I had awesome conversations with two of my friends yesterday in which we reviewed the history and development of certain areas of our lives. As we talked I remembered the roller coaster of emotions that I have experienced over time. I remembered the feelings of happiness, excitement, confusion, uncertainty, peace, love, anger and contentment to name a few. I thought about no matter how wild the ride has been, the moments where I decided to trust in God were the moments where He showed up mightily on my behalf.
That may seem like such an obvious statement to make, but it’s hindsight for me. For years I blindly followed my emotions, allowing them to toss me back and forth like the waves of an ocean. This often resulted in poor choices and damaged relationships. I’m learning now to submit those raging emotions to my Father in Heaven.
When the questions start running in my head or the rage begins to build I feel the prodding of the Holy Spirit. He gently taps me on my shoulder to get my attention and let me know that I need to nip all of that in the bud. I turn my attention toward Him and He usually tells me to wait. If I listen, I wait expectantly for the resolution and it always comes. The conclusion of the story is always far better than I could have imagined when I wait on God instead of running ahead with my emotions.
When I look back and see how the Lord has taken care of me in every situation, it is so easy to say, “Yes, He really is GOOD!”
Deuteronomy 2:7 (New International Version)
7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.
I have come to the conclusion that people in general are too easily offended. If someone looks at you a certain way, they must have an attitude. If they didn’t greet you a certain way, they have a problem with you. If they don’t do something exactly the way you expected them to, they must not care about you. Why do we put ourselves through this?
The energy we expend while being upset over what we think somebody meant by their actions is energy that could be better used to improve the quality of our relationships.
If you love someone, trust them. If you don’t “love” them, why do their actions affect you? Either way, let it go. Most of the time when you let these things go, you find out that you were worried about nothing. However, if you choose to get upset and make a big deal over what you feel is an offense, you may damage an otherwise healthy and loving relationship.
It is important to remember that the world does not revolve around us. We think the actions of others automatically have something to do with us, or that our friends and family should consult with us before they live their life. Not so. I am striving to be consistent with my love for the people in my life and simply trust and believe in their love for me. Not only am I freeing them from my expectations, I am freeing myself to simply be happy.
Proverbs 17:9 (New International Version)
He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
I recently had my eyes opened to some broken areas in my life through an awesome 3.5 half day forum discussion. I learned that I had been dragging past events into my relationships, resulting in destructive behavior and a lack of commitment on my part.
I thought I had forgiven people from my past but I realized that as long as I held them responsible in any way for the breakdown of the relationship, I had not truly forgiven them.
Without true forgiveness, how was it possible for me to walk in love? Learning this created a desire in me to want to make things right. The thought of doing it was difficult but once I got started it became easier.
I decided to take 100% responsibility for the breakdown of my relationships. Then I sought forgiveness from individuals which turned out to be an amazing and surprising experience. I felt such a release as I shared what was on my heart but what I didn’t expect was the graciousness and the compassion of those who were on the receiving end of my apology. I almost couldn’t believe my ears.
I am thankful for the opportunity to mend relationships and erase the pain of my past today, especially because tomorrow is not promised. The limitations of my past prevented me from being the loving person that I aspired to be.
How can I walk in love while holding ill feelings toward my brother? Now I am free to reflect the image of God, the embodiment of Love.
Can you think of any broken relationships in your life right now? Do you have a desire to break free of all the negativity associated with that? Do you miss your estranged loved ones? You have the power to erase the pain of the past concerning those relationships right now. You have the power to make it right with the people in your life. Will you free yourself today?
Take responsibility for your relationships and fix them today. You cannot control what other people do, you can only choose to love and accept them or leave them alone. To be loving and accepting is the choice that will bring joy to your life.
Ephesians 4:30-32 (New International Version)
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
What are you willing to be in order to have the life that you want?
For years I said I wanted to be married and have a family but I was unwilling to be committed. I also wanted peace and happiness in my life yet I was not obedient to the will of God. I formed this belief that God was somehow angry with me and wondered if I would ever please Him.
Have you done this? Have you wished for your life to be different, yet failed to do what was necessary to bring forth the change?
Jesus told a wealthy young man that it was easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. I suspect that it is not the riches that prevent someone from entering the kingdom of God, but their unwillingness to give up their way of doing things.
You can be loving and have the relationships that you want. You can be creative and have the businesses that you want. You can be compassionate and make a difference in your world.
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Matthew 19:23-26 (New King James Version)
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
As my current relationship has progressed from courtship to engagement it has been a constant learning experience for me. To achieve this level of harmony and commitment with another person I have found it necessary to put my flesh in submission daily or in other words, keep a tight grip on my emotions.
This means I understand that I may not always have my way, however if I exercise some trust and faith in the God who sent this man to me, I find that I ultimately receive all the love and support that I need.
When emotions are allowed to have full reign in a relationship, they can wreak total havoc and destruction. Our actions should always be spirit-led so that they are full of love and grace. This does not mean that we ignore our feelings but that we submit those feelings along with our thoughts to God in prayer.
It is hard to erase the memory of what is said in the heat of the moment. If you are angry, it is often better to hold your tongue and wait until you can deal with the situation more gracefully. Your self control demonstrates the love and respect that you have for the other person and your relationship will be stronger because of it.
