Truth Over Doubt!

Doubt. Sheesh, I do not like that word. You know who loves that word though? Yup, the devil himself.  Satan loves to place doubt in your life. 

He loves to tell you your not good enough:
for someone who treats you right,
to be a light and example to others,
to stand up for what you believe in.

He loves to tell you your not worthy so you might as well settle:
for that job you don't like but society does,
for those words people say behind your back or to your face,
for people in your life who are not a positive Christlike influence.

What is oddly comforting to me is to know these thoughts are a direct result of the devil sneaking in my life from outside influences.  Why I say this is comforting is because of a phrase I love to remember: when the devil is working God is working twice as hard! Do you think God would leave you to fend for yourself in the face of adversity? Heck no! He never leaves your side and through Him you hold the power to overcome any doubt. To combat that doubt with truth from God's written word.

"then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more.  You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea', and it will happen."

- Matthew 21:21

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

"for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." 

- Deuteronomy 20:4

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." 

- Luke 10:19

"Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who commits sin if of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning.  The son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works."

- 1 John 3:7-8

What Is It Like?

I found this in a copybook I had from last semester.  I remember my mind just filling with all these questions about heaven so I decided to write them down.  Some seem silly but it is just where my mind took me this night!

What is it like?

Do we walk, run, float, or fly to get there?

Or are we just all of a sudden, there?

Is there a line at the gates?

Are crowds of people we know waiting to greet and welcome us in?

Can we even find our voice when we see Him?

Does our whole life pan out in front of us?

Do we get hungry? Thirsty? Tired?

Do we get to pick what age we want to be?

Do we do the same activities we did on earth?

Do we discover new talents we didn't know we had?

Do we have endless talents?

Do we meet people we've never met on earth that have somehow impacted our lives?

Are we sad to find out someone we loved did not make it?

Do we finally understand?

Do we glow with righteousness?

Are we different?

If our earthly imperfections were transformed then we'd have to be different.

Is there transportation? Is there a need for it?

Are there any needs?

Do we need to bathe? Brush our teeth? Take care of our appearance?

Or is everything so perfect that it is already taken care of?

Is there hangouts or interaction among the people?

Do we learn everyones story? 

Everyones journey?

What is your journey?

What is it like?

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

—John 14:1-3

Acrostic

Have you ever done an acrostic poem in grade school or middle school when you were growing up?  The ones where you write out your name vertically then think of adjectives that describes you for each letter of your name.  They would all be fabulous positive adjectives.  I mean who would actually put something bad even if they truly felt that way.  There is nothing wrong with that either but I just started thinking of this one day and decided to be real with my acrostic poem.  I made one with how I truly felt before I came to know Christ personally and I also made a revised one now that I know the Lord has blessed me with His unending grace and love.

Reluctant
Overlooked
Broken
Yearning for fulfillment
Never satisfied

This one is obviously the one reflecting my "before" or my yellow grass phase like I mentioned in my other post.  The crazy part about this is that I didn't truly realize I was feeling this way until I grew in the Lord and started to look back and be thankful for all He has brought me out of.

Refreshed
One of a Kind
Beautiful daughter
Yes to His calling
Never alone

This acrostic resembles how not only God looks at me but how I have started to look at myself.  It was really encouraging for me to do this and I recommend trying it out for yourself! 

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

- 2 Peter 1:3

Stepping Forward

Okay, so this post is so totally God speaking because I found it in my journal and don't even remember sitting down and thinking to write this.  The Lord had something to say to me I guess!  I hope He can say something to you through this as well.

I once didn't know:

The love of God

What it felt like to converse with Him

How to trust Him

But I'm stepping forward

He calls me forward.

I look back on shame and the past

But He washed it away, and pushed me--forward.

I'm stepping forward

Into the light, which reveals flaws

And with gentle guidance those flaws are one by one worked on with patience

Patience that stands the test of time

That is unfailing.

That is immovable.

That is there to fall back on if you slip up.

I'm stepping forward--into strong hands

With that kind of guarantee why wouldn't I trust?

Easier said then done I suppose.

But why?

What have I ever gone through or struggled with that compares to being beaten and crucified for millions of unworthy souls?

But worthy in His eyes,

I'm stepping forward.

Whew! Comforting isn't it? The only one who is truly perfect and has every right to condemn us for how imperfect and sinful we are, doesn't.  Not only that but He calls us worthy and shows us grace for everything we have ever done to dishonor Him, ourselves or anyone else.  Can I get a God is good?!

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

- Romans 5:2

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

- Psalm 143:10

Grass is Greener

On my run today, also known as, my daily date with the Lord, I was thinking of the phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side.” I found it so fitting to apply in terms of the Lord’s impact on my life.  Before, when I just kept God as a lifeline when I was in trouble, the grass in my field was hurtin’. You know the yellow straw kind with more dirt then grass itself? That’s where I lived.  Sure, I had good times but they weren’t as satisfying because I wasn’t glorifying.  And when I hit a low point. Look out. Pity party? Check. Worrying to the point of over exaggeration? Check.  A lot of things felt like too much, like I couldn’t possibly survive on my own.  That is because I couldn’t. I can’t. And I never will be able to.  I need the Lord to sustain me, to pick up my worries and doubts and carry them on His shoulders and bless me with a grace beyond my understanding.

The Lord instills a peace to take on everyday and love for Him.  I need the Lord to make that straw grass in my life so green and plush that there is too much for me and it spills out to others around me.  I see more good times because trusting in the Lord and drawing close to Him opens my eyes to opportunities I would have otherwise overlooked.  With God, everything seems greener.  Even the low points have a green tint because I know it is promising in my fulfillment in the Lord and His plan.  With God I can pack up those once overwhelming problems and just stick them in my pocket because I know He has so much more in store for me in my life to waste it on dwelling or self pity.  If I need to be a voice to someone else who is struggling in that straw field I would gladly push aside my own issues and hand them some fertilizer to get that beautiful lawn God intended growing.  There is plenty to go around because the Lord’s love is endless.

I don’t know whether you are living in a field of straw or grass but I’ll ask you this: do you use God as a lifeline, spread Him on real quick like miracle grow and expect something to happen.  Or is your relationship with God an everyday engagement like a gardener fertilizing, weeding and watering?  One takes a bit more commitment but it does not even began to compare to the commitment the Lord has made to us. 

What do you want your field to look like?

“When you see these things, your heart will rejoice. You will flourish like the grass! Everyone will see the LORD's hand of blessing on his servants--and his anger against his enemies.”

–Isaiah 66:14