It is Love

I was so fearful yesterday. Actually I felt fearful for the last couple of days. I had spoken with someone who brought me information about someone else and it didn't settle well in my spirit. It wasn't any bad news at all but it was just the way they relayed it, sort of like, "I know something you don't know," and it resulted in feelings and emotions of trembling fear and doubt.  Fears that my prayers weren't going to be answered therefore I was being presumptuous in my position in Christ. 

Fast forward, there I was on Sunday at the altar, praying for strength, courage and victory in Christ. Being the author of a blog about taking an axe to the root of shame and rejection, there I was standing  with feelings of shame and rejection!

What is that about? Is it that fear is at the root of shame rejection? Is it that the Lord is allowing me to be tried?  You know, sort of like, "You talk the talk, so can you walk the walk?"  Is it that my foundation in the love of Christ is being 'field tested'?  I will give a resounding, "Yes"! 

Praying about this I came across a devotion that read, Our heavenly Father sent his Son to die for our sins and weaknesses. And without fully knowing and fully understanding that kind of love to you, you will never have a stable or permanent foundation!*

Wow! Well then I can honestly say I am thankful that the Lord has tested me and proven my foundation to be tried and true. I am fully rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and it is His LOVE that casts out all fear. It is LOVE that takes an axe to the root of shame and it is LOVE that swings the axe 'spot on' at the root of rejection. 

I'm grateful for the storm. I know that Jesus is the 'I' in the storm. He is the calm and stillness in the mist of what seems to be spinning out of control – my resolute position in Christ, for it is His love that has saved me and it is His love that will sustain me. 

Love, love, love!

I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love,…

Ephesians 3:16-18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: 

1 John 4:18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 

Noted source:

*David Wilkerson Devotions 

Uncomfortable?

Sometimes a little discomfort is good.  For example, early the other morning I was trying to fall back asleep but my back was hurting. It did not matter what side I laid on or which way I turned my neck, I could not get to sleep again - the pain and discomfort was too great. I had to get up. But I am glad I did.

As it was, once I was up, stretched and got moving, the pain began to dissipate. I opened up the Word and prayed as I began what I thought would be my usual morning routine. However, it was anything but! In the quiet of the twilight, without any distractions, the Lord spoke to me an encouraging word, answered my prayers and inspired me in a fresh and unexpected new way. I soon realized how blessed I was for that pain!

Isn't it the same case with the eagle teaching it's eaglet how to fly? She removes all the comfy down feathers in the nest she once painstakingly laid to now get the chick up and out of the nest? She knows the baby eagle has wings to fly and has a great expanse of the heavens just waiting for it to explore. So she methodically removes everything that at one time made the nest so comfortable (and necessary for that stage of development) in order to motivate the eaglet to get up, stretch its wings, and do what it was born to do - soar.  And so are we! 

So it is true for Eagles as it it with us, as the saying goes, "We only change when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing." And I know the Lord is saying it is not business usual; Behold I do a new thing. (Isaiah 43:19)

So, I thank God for a little discomfort. I have renewed strength and am inspired and reignited for the journey ahead. The sky's the limit and He has given me hope! 

Isaiah 30:21

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Psalm 25:9

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Grace-power

I went out to shop after work again and felt horrible. I've experienced this for a while now and I believe it's a distraction from the enemy. (Not the feeling horribly but the habitual shopping!) Hitting corners or as the saying goes, "Shop till you drop." The only thing that was missing from this picture was the bumper sticker, 'I break for Sales!'  So I prayed and asked the Lord, what's wrong? He said, Your days of wondering are over." And that's what I've been doing for years. If I'm not in the stores I'm off to this meeting or that meeting, attending this conference or that conference.

Well, I definitely need to put the brakes on and even though I know I've entered into a Sabbath season and a year of Jubilee, I admit it's been difficult to put it into park. Ripping and running has been my modus operandi for as long as I can remember.
Maybe I feel like I have to be doing something to be okay and not just wasting time. Perhaps it's the root of rejection's fruit (fear) budding again with the habitual feelings of needing to perform in hopes of being  viable and worthy. Honestly, I am finding it a challenge to 'dial it down' a bit and change this compulsively busy lifestyle.

But it's a new season and a new day and the Lord has said, "Behold, I do a new thing." Alright, how do I behold it? Perhaps if I just accepted God's grace and power in every area of my life - not just for salvation and for sobriety but also for my daily routines, for my temperament and for my personality and to always believe He's got it all under control. Surely then I could just...relax!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxietyon Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

Trust

There's a saying by Victor Hugo that speaks of a bird perched on a fragile branch. She sings away - a song heartfelt and sweet - though she is aware the branch beneath her is breaking, she knows she has wings.

I know she trusts in what her Maker has given her, wings, and I trust in the Lord Himself and what He's promised to give me in His Word. He's promised to give me hope and a future.  For faithful is He that calls me and also will perform it. And He that has begun a good work in me has promised to perfect it, Amen!

Oh the joy of confidently singing hymns of praise and worship to the Lord in Whom I've placed my trust, as my branch (issues) bend in the wind and threaten to break with the weight of my cares and everyday trials. To encourage and edify myself at all times and in every circumstance.

Oh to be like that bird!

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Ephesians 5:19

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psalm 37:5

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.
Proverbs 22:19