Tearing Down Idols

I am thankful to God that I am able to write these blogs. I have slacked in my priorities which is evidenced my lack of posting this summer. God is dealing with me on a number of things. Just two years ago he began growing me in ways that I never thought possible. He took me from the deepest valleys of my life and told me I needed to grow and be that person that he preordained me to be to meet those purposes he had for my life. This summer the work again continues as he is calling me to grow so that we can reach those places God desires to take me. It’s almost like a baby learning to walk. Until he/she decides to stop crawling they are limited in the places they can go and the freedom God desires them to have.

Though at times I might think differently this is all about Jesus and none about me! We are greatly deceived when we think this life is about anything other than the glory of God. This might make things easier if like me you are a sensitive person, and hurt by sometimes offensive comments and negative people. It isn’t as much about you but the negative powers and principalities that existed from the beginning and continue to exist today. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” ~Ephesians 6:12. We are called to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith for guidance in strength. We are called to deny ourselves and walk in love even if it means allowing others to react negatively towards us without returning in retaliation. It’s absolutley hard but absolutely necessary.

This last year God has revealed my idols and those things he desires to tear down to render me more effective for service in his eternal kingdom. An idol, as I have struggled to understand is anything that I place above the living God. It could be my family, job, a desire for worldly success, or significant other. These are all external, but the spirit is teaching me that my idols also exist internally. Idols of pride, doubt, worry, and un-forgiveness. When we hold on to these things, we give them priority and lose focus of Jesus, the only person who can move us safely across the troubled waters. If you desire for your idols to be removed it’s all a matter of asking the Holy Spirit to reveal those things that are distracting us from the real presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Ask him to remove a spirit of un-forgiveness, or bitterness, and doubt. Ask him to remove those burdens that are keeping you from your true purpose. Ask him for the strength to be kind to those who are highly critical. Ask him for the grace and mercy to operate in those places of contention and opposition. Have you asked him to remove your idols?

Precious Faith

"Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).
Two weeks again since my last post! Exactly one year ago my whole world changed completely. It was at this point in July that my Granny’s health went from 80% to 40% in a matter of days. As I look back I am amazed at the peace God gave me to get through. The strength he gave me to let go of my fears about her leaving this earth to go and begin her life in the splendor of his Glory. Being able to let go is one of the greatest gifts you can receive. I never imagined or experienced that time of peace in my lifetime until last year. I was perfectly content and trusted in the promise of everlasting life to all who believe that Jesus is and lives. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”~ John 17:3. My spirit swells up just remembering my experience of knowing and trusting God enough to give Granny to him! The tears stream at times just thinking about God’s goodness. In essence God gave me the gift of faith to believe in a spiritual realm of eternity that my eyes have yet to see. One of my last conversations with Granny was about her transition to her new life, one much fuller than this present one. I spoke to her without tears, but with confident assurance that Jesus was present and would be with her always. I long for this precious faith in all my circumstances.