Thursday, January 31, 2013

It is Well

Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘ Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child? ’”And she answered, “ It is well.” ~ 2 Kings 4:26

The story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman is such a wonderful story. This woman and her husband took care of Elisha whenever he came in town. They fed him and gave him a room of his own where he could stay. Because of her generosity, Elisha wanted to bless her. She had no son so Elisha told her that around this time next year she would embrace a son (2 Kings 4:15). The woman conceived and bore a child just as Elisha had said. The child grew older but then one day he died.

You may think, "How horrible!" Elisha gave her a promise. The promise was fulfilled only to have the child die! Her reaction is what is so amazing about this story. She carried the child up to Elisha's room and placed him on the bed. She didn't even tell her husband that he had died. She immediately went to find Elisha. When her husband asked why she was going to Elisha on this particular day, she said, "It is well." When approached by Elisha's servant and asked how everything was with herself, her husband, and her child, she said, "It is well."

How could she say that? Her child was laying at home dead and she says, "It is well"??

She knew that Elisha was the one who had given her the promise. She also had seen him accomplish the impossible before. She knew that he was a true man of God and she went to the one she knew could heal her son. She exercised her faith and her son was brought back to life.

Notice how she kept saying, "It is well." She didn't allow negative words to come out of her mouth. She walked by faith and not by sight. Yes, her son was dead, but she knew the power of God was able to raise her son. She was given a promise and was not about to let anything steal that promise.

We need to get that same attitude! Look at all the promises God has given us. We have His Word that is filled with promises. We need to embrace those promises and stop giving up every time something comes to try to steal our promise! We need to have boldness and use our authority when the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We are too quick to just say, "Well, this just must not be God's will for me." We have to stop falling for that lie! What does God's Word say? Then that's what you need to believe! It doesn't matter what it looks like. It doesn't matter what people around you are saying. You need to hold on to what God says! Stop talking about how bad it looks and start speaking the Word. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You are a child of God and He has promised that NO weapon formed against you shall prosper! Rise up, take your rightful place, and stop being intimidated by the enemy! You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ! Get mad at the enemy. Refuse to listen to his lies and remind him of the promises that are yours! Remind God what is already yours and be like Jacob and say, "I will not let You go unless you bless me!" (Genesis 32:26)

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Walk By Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

We live in a wonderful time. This world has progressed so much from what it used to be. We have so many luxuries that people have not always had, maybe even our grandparents or great grandparents. How convenient it is to wake up in the morning and turn on the light switch and we have light! We don't have to get up and light candles in order to see. We have electricity and it makes things so much easier!

Even though we can't actually "see" electricity, we have confidence that when we turn on the light switch, lights are going to come on. We exercise faith every time we flip that switch. If we flip the switch and the lights don't come on, then we get concerned. So our faith is not in being able to see the electricity. It's not even in being able to understand how electricity works. It's a simple fact of knowing that when you turn on the light switch, lights are going to come on.

Now it's the same with our faith in God. We don't have to be able to "see" Him or understand how He works. We just know that He is there. We know that His Word is true and we can take Him at His Word. When we are praying and believing for something, we don't have to hold the answer in our hand in order to believe. We simply know that He is faithful and will do what He said He would do. If we could see the answer or understand everything that God does, it wouldn't require faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." We have to stop thinking that our prayers are only answered when we see the result. Our prayers are answered when we pray. We keep walking by faith and continuing to believe until the answer is manifested.

There are so many people walking around with a defeated mentality because they haven't received their answer yet. God IS working on your behalf! Sometimes we have to wait on His timing. Timing is everything with God! Sometimes He is preparing us for something and it requires us to walk it out a little longer. Sometimes He's waiting on other people to get in the right position because our answered prayer and our attitude along the way is going to affect their lives. It's not our responsibility to try to figure out what God is doing. He only asks that we BELIEVE! When you pray, believe that you have received the answer. If the answer doesn't come immediately, keep believing. Keep speaking in accordance with the Word. It is very important that we speak the right words while we're "waiting." Wrong words can counteract our answered prayer. They can prolong the process or stop our answer all together.

Just believe! Walk by faith and not by sight! As easy as it is to believe that lights will come on when you turn on the switch, know that when you pray according to the Word, the power is turned that will bring your miracle! Your faith in the Word opens the door for you to receive every blessing God has for you!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Nothing Can Separate You From His Love

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

Every person is born with a deep inward desire to be loved. They want to be accepted. They want to feel like they are important and that they have value.

I believe many people who get caught in a cycle of addictive behavior turn to these lifestyles in an attempt to find acceptance. Maybe something has happened in their lives that has left them broken and feeling unimportant. Maybe they're dealing with shame from being sexually abused as a child. Maybe their parents physically abused them and they never felt loved. Or possibly these feelings stem from being in a broken home and they never had the love and support of both parents.

So many things can happen, even at an early age. Children are very vulnerable. They take things to heart and the good or bad things they experience can often determine the path they take in life. That is why it is so very important that we raise our children to know the Lord and to be secure in His love. If they don't know His love or feel accepted at home, they will search for it somewhere.

