Anxious and Stressed No More

Isaiah 9:6

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus, the One who lives on the inside of you, is the Prince of Peace. Peace himself is in you and me. When stressed or anxious call upon the One in you. Call on Jesus. He will give you and me the peace that surpasses all understanding;  He will give Himself. He is the Prince of Peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Never Ending Love

I'll love you if ____________. I'll love you until ___________. That's the world. God loves us no matter what. No conditions. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you less or more. He is love. He never changes. So nothing can change His love for you.

Romans 5:8

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

I'm so Horrible

Have you ever felt worse than somebody else? I have. Maybe you were the one that didn't grow up in church, had premarital sex, drank, stole, did drugs, cussed and struggled with mental illness. Then there's the kid who grew up in church. Maybe she went through the motions at church and didn't  say hi when God told her too. Both are sinners; no worse, no better.

Romans 3:22-23

Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

Sin is sin. There is no sin hierarchy with God.

Worship or Work?

Colossians 3:23

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

Ever feel guilty for spending too much time with God? I have. Ever feel guilty for working too much? I have. Want to get rid of that guilt? Of course you do. Of course I do. Take everything you do and do it as if you're doing it for the Lord.

Damaged Goods

How many times have you thought you were too damaged, too screwed up or had too messy of a past to be used by God? For me, that answer is more than I can count. But just as clay is the potter's material, we're God's material. He is shaping us, even our past, into what He wants us to be.

A cracked pot has more places for the light to shine through.

Jeremiah 18:4-6

And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

I Need Help

Luke 5:31-32

Jesus (answering for the disciples): Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.  I haven’t come for the pure and upstanding; I’ve come to call notorious sinners to rethink their lives and turn to God.

"I got this." Or "I don't want them to know I'm struggling." So often we stay sick, oppressed or hurt because we act like we have it all together.

James tells us to "Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]."  James 4:10

We must humble ourselves by asking for help so that we can be exalted (lifted up) out of and above our problems.

Go Alone

Judges 4:8

And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.

Ever been dared to ring the doorbell of the old man's house that everybody says is haunted? You go first. And nobody goes.

God is wanting a people to go when He says go, not when somebody goes with you.

What is God calling you to do, not you and your buddies,  but you to do?

Decide today to go even if you go alone.

Zombies Defeated

Ever feel like a zombie; you just felt dead? I have. You just go through your day, week, maybe even months going through the motions. Everything is boring and dull. It's like you're in a fog. Everything is blah.

Want to feel alive again?

Deuteronomy 4:4

But you who clung fast to the Lord your God are alive, every one of you, this day.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Strength Training

Matthew 26:41

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Prayer, the most powerful tool we have, but the one we probably use the least consistently.

Do you find yourself struggling with being tempted off and on over and over again?

How often are you praying, and not just over food or when the pastor prays at church?

Your ability to resist temptation is directly related to the time you spend in prayer. As you pray, you are strengthened.

Lord place a desire for prayer inside of me.

What's your name?

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

When people think of me, I want them to think "she loves God and she loves people".

When people hear my name, I want them to have positive thoughts.

God reveal to me how I can influence Your Kingdom by influencing the people You created.

Submit and Delegate

Luke 7:8-9

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

True leaders SUBMIT and DELEGATE.

The ability to submit to authority and to delegate authority and believe that what needs to be accomplished will be accomplished is faith.

The Consistency Struggle

Just a warning: this is longer than normal.

Romans 2:6-7

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

In the past, I've always struggled with being consistent. I'd do really good for a while and then fall to a horrible state. The above scriptures tell me that it's not enough to do good for a while. My actions must be consistent.  Now am I perfectly consistent, of course not. However,  I am improving.  How? Good question.  I'm improving in consistency by choosing to pray and read daily. Yes, CONSISTENCY IS A CHOICE.

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Transformer

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So I've been making some changes in my life the past month or so by praying and reading more. It's been so much easier to hear God during this time. The above scripture confirms that as we're renewed that we'll be able to know God's will.

Thank you Lord for continuing to reveal Your good, pleasing and perfect will to me as I continue to renew my mind in Your presence.

Direction

John 5:19 The Voice

The truth is that the Son does nothing on His own; all these actions are led by the Father. The Son watches the Father closely and then mimics the work of the Father.

To say that we can do things on our own is saying that we're greater than Jesus. Jesus was led by the Father and only did what He led Him to do. What are you doing?

What are you worshiping?

As I was listening to a DSM podcast this morning, God began tugging at my heart regarding what I worship.

Worship: to give worth

How do we give worth? It's what we invest time, energy, effort and finances into.

So today, who or what are you worshiping?

Expectation

People will rise to meet the level of your expectation of them.

John 13:34 The Voice

So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways.

The way we love others often shows our expectations of them. For instance, if we make them feel shame and break their spirit, then we're not loving them as Jesus loves us. Jesus has never put shame on me or broken my spirit. When we do this, we're saying I don't trust you. Without a known trust, potential will never be met because the expectation is failure, not success.

Are you allowing for people to meet their potential or expecting failure from them?

Worship

If you've  ever seen someone worship and thought "I want to worship like that", then this is for you

John 4:21-24 The Voice

Jesus: Woman, I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.

You will only worship to your level of revelation.

Worship comes from what we know about the truth, Jesus. So if you're not worshiping at the level you want to worship at, then get more revelation. How? Good question. Spend time with God in prayer and in His Word.

Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Voice

Any temptation you face will be nothing new. But God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward.

Whatever you're being tempted by, somebody else has been and is being tempted by.  You are not alone in your temptation. Others who have and are being tempted , and more importantly, God is here for you. He is providing you an escape route if you'll take it. And if you do choose the escape route, and yes it's a choice, then you will gain endurance so you can keep moving forward.