Born again: the starting point!

Being born again into relationship with Christ is merely the starting point of our Christian walk. As we attempt to move forward with Him, it’s not long before we find that our struggle with self-will doesn’t simply evaporate. Each and every one of us butts up against the very same obstacle: “Will I continue living my life for my own self-gratification, or will I surrender my life completely, dedicating myself to live for His purposes and pleasure instead of my own?” Over time we learn that this conflict is a lifelong battle for the believer—that it never entirely disappears, though its intensity certainly diminishes as we mature in our relationship with Him.

(Excerpted from “Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself”)

First Things First

To change an action you need to first change your mindset. This is what I learned that needed to happen before I could break out of my old habits. I had to start believing that it was possible to change and that I was capable of that change. Isn’t this where it all starts? Belief? You can resolve to take action but if you don’t really believe things will change, you will inevitably go back to your old way of doing things.

Nothing significant happens in life unless you plan for it. I sat down and wrote out some goals. But not just off the top of my head goals. I had to put some emotion behind them. I actually saw myself accomplishing those goals. What would if feel like? What would it look like? What would it mean if I didn’t do it? I didn’t just sit down and say, “I want to be _____lbs by next Christmas, I set out to achieve a certain body fat percentage that would require putting on muscle that might possibly increase the number on the  scale. Muscles weigh more than fat so measurements and clothes sizes became more important than the number on the scale. This required a radical change in my mindset.

So the first thing I recommend is to sit down, take some time and set some emotion packed goals. Write your goals out as if they have already been accomplished. Believe that you can do it. See yourself as God sees you. You are chosen, loved, adopted and favored. Start living the healthy life God has called you to.

Ephesians 1: 4-6

Taking God’s Creation for Granted

Have you considered your hand lately? While watching the World Series it stuck me how effortlessly people use their hands–not just catching one of those foul balls, but everything we do. We use our hands to pick up the tiniest crumb or wield a huge sledge hammer. And all without the least thought given to it. What’s the big deal you might ask? Well, you should ask God that question the next time you look at your hand. The miracle of God’s creation surrounds us, and our hands are just one striking example of His creative genius. We dare not take any of it for granted.

Enjoy the abundant life

My child, how My heart burns for you. I long for you and the time we spend together. I enjoy your company. I am thrilled when we’re together and nothing thrills Me more than when you come and spend time in My presence. When asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, I responded, “You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole law and the Prophets.” Matt. 22:37-40. Do these two things and you will experience a joy filled life. A life of adventure and complete satisfaction. Only when you give yourself to love Me and others, is when you will receive all I have for you. I came to give you life, and life abundantly. John 10:10.

Come to Me today and enjoy the abundant life.

Jesus, your King and Lover of your soul.

My Eyes are Searching

My eyes are searching the earth for hearts that are seeking Me. My hand is out-stretched to the oppressed and broken-hearted. I am calling. I am drawing. I am longing for My bride to enter into the Holy of Holies. Come and commune with Me there. Come, taste and see that I am good. I am what your heart longs for. I am what satisfies your soul. I bring refreshment to the weary and quench the thirst of dry bones. Drink deeply of My waters. Be satisfied in My presence. Be forever fulfilled in the depths of intimacy I long for us to enjoy.

O taste and see that the LORD is good. (Psalm 34:8)

The power of sin is in the Law?

While the principle of freedom from the power of sin is woven throughout the fabric of the gospel, it still can be a bit confusing. Paul says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Don’t you find this a little surprising? It seems here as if sin’s power is tied directly to the law. So freedom from the power of sin must somehow be very closely related to freedom from the law. Yet we tend to think about freedom from sin only as being liberated from the problem of sinning. So how could being set free from the law have anything to do with sin losing its power over us? Well, the truth is that freedom from the law has everything to do with freeing us from sin’s power.

(Excerpted from “Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself”)

My child, Oh how I love you

“My child, Oh how I love you. How I long for you and cherish the time we spend alone. Just you and Me. how I long to pour out My heart to you and show you My glory. How I long to be one with you and enjoy the intimacy that is ours alone. My desire is to pour out My joy, My peace, My strength and My power. I freely give you these as you come and commune with Me. Come My bride, come into a deeper place with Me. Let Me have My way with you entirely. For in this you will experience true fulfillment, oneness, wholeness and completeness.”

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. ho takes refuge in Him!

God reveals Himself through faith

God does not normally reveal Himself in a way that our physical senses can perceive Him, so this is why faith is required on our part. Now I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t allow us to be aware of His presence; He does. Our experience of Him, however, comes by spiritual means—not physical. But why would God keep Himself hidden at all? Wouldn’t it be much easier to simply appear to us periodically to tell us what He wants? Well, that wouldn’t require faith, would it? Our inability to grasp Him by our natural senses makes faith indispensable. Faith is at the very heart of God’s plan for us. That’s why Scripture tells us that it’s impossible for man to satisfy God without it. But since faith is so contrary to everything instinctive to our humanity, believing Him will never be all that easy. To be sure, it appears that He never meant it to be!

(Excerpted from “Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself”)