is what we deserve, and that others should put our opinions, wants, desires, perceived needs, appearances, wealth, and fame above all else. If we listen to what the world says we will certainly be left confused and wondering what on earth we should do.
Fortunately for those who have a relationship with God, He helps us to understand how we should seek and value rest. Looking to what God says is the only way to find true rest and peace in a never satisfied world.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We need to remember that this world is full of broken people, ourselves included. In Isaiah we are compared to sheep. Sheep like to wander off, always chasing a patch of green grass way off in the distance, wandering away from the love, care, provision and protection of their shepherd. We chase after those little patches of attractive impulse, leaving behind what God is trying to provide for us. This tends to leave us feeling drained, afraid, overwhelmed or even confused. We become restless as we drift away from His instruction.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Those two extremes about rest are both completely inaccurate views. What we really need is to rest in the knowledge that God is in control. He is our shepherd, will always look after us, and will quiet our soul and provide us with the rest we need in this chaotic world. He has given us a new identity in Him and instructs us in all areas of our life so that we never need to chase after anything because He provides it all.
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Being always on the move or incredibly idle are neither right ways of living. There is a time for rest and a time for work. Even God worked 6 days to create the whole world then rested the entire seventh day. He calls us to rest, to sleep, to be filled with His peace. He wants us to work hard for His Kingdom, but He also knows we need to take time to rest.
'In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. '
Allow yourself to rest and not always be in the hustle and bustle. Don’t toil in vain making a road when He already has the path paved for you, but don't sit on the curb while your path is being paved ahead of you waiting for you to step out onto it.
We are living through a very chaotic time right now. The world around us feels tense, people are experiencing heightened anxiety, anger, and frustrations, and society does not feel like a joyful place at all. How could we possibly find joy in a time like this? How could Christ possibly be glorified in all this pain, sickness, and division? How can we rejoice in the middle of all this suffering?
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. '
Lately I have been on a roller coaster. Life seems to be going up and down, and I know most if not all of us are experiencing the same in our own ways. This week has been tough, but as I struggled in moments of anxiety I realized that I have begun to understand Paul’s words in these verses. He tells us that in every situation when we seek God out, bringing every joy, pain, and all the in-betweens to Him He does not sit idly by. When we’ve emptied ourselves out to Him and made space for Him to fill us, fill us is precisely what He does.
'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. '
A vital way to make space in our hearts for more of Him is to remember what we have to be thankful for. These days it seems a bit harder to see those things, but even Paul, while he is imprisoned for his faith, points out that there are always things to be thankful for. Paul says at the end of verse 8 “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
What is praiseworthy in your life right now?
Think about that. Don’t focus on what is going wrong; focus on those bits of light, patch them together, and see that there is so much more light than you realize. There is so much more to rejoice over than it seems. Let that light fill you and overflow from you, strengthening you.
'I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
No matter what phase of life you find yourself in, whether you have much or little, whether you are in peace or suffering, whether you have more questions than answers, you can get through all of it with Christ. Christ is in you, strengthening you, building you up from the inside out. Paul is calling on you to change, to empty yourself, to be transformed by the power of Christ.
'Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. '
No matter what tests you face or waters you wade through you will always have His glory and promises to look forward to, and His love and provisions to be thankful for. You can rejoice in your responsibility to imitate Christ and bring others to Him. You have a mission while you are here, and an incredible inheritance to look forward to. Never forget how worthy of praise this is. Rejoice always, because there truly is so much to rejoice over.
'The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”'
Last week we discussed what it means to be emptied. When we are emptied of ourselves, we clear out our old selves and sinful nature, and with this clearing out we are making room to be filled up. This process of being emptied and filled is a constant process we need to repeat over and over throughout our lives. When we empty ourselves to God, we need to leave ourselves open to Him so He can fill us up with Himself; with all that He knows we need.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
When Christ came to earth, He humbled Himself in becoming a man like us. He set aside His privileges in order to prioritize the needs of others; of us. He didn’t hold His status of being one with God over anyone. He emptied Himself of His privileges and allowed Himself to be filled with the spirit of a humble servant, obedient to God’s will and glory.
'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. '
Jesus remained steadfast, humble, and obedient in all He did. He served people all around the world, loved them, did not complain or slander, and in this servitude, He was then placed in the highest place above all others. If we are called to be like Christ, we, too, are called to empty ourselves of our perceived and assumed privileges, our selfishness, our complaining and slandering, and our old, sinful selves and allow God to make us new in Christ, filling us up as well with the spirit of servitude for His Kingdom and obedience to Him.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
He calls us to love others, to display patience, kindness, humility, mercy and grace. This is what He wants to fill us up in, but we must be emptied of what our culture expects of us, what our society demands of us, the norms and stigmas we face, and instead become a beacon for Christ.
'Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky '
Philippians 2:15 says we “... will shine among them like stars in the sky”. We can choose to be a beautiful light spreading love, joy, truth, and healing or we can choose to be a broken light that spreads darkness, hurt, and harm. You have an identity in Christ and a responsibility to spread His light rather than the broken lights and darkness of this world. Empty yourself to God, let Him change your broken bulb, and be filled with His light so that you can spill over into the lives of others.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
The other day I found myself asking “what sin do I struggle with most?” This isn’t something people are likely to ask themselves often if at all, but it reminded me of a similar question I have been asking myself; “What have I been saved from?” It led me to explore the additional questions "what has God emptied me of?"