The awesome thing about God is that His very character is LOVE! That is who He is! If you were raised to know the Lord, you are probably already established in His love. But there's good news for those who didn't grow up knowing Him! Maybe you were one of those who found yourself searching for love in all the wrong places. Maybe you were deeply wounded at an early age and you just never felt like you measured up. I have good news for you! You are perfect in God's eyes! He loves you so much and He accepts you just as you are! He wants to take all that pain, guilt, and shame and give you a brand new life! You can stop searching. You don't have to rely on those drugs, alcohol, or another person to try to make yourself feel special. You ARE special! You are beautiful! You have greatness on the inside of you! You have a mighty purpose and His plan for your life is wonderful! You don't have to search anymore. Jesus is here to rescue you and give you the life that you've always dreamed of! Accept His love and discover your value. There is no one like you!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Show Others the Way

She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. ~ Proverbs 31:26 AMP

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is confident in who she is in Christ. She has dedicated her life to the Lord and she understands that it is only through Him that she can do anything. This woman has lived through some things. She has walked through difficult places and come out victorious. She has gained wisdom and knowledge through her own experiences and has come to know her God in such an intimate way.

There are so many women who have been through a lot during their time on this earth. They have endured hardship. They have fought the good fight of faith. The enemy has tried so hard to destroy them, but they are still standing! They are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ! However, many of them stay hidden behind the scenes and no one really knows their story. No one really sees what they've come through.

Our story is for God's glory! We go through things so that we can help others along the way. As God brings us through situations, we gain knowledge and wisdom. But that wisdom is not just for us alone. The Christian life is not about us. There is a world of hurting and dying people that need to know they can make it. They need us to share wisdom with them. They need us to take them by the hand and show them the way just as God has with us.

We all probably have someone who played a key role in helping us get to where we are today. Maybe someone that believed in us, shared what they had learned over the years, and spoke life into us. It is our responsibility to do the same. We need to find someone who is going through a rough time and pour into them. We need to train them and teach them. We need to share things with them that will encourage them and give them strength to keep going.

It is the responsibility of older women to teach and train the younger women who are coming up and starting a family. They need to see examples of godly women loving their families and being good wives and mothers. They need to see what stability looks like within a home. Or if you're a single mom, pour into another single mom and show her ways to make the most of her life. Help her to know that she can raise those kids and be a successful mom. If you're single and God just hasn't brought the right man into your life right now, pour into other single women and teach them how to be content with where they are. Show them that they can find joy in God and still be confident in who they are even while waiting on a mate.

Whatever situation you are in and whatever you've been through, pour into others who are in that same situation. Share wisdom with them. When we do that, we can make life easier for them and keep them from making the same mistakes we did. God has already placed some people in your path. They are your assignment. Take them under your wing and help them on their journey!


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Are you a Peacemaker?

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. ~ Hebrews 12:14-15

There are so many things that come into our lives that attempt to rob our peace. Job situations, health issues, financial problems, marital troubles, rebellious family members...the list could go on and on. Most of these we can't control. It is our responsibility to pray and seek the will of God and trust that He will meet our need.

But what about some of the issues we have with people? What about that relationship that ended bitterly because that person hurt you or lied about you? As we deal with people, we are going to get hurt. We are all human. Not only will we get hurt, but at some point we will hurt others. Not intentionally, but that's just part of the life we live in.

So the question is what do we do after we've been hurt? Do we hold a grudge? Do we talk bad about that person to everyone else? Do we attack their character and try to plead our case so that others will feel sorry for us? Do we continue talking about them long after the incident is over?

Hebrews 12:14 says to pursue peace with ALL people. That means those who have hurt us. Now we don't have to continue in close fellowship with them, but in our hearts we have to let it go. We have to forgive and move on. We have to stop talking about it and trying to get everyone to turn against them. If we're allowing something that someone has done to us to steal our peace, then we need to deal with it. If not, it will spread like a cancer and it will destroy us. We will become bitter and angry and we can't afford to let those feelings continue.

Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." The Amplified version says the "makers and maintainers of peace." While we can't control a lot of situations that come into our lives, we can control our attitude toward others. We have to choose to do what's right even if it seems unfair. Even if it hurts. Even when those people have severely wounded us. When we choose to let it go and let God handle it, we release ourselves from a prison and are then free to continue carrying out the plan God has for us. Don't get stuck in a situation and forfeit the beautiful plan God has for you. Choose to be a peacemaker and don't allow anyone to steal your joy!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Nothing is Too Hard for God

Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. ~ Jeremiah 32:17

Today is a great day!! This is the day that my life on this earth began! As I celebrate my birthday, I would like to begin this day reflecting on what an awesome God we serve! I look back over my life and all He has done. I think about this beautiful world we live in...the gorgeous sunrise to greet us each morning and the beautiful sunset that says goodnight. I think about the beautiful blue skies and that warmth of the sunshine. And don't forget all the beautiful flowers that bloom in the Spring that declare a new season of life. And the birds that sing their hearts out in the morning as they go about their busy day.

Then I think back to all the great stories that I've heard about mighty moves of God and how He transformed lives and performed the miraculous. I have my own personal testimony of what God has done in my life and how He has always been faithful. I also have the experiences of others that remind me what a mighty God He is!

When things come into our lives that seem impossible, remember...NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD! Remember what He has already done in your life! Look through the Bible and read stories of His mighty deliverance! Think about stories you have heard from others. Remember that He is the God who SPOKE this world into existence. All it takes is one word to turn your situation around! He is no respecter of persons!

Do you really believe He will do what He said He would do? Have you really put all of your trust in Him? Or when you pray about something are you thinking in the back of your mind that your situation will never change? James 1:6 says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Get rid of all the doubt. Understand that God loves you and that everything He does is motivated by love! Nothing is too hard for Him! Place your situation in His hands and know that the God who spoke the world into existence is the same God that will intervene in your situation! He is faithful and He's always on time!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Your Will Be Done

Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do YOU want?" ~ Matthew 26:39 (MSG)

Are you one of those people who like to fix everything? I am! If I see someone going through something, I want to make it all better. I want to fix all their problems. When situations come into my life or my family's lives, I naturally want to look for a solution. My mind wants to reason everything out and come up with a plan.

