Victory in Jesus

Through His victory over sin and death, Jesus overcame the flesh, the world, and the devil (Revelation 20:10). With Christ in us, we are also overcomers (1 John 5:4; Romans 6:6). This is something to shout about.

No matter what we experience, we are overcomers through Christ in us (Philippians 4:13). God uses trials to draw us closer to His presence in us, as well as closer to the significant people in our life. We grow spiritually, and we learn to hate anything that is contrary to God's ways.

We stand on Biblical convictions and live our life according to God's precepts and standards. Sin starts to grieve us as much as it grieves God, and we draw away from it in all of its forms.

We surrender to God all of our pride, selfishness, laziness, apathy, anger, fear, impatience, addictions, vengeance, hypocrisies, rebellion, doubts, lusts, envy, hatred, etc. (James 4:17).

We cooperate with God's Spirit as He replaces these sins with His fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control and faith (Galatians 5:22-23).

When problems arise, we run under the shelter of God's wings - our place of refuge and comfort (Psalm 17:8). We change our focus from our problem to the fact that God is in control and totally able to make us thrive regardless of the circumstances (Ephesians 3:20-21).

God makes it clear that we do not really have issues with the people in our life, but with powers and principalities that fight against us (Ephesians 6:12). We can rise above any conflicts with our mate, children, family, co-workers, friends, etc. by realizing that Satan wants to tear us apart.

Our Father calls us to work together to build a strong marriage, family, workplace, church and community. We stand against the darkness in the world that threatens to overcome us, by using God's Word to fortify our soul and spirit, and to strengthen our convictions as we enjoy our victory in Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for giving us the victory over sin, Satan and the world - through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us on Calvary's cross. Teach us to hate anything in this world that is contrary to Your Word and Your Truth. Help us to honor each other, to serve one another, and to live in meekness rather than pride - as we share Your Gospel with anyone who will listen (Acts 2:37-38, 22:16).

We want to stand together in life, to comfort and strengthen and help each other to live a blessed life in You. Thank You for saving our soul from sin, our marriage from divorce, our choices from degradation, etc. (Luke 4:18; John 5:34; Matthew 11:28; John 5:13-15). We trust in Your grace, and we thank You for Your healing of our body, soul and spirit, as well as for our unity with Your Trinity (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Luke 17:15-19).

Thought for the Day:

We submit to God while He works His power in us, and out of us to the world around us, and as He uses us to bring good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free.

- Luke 4:18

A Place of Healing

Whenever we offend each other, there is hurt. Unresolved hurt often sets the anger pot to boil on the back burner. The offense is like a splinter that festers and causes other negative emotions to erupt, which interrupts our feelings of love for one another.

We may continue to cram our unresolved feelings deeper inside of our subconscious mind; however, this results in more anger, bitterness, resentment, and sometimes even depression. We are not taking care of our self in this situation, and it may continue to happen.

Stuffing our feelings causes us to repeat our negative behavior. At some point, we will probably explode in anger in order to release the pent-up emotions. We do not intend to wound our spouse, child, etc.; yet we do.

If we use anger to relieve our own hurt, and to rid our soul of the intense pain we feel, we only cause others to feel the same disregard, abuse, desolation, anxiety, bitterness and anger that we do.  

It may be that we were hurt by something that happened in our childhood, or from some past issue that arose in our marriage, family, or at work, and which was never resolved.

Once the pain resurfaces, which it will always do, we explode all over again with more intensity than the immediate problem warrants. This causes the person, on whom we vented, to question our sanity, to wonder if we need a chill pill, or if we are having an emotional breakdown.

They withdraw or fight back, and this only escalates the difficult. If they, in turn, stuff their feelings, these emotions will erupt again at some time in the future, or fester in their subconscious mind and affect the way they feel about us.

Instead, when we face hurtful or angry feelings, we can ask God to reveal to us the root cause of these negative emotions. He will remind us of some hurdle from the past that we did not jump high enough to clear. This helps us to finally resolve that issue. www.transactionalprayer.

Making time to discuss the problem with the person(s) involved, and to mutually decide how to resolve the conflict is the next step. If the conflict cannot be resolved, we can then agree to disagree, or we can find a third option, on which we can both agree.

Preventing future hurt is not always possible. We can clean up spilled milk, but it is not wise to put the milk back into the container. It will only spoil the whole carton.

Festering, unresolved conflicts will affect our body, soul and spirit, by causing us to feel sick inside, and unable to continue to function normally. God will not force anyone to change, to behave differently, or to feel remorse for his/her behavior.

