The Best Freedom

                                           --Thanks to my wonderful daughter Elizabeth for another great post!

True freedom, the best freedom, comes from God Almighty. And in John chapter 8 we learn the great key to being made free.

John 8:30-32

“And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

So, what is it that sets us free? Truth.

And if it is the truth that sets us free then what is it that has the ability to hold us in slavery? Lies.

Truth sets us free, but lies hold us in bondage.

Not lies that we tell to others—but lies that we believe about God, about situations we find ourselves in, and the lies we believe about ourselves.

These lies are things that directly conflict with the truth God lays out in His Word.

Just like the Jews in this record, we have also believed on Jesus Christ. In order to be set free we must know the truth. We must also do what Christ instructs and continue in his Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

We are told in God’s Word to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not leaning on our own understanding of the situations we find ourselves in. When we acknowledge him in all our ways, he will direct our paths.

When we fail to do this, when we fail to acknowledge God in all of our ways and choose to forsake his understanding of situations in favor of our own we can become distracted and lose sight of the truth that can set us free—especially when we find ourselves in what appear to be the most troubling of circumstances.

Psalm 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”

We see in verse one that the psalmist knows God is good to Israel, to those who are of a clean heart. And yet in verse two we learn that his feet were almost gone and his steps almost slip. Why? Because he is envious of the wicked and all he can focus on is their prosperity. His focus on the wicked’s prosperity causes him to question what good it has been for him to follow God, cleansing his heart and washing his hands, if all day long the wicked prosper while he is plagued.

vs. 15

“I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

The situation is too painful for the psalmist to understand UNTIL – he goes into the sanctuary of God, until he returns to God’s understanding of his current situation.

vs. 21

“Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

The psalmist realizes he has been a fool in being ignorant of the knowledge of God. But has his ignorance changed God? Has his ignorance caused God to turn away? No.

vs. 23

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.”

We too can have our hearts and our flesh fail. Sometimes we too lose sight of what God’s Word says about us or about situations we find ourselves in, but this never changes God. What His Word declares about us does not change. His promises toward us do not change.

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

If we do find that we have let our thoughts stray away from God’s Word, we can return our thoughts to what God says is true.

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

We can be transformed by renewing our minds and our thoughts back to the things of God’s Word. It is how we will prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God for our lives.

Phil 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Think for a moment with me about what thoughts go through your head. What are your thoughts about? What do you choose to think about every single day? What do you choose to think about yourself? What do you choose to think about situations you find yourself in?

Here are a few things that God thinks about you:

• Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth [shows and clearly proves] his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God loves you. So much in fact that while you were yet a sinner Christ died for you.

• Colossians 2:10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

You are complete in Christ. You lack nothing.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

You are a new creature. The old things are totally gone.

These things are all true about you now. These are all ways God sees you now.

Here are a few things that God’s Word says about God:

• Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is our helper today. Now.

• Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

• Psalm 145:17-19  “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”

• Mark 10:27  ^“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

These things are all true about our God today. In all times and in all areas of our lives, we must turn our eyes to God. We must turn our eyes to God and His Word when times get rough and when our lives seem rotten.

Psalm 42:5 “ Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

We must put our hope in God. We must remember what God has put in His Word about us, about himself, about the situations we find ourselves in, and about the world that exists around us.

II Cor. 10:3

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”

There is a spiritual battle that rages around us and that we will always be a part of. Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to be sober and vigilant “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

But that is no reason to be afraid.

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The devil roams about attempting to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus Christ came so that we might have more than abundant life. By his death and resurrection we have the gift of Holy Spirit, giving us victory in every battle.

II Corinthians 10:4 & 5

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

God’s Word tells us that we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We are to work to bring our thoughts into alignment with what God’s Word says.

As we grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, we can come to recognize those things which conflict with God’s Word and then choose to instead to believe the TRUTH. Believing the truth about what God’s Word says about you and I is what can set us free. This is what can ALWAYS give us hope.

Ephesians 4: 21-24

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

What ever it is that might be holding you back from every truth of God’s Word, put it off. Put off the lies. Put off the distractions. Turn your eyes away from your troubles and back onto the Word of God. Put off the old man and walk in the victory of the new.

God's Love Prevails

--Many thanks to my daughter Liz for today's post.

