For You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIdo707Sac&list=RDHAIdo707Sac&start_radio=1

Freedom Reigns ~ Jesus Culture

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

 

You may say, "My salvation, of course." And that's true, He did, but He came for so much more. He came that you might have life and have it to the fullest. He came to break chains. He came to set captive free. He came to give sight to the blind. He came to overcome the world.

 

My mom and I attended women's event on Friday night. The keynote speaker was discussing the woman at the well and the shame she cared about her. Now, not everyone has known shame the way the woman did. My story certainly isn't hers. But that doesn't mean that the devil hasn't worked hard to put his shame on me. Just as I'm certain he has worked hard to put his shame on you. Perhaps you're still walking around wearing shame like a cloak.

 

The thing about wearing a cloak is that it feels so heavy when you're wearing it. It might be easily put on, but it's not easy to wear, nor does it feel easy to remove. Shame isn't meant to define your actions, but rather your identity. It says, "Who you are it's bad."

 

I think I will always ruin for the day that Jesus spoke to me about the cloak of shame I had to allow the devil to put on me. Gently, He approached me, and softly He whispered, "But I died for that, so you don't have to wear a shame like a cloak, anymore."

 

There's freedom in Jesus. He came to give us freedom! From our sins, from our past, from our future, from shame, from addictions, from defeat, from death, from spiritual blindness, and from the devil's hold on us. He came to give us freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Make the choice, today, and cast off that cloak of shame. Walk boldly in the freedom that the Lord has given to you!

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

©Heather Potts 2022

C.H.A.N.G.E.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBg8qXkkOxE

God with Us ~ Jesus Culture

 

But God hasn’t moved to the mountains;
    his holy address hasn’t changed.
He’s in charge, as always, his eyes
    taking everything in ~ Psalm 11:4 MSG

 

Honestly, I’ve never liked change. It feels like we’ve all had so many drastic changes lately that even little changes are intimidating. Not wanting to be overwhelmed by the unknown in the changes, I took my struggles to God and this is what He said:

 

The problem isn’t the change, but in how you view it. This is how you see change:

Can’t

Handle

All things

Not

Going

Exactly the same

But that’s not how you should view it. Think of change like this:

Challenges to overcome

Hold tightly to Me

Anything goes, but keep your peace

Nothing stays the same

God knows

Everything changes

With any change, there will be challenges to overcome, but you can do all things through Christ, (Philippians 4:13); in this world you will have trouble, but take heart! For I [Jesus] have overcome the world, (John 16:33); for everyone born of God overcomes the world, (1 John 5:4). Remember to keep your peace, even during chaos. Nothing stays the same. But God knows—both good and bad—and He’s always by your side, even when everything else changes.

 

It’s true that everything changes. We change socks, houses, schedules, jobs, toothbrushes, hair styles, grades, diets, presidents, calendars, cars, etc. Sometimes change is good (like changing socks). Sometimes it’s harder (like how we do school and interacting with one another). But in the end, God said that change will become less of a monster in my life when I focus more on Him and less on the unknown facets of the change.

 

Lord, help us to allow You to embrace us during seasons of change. Help us to extend grace to ourselves and those around us as we walk—and even stumble—through this time. Help us to remember that You are always with us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2020