When a person makes a choice that is harmful to us, or to which we cannot agree, then we can pray about how God would want us to make our own choices to protect our self, and to possibly avert further hurt in that area.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to change our focus about an issue that cannot be resolved. As the Serenity Prayer advises, we ask You to give us the wisdom to discern the difference between what we can change and what we cannot change, and then to petition You to change it if it is not Your will. Help us to look at another person's obstructive conduct in a different light, accepting it as it is, for what it is, and choosing to love each other in spite of our differences.

Then, every time the behavior resurfaces, remind us that it is an inevitable part of our life, and there is nothing we can do to change it. Therefore, we accept it and move on, as we trust You to give us the strength to navigate these matters, and to choose to love one another in spite of these conflicts. Thank You for caring so much about every aspect of our life, and for giving us Your Spirit to provide us with the mind of Christ and His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Thought for the Day:

The goal of discussing our issues is not to place blame, but to bring our relationship to a place of healing, unity, and intimacy that will help us to feel understood, validated, accepted and connected again; forgiving one another repairs a wounded relationship, and praying together for God to bring resolution to some impasse is the key to restoring our cherished intimacy.

God's Rest is Best - Part One

It is so easy to obey God. As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us - makes us holy, we no longer have our own desires, but we concentrate on His plans for each moment of our day.

God writes His laws upon our heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 2:15). There is no need to memorize His laws, or make a list and keep every jot and tittle of it. We simply pray without ceasing and follow the Spirit's guidance each minute of our time on this earth.

God mentioned that if we really love Him, then we will obey Him (1 John 2:3, 5:3). This is such a simple and wise request, because we avoid so many trials and ultimate destruction by keeping His precepts, rather than following our own human reasoning (Luke 10:41-42).

As authentic Believers, through faith in Jesus, we are also children of our Father God (Galatians 3:26), the bride of Christ (Isaiah 54:5), His church (Ephesians 5:27), His body (1 Corinthians 12:27) and bond servants to His wishes (Romans 1:1).

As we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:15-35), we enter God's Rest (Hebrews 4:3, 10; Psalm 62:1). We say good-bye to anxiety, worry, stress, deprivation, brokenness, etc., and we say hello to God's fulfillment through His will and way for each of us (Psalm 4:4).

When we pray without ceasing each moment of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), we consult the Lord for His direction, wisdom and strength (Proverbs 3:5-6). We relax as if we are swaying comfortably in a hammock. 

We still the whirl of the thoughts in our mind that threaten to overwhelm us, and we listen quietly for the direction of God's Holy Spirit (Psalm 46:10; Habakkuk 2:20; 1 Kings 19:12; Exodus 14:14).  

We focus on the next assignment that we have from our Maker.  We live as if we are tubing down a river, floating in the safety of the arms of God, as the Lord's current moves us along to His destination for each moment of our day. 

Prayer:

Father God, Your peace and joy fill every fiber of our body, soul and spirit, and we totally surrender every thought, plan and goal of our own to You (Psalm 62:5, 131:1-2). We consider Your wonders and Your blessings to us, and our heart fills with gratitude too momentous for mere words (Job 37:14). We do not need to fight our battles alone, if we stand firm in hope and we wait on Your guidance (2 Chronicles 20:17; Exodus 14:13).

We have needs in our human body and soul, and You encourage us to bring our requests to You with faith in Your faithfulness (Psalm 5:3; Philippians 4:6). Our whole being waits silently for Your direction, with hope and assurance in Your wise counsel (Psalm 130:5; Habakkuk 2:1). You alone are God over every nation of the earth, and we look to You for Your guidance for us during each moment of every day (Isaiah 37:16).

Thought for the Day:

If our thoughts, plans and desires intrude on our rest in God, we simply write them down in our journal to pray about or to consider at another time; otherwise we gain strength and encouragement as we wait on the Lord and enter into His rest.

- Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 4:2-3

God's Unconditional Love

For the first 10 years of my walk with the Lord, I could not believe that God could love me. I felt flawed, damaged and tolerated at best. I believed Satan's lie that I was unlovable.

I thought I had to earn love from God and others. I used my good works to accomplish this (Galatians 3:1-3). I knew that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but my thinking was pathetically impaired.

The Lord God of all creation is always compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love, mercy, grace and kindness (Exodus 34:6). He is eternal, and His love is without end (1 John 3:1-24).

I memorized many of the Bible verses about God's unconditional love, but I still did not believe that they applied to me. Every day, I strove to earn God's love by my service for Him (Ephesians 2:9-10); yet, I felt that I could never be good enough to earn His love.

