A Spirit of Self-Control

Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ~ Genesis 4:7

It’s been reported that in the third trimester of pregnancy not only do the symptoms of the first trimester come back, but they are intensified.  Yesterday was the day that it all seemed true for me.  I couldn’t find anything to calm my heartburn and everything, including drinking water, seemed to trigger it.  I was exhausted, having gotten very choppy sleep.  And emotionally, I was both drained but at the same time, charged.  Something happened at work that frustrated me.  I wisely, decided I would ignore the situation until another day, when I thought I would be calmer.  All the way home, I questioned my reaction to the situation: was I reacting to due to stress, due to lack of sleep, due to hormones, due to pride, or a combination?  In talking with my husband, he said it was just a test, saying that the end of the marathon is never easier than the beginning, but crossing the finish line in victory is so sweet.

This morning when I woke up, I realized that while physically, medically, my hormones may be coursing through my body, effecting my emotions, my thoughts, and my reactions.  Spiritually, I didn’t have to succumb to any of that.  God whispered His promises to me and those are the things I’ve chosen to stand firm upon: I have the mind of Christ; I was not given a spirit of fear, but one of Power, of Love, and of a Sound-Mind and Self-Control (1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Timothy 1:7).  And because of that, I have the power to keep myself calm in the fact of temptation and of adversity.  I don’t have to let my emotions control me.  I have been given the tools and the power to overcome them.  Just because many have fallen prey to it doesn’t mean I have to anymore.

Thank you, Father, for this beautiful and amazing promise you have given to me today.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4

All Is Yours

My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ~ Luke 15:31

It’s difficult to understand the depth of this scripture if you don’t understand the depth of the One who said it.  In a world that believes that “change” is the only constant, words like “always” and “never” get cast aside because they can’t be true if change is continuous.

But again, to understand this scripture, we must first understand the One who said it.  It was Father, our heavenly Father and He is:

Elohim-power & might; Jehovah-Nissi-The Lord our banner (who goes before us and lifts us up); Jehovah-Rohi-The Lord is my Shepherd (guide & protector); Jehovah-Rapha-The Lord is my healer; Jehovah-Jireh-The Lord will provide; Jehovah-Shalom-The Lord is peace;  El-Roi-the strong one who sees (who opens our eyes); and more.

When God, our Abba Father (the one who tenderly loves us as His own sons and daughters), tells us that all—everything—that is His is ours it includes all of His love, all of His strength, all of His wisdom, all of His provision, and so on.  I know you ask, “How can this be, when I’ve lost my job, my hope, my income, my car, my friends, my parents, my childhood, my health…?”  The answer lies in Jesus Christ.  Romans 13:14 tells us we are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”  That phrase “put on” means to “clothe” or “sink into” (as you would your favorite sweatshirt or jeans).  When we “put on” our Lord, we put on His character and everything that was available to Him and that is how everything (all) that is God’s is ours.

Have Faith

It’s not going to be in the way you can figure out.  You must have faith.

I come from a family of planners.  We know 6 months in advance plans for Christmas or vacationing or whatever.  That being the case, it should come as no surprise that I’ve had Savannah’s nursery basically done for a while now and she’s not due for another 13 weeks.  Being a planner keeps me organized and on target.  But sometimes it’s a hindrance, as I tend to focus more on what I can do—in my abilities and strength—and less on what God can and has done for and through me. 

God has given us visions for our lives—for our marriage, for our individual growth and ministry, and for our kids.  And I truly believe they will become reality.  But sometimes I trip over myself, because I feel as though I have to plan it all out.  And I get frustrated when I can’t figure out all the details ahead of time.  I was having one such day when God said the above to me.  At this past 1^st Wednesday service, Pastor Mark said that faith was simply an attitude of trust, like trusting that the chair will hold you when you sit down.

This past weekend was Easter and Pastor Randy used my favorite scripture throughout his message:  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world, (John 16:33).  To “take heart” is to have hope and courage.  This scripture doesn’t say, “In this world you will have trouble and you’re on your own, so get to figuring out what you’re going to do about it.”  No, Jesus said that He’s taken care of it.  Take heart!  Have courage!  Have faith and trust that God’s already taken care of it.

Daily Bears Our Burdens

“It wasn’t your burden to bear.”  “But I did bear it.” ~ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. ~ Psalm 68:19

Isn’t it interesting, when we are in close relationship with someone, they know when we are having a good day and when we are not.  Sometimes, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we even know when a friend or relative is in need, even if they are far away from us.  No matter how close we feel in our relationship to God, He’s ever present in our lives.  When we weep, He weeps; when we rejoice, He rejoices; when we dances, He dances with us; when we feel as though we just can’t go on, He picks us up and carries us. 

Psalm 68:19 says that He daily carries our burdens.  He does this for two reasons.  1) Because He’s already in relationship with us. God knew us before we were woven together in our mothers’ wombs.  He knows when we need Him and He is always there for us. 2) Because He wants us to be free to enjoy intimacy with Him.  If we are always bogged down by all that live throws at us, we will never be free to enjoy a relationship with Him and never really realize all that He has for us.

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. ~ Psalm 55:22

From Your Captivity

Then the LORD your God will restore you from [your] captivity, and have compassion on you ~ Deuteronomy 30:3

We read this scripture and think, “But I’m not in captivity, I’m free.” To better understand what captivity is, we need to first understand freedom in Christ.  God longs to restore or return each of us to a place of intimacy with Him, where we are free to fall into the arms of a loving Father and Friend.  True intimacy is complete trust.  Do you feel free enough to trust God with your whole life, your whole heart, all your finances, and every single one of your burdens?  If the answer is no in even one area, then something has you bound and you are in captivity to it. 

Some examples of captivity or bondage are debt, workaholism, addictions of any kind (doesn’t have to be just to drugs and alcohol; could be shopping, eating, etc.), could be a need to be needed or a need for approval and so serving with a wrong heart and wrong motives, anger, depression, and the list goes on.  So how do we break free from these bondages, from our captivity?  The scripture says “then the Lord will restore you;” how do we get to “then”?  When “you return to the LORD your God and [listen to His voice] and obey Him with all your heart and soul,” (Deuteronomy 30:2). Father is constantly calling out to us.  He beckons us to turn (or return) and have relationship with Him.  He says, “Call upon me and I will give you rest; you are my treasured possession; allow Me to carry your burdens, they are not too difficult for and, yes, I want them all,” (Matthew 11:28; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalm 68:19; Psalm 55:22).

What He asks is not too difficult.  Freedom is not far away.  It’s simply turning and asking Him to restore you to a deeper relationship with Him.  No need to worry; He’ll show you the way.  Simply ask Him to show you and then listen as He speaks to you.