Jesus was about to face the most horrific circumstances that anyone could possibly face. He knew what was awaiting Him. He was about to be beaten, tortured, and ridiculed which would all lead up to His death on the Cross. He asked God to get Him out of this situation. He had the power to turn the whole thing around. But He knew there was more to it than His own personal convenience. He knew there was a far greater purpose than the torture that was awaiting Him. He was so committed to His purpose that in spite of His desire to be delivered from this situation, He was willing to submit to God's will. He was willing to follow through and endure everything because He knew we needed Him. He knew we would have no hope if He didn't carry out the plan. He loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us.

I think about that sometimes when I'm faced with difficult situations. I'm crying out, "God, please get me out of this!" but deep in my heart I know there's a greater purpose. It's not about me. It's not about you. God's eternal purpose for our lives is far greater than the temporary pain we are facing. He needs us to follow through so that lives will be reached and transformed. He needs us to be committed to our purpose and out of a heart filled with love and compassion, carry out the plan that we were created for. There are people we will encounter that will not be reached by anyone else. They are our assignment. They are watching us. They are paying close attention to our reaction to situations. They are watching Jesus in our lives. They need to see His glory in our lives. If we never have to walk through the dark valley, they won't see Him the way they need to. Anyone can smile and be an encouragement to others while the sun is shining. But what happens when everything in the world is coming against you? Do you still keep smiling? Do you continue to be an encouragement and show others the way?

The storms we face are the perfect setting for God to be revealed in and through us. The pain is only temporary. The end result will be worth it all! Stick to the plan...people are depending on you!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

He Cares About Where You Are

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. ~ 1 Peter 5:6-7

You just never know what life is going to throw your way. We can be going along just fine and in a matter of moments our lives can be drastically changed. I was listening to the radio while I was on my way home yesterday and someone called in a prayer request. Two weeks ago this man was outside playing football with his family and had no problems that he was aware of. Within that two week period, he was placed in the hospital where he was diagnosed with a mass in his stomach, lymphoma, and was now having to go through chemo.

I wish I could explain why things like that happen. I wish I had all the answers and could make sense of the things that we have to go through. Even though I can't tell you why you're facing whatever it is that has come into your life, I can guarantee you that God is there with you and He loves you! This scripture tells us that He cares about us affectionately and watchfully! He knows exactly where you are and He is watching over you! He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you!

He wants us to trust Him. He asks that we cast ALL of our care on Him. Give Him your anxieties. Give Him your worries. Let Him take care of those things that you are concerned about. Once you give them to Him, leave them there. Let Him carry that load for you. He doesn't want you living day to day worried about the outcome of your situation. He's got it under control. You have to believe that He loves you and then be secure in that love. He is not punishing you. He is not trying to destroy you. HE LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY! NOTHING can ever change His love for you! You have to get that and never allow the enemy to convince you otherwise!

God is doing a much deeper work through this than what you can see. As I look back over my life, I can honestly say that I am truly thankful for ALL the hard places God has brought me through. It may have hurt beyond anything I've ever experienced but I can look back and see where He changed me through every trial! A dear friend just received a bad report from the doctor this week and it makes me thankful for the road I've had to walk for the past 3.5 years with my health. If God had instantly taken me out of this situation, I would not have the compassion that I have now for those who are dealing with health problems. Because I'm having to walk it out and wait for God's perfect timing, I understand what they are dealing with. I understand the emotions, the fear, the uncertainty that tries to come and steal your peace. I also understand that God is always faithful and as we draw closer to Him during these times, we gain such a revelation of Him and an intimacy that can never be taken away from us! Our relationship with God will flourish if we will surrender to His will and choose to let our situation make us better and not bitter!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

What Are You Thinking About?

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. ~ Isaiah 26:3

What do you do when a situation comes into your life that is difficult and just too much to handle? Do you find yourself thinking about the situation often? I don't know about you, but I have to work very hard to control my thoughts. If I'm not careful, I will find myself replaying the same negative junk over and over in my mind and when this happens, I lose my peace.

God is our peace and we are promised in Isaiah 26:3 that we will have perfect peace if our mind is stayed on Him. That means we have to make a conscious effort to stop thinking about the bad stuff! The more we keep thinking about it, the more we will find our joy and peace fading away.

So what do we do when we have bills to pay and there's no money in the bank? What is our response when we get a bad report from the doctor? What about when our lost loved ones seem to get meaner and meaner? Those negative thoughts will try to come but we must remember that God is greater! We must turn to the Word and remind ourselves of His promises. Instead of replaying the negative stuff over and over, meditate on the Word and keep replaying it over and over. Speak the Word out loud over our situation. The more we focus on God and His Word, we will find ourselves maintaining perfect peace no matter what is going on around us! Peace is not contingent upon circumstances...it comes from a knowledge of Who He is! It comes when we truly believe that He is bigger and greater than anything that can come our way! It comes when we believe that He causes ALL things to work together for our good! No matter what is going on, we have to KNOW that He is working on our behalf and He will make all things beautiful in its time!

God is good ALL the time! He is constant. His Word will remain forever. It will not return void. It is the one sure thing that we can stand on. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is our God...our Creator...our Redeemer...our Strong Tower...our Mighty Fortress...our Deliverer...our Prince of Peace....Lord of Lords....Alpha and Omega...the Beginning and the End...He is the Great I AM!! He is Jehovah!! He is all you need!! Never forget His goodness! Know He is always there and when you understand that He is walking through this storm with you, you will never have to fear or feel all alone! He is with you all the way to the very end! Keep your mind on Him and rest in His peace!