One day God revealed to me that my thoughts were true, and that there was no way that I would ever be good enough to deserve His love; however, He made it clear that He already loved me, even when I was still lost in sin (Romans 5:8).

Also, He still loved me even when I chose to do my own thing, rather than to walk in His will for me. Unconditional love means just that…there are no conditions. God does request that if we love Him, we keep His commandments (John 14-15). However, this is not a prerequisite for Him to love us.

When I faced the truth that no one would ever be good enough to earn God's love, freedom and joy drenched my soul.  This diffused the pressure that I felt to work for my status in God's family and Kingdom.

Once I relaxed, my soul filled with peace, while tears of gratitude coursed down my face. I entered God's rest (Hebrews 4:3,10), and I started to view life from God's perspective.

He gave me His heart, and He filled me to overflowing with all of His fullness, as well as with the richest measure of His presence (Ephesians 3:16-19, Amplified Version). God loves all of His children with this same eternal love.

Believe it, my sister and brother, YOU ARE LOVED (John 3:16).

Prayer:

Father God, You are not at all impressed with our appearance, productivity or accomplishments. You do not require that we perfect our humanness, because You prefer that we allow You to transform our life into the mind and nature of Christ. You know our every thought, word and deed (Psalm 139:1-4; Hebrews 4:13); however, You love us anyway, because we are Yours.

You purchased us with the blood of Christ - Your most valued possession. You will never, ever take back Your saving grace that brought us to redemption in Christ. Regardless of our loss of stamina, beauty, talents, memory, productivity, mental and physical abilities, etc., You will always love us. You even look forward to us joining You in eternity, when we come to the end of our life on this earth (Psalm 116:15). 

Thought for the Day:

God loves us unconditionally, and He tells us this so many times in His Word; He proves it to us so often during our lifetime, but we will not notice how much He loves us unless we take the time to perceive His little hugs throughout the day.

- Psalm 52:8; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 4:10,16

Unity with the Trinity

The Trinity of God is one Being with three distinct functions. God is the Father of Jesus, Jesus is the Son of our Father God, and the Spirit is their life force and power. The Trinity enjoys a mutual union with each aspect benefitting the other as well as every authentic Believer.

God is the supreme Creator, Jesus is our Sacrificial Lamb and our Lord and King, and the Spirit is our comforter and guide. When the Trinity moves into our spirit, we have no more need to be concerned about our life now or in eternity (John 14:1).

The union of the Trinity as one Being is the fullness of the Gospel. Father God's love created us, Brother Jesus laid down His life for our salvation, and the Holy Spirit regenerates us and guides us through each step of life.

One aspect that proves that the Trinity is one Being is that when people saw Jesus, He said that they also saw our Father (John 13:8-11). Jesus is in the Father, the Father is in Jesus, and by the Spirit they all abide within us (John 14:23, 17:21).

Through God's Spirit, the Trinity dwells in every authentic Believer. The Spirit glorifies Jesus by revealing to us the mysteries of God, and by empowering us to serve our Lord with the fullness of the Trinity within us (John 14:23, 16:14).

This truth provides us with perfect peace in our troubles, stability in an unstable world, comfort through every trial, and indescribable joy that enables us to weather any negative storms in our life.

Our repentance of our sins, and our belief and trust in Jesus is the only way to secure our personal relationship with the Trinity (John 14:6). This fact proves that we do not need to earn our place in God's Kingdom (Ephesians 2:7-10).

We have no need to produce our own spiritual fruit in our soul, because the Trinity within us exhibits His love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control, and even faith, as we surrender to His work in our life (Galatians 5:22-23).

Prayer:

Father God, teach us once and for all time that we cannot supply our needs better than You have already planned to provide for us. We simply trust solely in You for every breath we take and action we make. Remind us that when we take our focus off of You and look instead at the tumultuous waves around us, that, like Peter, we will sink into the sea of life.

We rejoice in the fact that we are one with You and Jesus through Your Spirit. We rely on our fellowship with Your Trinity through every moment of our day. You gave us such an immense privilege, not only to be called Your Friend, but also to be part of Your family, Your church, Your Body, and the Bride of Christ (John 15:15; Ephesians 1:5; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12;27; Isaiah 54:5; John 13:8).

Thought for the Day:

The Trinity within us is greater, richer and more powerful than anything in this world that may come against us (John 15:11; 1 John 4:4); our union enables us to believe and to love as Jesus does, while the Spirit transforms our mind to the mind of Christ, and develops in us His divine nature, which influences our thoughts, words and actions.