'In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Each question is unlikely to come up in everyday conversation, but all are questions I wholeheartedly believe God wants us to be asking ourselves often. These aren’t questions to condemn, or make you feel guilty or ashamed, but are rather questions to steer you in the direction of emptying yourself.
In the book of Philippians, we see a theme of three key principles to answer these questions. We are going to break these principles down and look at why we should be asking ourselves these questions, as well as the importance of being emptied, filled, and rejoicing always.
What does it mean to be emptied?
To be “emptied of yourself” means to cast off your old self, or your sinful nature. When we make the decision to follow Christ we undergo a transformation. We go from “believing” to applying that belief. We are made new in Christ and must empty ourselves of how we once lived before we knew Christ, of who we were before we gained our new identity as a child of God. The answer to these questions we are asking can be found within this transformation and will continue to shift and change as you continue to be transformed by God.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
In order to be emptied, it can be helpful to know what we need to be emptied of. Christ died to save us each from our own specific sins. We all face our own struggles. Some of us battle with pride and esteem ourselves higher or better than others. Some of us fight with sloth or gluttony, some with idolatry, wrath or violent behavior, lust, and even envy or jealousy. The sins we face come in different forms, depths, and names, but we all fight sin.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
I determined that sloth is my weakness. I am not intentionally lazy, but man do I lack motivation sometimes. Sometimes I just purely have a hard time correctly prioritizing tasks and then more important things can sometimes fall through the cracks or become delayed. Knowing this about myself makes it easier to give my laziness to God, empty myself of it, and strive to let that nature go.
We will always be faced with temptation for our weaknesses, but in allowing God to empty that out time and again I’m better able to resist, avoid, and become stronger against it. It's not a one and done or quick fix, but each time we lift it up our yoke is lightened.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Look at where He is transforming your life as you give yourself over in faith. Lift your hands up and give it to God. Allow yourself to be emptied, so that you may be filled again, and rejoice always.
'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; '
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
How do we know when we are blessed by God? What does it mean to be “blessed”? One definition, according to Dictionary.com, says “a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.” So by definition being blessed is when God gives us favor and gifts.
Throughout this series, we have looked at how we are tested in day-to-day life, what to do when we struggle with God’s plan, how to face conflict, and the importance of standing firm in our faith in the midst of it all. But what comes of all this hardship? Why is standing firm and remaining faithful so important?
When we remain steadfast, constant, and firm in our faith it does not go unnoticed. God sees us keep faith and blesses us through the muck and grind of life in so many different ways. So often we think that being blessed means we will have more money, more ‘things’, perfect relationships, or fewer struggles. We think that by being blessed life will somehow just be easier. This is not what it is to be blessed, though.
Being blessed starts inwardly
Throughout scripture we see a constant theme that explains as we remain steadfast in faith we will experience increased peace and joy that surpasses our human understanding. This peace and joy then overflows out of us into our outward selves and henceforth to other areas of our lives, provisions, and relationships, which are then increasingly blessed as well.
So, to be blessed is really to receive God’s peace and joy, and to be loved, cared for, provided for, and transformed by God. It is God’s fingerprints on every day of our lives. Not only in the big things but also in every little detail of every day, shaped and molded for you by His hands. It is all a blessing.
As we let the blessing of God’s goodness transform our hearts, we begin to see all the additional ways God blesses our lives every day. Soften your heart, open your eyes, and see the wonders God has placed in your path, and through your faithfulness watch those blessings grow.
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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in God.
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
There is a strange peace in knowing that any moment could be your last and trusting God with your life nonetheless. This peace has the power to heal, humble, transform, and bring you closer to your calling than you ever imagined was possible. When faced with this strange peace, we must stand firm in it, knowing God is with us and will carry us through in His will and way.
The story of Job tells of circumstances where Job needed to make a decision to trust God, look forward to his heavenly fate whenever it may come, and put his family, friends, and self in God’s hands without wavering. God had taken care of him all his life and now all that he had was stripped away, his friends turned on him, his wife told him to curse God and die, his health was in terrifying condition. Job lost everything, was faced with what seemed to be certain death, and even still Job did something exceptional. Job stood firm in his faith and trust that God was in control, even in his terrible circumstances.
This week I found myself looking to Job for guidance in my own circumstances. I realized that God was trying to teach me to trust Him with my life and with my death, whenever that may come, and even beyond that; that whatever comes, my faith must stand firm in who God is; and that I must always trust God to be in control, no matter what my circumstances are.
I asked God what He wanted me to do and I kept hearing a resounding “do you trust me?” I chose to stand firm in my faith, in who I know God to be, and in the fact that God is in control of everything. No matter where He leads me I am going there with His blessing.
When we are faced with a challenge, suffering, fear, or even possible or certain death in this life we must stand firm in the fact that God is in charge. Oftentimes when we’re seeking it too much we do not see the point, blessing, or lesson and we fail to give God the reigns and let Him handle our situation.
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Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