God’s love is for you and God’s love prevails.

Mark 12:28-31

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus Christ makes it perfectly clear. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and we are to love our neighbors as we ourselves. These are the greatest commandments.

But let me propose a question to you:

How can you expect to properly love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t love yourself first?

As born again sons and daughters of God, we know we have many things promised to us in God’s word, but sometimes, it might be hard for us to believe we personally deserve God’s promises in our lives.

Perhaps we have done something or are doing something we know is not in accordance with God’s word.

Perhaps we have caused someone to suffer pain.

Perhaps someone has caused us suffering.

Now, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to recognize when we are out of alignment with God’s Word—but any of these or a number of other things can create thoughts of shame, guilt, self-condemnation, and unworthiness. These things create a hindrance to our receiving God’s great love. In order to properly love ourselves, we must be able to accept and believe that God’s great mercy, peace, abundance, joy—and most importantly God’s love—are for us.

I John 3:20

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

Even when our very own hearts are condemning us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. No matter how we see ourselves, no matter what we have done or what has been done to us, He sees us as righteous and accepted through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-7

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him

in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

We are holy and without blame before God. In love, God predestinated us to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his will. We are accepted in the beloved, or in the beloved one, Jesus Christ. This is how God perceives us and there is nothing we can do to change that fact.

Our God is now and always was a God of great compassion and mercy.

Lamentations 3:21-23

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

In the Old Testament, they did not have the ability to be reconciled to God that we have, they did not have the savior we have in Jesus Christ and yet we can see time and time again that God was understanding, compassionate, and merciful.

Psalm 103:8-19

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;”

That God is still our God; and He is still just as understanding, compassionate and merciful to us, even in our most desperate hours.

Psalm 62:8

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

When we are in need, God wants us to feel that we can come to him and take refuge in Him, unafraid, even if our hearts are condemning us.

Hebrews 4:14 – 16

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus Christ understands what we face when we come up against temptations. He is our high priest and he is not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. He has been there. He understands. This is the savior God has given us. We don’t have to be afraid to come boldly unto the throne of grace…despite our pasts, despite our presents, despite our mistakes, despite our shortcomings, despite any condemnation in our heart. God wants us to know that we can come boldly unto the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Peter 5:7 tells us God wants us to be “casting all our cares upon Him (God).” Why? “because he cares for us.”

Just how much does God care for us?

Psalm 139:1-10

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

God knows us so deeply that he is acquainted with all of our ways. He cares for us so much that there is nowhere we can go, no situation we can find ourselves in, and nothing we can do which can prevent Him from always being able to be there, leading us and holding us by His hand.

Ephesians 2:4-9

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God’s mercy for us is so rich than he sent his only begotten Son to die on our behalf while we were still dead in our sins. This was not because we were or are so wonderful, it was not because we were or are so perfect in carrying out his word…it was and is the gift of God. We will never be saved by our own works, or our own ability. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow it is always by grace that we are saved through faith or believing.

Colossians 1:12-14

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”

Through Jesus Christ’s blood, we have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Again, we have that forgiveness not because of our own works, but because we have believed. We have been made righteous without works.

What does it look like when God forgives someone who has been made righteous without works?

Romans 4:6-8

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

To impute something to someone is to credit something to them or to lay responsibility for something on someone. When God forgives us, it means that he will never, ever credit our sins against us ever again. He will never, ever bring them up and attribute them to us. God does not think of you as the sum total of your past mistakes and failures, he thinks of you as one of his children.

This is how God wants us to also think of ourselves.

Philippians 3:12-14

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

We are told to forget those things which are behind. You might think, 'Well wait a minute, how can I forget something?' We can choose to forget those things which are behind by choosing to not dwell upon them when they come to our remembrance, to not replay them over and over but instead to reach forward to those things which are before and to think about ourselves according to what God’s word says about us.

Philippians 3:15

“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

God will help us in this effort and if in any thing we are otherwise minded, God can and will reveal that unto us.

God’s will for your life is not for you to sit in the mistakes and pain of your past or your present, in brokenness, or in defeat. God’s will is not for you to wallow in shame or guilt or self-condemnation. God wants you to have a happy, prospering, joyful life now. Let’s press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

                                                                                   

Why Expect Miracles?

