Tag: believe

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A Different Looking Kind of Warrior

Judges 6:12  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”   

Galatians 1:10    Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 

I feel like I’ve been just getting through stuff.  Sometimes I feel warrior-like and other times I want to hide away like Gideon.  You too?  But that’s how it goes right?  Sometimes we’re brave and sometimes we want to sit it out. 

In Gideon’s story, the angel makes a startling announcement.  “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”  God was letting Gideon see what He saw in him.  Gideon wasn’t buying it and truthfully, I don’t either on most days. 

It’s not easy feeling fully confident in our calling.  Whether you are a people pleaser or not, at some point we are afraid of other’s opinions.  And what makes this fear worse is social media and lots of folks who don’t filter what they say or post.  And so we live a little scared.  We may not admit to it, but we are.

Recently the verse in Galatians has given me courage and hope.  People’s opinions mean nothing stacked up against God’s.  I know that solidly in my head, but my heart doesn’t believe it as much.  Maybe it’s a matter of trust?  Do we trust other’s thoughts and opinions more than God?  If we are honest, sometimes we do.

So maybe like me, you need to repent.  Because I love God SO much and want desperately to please Him, it crumbles my heart to know I’ve chosen to believe others opinions over God’s firm affirmations and direction.  I’m a wreck.

But as I look closely at scripture and see the people God used, I see how they were wrecks too.  God used ordinary people who were so incredibly far from perfect to do great things.

For me, it ends up being a choice – every day and often every hour.  Do I believe God when He tells me I’m a warrior princess?  Am I going to listen and bend to others opinions or am I going to rest solidly in God’s opinion and sovereignty?  We forget, I think, that He created everything – not just planet earth, but the whole universe.  If He did all that and still holds it all together, can’t He take care of us?  If He’s really all that, and He is, can’t He know what is best for us and give us what we need at just the right time?  Yes – to all that.

This is easy for me to write and for you to read, but it’s not easy to implement.  My heartfelt advice, and the only thing that works for me, is to talk to God honestly.  Lay it all at His feet and cry out to Him for courage, wisdom and strength.  In faith tell Him you trust Him, you need Him, you will obey and follow Him.  It’s helpful to speak it, not just pray silently.  Declarations made out loud are powerful.  I pray with all my heart that you will do this and find that peace that transcends all understanding.

As I close, let me offer a prayer for you, yes, but for me too.  We are walking this together.  

Lord – We come to You with all our weaknesses.  We have a hard time believing we are warriors.  And we can be distracted and swayed by the opinions of others.  Remind us of who You are, of Your promises and declarations over us.  Take us to Your word where You give us examples of how You use ordinary people for the kingdom.  Help us be courageous when we would rather hide.  Help us hold up the Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy – those we can see and those we can’t see.  May we stand firm in who You say we are, not bending to the opinions of others.  Thank you for Your word that sustains us – Your grace and wisdom as we move forward – and Your love that is way more than amazing.  Amen

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Stuck In The Middle

Exodus 13: 21,22

For 6+ months I have felt like an Israelite in her tent out in the middle of the desert.  I’m watching the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.  I am ready for it to move, at least I think I am.

The trouble with being stuck out in the middle of nowhere is it’s too far from the familiar and straight ahead is the unknown.  I have good memories of the familiar and the unknown makes me fearful.  I want to go back to the familiar, but that’s impossible.  I want to move forward even if I can’t see anything ahead, but clearly God is saying no because the cloud hasn’t moved.  Matter of fact most days it looks like it’s going to be there a long time.  Waiting.  I’m not good at that.

The thing is, if I’m honest, I’ve learned alot sitting here in the middle.  It’s not been easy.  Sometimes I retreat into my tent and fold like a deck of cards.  If I allow the enemy to speak into my life, I feel less-than.  I feel like I don’t matter because I’m not doing anything.  And fear takes over.  It’s a sad, lonely, unhappy place.  And just like the Israelites, I grumble.  It’s a natural response.  It’s what the Israelites did.

But when I fix my eyes on Jesus,  I spend time in His word and  I pray openly and honestly, He calms my heart and reassures me that this is all for something.  There’s a purpose.  He’s teaching me important lessons.  Maybe they are lessons for later.  Maybe they are to strengthen my heart and character.  Once again He calls me to trust.  Every time I turn around He seems to be asking me to trust.

