Tag Archive for: Truth

A Mental Realignment

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Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4, AMP)

The above passage of Scripture reminds us that we need to have our hearts and minds set on the things of Christ. This passage has been a constant tool of realignment for my mind. How often I get off track thinking about things that just don’t matter. This passage of Scripture reminds me that I have been raised with Christ to a new life… Why do I go back to a place that elevates my sinful nature and diminishes the work of the cross? It’s a battle I will face for the rest of my time on this earth.

I’m thankful to God that He shows me grace and continues to call me forward in the things of Him. I like how the amplified version of this verse reads, “keep seeking the things that are above”… This part of the Scripture has a lot of meaning when you dig into the Greek on it. The Greek says this verb is a Present Active Imperative verb. This means that we are to be presently seeking God right in this moment, actively continuing to seek Him long into the future (there’s never a point at which we are good and stop seeking Him), and it’s a command. This means that we are not called to seek the Lord when we feel like it or when it’s convenient. We are to seek the Lord always from now until we die.

While on this earth we are in a process of sanctification. A process that knows no end on this earth. We daily have an opportunity to grow in the things of the Lord as we seek His face and His divine purpose for our lives.

May we never grow weary in seeking the Lord but may we do so with a happy heart, knowing that the best is yet to come! God isn’t finished yet and as we set our hearts and minds on Him we find ourselves realigned to His purpose. God has so much in store for us as we surrender our desires and seek after His.

Lord, please teach us what it means to fully seek You. May our hearts be realigned to your purpose and plan for our lives. May we live to honor You and be people who strive after a Christlike mindset. Lord, I pray that the revival we so desperately seek for our country will start in each one of us as we seek Your face! 

Words Matter

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Words… they are everywhere.  There are thousands upon thousands of words spoken on any given day at any given hour.  Most of them through actual talking or speech, but nowadays it’s also through text messages, social media, and cell phones.  Then there is the timeless classic of the written word in books, online posts, and emails.  of all these methods of talking and exchanging words, my favorite each and every time are the words, wait for it….. from a friend or confidant in a moment of unexpected clarity.  It’s that moment when, as your listening to that person’s words, (i.e. encouragement, constructive criticism, advice, scripture, etc.) you realize it’s the Holy Spirit!  It’s God speaking to you, reminding you of His presence and His acute awareness of YOU.  WHO you are.  WHAT your needs are.  WHY you matter.  In fact, many times the person speaking has no idea how powerful their words are in that moment.  Their words evoke a response and it’s immediate.

I recently had this happen to me when at dinner with a friend.  She had no knowledge of my unanswered prayers.  She had no idea of unspoken longings in my heart-or unspoken prayers said between God and I only.  Equipped with a listening ear and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit- she spoke TRUTH to me and I knew the instant I heard her words it was God.  He was showing up in a physical way with words.  So completely ordinary right?  Or is it?  He wanted me to hear Him with an open heart and a willingness to listen. My girlfriend was the vessel to say what He needed me to hear at the appointed moment I needed to hear it.  I must go forward now with the truth that’s been revealed to me, armed with the confidence of God’s faithfulness and message.

Has this ever happened to you?  Have you ever had a moment when you knew what your ears were hearing, your heart was feeling?  The divinity of God’s love overcomes any doubt or attempt to logically rebuke the truth as you heard it and you are convicted beyond all reasonable doubt to step forward!  The experience for me, when it happened, was humbling and emotional.  I was, and still am, truly aghast that The Almighty of the Heavens and Earth would have any interest in any conversation I might have and wants ME to hear a message.  He reminds me He is THE most powerful being alive and He knows my heart even when I don’t speak it out loud. I find a deep conviction to repent of whatever should be and I ask to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus…..that’s all it really takes isn’t it?  Words, the bible says, are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone.  Indeed.

I hope my words have an impact on your heart today and I encourage you to always be open to the conversations around you.  God may be yearning for a heart to heart with you in the least surprising of methods-words.

Love and Prayers to all of you. xo

Jera

 

 

You Are Radiant

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Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalm 34:5  ESV

 

Radiant. What a word. David, the author of the Psalms, did not use the word beautiful, joyful, or even happy. He used radiant. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, radiant is defined as:

radiant

adjective | ra·di·ant  | \ˈrā-dē-ənt\

1a: radiating rays or reflecting beams of light
1b: vividly bright and shining : glowing
2: marked by or expressive of love, confidence, or happiness

a radiant smile

3a : emitted or transmitted by radiation
3b : emitting or relating to radiant heat

 

My favorite definition of radiant is “vividly bright and shining : glowing.” It gives a glowing visual of the way we all will be in heaven, and on top of that, Christ promises to make us like that now! He will enable us to radiate to the world around us, and through that, people will see that we have hope in Jesus Christ. For we, as Christ followers, are not looking to this world, our families, or even to our careers, but to Christ!

Through Isaiah 40:31, Jehovah-Jireh (“The Lord Will Provide”) gives us a promise when we hope in Him: “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will run and not grow faint.” He promises to take care of us when we hope in Him! We are constantly surrounded by all the promises he gives us and all we have to do is to accept them!

So as you run your race throughout the day, remember to hope in the Lord and that He will make your face RADIANT!

Love,

Isabella

Life Can be a Rollercoaster Ride

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I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33, AMP)

Lately, I’ve been thinking life is kind of like a rollercoaster ride. There’s that moment you get in the ride and hear, “keep your arms and legs inside.” You brace yourself for the wild ride. Your anticipation mounts as you climb to the top of what will be a free fall. Then you dangle a lit bit on top just to give you that final moment of sweet thrill! The thrill gives way to the beautiful free fall. You pick up speed as you head to who knows where. You slowly adjust yourself to the ride, thinking you’ve got this, it’s not so bad. Then comes the loopy da loop. One loop and your good. Then another loop and another. Often leaving you guessing of when your feet will be steady on the ground again.

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The Christian Life isn’t a Competition

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I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. (2 Timothy 4:7, AMP)

Reflecting back on the Olympics, I see a team spirit and oneness of those who competed. How many times did you see teammates cheering on the sidelines excited that Michael Phelps earned one more medal? Or the gymnasts who cheered each other on? Or the diving athletes David Boudia and Steele Johnson who gave God the glory and shared that their identitiy is in Christ, not an Olympic medal? Read more