Why expect miracles? Because God truly wants the best for you and He has promised it.

Sometimes we talk ourselves out of God's Word and think we should settle for less. Maybe that's what we see in the examples around us, or maybe that's what we've experienced before. But God has something to say about this.

2 Corinthians 10:5:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Let's lead those less-than-best thoughts obedient to Christ. Instead of thinking defeat or despair, think God's promises.

God's Word says:

3 John 2:
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

1 Peter 2:24:
Who his own self [Jesus Christ] bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

2 Corinthians 9:8:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Proverbs 3:5,6:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Philippians 2:13:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

These are just a few of the great promises of deliverance, prosperity, health and hope in God's Word.
And God is always faithful to do what He has promised. Let's not talk ourselves out of it.

Let's stand on His promises, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.By walking in His light we can look forward to many miracles in 2013 and every year to come.

2013...A Great Year to Believe God!

Are you ready? It's a great year, a great day, a great moment to believe God!
Are you ready to walk in love? Are you ready to know God's power in your life?
Are you ready for peace reigning in your heart? Are you ready for miracles?

This is going to be great!
                                more to come... 

Take It Easy...

Have you ever been too hard on yourself? I know I have. I've thought, for example, I haven't done this or I haven't done that or why do I keep making the same mistake or even I just can't seem to get it right. Yikes, I'm worn out just thinking about it!

When that happens, it's time to go to God's Word and see what God thinks about you!

1John 3:1-2:  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Now THAT is some kind of love! That's amazing.

Ephesians 1:4-6  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Uh-oh, wait a minute. If I'm "chosen in Him" and "holy and without blame before Him in love," maybe that is what I should be thinking instead. In the face of any faults or insecurities, I'm still chosen in  Him and "holy and without blame before Him in love."

He even "made us accepted in the beloved." Wow, since He made me that way and He accepts me, maybe I better take it easy on myself.

It's time to bask in God's love. Just sit back and relax and languish in His love. He's not condemning His children; Jesus Christ died for us and carried our sins to the cross.
Aaaahh! Now that is something to think about. That is something to tell yourself the next time all those other pesky thoughts try to sneak in.
Make it a great day with God!

God Won't Give Up on You

No matter how dark the days, no matter how long the struggle, God doesn't give up on His children. God is always merciful to us!

Psalm 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

God's mercy is His withholding of merited judgement. We deserve it, but He withholds it! So no matter how many times we may stumble, God is ready, willing, and able to be merciful to us.

Psalm 136 is a fantastic psalm, with "his mercy endureth for ever" in every verse! You might read it once and think, "well, that's nice" but it might not really sink in. You might even read it again and start pondering that this still applies today. But by the time you read it in all 26 verses, there's no denying that God's mercy truly endures forever. I highly recommend reading it aloud to yourself whenever you need a nice mercy-filled pick-me-up.

God is always ready to forgive. For those who are born again, it's as simple as going directly to our heavenly Father and asking forgiveness.

1John 1:6-9:  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Cleansed from all unrighteousness" is as good as it gets. This isn't 90 % cleansed. This isn't forgiven except for that one time. This is 100% absolutely, totally cleansed from all unrighteousness. Jesus Christ is our absolute savior. 

We have great joy when we walk in fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

For those who are not born again yet, they can confess the savior from sin, Jesus Christ, as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, in order to be saved. This is the greatest new beginning of all!

Romans 10:9,10:  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

No matter who you are or what situation you are in, God won't give up on you. Go to Him with your burdens. Great is His faithfulness, and His mercy endures forever!

Don't Give Up on God

Have you ever had trouble really expecting an answer from God?  Maybe your situation just seems too drastic-- too many years of dealing with the same problem, something the world considers irreversible, perhaps even something you have never considered asking God for previously.  Well, God has an answer for you if He has promised it in His Word.

Numbers 23:19: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

When you are facing a difficult situation, search out the promise of God that applies to you. Then no matter how daunting your situation may be, declare God's Word regarding it!

Hebrews 10:23:  Let us hold fast the profession [confession or declaration] of our faith [believing] without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)

And remember, your past experience does not govern your current results.

Philippians 3:13,14: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Don't count on the past; stand on the truth of God's Word.  He is faithful who promised!