Monday, January 21, 2013

The Battle is the Lord's

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ~ 1 Samuel 17:45

I love the story of David and Goliath. Here is a young boy who knew his God! He was passionate about his relationship with God! He saw a need, and he boldly approached the enemy and was prepared to fight. He didn't let his age, size, or inexperience stop him. He didn't let the insults of his brothers or Goliath hinder him. He didn't try to be something that he was not. Saul clothed him with his armor which David couldn't even walk in. David removed Saul's armor and faced Goliath with nothing but a sling, five smooth stones, and His God!

In the natural, the odds were clearly against David. But David had a relationship with God. He knew what His God was able to do. He remembered how God had been with him and helped him defeat the lion and the bear. He understood that he couldn't rely on his own strength but he had to trust in the strength of the Lord. It was the Lord who would give him victory. The Lord would fight for him! In spite of every obstacle that was against David, he walked away victorious that day because he chose to trust in God's abilities instead of looking at his own inabilities.

What a valuable lesson we can learn from this young boy! We need to learn to trust in God's abilities instead of our own. God will fight the battles for us if we will yield to Him and let Him do things His way. Look at all you've gone through in your life. Everything may not be perfect, but you're still here! Look at all the times the enemy tried to destroy you. But God kept you! He fought for you and didn't let the enemy take you out because you have a great purpose! Remember how God provided when you had a need. Remember when you were sick and no one knew what to do but God healed you. Remember those times God protected you when you were going down the road and almost had a wreck. Throughout your lifetime, the enemy has tried to destroy you more times than you can count, and a lot of times that you were not even aware of! But God has always been faithful and He will continue to be faithful!

When faced with a situation, remember what God has done in your life. Let past victories stir up your faith and help remind you of God's faithfulness. Then boldly approach the situation just as David did Goliath. Go in the strength of the Lord, not your own strength. Walk in obedience to God and watch Him fight on your behalf. With God on your side, you can't lose! It's a fixed fight! Every battle has already been won! God is undefeated! He is the Champion! How comforting it is to know He's on our side!! We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ!!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

No Excuses

Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” ~ Exodus 4:10-12

Can you imagine all the emotions Moses must have been facing right now? He had been in the back of the desert tending his father-in-law's flock where he had an encounter with God. God called to him from the midst of a burning bush! Not only did he just have a conversation with God, but He also told Moses that He wanted him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. He wanted to send Moses to Pharaoh where he would ask him to let the people go.

WOW! Talk about an interruption to his normal daily routine! Moses was minding his own business and now he was being called to lead a group of people out of Egypt! Immediately Moses comes up with every excuse not to obey God. First he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" (Ex. 3:11) Then he tries to convince God that they won't listen to him or believe that God appeared to him. God performs miraculous signs to prove that He will be with him but then Moses says that his speech is not eloquent and asks for God to send someone else with him to speak so he won't have to. At this point, God became angry with him.

Have you ever felt unworthy to carry out the task that God has asked you to do? Do you find yourself making excuses and telling God that someone else would be better at this job? It is very important that we keep our eyes on God and stop looking at ourselves. God sees the whole big picture and if He asks us to do something, we have to know that He has already equipped us to do it! We must stop looking at our inabilities and focus on what God is able to do through us! It is His strength within us and the power of His Spirit that will cause us to be successful in whatever He asks us to do.

We also have to remember that it's not about us. We are His vessels and He wants to work through us to impact our world. He wants to use our voice, our hands, our gifts, our talents, our abilities to bring hope and healing to a hurting world. If we refuse to step out in obedience, we are choosing to let others remain in their prison. We are saying that we are more concerned about what people think of us than we are the salvation, healing, and deliverance of those who need something from the Lord. "No" is not an option! Excuses are not allowed! God created YOU to accomplish a great work for His Kingdom and there are people in your life that are depending on you to obey and fulfill your purpose! He has already prepared the way! It's up to you to say, "Yes Lord, send ME!"

Saturday, January 19, 2013

You Are His Masterpiece

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. ~ Psalm 139:14

We live in a world that focuses so much on external beauty and appearance. We can't turn on the TV without being bombarded with images of the "perfect" woman or man. As we stand in line to pay for our groceries, we are surrounded with magazines that have images of the "perfect beach body" or the "worst beach body." Plastic surgeons are becoming millionaires because so many people want to alter their bodies. Elementary and middle school students are already on diets and some even starving themselves because they think they are "fat."

The enemy has greatly deceived us. While we are supposed to take care of our bodies with a healthy diet, exercise, plenty of rest, etc, we can't let our outward appearance become an obsession. We can't live constantly comparing ourselves to others wishing we looked more like them. I know many women are guilty of this but I was actually surprised years ago when a young man at my church confessed that all the images of men that he sees on TV and in magazines makes him feel like he just doesn't measure up.

This is why it is so important that we have an intimate relationship with our Father and spend time studying His Word. As we dig into the Word, we begin to see ourselves the way God sees us. We read scriptures like Psalm 139:14 and we discover that we are beautiful! We have been perfectly made by God! We are the apple of His eye and He doesn't want us to be like anyone else! He wants us to love who we are because if we don't, we are despising what He has made! When we speak negatively about ourselves, we are speaking negatively about God's creation! We are saying that He messed up when He made us. God doesn't make mistakes and everything He does is perfect!

Don't allow the enemy to keep deceiving you. Find out who God says you are, not who the world thinks you are. See yourself through His eyes, not your own. Know that you are very beautiful and precious in His sight. He is well pleased with you and He wants you to be proud of the beautiful person that you are!

