"It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, 'If the people encounter war, they'll change their minds and go back to Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:17, MSG)
God is so kind. I mean really, He is ALWAYS looking out for His children and trying to do best for them. But how often do we want to go the shortest route? We are constantly telling God, "Look, I know you know best and all BUT it would seem to me that it would really make the most sense to do it this way." AS IF He needs our finite knowledge to make the best decision. His goal is to get us OUT of slavery and INTO the promised land that He has for us. We need to embrace the journey because it is in the small things along the way that we are molded and shaped into vessels for Him. Day after day I am guilty of second guessing the goodness of God (aren't we so glad that He never grows tired of us or of giving us another chance?). Just yesterday I had to realign myself with the goodness of God to remember that His ways are perfect, and honestly, I have to everyday. It's not a one time ordeal. I want to live from heaven to earth, but the fact of the matter is that I'm surrounded by earth and I have to CHOOSE to align myself with Christ and His purposes for the earth. So here's to this rainy morning, remembering that His ways are perfect, His nature is good, and His kindness is incomprehensible.
Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Grasshopper Identity
"We saw the Nephilim [giants], and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers..." Numbers 13:33
This verse hit me afresh tonight. It comes from the passage that tells of the twelve spies going to scout out the land of Canaan. Upon returning, Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people of Israel saying, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30) Caleb and Joshua knew the nature of God. They believed His promises. They didn't get caught up comparing their insufficiencies and inadequacies against the things they saw. They knew what the Lord had said, and they believed it. Later they urged Israel saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:7-9)
Why is it that we are willing to settle so quickly? Why don't we hold out for what He's promised? Graham Cooke wrote, "When we fail to respond to the overtures of God, we remain the product of all our yesterdays." The overtures of God... I LOVE THAT. An overture, by definition, is an introduction to something more substantial. God longs to introduce us to something more substantial, something greater. Why do we turn back to slavery instead, just as the Israelites did? We must stand firm until the breakthrough comes. There is no turning back. We must see ourselves through the identity that was put on us by Christ's death, the identity substantiated through the Holy Spirit living inside of us. THE LORD DOES NOT SEE US AS GRASSHOPPERS SO NEITHER SHOULD WE. He sees us as His beloved children whom He fights for. We are His instruments of battle. We are not what our past says about us. We are what Christ says about us. The old is gone and the new has come. So put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your shield of faith. The Lion of Judah is walking beside you, and He says that you were made for this. It's time to yet again receive the promise of God and remember who He is. With Him, we can stand up against the enemy and receive the territory that God has for us.
Does your self-esteem match up with the Holy Spirit's confidence? Don't convince yourself that you're a grasshopper. Stand up. He believes in you.
This verse hit me afresh tonight. It comes from the passage that tells of the twelve spies going to scout out the land of Canaan. Upon returning, Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people of Israel saying, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30) Caleb and Joshua knew the nature of God. They believed His promises. They didn't get caught up comparing their insufficiencies and inadequacies against the things they saw. They knew what the Lord had said, and they believed it. Later they urged Israel saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:7-9)
Why is it that we are willing to settle so quickly? Why don't we hold out for what He's promised? Graham Cooke wrote, "When we fail to respond to the overtures of God, we remain the product of all our yesterdays." The overtures of God... I LOVE THAT. An overture, by definition, is an introduction to something more substantial. God longs to introduce us to something more substantial, something greater. Why do we turn back to slavery instead, just as the Israelites did? We must stand firm until the breakthrough comes. There is no turning back. We must see ourselves through the identity that was put on us by Christ's death, the identity substantiated through the Holy Spirit living inside of us. THE LORD DOES NOT SEE US AS GRASSHOPPERS SO NEITHER SHOULD WE. He sees us as His beloved children whom He fights for. We are His instruments of battle. We are not what our past says about us. We are what Christ says about us. The old is gone and the new has come. So put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your shield of faith. The Lion of Judah is walking beside you, and He says that you were made for this. It's time to yet again receive the promise of God and remember who He is. With Him, we can stand up against the enemy and receive the territory that God has for us.
Does your self-esteem match up with the Holy Spirit's confidence? Don't convince yourself that you're a grasshopper. Stand up. He believes in you.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Falling Into Deeper Waters
Faith. If there is one word to describe this season of life it's faith. It's a time of uncertainty. I haven't the slightest idea what my future is going to look like. All I can do is have faith. God is good. And He gives good gifts. This is a time of character building, trials, molding, and oh so much growth. It can be scary, but it's so so good... So here I am in this season, and I'm taking the plunge. I'm going into deeper waters calling out to Him. He has said that the flood waters will not overwhelm me (Isaiah 43) so I choose to go deeper and deeper. I want to get more lost in Him.
The attached video is the best I could find of a song we've been singing at church lately. I love the lines "We're falling into deeper waters calling out to You" and "I've got a river of living water; a fountain that never will run dry." I'm choosing to take the plunge.
The attached video is the best I could find of a song we've been singing at church lately. I love the lines "We're falling into deeper waters calling out to You" and "I've got a river of living water; a fountain that never will run dry." I'm choosing to take the plunge.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
His Lavish Love
Christmas is just around the corner (in 52 days to be exact), and today, God is painting me a beautiful picture of something. Ashley Lynch, who has recently begun discipling me, was asking whether I believed that God had an UNBELIEVABLE FUTURE in store for me. She went on to say that He is sitting on the edge of His seat and can't wait to show me what's next. Goodness gracious, after she said that, God just started speaking all sorts of His excitement to me. Here is the best way I can explain what He was saying to me... You know those kids who are terrible at keeping secrets because they're SO excited to give you the gift they've gotten for you (Yes YOU Chandler)? That's how I see God. GRANTED, He knows how to keep a secret, but He is giddy with excitement to lead you to all that He has prepared. He has a hope and a future. He wants the EXTRAORDINARY. Isn't that great?? It makes ME giddy, too. I hear United Pursuit's prophetic lyrics...
Come Away
by United Pursuit Band
Come away with me
Come away.
It's never too late
It's never too late
It's not too late for you.
I have a plan for you.
I have a plan.
It's gonna be WILD.
It's gonna be GREAT.
It's gonna be FULL OF ME.
Bah!!! I just want to start dancing around here in the library... I'll try to refrain, but isn't that great?! He is SO GOOD!!!!!! How can I even try to focus on anything else when He's distracting me with His goodness?? This love story is the best of all... So I leave you now with a smile on my face hoping my joy has been contagious! Go ask Him to tell you how much He loves you. He's absolutely dying to = )
Come Away
by United Pursuit Band
Come away with me
Come away.
It's never too late
It's never too late
It's not too late for you.
I have a plan for you.
I have a plan.
It's gonna be WILD.
It's gonna be GREAT.
It's gonna be FULL OF ME.
Bah!!! I just want to start dancing around here in the library... I'll try to refrain, but isn't that great?! He is SO GOOD!!!!!! How can I even try to focus on anything else when He's distracting me with His goodness?? This love story is the best of all... So I leave you now with a smile on my face hoping my joy has been contagious! Go ask Him to tell you how much He loves you. He's absolutely dying to = )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)