Monday, February 18, 2013

Jesus, be my Security

Here lately, I have found myself wishing that things could go back to the way they used to be.  I like the way things used to be.  But the Lord has been trying to shake me of the desire to want to go back in time.  He is desperately trying to show me something more, but I won't be able to see that until I completely surrender the past to Him and trust Him with my future.  By holding tightly to my past and the way things used to be, I am not allowing God to work in and through me.  The Holy Spirit is constantly trying to make us a new creation in Christ, by stripping us of our old selves (2 Corinthians 5:17).  As humans, it is so easy to get caught up in our predictable, routine-oriented lives, and forget that Christ is constantly calling us to place EVERYTHING before Him at the alter.  We get so used to things being one way, that when that gets changed, it completely rocks our world!  We tend to find our security in routine because it is predictable, but if that is where we place our security than we are ultimately placing God in a box because we are not allowing Him to do things in our lives that are far greater than our finite minds can comprehend.

Jesus, be my Security.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Dependent on Him

The world tries to convince us that we need to be independent in order to survive, but in reality we are created to be completely dependent on Jesus!

Learn to be thankful and find JOY even in the midst of struggles, because that is when we become aware of the goodness of God!

"Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."  -Psalm 139:10
**Jesus is using one hand to lead me through this crazy thing called life, and the other to hole me tight every step of the way.  He will never leave me!**

Trials (testing of my faith) + steadfastness (loyalty to God) = JOY
-James 1:2-

Faith like Job

God is the Author of my life.  Let Him write the pages.  No matter how painful it is, God is in the midst of creating something beautiful!  In the midst of my pain, God is there, holding me tight.  God is trying to get my attention, and I have to make the choice to choose JOY.  In the midst of my struggle, I need to choose JOY.  I also need to be patient with myself.  My head may be tired of all this mess, but my heart is still an emotional wreck.  It is going to take time, and in that time I need to tune into God's voice and listen because He is clearly still trying to use this process to teach me something.  I need to be asking, daily, "God, what are you trying to teach or reveal to me?"  Jesus, I need to hear from You or feel You!  I need Your Spirit to penetrate and move in my heart and guide my steps.  Lord when I begin to waver and wander away from You, remind me of the faithfulness of Your servant Job.  Job had everything stripped away from him, yet He still adored and worshiped You!

"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.  And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."  -Job 1:20-22
**The Lord strips us of our flesh, so He can be glorified**

"Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.  For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal."  -Job 5:17-18
**God may break us down, BUT that is only to make us realize how desperately we NEED Him**

I wanna be lost in You

Jesus, I wanna be so lost in You that You're guiding my every step.
When I waver and begin to think I can do it on my own,
bring my heart back to You.
I wanna be so lost in You that You're the light that leads my path.
I wanna be so lost in You that You're my strength when I want to give up.
When I question the plans You have for me,
remind me of Your sovereignty.
I wanna be so lost in you that You're love is enough for me.

Spirit Move!

Jesus, help me to allow Your Spirit to move in my heart and reveal my areas of sin.  Help me to trust that You will be there to pick up the pieces that I am afraid will come crashing down.

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  -2 Corinthians 4:6

His Love

Why do we stray from the One who holds us together in the midst of our brokenness?  His love for us is CONSTANT; we need to receive what He died to give us!

"The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy."  -Deuteronomy 33:27

"But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation."  -Psalm 13:5

Self-Control

Jesus faced the ultimate battle of self-control when HE was being mocked and shamed on the cross (Luke 23:35-37).  He could have called upon a band of angels to come and free HIm from His suffering and torment, but He knew He had to fulfill and be obedient to His Father's plans, so that we could have a personal relationship with Him! How deep is Jesus' love for us, that He would be willing to sacrifice His own life!  Jesus overcame the battle of self-control, because He had complete faith that God would never leave or forsake Him, and would see Him through to the end when His name is glorified!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Dear Beloved

A dear friend of mine gave me a letter that is to be my constant reminder of the love that Jesus has for me. I pray that it blesses you as much as it has/is me.  It reads like this:

Beloved,

I know everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone; to have a deep soul relationship with another; to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But I tell you, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me along, having an intensely personal and unique relationship and discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning and wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing-the one I have for you. I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait. That's all.

Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have, or the things you think you want. You just keep your eyes on Me or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of. You'll see; until you are ready, you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you; until then, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and thus the perfect love.

And, dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with Myself. Know that I love you utterly. Believe it and be satisfied.

Jesus

Ladies. Hold out for the MAN that Jesus has created for you. 
You are worthy. 
You deserve to be pursued. 
You deserve to be fought for. 
Believe that in your heart! 
Jesus has such a beautiful plan for your life - let Him show you! Surrender your desire to control your own life because it is NOTHING compared to what Your Creator has in store for you! Find your satisfaction in Him alone. Let His love sweep you off your feet!