Friday, January 18, 2013

God Already Knows

And the Lord said, “ Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ~ Luke 22:31-32

In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus is having a conversation with Peter. Peter exclaims that he is ready to go with Jesus, to prison and to death. But Jesus already knows the outcome. He knows Peter will deny Him. In Peter's mind, he probably had no idea that he would react in that way when the time came. In his heart of hearts, I believe he had full intentions of being by Jesus' side no matter what came against Him.

Not only did Jesus know that Peter would deny Him; He also knew what would take place in Acts 2! After they were all filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and boldly preached and 3000 souls were saved! Miraculous signs and wonders were performed through Peter and in Acts 3 he preached again which resulted in 5000 souls being saved!

Jesus saw the whole big picture! What Peter thought was an ultimate failure that completely devastated him, God turned it around! He didn't disqualify Peter because of his weakness or imperfections. No, in spite of his failure when he denied Him, God had still chosen him to accomplish a great work for His Kingdom!

Maybe you have failed God at some point. Maybe you've had your own moment where you "denied" Jesus. Maybe He asked you to do something but you let fear stop you. Jesus sees the whole big picture! He knew you would fail Him. But He also knows the calling that He has placed on your life! Just because you failed at something does not make you a failure! Pick yourself up and keep going! You are not disqualified! It's not over! Let go of the things in the past and move on to your destiny! God wants to perform great and mighty things through you! Yield yourself to Him and watch what He can do through a life that is totally surrendered to His will!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

He Will Fight For You

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” ~ Exodus 14:14

One of the hardest things to do when we're facing opposition is to be quiet. We feel the need to take matters into our own hands. We verbally attack whatever or whoever is coming against us. But the one thing that we need to remember is that we make things worse when we take things into our own hands.

God is well able to take care of our problems. He doesn't need our help. However, He does require our cooperation. Oppositions are opportunities to apply the Word to our lives. What does the Word say about the situation we are facing? Someone else may be in the wrong but how does God tell us to handle it? What is our reaction supposed to be?

When a situation arises, we must immediately go to God in prayer and ask for wisdom and strength to do the right thing. We must also go to the Word. The Word will give us knowledge and equip us to stand against the trial we are facing. But just reading the Word is not enough. We have to apply it to our lives for it to have any effect. We must use this as an opportunity to build our spirit man and crucify our flesh. Our flesh will always fight to remain in control and have its way, but we have to say "No" and do the right thing, even if it hurts!

When we cooperate with God and trust that He will bring us through this situation, He will fight for us. He will take care of our problems. But sometimes the problem we are facing is not the biggest issue. He is more concerned about our character and our testimony. This problem is not there to destroy us but to build us. God will use these difficult times to work on areas of our lives where we need some help. As we work with Him and obey His voice, He does a deep internal work and slowly we become more like Him! The whole purpose is to make us like Him...to transform us into His image! As we go through this process, we are constantly changing and before long when people look at us, they will see Him! No longer will we be the same person we used to be! We are here to be His representatives on this earth. He will use whatever He has to in order to bring about that change in our lives.

Oh how exciting to know that daily we are looking more like our Father! I don't know about you, but that is overwhelming to me!! To know that He has enough confidence in us to allow us to represent Him to a lost and hurting world is such an honor!! May we never take it lightly! We have a great purpose and my prayer is that we will fully cooperate with Him so that His perfect will can be fulfilled on this earth!


Monday, January 14, 2013

God is our Hope

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. ~ Romans 15:13 AMP

Have you ever hoped or wished for something? We use those words a lot..."I hope I get the job" or "I wish I could do better in school." We use these words but don't really think about what we're saying. We express our "hope" for something but most of the time it's just a word with no real expectation involved.

Read Romans 15:13 again. God is the God of our hope! We are supposed to be filled with all joy and peace in believing. And by the power of the Holy Spirit we are to abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope! WOW! That is powerful!

The Greek word for HOPE is elpis. It means to anticipate, usually with pleasure; expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence: - faith, hope

"Hope" should not be a word that we just use when we want something to change in our lives. This is not something that just comes naturally. It should be a deep inner knowing that comes from the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us! As we pray and seek God regarding a situation, we must have a confident expectation that He is working on our behalf. We must anticipate that change will come and know that He hears our prayers and will answer them. If the answer does not come when we think it should, don't lose hope. God is still working! His timing is always perfect! We can't see the whole big picture and what He's accomplishing behind the scenes. It's not just about having our prayer answered the way we think it should be answered. It's about God's will be done in our lives as well as the lives of others.

Keep expecting! Keep believing! Delayed is not denied! Don't lose hope and allow the enemy to convince you that you will remain in this place forever. It's a process and some things we just have to walk through. In many situations, we gain more by walking THROUGH it than being delivered OUT of it. Our character is challenged in the difficult places. We get to know God better. We gain a greater understanding of the Word. It becomes personal to us and He begins to give us revelation.

Remember, God is your hope. He is faithful and true to His Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to cause you to overflow with hope! Fully expect that God will do what He said He would do and don't let go of your promise!





Sunday, January 13, 2013

God Sees Your Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Many times we go through life and we judge people based on what we see. We may even question why God would use someone because all we see is their struggles and weaknesses.

How many times have we asked God how He could possibly use us? We know ourselves better than anyone and we know the deep dark secrets that no one else knows. We know what our struggles are. Others may see our struggles or we may do good at hiding the truth from everyone else. We can't ignore that we have these issues. And we know God knows the truth about us. So why would He want to use us to make a difference in our world? How could He possibly use us?

