There have been no posts for quite some time because I’ve been in the midst of moving from St. Louis to Louisville. While it’s my 14th move, it is the 1st one in 40 years done completely alone. I don’t recommend it. But even in this, God has been & continues to be so very faithful.
Moving is tough enough on it’s own, but throw in Covid-19 and I can tell you, it’s just awful. What an odd time to be moving and trying to settle into a new house.
As I’ve been isolating and spending way too much time on social media, I’ve noticed that fear is common. In addition, it seems like believers are having spiritual amnesia. I’m definitely not throwing stones, because it’s happened to me too. But I think I’ve come out of it, or at least am doing much better.
Let me share a few thoughts on this. I hope it encourages you.
First of all – let’s look at what I think are 3 things causing the spiritual amnesia.
1) sudden & continuing fear – the pandemic came on so fast & it continues to go on. 2) truth hidden by the enemy – our enemy will use every opportunity to throw us – he’s used the shock, the fear, the uncertainty to upset us & distract us from the truth of God’s word . 3) running to man’s thoughts/opinions instead of God’s – it’s tempting to run to social media & tv to get our truth and guidance when we should be seeking God.
So how do we combat these things and come back from our spiritual amnesia?
1) We combat fear by remembering who God is & what He says in His word.
God loves you with an everlasting love – Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord goes before you & will be with you – Deuteronomy 31:8
Hebrews 13:5 – The Lord will never leave you or forsake you.
Nothing separates you from God’s love – He holds you forever – Romans 8: 35-39
God is faithful!!!! I Thessalonians 5:24, I Corinthians 1:9, Isaiah 49:7, Revelation 19:11
2) Combat the enemy by feeding on God’s word – Truth!!
a – Know who you are in Christ – Look at Ephesians 1:3 – 7 —- a really GREAT passage that shows us who we are…………………………………………We are BLESSED, CHOSEN, LOVED, ADOPTED, REDEEMED, FORGIVEN !
Blessed – with every spiritual blessing – blessed in so many ways. Chosen – you are not an accident! You are here for a reason! God has a plan – there is a purpose and meaning. Loved – no matter what we do or don’t do, we are loved. It’s not performance driven. Adopted – because of the cross, we get to be grafted into God’s family. Though I’m not Jewish, God made a way for me to be His – He paid the price for my adoption. Redeemed – There was no way out for us. We were completely condemned & owed a debt we couldn’t pay. Jesus did that for us. He paid so we could be free. Forgiven – Nothing but perfection could forgive. The perfect Son of God was the only One who could do it. And that forgiveness is because of the blood shed on the cross. Scriptures says – without blood there is no forgiveness – Hebrews 9:22.
Blessed – Chosen – Loved – Adopted – Redeemed – Forgiven
3) Get away from man’s thoughts…………turn to God’s thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8 – “my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways, my ways”
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 – – – God has a plan. Our part is to call upon Him – pray to Him – seek Him…………and we will find Him. James 1: 5-8 Wisdom – are we asking for man’s wisdom or seeking God’s?This passage in James says if we ask God for wisdom, he will give, and give generously. But we must not ask skeptically. Our intent can’t be to weigh God’s wisdom against man’s. We should not be seeking God to look for options. We ask God – the source of wisdom.
The big question might be – what are we doing with our time? Are we running to social media? Netflix? Are we being swallowed by fear or others opinions? Has our screen time skyrocketed?
Take time to sit in His presence. Be still & know that He is God. Be still & know Him. Be still for awhile and feel the peace instead of the turbulence, fear & uncertainty.
Be still……………………………in His presence.