God-inspired The God who renews Dear readers, friends, beloved brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ, it brings me great pleasure and joy to share with you how The Lord has brought me through my limitations, weaknesses, struggles and troubles. If you dont already know, The Lord has blessed me with His Grace! In my growing up years and my walk with Him, He would repeatedly remind me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9: But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I would ask myself how could Paul boast gladly about his weaknesses and even delight in his hardships and difficulties. Paul wrote to live is Christ and to die is his gain. He understood that in all of his life, everything should revolve around Christ. So he wrote so that Christs power may rest on me and for Christs sake. The truth is, God doesnt need us, we need Him - He wants us. There are a few things The Lord has revealed to me in my walk with Him through all the tears, hurts and pain: 1. The devil came to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give life in His abundance (John 10:10). In our storms, the devil plots to steal our joy, hope and peace in Christ. He plots to kill our hearts, using the circumstances to keep us bounded by our hurts, bitterness, hatred, anger and unforgiveness. He plots to destroy our faith in God. HIS PLAN IS TO DECEIVE US, TO MAKE US CONFUSED IN OUR EMOTIONS, AND IN DOING SO, PREVENT US FROM LIVING IN THE ABUNDANCE OF CHRIST. We need to be aware of satans schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). Question is, how can we live in His abundance? We need to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Paul wrote that he consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. Paul yearned to gain Christ and be found in Him, having Gods righteousness by faith (Philippians 3:8-9). Paul understood that to live in the abundant life Christ has given us, we need to (Philippians 3:10): 1. Know Christ Desire to know Him more; seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Proverbs says search for Him as for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4) and where your treasure is, there your heart is also (Luke 12:34). We need to come before God not with empty words but with broken and contrite heart. This is the start. Then will we find knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5). And then will we be able to know our position in Christ. 2. Be humble What does The Lord require of us? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). In forgiveness, we need to humble ourselves before God and see others above ourselves. In the weaknesses of others, we need to humble ourselves to accept them and encourage them. In our own weaknesses and limitations, we need to humble ourselves to acknowledge and defeat not in our strength but Christs. Jesus went through all of these in His life on earth, up till death on the cross. He forgave and embraced. 3. Stand in Christs victory Christ resurrected so that we can be resurrected from death to life. Knowing Gods promises isnt enough, we need to attain! For we are more than conquerors through Christ who love us (Romans 8:37). We need to take captive every thought and negativity that is not of God and break it in Jesus Name! We need to proclaim and declare the Word of God not just in our heart but from our lips (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45). 2. Forget our past disgraces and glories and strain towards the goal that Christ has prepared for us in eternity (Philippians 3:13-14). We oftentimes walk three steps ahead and later walk two steps back. Paul encourages us to live up to what we have already attained (Philippians 3:16). God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and for a while they were thankful and joyous. Yet when they begun to be complacent and discontented with what God has provided for them daily, they began to complain and wished they had never gotten out of their slavery in Egypt. Many times we are just like them, we wallow in our problems and challenges and we wish God never brought us out of the previous phase or season of life. Paul learnt the secret in being content in every season, in plenty or in want. He relied on Gods strength. Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Zechariah 4:6 says, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says The Lord Almighty. We need to take time to be still before God, bare. In doing so, we are waiting upon Him, we are hoping in Him, and thats when He renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). Thats when He restores His vision, His purpose, His thoughts and His heart for us. And by His Spirit, I pray that we will respond to Him, Lord, here I am. Send me. 3. Our troubles are light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) If you feel like giving up, with the overwhelming emotions swallowing you then you are at blessed! The Lord has an encouragement for you! He is saying to you, My child, do not lose heart. Though it seems like the problems are too big to solve and too much for you, but I will come by you if you will allow me, and I will hide you under my wings of love. Day by day, I will my grace sustains you. My power and might renews you. I will give you creativity to break out of your limitations. I will give you faith to conquer your mountains. I will give you strength to endure. For your troubles are light and fleeting, they are achieving for you an eternal glory in Me. So fix Your eyes on Me, I am the author and perfector of your faith. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. No harm can befall you. I will come to your rescue, only if you will let me lead. Beloved children of God, The one who calls you, who is our Lord and Abba Father, is faithful and He will do it. He will, but have you done your part? Press on in the hope of our God - the God who renews.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 15:36:33 +0000
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