This is what I love so much about God! He knows us better than we know ourselves! Yet in spite of all the bad that we see in our own lives, He looks at our heart! He knows what He created us for and He knows that all of our struggles and weaknesses don't disqualify us. They simply allow Him to work through us and reveal His glory! He loves working through imperfect people who are real and have issues. Our issues cause us to depend on Him. If we had it all together and never wrestled with anything, we may feel that we didn't need Him anymore. Pride would come in and rob us of the calling that God has for our lives. We have to learn to rely on His strength which is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Don't despise the things in your life that try to trip you up and cause you to stumble. His grace is sufficient and if you will surrender them to Him, He will help you. He will guide you by His Spirit and instead of being controlled by those things in the flesh, you will walk in obedience to the Spirit. Those things may try to stay in control, but you don't have to walk in that way anymore! You are a brand new creation! Old things have passed away! All things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Just because you are still tempted in areas does not mean you are bound by these things! You are free and whom the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36) Continue walking in that freedom! Continue relying on Him to guide you each and every day! Remember that He sees your heart and He wants to bring out the very best in and through you!! You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)




Friday, January 11, 2013

You Were Made for So Much More

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. ~ Ephesians 2:10

Many of us had big dreams as children. Or maybe as we became adults and started walking with the Lord we had visions of doing great things for the Him. Deep inside each of us there's something that we are passionate about, something that we know we're supposed to be doing.

As time goes by, we may start walking in an area where we are gifted. We work hard on that area and we get really good at it. We enjoy it. It is comfortable to us. But God has more! He is always working to develop us. He always wants to push us past our level of comfort.

Look back to the vision God has given you. Are you only fulfilling a part of it? What else do you know in your heart that you are supposed to do?

When we start trying to tackle new territory, the enemy will try to bring fear. He doesn't mind you staying in your comfort zone because he knows you were made for more. He knows the greatness God has placed inside of you and he will do whatever he can to get you to settle.

We will never feel fully prepared. But we will not see the provision until we step out in faith and God will meet us there! Also, we may have been praying for a long time for certain things to take place in our own lives. What if we are blocking the flow of our blessings and the manifestation of our promises because we are not allowing the Spirit to flow through us in the way we know He should be? Our answers may be right there but until we choose to get out of our comfort zone and fully pursue our purpose, we will remain stuck in the same place and never see all of the promises come to pass in our lives. When we allow the Lord to have full access to our lives and we become a vessel that He can flow through to accomplish His will for this earth, then we open the floodgates for His blessings to flow into our own lives!

Say YES to the Lord today and refuse to allow fear to cause you to settle where you are! You were made for so much more and now is the time that you step out in faith and do what you were created to do!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

His Grace is Sufficient

And He said to me, “ My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How often do we feel that we just don't have what it takes? How many times do we find ourselves in situations that are just too big for us to handle?

That is exactly where God wants us! You see, some of us have control issues and we like to be in charge. We like to prove that we're the boss and want things done our way. We have life all planned out. We love that feeling of being in charge and feeling like we have it all together. The only problem with that is we begin depending on ourselves and our own efforts instead of God. We rest in our strength and forget that it is His strength that we need to rely on.

When we have this type of personality and have everything all planned out, we get frustrated when we can't see what tomorrow holds. We don't really know what God's doing and we start trying to think ahead to next week, next month, next year. It causes great stress because we're not going to be able to figure it out. God doesn't want us figuring everything out. We walk by faith and not by sight!

God wants us to walk closely with Him every single day. He will lead us and guide us. He will give us the wisdom we need for that day. His grace is sufficient for each day and as trials come, we will discover that our strength is found in Him. We're not strong enough to handle these things. We don't have the knowledge it takes. Then He begins to reveal Himself through us! His strength is made perfect in our weakness and as people observe our lives and our reactions to situations, they see Him in us!

He's got it all figured out! Stop trying to prove how strong you are and trying to impress Him. He wants you to rest in Him. He wants you to rely on His grace and His strength. Doing this will lift that heavy burden you've been carrying around. He wants you to enjoy your life and as you trust in Him for every step you take, life can be so fulfilling! Give it to Him and start enjoying the abundant life that He has promised you!


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Our Peace

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~ John 14:27

When we look around the world today, there are so many things that can cause us to be afraid. There is so much sickness. The unemployment rates keep rising. People don't have the resources to take care of their families. All kinds of disasters and tragedies are taking place everywhere we look. We used to hear about bad things happening far away in other states or other countries, but now they are happening right next door. How are we supposed to process everything that is taking place?

While we may never understand why things happen the way they do, we have a promise that Jesus has given us. He has given us His peace and He has encouraged us to not let our hearts be troubled or afraid. You may say that this is easier said than done. That is true if we're not walking closely with Him and we're trying to handle life all by ourselves. We have to surrender to Him and depend on Him daily. We have to seek after Him with all of our heart and trust Him when things don't make sense.

Peace doesn't come by just knowing there is a God out there. Anyone can believe in God, but we must have a relationship with Him to truly enjoy all the benefits that come with salvation. Just going to church doesn't mean we have a relationship with Him. He wants us to serve Him out of love and to rely on Him for every decision we make. He wants us to study His Word which will gives us direction for our lives.

Many of us have a GPS that we use when we travel. What good does it do if we don't turn it on or put in the address of the destination we're trying to reach? It just sits there and serves no purpose and won't help us at all. The same goes for the Word. It is packed full of promises and instructions to help us in our daily walk. But if we never open up the Word or apply it to our lives, we're not going to benefit from having a Bible. It's all right there for us but until we make it a part of our lives, we will live in ignorance of what is actually ours. As children of God, there is so much that God has already provided for us. It's up to us to seek Him and find out what belongs to us. Don't walk around in fear and dread of each day. Jesus has given you His peace and your heart doesn't have to be afraid!

