Spiritual Circumcision. What a Concept!

Through His death on the cross, Christ cancelled out our debt—the punishment due for our sin. We’ve undergone a spiritual circumcision (Colossians 2:11). In God’s eyes our body of flesh has been removed and therefore is no longer a factor in our union with God. It’s literally become a non-issue, all because He has taken us out from under the jurisdiction of law.
        Freedom from the power of sin is a phenomenal gift of God. But we need to be careful. Our death to sin, brought about by freedom from law, has only one purpose: the opportunity to pursue uninhibited relationship with God—in spite of the weakness of our sinful nature. Never is this freedom to be thought of as a license to sin.
       This amazing privilege endows us with the capacity to make good choices, whereas formerly we did not. We have freely and gloriously been handed everything we need for intimate pursuit of Jesus.

Storms

A storm is coming that will try to shake and rattle your faith, but I am your strong refuge. I am your Rock. Come to Me and you will find shelter from this storm. You don’t need to fear, just trust that I am in this to bring about good. I do not allow the storms to devastate you, but to draw you ever closer to Me. Be strong and courageous. Keep your eyes on Me. I will not only bring you through, but you will be refined, shining ever brighter and your faith will be so much stronger. Trials build character. My goal is for you to be a pure and spotless bride. I finished this work on the cross. It is no longer you who lives, but I live in you. Allow Me to live through you. Die to self. Die to your rights. Die to your dreams. Die to your passions. Let Me live through you. Let Me speak through you. You can only do this if you are fully surrendered in ever area of your life.

Alone Time

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.

Grab Hold

My child, I am calling out to you. I am extending My hand for you to grab hold. I know you feel like you’re falling, like there is no hope or end to this current situation. But I am here in the midst of this suffering. I am drawing you closer to Me. I am leading you out from this world into Mine. I want you to experience My kingdom here on earth, but you have to let go of your attachment to this world. Let go of the old and experience the new, high calling I have for you. I love you deeply. Grab hold of My hand. You are protected and safe with Me. 

A Quiet Season

I have brought you into a deeper place with Me. A quiet place. A place that at times seems uncomfortable, but the place of silence is a good place. I want to soothe your soul. I want to wash over you, to cleanse and purify you. Let Me do this work My child. Continue to submit to this purification process. For it will last but a season and then I will bring you into a season where you will see much fruit. The harvest is ripe, and I have caused the fruit of many years of your hard work to ripen. You will joyously bear much fruit in the season that is coming. Your heart will be glad and the season you are in now will quickly fade into a past memory of a sweet time spent at My feet. Rest assured My child, I have everything under control. You do not have to fear or fret, but only trust that in due time you will look back and smile because you will see My purpose accomplished. Take heart, be strong and courageous. 

Blanketed by God’s Righteousness

Paul says, “Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This truth has profound meaning for our life right here and now—not merely in the life hereafter. We all lack the ability to live this brand-new life by God’s standards. So Jesus joins us to Himself, blanketing us with His righteousness as He lives His life in us. He lives; you died; you share His life.
         In Christ Jesus we have died to sin and are now entirely free from its power. Sharing in Christ’s life is the cornerstone of our relationship with God. Yes, we share in His death, but it doesn’t end there. Being joined to Christ in His death allows us the unique privilege of sharing in His resurrection life. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too are raised up from our old self into glorious new life in God.

From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

Dread Champion

My child, I am with you in the storm. I calm the seas and give you peace. I hear the cry of your heart, and I have not forgotten My bride. You will be refined by the fire but not burned. You will come out of this without even the hint of the smell of smoke on your clothes. Keep believing. Keep praying. You will prevail and be victorious. I am your dread Champion.

“But the Lord is with me like a dread champion;
Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed,
With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11

Through God

“Oh give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.” Psalm 108:12-13

Human Nature: Fertile Ground for Satan

Why would God place humanity into a world controlled by Satan? Without God people don’t have a chance! Demons have no trouble taking advantage of someone’s dead spirit, since people naturally lay themselves open to attack when devoid of the life of God within. Many passages in Scripture make it clear that demons are able to exert powerful influence over the heart, oppressing and sometimes even possessing people.
        But what about us? Even with God’s Spirit residing within, our ongoing struggle with the flesh is greatly impacted by Satan’s agenda. We shouldn’t be surprised, though. he never misses an opportunity to present sin as pleasurable—all the while concealing the bondage and misery it always brings. The devil has found fertile ground in mankind through the frailties of human nature. It has allowed him to develop powerful tools for manipulation in his pursuit of destroying us. Let’s face it, he’s had plenty of time to figure us out.