We Live in Hope

Life can be so disappointing at times. We allow our self to look forward to something, and then our hopes are dashed. Yet, when we totally surrender our life to Christ in us, it is much easier to hang on to our hope through the most daunting of circumstances.

The faith of Christ in us helps us to trust that what we hope for will materialize, or that God will have something even better for us. Our faith in God's faithfulness is our evidence of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

God's Word reminds us that the greatest spiritual fruit are faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). The faith of the Son of God in us (Galatians 2:20) helps us to hope for a positive outcome provided for us by God's love (Romans 8:35-38).

We cling to the Lord through the good times and the bad, reminded that His promises are ours today, as well as in the future. We can believe for the good things that He will provide for us as we need them (Romans 8:28).

No matter what we experience, what we lose, what trauma we encounter, or who betrays or disappoints us, we still have a Father God who cares deeply for everything that we are going through (John 3:16-18; Jeremiah 29:11).

Satan bombards us with lies and half-truths cloaked in promises that will never materialize. He does this in order to sway us to believe in him, and to follow after him instead of following after God.

However, when we hope in the Lord, we are never forsaken (Psalm 130:5; Hebrews 13:5). The Lord is good to us when we rely on Him, seek Him and wait quietly on Him (Lamentations 3:24-26).

We pray the prayer that never fails, "Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). We know that surrendering to the will of God is our best possible course, because God's purposes shall ultimately prevail regardless of how impossible our situation appears.

Prayer:

Father God, show us from Your Word, the verses that will build our trust in You, and reliance upon You. Give us Your peace, which transcends all human reasoning, to cling to in times of tribulation (Philippians 4:6-7). Reduce our stress by reminding us to focus on You and Your will, rather than on our needs and desires.

As we seek first Your Kingdom, You provide us with everything we need (Matthew 6:33). You are able to do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine; however, You desire that we first ask for Your help in all things (Proverbs 3:5-6). Your power works within us to comfort, encourage and bolster our faith to trust only in You (Ephesians 3:20).

Thought for the Day:

We have no need to feel anxious about anything if we pray about everything, and as we thank God for His provision as we present our requests into His safe keeping; God's peace continually guards our heart and mind, as His Spirit transforms our mind into the mind of Christ.

- Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13

Recovering from Abuse - Part 2

When something happens that triggers our memory of an abusive situation, it is because our soul is desperately trying to gain our attention and to make us take the abuse seriously enough to stop it or to acknowledge it and to recover from it.

Snippets of words, body language, the shape of certain plants, an over-reaction that we cannot explain, our bizarre behavior that has no basis in reality are all ways that our soul uses to force us to face and validate the incident(s).

We may develop PTSD, much like any survivor of a battle zone, and react to life with this fractured thinking and behavior. Medication may be necessary to help us to remain calm and lucid when some memory is triggered.

Journaling also enables us to get in touch with the episode(s), and to tell our story without having to make it public knowledge. Writing (typing) out our thoughts and feelings helps us to heal.

We teach our Inner Parent to nurture our Inner Child through affirmation of the event, validation that we were not at fault, and encouragement that God loves us unconditionally now and always.

We diffuse the shame by realizing that we were the victim and could not have prevented the abuse from happening. The perpetrator had his/her own issues, which they were dealing with, that caused their behavior.

God's Spirit will reveal His truth to us about each wound from our past. He may show us a picture of Himself ministering to us in some way, or He may give us a Bible verse, or just tell us His truth pertaining to this issue.

He also exposes Satan's lies that are holding us in bondage to the event in our past. He gives us the opportunity to believe His truth, and to heal us from the residual effects of Satan's lies.

God washes away our shame and replaces it with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 8:1). He makes us new in every area of our life, and He restores to us what the evil perpetrator stole from us (Joel 2:25).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for caring about every aspect of our life. Nothing ever happens to us that You are not aware of and with which You are not concerned (Psalm 56:8). Show us that holding a grudge against the perpetrator, and not forgiving their humanity that caused the issue in the first place, is counterproductive for us. They are rarely effected by our unforgiveness or nursed anger; yet, the negative emotions affect us adversely.

You promise to render vengeance on evil actions that occur to the innocent (Romans 12:19). We trust in Your goodness, grace, mercy and love toward us, even while we are still sinners. We are Your children, brought into Your family by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony, and You care for every aspect of our life (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Thought for the Day:

Forgiving our abuser does not negate what they did to us, or minimize the severity of their actions toward us. It simply turns our pain and grief over to God to deal with in His own timing and way. 

- Psalm 56:8