The Israelites had to trust.  Here they were so very far from Egypt, and out in the middle of the wilderness.  It was a hot, dry business.  Each day looked like the other.  And I’m sure they asked one another, “when do you think the cloud is going to move?” They wanted to move forward.  They were anxious to reach their destination.

We are like that too.  We are so used to having things move quickly.  Touch screens, remotes, microwaves, and seemingly instant horsepower.  We expect everything to just keep happening.  Even if it’s not moving fast, it’s moving.  So when we end up out in the middle of nowhere waiting, it’s tough.

But, let’s learn something from the Israelites story.  At the right time, they entered the promise land.  The right time.  Let’s pray that we will faithfully trust God to take us to the promised land – when it’s the right time.

The Israelites also grew stronger both in faith and physically.  They went through tough tests in the middle of the desert.  Their faith was tested, strengthened.  They learned who God was and about His character.  And they built up physically.  While life in Egypt was extremely physical, they also weakened because they didn’t get enough food.  Out in the middle, God provided food.  He provided rest.  When the pillar of cloud didn’t move, they could rest to get ready for more of the journey.

So . . . I’m going to trust God more.  I want to move forward, but I also want to learn well the lessons God is teaching me.  I want to be stronger.  God won’t leave me out here in the middle and He won’t leave you either. He promises in His word to never leave us or forsake us.  And I trust He has a plan.  That’s something else He promises in His word.  He has a plan and it’s good.

Let’s do this together…………………………..

Lord – help us/me to trust You completely.  Help us/me to be faithful.  Teach us what we need to know.  Make us stronger for whatever is ahead.  Thank you for the promised land ahead.  Amen

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My God Just Gets Bigger & Bigger

Isaiah 55:8-9   Psalm 147:5   Psalm 8:3-4

All morning I have been meditating on how big God is.  I’ve mentally listed and thought on all the ways He blesses me, provides, speaks etc.  My hours have been spent focusing on His attributes and character. And I’ve discovered something profound – at least to me.  As time goes on, God is getting bigger and bigger for me.

It’s not that God has been or is small in any way.  But as we grow in our spiritual walk with Him, as we expand in our trust and love of Him, we find Him bigger.  We love more.  We trust more.  We believe for more.  We ask for more.  God keeps expanding just as our spiritual muscle expands and strengthens.  God doesn’t change – we do.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We continue to change – becoming more like Jesus and conforming to the image of Christ.  Hallelujah!

So on a day to day basis, how big is God to you?  Can He orchestrate an unexpected stop in your schedule?  Can He align things perfectly for people to meet and speak into each other’s lives?  Yes – – Yes He can.  He is, after all, the Author of the Play.  This is a continuing theme in my life.

Today is a case in point.  On my way home from physical therapy, I decided it would be really nice to stop at a Christian donut place for a not-on-my-diet donut and coffee.  While there, I noticed and overheard the conversation between twin sisters also taking a break.  My spirit sensed that their spirits were also connected to God.  As they walked passed my table, I stopped them and spoke what my spirit said was true.  We are sisters in Christ !  Their faces lit up with the glow of the Holy Spirit.  God confirmed over and over our “chance” meeting.  One sister suddenly voiced a bona fide need, saying she was trusting God to supply.  I got up out of my seat, put my arm around one on the left, one on the right and prayed over them.  Then they heard my story, but most important,  what God is doing in my life.  They both started prophesying over me – not general but specific.  It was supernatural and I felt a quickening in my spirit because this was the real deal.  This rarely happens.  Oh, there are people that try to speak into my life, but it’s their opinion, their best guess, their wishes or desires for me.  Bless them – – I listen but then let it go.  God gets the final say.

My God is big enough to arrange every moment of my life.  My God has a plan for me and His word says it’s a good plan.  I see in His word that He is a God of redemption, restoration, love, peace, blessing and much grace.  He is a God of order, not chaos.  So while some may say my God meeting today was coincidence, I know it was planned by God long ago.  He gave me the seemingly random thought to stop at this particular place for a yummy treat.  With all the available places to sit, God directed me to a table near my sisters in Christ.  God knew His child needed encouragement and someone to pray over her.  God knew I, too, needed encouragement – – to continue in His waiting room, to believe He has a great plan for me and to speak a specific prophecy about my future.

Every day – every step – every prayer – every moment – my God just gets bigger and bigger.