Dearest Jesus,
I celebrate Your physical birth upon this earth so many years ago.
I celebrate Your life – showing us by example and teaching how to live.
I celebrate Your willingness to lay down Your life for us.
I celebrate Your resurrection and Your spiritual life being lived out in and through us.
I celebrate You in us – the hope of glory.
I celebrate!
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
May those that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey not see the devastation with eyes of hopelessness…but may they look with EYES OF FAITH at restoration of what was lost.
May those that are seeing the destructive winds of Hurricane Irma bearing down upon them…look instead with EYES OF FAITH at God’s peace and protection in the midst of the storm.
May those that are battling health issues not look at the disease and infirmity… but look with EYES OF FAITH at God’s healing.
Brothers & Sisters, may we approach everything that comes our way with eyes that don’t look upon the problem…but with eyes that look upon the solution – JESUS!!
May we not let what we SEE affect what we KNOW —the LORD is a God of restoration, peace, protection, and healing!!
Let us declare to the earth and to the heavens:
WE LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT!!
Don’t think that the Lord can’t use you until you have it “all together!” He knows every fault…He knows every weakness…and He still wants to use us!! He doesn’t choose to use us for His Glory because of who WE are — but He chooses to use us because of who HE is!! Christ in us, the hope of glory, wants to flow through you this day. All we have to be is WILLING!!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV
Our past experiences help to make us who we are today. Those experiences that we look upon as “good” and those experiences that we label as “bad” all work together to bring us into the place we find ourselves today.
It is so comforting to know that no matter what experiences we have had, God can use all of them for our good.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV
We all learn from the good times we have had and from the bad. It is easy to look back with regret…wishing we had done things differently…but, we can’t allow the enemy to trap us in that place of regret. God can use even our regrets to change our future.
It is easy to look at things that we consider the “high points” of our lives and want to drag them into our today and dwell in that place of good feeling and accomplishment. But, God wants to open up new “high points” for us! We mustn’t allow our past accomplishments to take the place of all that God wants to do in and through us NOW!
Beloved of God, we learn from our past but we don’t live there. God has so much MORE that He has planned for you! Glance back…but keep your focus and attention firmly ahead!!
Your future is manifesting in the present – don’t miss it!
As my friend and I were talking on the phone today, we both were discussing how important God’s timing is in our lives.
It is so easy to rush ahead when we are anticipating what God is calling us to do. It is so easy to try and make it happen under our own power.
There are also things we have been praying for – perhaps for years! Beloved, don’t give up! Don’t be downcast!
Let your heart take courage! Be strong! Wait for the Lord!!
[photo credit: roamingrobert.com]
Don’t think that the Lord can’t use you until you have it “all together!”
He knows every fault…He knows every weakness…and He still wants to use us!!
He doesn’t choose to use us for His Glory because of who WE are — but He chooses to use us because of who HE is!!
Christ in us, the Hope of glory, wants to flow through you this day.
All we have to be is WILLING!!
“God does not further our spiritual Life in spite of our circumstances, but in and by our circumstances.” ~Oswald Chambers
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NASB
It is comforting to me to realize that no matter what happens in my life, God can use it to mold and shape me into a better person. He can use circumstances to give me a greater understanding; a deeper revelation; and a deeper love for those that have gone through the same thing.
He uses circumstances that could devastate and destroy us as tools to draw us closer to Him. He uses these times to exhibit His strength as we are at our weakest.
Beloved, are you in a valley right now? Do you feel the darkness around you and believe there is no way out? Do not fear!! God is with you! HE HAS A PLAN!!
His plan is to guide you through the darkness into the Light! His plan is to release His peace and strength within you so you can climb out of the valley with Him. And as you look back on this “valley time” you will see how God used this time to raise you to greater heights!
Look up!! Do you see the Lord’s hand reaching out to you? Grab it and leave the valley behind!!
Sometimes we are thrown into times of feeling out of control. We find ourselves feeling depressed and unable to go forward.
It is during these times that we need to “talk to ourselves.” We need to speak God’s Word over our lives and our circumstances.
We need to look in the mirror and say, “Hope in God!!” May we choose to put our hope in the One who can change not only our lives, but change the world!!
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
(Psalm 43:5 ESV)
Reflection of Glory! 