Monday, January 7, 2013

The Wilderness Experiences

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. ~ Luke 4:1-2

Have you ever been in a place where you thought to yourself, "Lord, what in the world are You doing? Do You have any idea what's going on in my life right now?"

I wonder if Jesus had any thoughts like this? He had been baptized by John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-22) Then, the next thing we see is that He is filled with the Holy Spirit but led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil. I can imagine Him saying something like this..."OK God, You just told me You were well pleased with Me, and now You send me out into the wilderness to fight the enemy? This is not what I expected!" Have you ever felt that way?

Jesus was led out into the wilderness to prepare Him for His ministry. He went through this period of being tempted by the devil and He won as He used the Word to defeat the enemy. The next time we see Jesus, He returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and He begins teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, and performing all kinds of miracles.

God does the same thing with us. We find ourselves in the wilderness and a lot of times the enemy starts trying to convince us that we've done something wrong that caused us to be in this place. We may think that God is mad at us. We wrestle with all the wrong thoughts when in reality, sometimes God Himself led us there to prepare us! What kind of struggle are you in? What is the enemy tempting you with? That may be the very thing that God wants you to use to help others. If you're being fought physically with sickness, etc, He may be preparing you to minister to others who are sick. We must change our perspective and find out what God is trying to teach us while we're in the wilderness. We must also find out how He wants us to use the knowledge that we've gained.

God doesn't get pleasure out of watching us suffer. There's a purpose for our pain. He wants to use us to impact our world and if we will allow Him to do a complete work in us and we will learn to cooperate with Him, we will be amazed at the work He does in and through us. Our wilderness experiences will completely transform us if we will surrender to His will and trust Him to lead us every step of the way! These experiences will equip us to reach more people than we could ever imagine! Remember, it's not about us! God has a plan and He wants to use you to change your world!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Wisdom

For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. ~ Proverbs 8:35

Have you ever been in a situation and you just didn't know what to do? Sometimes life throws some things our way and we really don't know which direction we are supposed to take.

James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." How encouraging to know that we can ask God for wisdom and He will give it to us! However, we must read on. James 1:6-7 continues..."But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

When we ask God for wisdom and direction for our lives, do we really ask in faith? Are we truly seeking Him for direction or do we just throw some meaningless words in the air hoping that He will come down and fix everything? We must understand that God wants us to have wisdom. He wants to lead and guide us in every step we take. Walking with Him is not supposed to be a mystery. He loves us and it is His desire to show us things and to share His heart with us. We have to make sure that we are seeking Him. We have to make sure that we are laying aside all the hindrances and distractions and seeking Him with an undivided heart.

Proverbs 8:35 says that if we find wisdom, we find life and obtain favor from the Lord. That sounds to me like He wants us to have wisdom! He wants us to enjoy abundant life and to walk in His favor! That is part of His plan and that comes with walking intimately with Him.

Make it a point as you begin this new year to start seeking the Lord as never before. Be serious about your relationship with Him and may He be your first priority. Go to Him first, not as a last resort. He holds your future in His hands and it is His desire to let His favor and blessings overtake you!


Saturday, January 5, 2013

With All Your Heart

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:12-13 AMP

Years ago the Lord gave me this illustration...

You're up one morning and you're all ready to head to work. You have everything in hand and you're about to go out the door. All of a sudden you realize you can't find your keys. You throw everything down and frantically start going through the house looking for your keys. You know your car is sitting outside but without those keys, you can't go anywhere. You don't want to be late for work so you are in a desperate search for them.

Then the Lord began to speak to my heart. He began to so sweetly tell me how He wants His children to seek after Him with that same desperation. He wants us to be so dependent on Him that we know we can't take one step without Him. He must be a vital necessity in our lives.

We put so much emphasis on earthly things. People panic if they walk out the door without their cell phone. We depend on so many things that really aren't a necessity. They have just become a priority in our lives. It's not wrong at all to enjoy all the technology and the things that make life much simpler. But we can't afford to put God on the back burner and think our cell phone or any other thing is more important than Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 says that we will find Him when we search for Him with all of our heart. As we begin each day, do we jump out of bed and frantically begin the busyness of the day that awaits us? Or do we slow down just to spend some time with Him before all the craziness begins? He wants to be first in our lives. If we will take the time each day to give Him our undivided attention, our day will go so much smoother! Begin your day with Him. Spend time in His Word and talking to Him. Also take time to listen to what He wants to say to you. You will be surprised at the strength that comes from spending time with Your Father. Don't try to tackle the day all alone. Don't walk out that door without ever acknowledging Him. Start your day with Him and let Him walk with you through everything the day brings. Then you will find joy, peace, and His grace that is sufficient for each day!

Friday, January 4, 2013

My Hiding Place

You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! ~ Psalm 32:7

As I sit here this morning meditating on the Lord and seeking a Word from Him that will give me strength for this day, I stumble across this verse. I have read it before, but today it has a special meaning for me.

You see, I am in the midst of a battle right now. As we go through life, we have our mountain experiences and then we have to go through the valley. We will never stay in either place. We are constantly moving and growing and it takes going through both places to reach our destination. There is a purpose for the mountain as well as the valley. We can't grow comfortable in either place. God does not want us to set up camp in these places. We have to keep moving and trusting that both places will help perfect the work that He is doing within us.