Stop and consider what would Love do? Measure your thoughts and actions against 1 Corinthians 13 to determine if that is the best way to handle the situation rather than act upon the first feeling. This can be applied to any relationship whether romantic, friendly, business or otherwise.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The Lord is demonstrating exactly what He said – we are complete in Him. He provides where there is lack. He fills in the missing pieces, He is everything that we need.
You may have suddenly lost an important person in your life last year and find yourself wondering how you are supposed to fulfill your destiny without their presence and guidance. Perhaps relationships that were once peaceful and productive have turned cold and you wonder why.
Maybe the vision you had for your life just isn’t unfolding the way you thought it would and you are trying not to be angry about it.
God wants you to know today that He is with you. You are at a very critical place in your life and it may require more effort than ever before to push through to the next level. The Lord is sending help from the North, South, East and West to gird you with strength and encouragement so that you reach your destiny. Be receptive to the support that God sends you this year.
Last year your willingness and obedience kept you in the center of God’s will. This year your continued obedience and intense focus on God and His Word is what will sustain you and carry you forward. Yes, you will become all that He created you to be. You will see the vision unfold. You will taste and see that He is good.
Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
The Lord is still showing me that I am complete in Him, that He is perfecting me with each and every trial I endure. He gave me yet another illustration of this yesterday. I had a dress custom-made for a special occasion, but when I received it, it was not what I paid for. I took the dress to a skilled designer to see if it could be fixed and she said it would be better to start over from scratch. I agreed with her, because I must have the dress that I chose, the one that I paid for.
That imperfect dress reminded me of the issues in my life that I didn’t feel like dealing with. The ones that I have never conquered because instead I would avoid them. I realized that God wasn’t going to let me out of it this time. He wanted me to complete the process. If I do not see this thing through, I will be like that dress – incomplete and poorly constructed.
I will have to endure the rough parts this time so that I can become whole. I may have to be taken apart and properly sewn back together before I look like what Christ paid for with his life – His glorious Bride, spotless, without wrinkle and dazzling like a thousand Swarovski crystals.
Lord, it is my prayer today that You would make me over. I have cheapened my own design with materials that don’t belong on me like negative thinking, fear, doubt, worry and old patterns. I don’t want to be a poor imitation of the original You created me to be. You design only the finest and that’s how I want to see myself. Thank You for investing only the best in me. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ephesians 5:25-27 (New King James Version)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
I am determined not to suffer or go through anything in vain. If there is a lesson I can learn, teach me Lord. If someone else will be delivered as a result of me talking about it, send me Lord. I am not a victim cowering in the corner because the “devil” attacked me or my family. If the enemy decides to rush in like a flood, then he’s late because I am already soaked in the blood of Jesus.
I will push back by being obedient to share what I am going through because someone else may need the same encouragement. I am a very protective, divorced mother of a young son. Try as I might to shield my son from pain and disappointment, it is impossible at times. It is stressful at times for me to be the sole parent providing care 24/7 and it is heartbreaking to have to be the bearer of bad news when the other parent doesn’t follow through on their commitment to the child.
As I cried out to the Lord this morning it was my heart’s prayer that my son would not internalize these things – that he would not carry rejection, resentment, bitterness or any of the ill effects that can come when a child does not understand the behavior of the adults in his life. I prayed that his thoughts would instead gravitate toward all the love in his life, especially the love of God. I asked God to fill in all the gaps and He simply said, “You are complete in Me.”
That was my release. The burden was lifted. I desperately wanted to erase the pain but that is not my job. God said we are already complete. This is a place in my son’s life that he will be able to minister out of one day – so I will leave that between him and God. I will continue to cover him in prayer but I will trust that God will heal and protect his heart and help him understand why things are the way they are.
Whatever that thing is in your life that makes you feel like you are not enough, hear the Lord saying to you right now, “You are complete in Me.” He has got you covered. You do not have to know all things, be all things or provide all things. He is the Lord Strong and Mighty, the Alpha and Omega, Protector, Healer, Waymaker and best of all, He is Love. Release those feelings of inadequacy to Him right now and remember, the Almighty God sees you as “Complete.”
Psalm 24:7-9 (New International Version)
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Happy New Year!!! I missed my time interacting through this forum during my break. However, the time away gave me an opportunity to address some things that had be taken care of before I crossed over into a new decade.
The fact that God prompts us to change and gives us the opportunity to do so is just mind-blowing. God believes in us! Isn’t that incredible? His Love causes Him to believe that we can do better, grow stronger and become all that He created us to be.
I am inspired today. Inspired to go harder than ever after the things the Lord has placed in my heart to do. Without apology, I will seize everything there is for me to take in 2010! There is no time to doubt about whether I am worthy or not. There is no time for false humility due to what is really fear of moving forward.
He said “you are fearfully and wonderfully made”. This means you were created to do fearfully wonderful things! What are you inspired to do this year? I encourage you to write the vision and pray over it daily. Let God tell you what steps to take next and watch Him bring you to places that you have only previously dreamed of!
Psalm 139:13-15 (New King James Version)
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[a]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