When I read this verse, it reminds me that trials are inevitable. They are going to come. But my comfort comes when I read that He is my hiding place! He preserves me from trouble! Though the war may be raging all around me, and sometimes even within, I can be assured that I am safe and secure in His arms! The winds may threaten to destroy me, but I shall not be moved!! He is my Strong Tower! My Fortress! My Rock! My Deliverer! My Healer! My Peace! Whatever I need Him to be for whatever situation comes my way, HE IS!! He is called the great I AM! He is EVERYTHING I NEED HIM TO BE!!

So what are you facing today? Maybe you're on the mountaintop and life is wonderful right now! Or maybe you're in your own valley. Take courage! He is surrounding you with songs and shouts of deliverance! He is your hiding place! The storm that is raging will not overtake you! This storm will pass and once again you will be standing on the mountaintop! Rest in His peace and let Him do a deep and thorough work inside of you. The most life changing moments I have experienced always came while in the valley, in the midst of the wilderness where no one but God could help me! We would never have great victories if we didn't have to go through trials. Trials strengthen us and help us know God better! They mold us and conform us to His image! It's always darkest right before the breakthrough so keep hanging on! I see the light beginning to break through the storm clouds! Sunny skies are on the way!!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Peace in the Storm

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “ Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ~ Mark 4:39

Just imagine the fear the disciples must have felt as they were out in the boat in the middle of a terrible storm. The Bible tells us that the waves were beating the boat to the point that the boat was starting to fill up with water. While this was going on, Jesus was asleep! Now I don't know about you, but I have to admit that I would probably be pretty afraid if I was in that boat about to sink. Drowning is not something that I would like to do!

Look at Jesus' response after they woke Him up. He rebuked the wind and commanded the storm to stop! It did exactly what He said. But that's not all. He looked at the disciples and said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40) Wow, what a blow! They were about to lose their lives and Jesus wants to question their faith!

The point is, they were NOT about to lose their lives! When we go by what we SEE, we forget that we already have the answer right there with us. We focus more on the storm instead of the solution. The disciples were focused on the storm and forgot that Jesus was right there in the boat with them. They allowed emotions to cause them to react with fear instead of calling out to Jesus and letting Him help them.

We do the same thing. The doctor may give us a bad report. Our kids may get in trouble. We may be having financial difficulty or our spouse may have walked out on us. We face situations on a daily basis and we have a choice to make. Are we going to be like the disciples and allow fear to overtake us? Or are we going to exercise our faith and cry out to Jesus? Jesus is our peace in the midst of the storm and He will help us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

We have to keep our minds on Him. We have to remember His Word and know that His Word will not return void! Don't try to handle the pressures of life all by yourself. Don't allow fear to consume you when something comes that you can't handle. Give it to Jesus and let Him speak peace to the storm! Rest in Him and trust that He will bring you safely through!


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Only Believe

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “ Do not be afraid; only believe.” ~ Mark 5:36

In the midst of all that life throws our way, it is so much easier to believe what we see with our eyes. We know that the Bible says, "By His stripes we are healed" but our body is still in pain. The Bible declares that "He will meet all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" but we have no money in the bank and they're about to turn our power off. We keep reminding ourselves that "no weapon formed against us will prosper" but we were wrongfully accused and let go from our job and everything seems to be going in favor of those who mistreated us.

So what do we do when we stand on the Word of God and everything still keeps going wrong? ONLY BELIEVE! No matter what happens, we have to keep believing. We have to take God at His Word and know without a doubt that it is true. Truth will prevail. We just have to keep believing and refuse to be moved by what we see!

Psalm 34:19 reminds us that "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all." It doesn't say we won't have to fight before we get there. It doesn't say when He will deliver us. It is a simple reminder that we WILL face lots of difficulties in this life. It doesn't mean we are out of God's will. It says "many are the afflictions of the RIGHTEOUS." And it promises that He will deliver us...we have to keep believing that He will deliver us in His way, in His time!

It's not our place to make the rules or have everything figured out. We will waste a lot of time of we spend our days trying to figure God out! In order to have peace, we must keep our mind on Him and know that He is working on our behalf. We have to keep believing that His Word is true regardless of what circumstances tell us. He is there and He will deliver us, either out of the situation or through it. Either way, He causes all things to work together for our good! Believe that He knows what He's doing and He will bring to pass His perfect will for your life!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today is the first day of a brand new year! Whatever happened last year is now in the past. Today is the beginning of a fresh new start!

As we go through life, years change. Seasons change. We have birthdays that mark another year that we've been alive. With each change, there is usually lots of excitement as we approach something "new." We celebrate on New Year's Eve to bring in the new year. We celebrate birthdays. We generally make a big deal out of these days.

There is another day we need to celebrate! When we give our heart to the Lord and make Jesus our personal Savior, this is cause for a huge celebration! When we become a Christian, we are a new creation! Whatever happened prior to that time is in the past forever. Whatever we did or whatever happened in our lives does not matter. We are completely forgiven. Our sins are removed from us and remembered no more. God washes us clean and we are made brand new! Now isn't that cause for celebration?!

We can stop worrying about what once was. It is over. From this day forward we can walk in newness of life. We can experience the abundant life God has for us. His mercies are new every day. As we start each new day, it's a brand new start with Him! He gives us strength and wisdom to go throughout our day. He leads us in the way we need to go. He walks with us. We can rest in His peace. He is continually transforming us and changing us so we begin taking on His character.

Accept this newness of life. Stop walking around under a load of condemnation because you don't feel like you "fit the part." His Word tells you that you are a new creation. Receive that by faith. It will take a while for your mind to be renewed according to the Word and for you to change your behavior, but that doesn't change the fact that you have already been made brand new! It is already done! It is finished! Now walk with Him and trust that He will help you every day to become more like Him!