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Breaking Yokes - Part VI.

Breaking Yokes - Part VI.


Continuing on with our Study on breaking the yokes of negative thinking that we have been bound up in for years. It is so past time to let these things stop eating away at us. Amen?!


31. I feel guilty

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says: "I feel guilty."

Ever thought that or felt that way? Honestly; I use to be so eat up in guilt that I didn't need anyone else to beat me up- I did a good enough job on my own. But I don't beat myself up anymore and I don't allow anyone else to either. And neither should you!

Or how about its cousin thoughts: "You don't do enough. You're not good enough. You don't say the right things. You don't take care of yourself. You don't measure up. You don't do as much for others as you should. You aren't a very good Christian. You aren't a good enough mother, wife, husband, sister, brother, son, daughter etc. etc." Blast if the list isn't endless when it comes to us feeling like we aren't absolutely Perfect people- something we can NEVER BE but that doesn't stop us from feeling like a complete and total failure because we aren't.  Ohhh the guilt. Yes, Guilt.

All this line of thinking produces is guilt, which leads to self-hatred, anger toward others, bad decisions, harsh words, procrastination and fear.

So often, we feel guilt because we THINK we don't do enough for God and for others. We're not good and holy enough.

This thinking has enslaved people for centuries.

Nothing seems to rob us of our true purpose more than thoughts and feelings of guilt.

God doesn't motivate by guilt. That's manipulation. God motivates by love. Romans 2:4 says "It's the love and kindness of God that leads us to change."

Often people put a guilt trip on us, to get us to do something or to give in to them. God isn't like that, and He wants you free.

Let's fast from guilt:

1. Jesus declares you: NOT GUILTY. This doesn't mean that you've never done wrong. This means, that He washes your wrong with His blood.

2. See what God sees. Accept Colossians 1:22 which says through His blood "He presents you holy and faultless and unblameable in the Father's eyes."

3. Meditate on Job 10:7 which says "According to your knowledge, I AM INDEED NOT GUILTY..."

4. When you blow it, don't deny it. Admit it; confess it. 1 John 1:9 says "If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and to CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

5. It's already done! Believe that it is already done! Hebrews 1:3 says "He cleansed us from our sin."

6. Stop thinking that you have to FEEL GUILTY to be forgiven. Sometimes we think we owe it to people to feel guilty and feel bad for everything. Stop thinking that. You don't owe anyone. Don't think guilt somehow pays for something. The blood of Jesus paid it all. It's an insult to His blood, when we feel like we owe God guilt or we owe it to others to wallow in guilt.

7. Stop beating yourself up about what you haven't done. How? Live in the "now". Living in the now, stops your mind from bombarding you about the past and future. Enjoy that moment in the now. When you're praying, the devil says "you should be cleaning." When you're cleaning, the devil says, "you should be reading your Bible." Shut that garbage up. Live in the now. Hebrews 11:1 says "NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for." And 2 Corinthians 6:2 says "NOW IS THE TIME OF SALVATION."

8. Rest in the fact that you don't have to be perfect. God is not holding you to a perfect standard. Jesus is your perfection. JUST REST!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Jesus has declared me: NOT GUILTY. Even when I feel I don't do enough, or that I'm not good enough, God says FAITH IN HIM IS ENOUGH.

I don't have to feel guilt to be forgiven and I am not going to feel guilty when I blow it. I will receive God's forgiveness, since He already cleansed from my sin. I will admit it, receive His mercy and move on.

I stop TODAY, beating myself up about all that I haven't done, or have done. I choose to live in the now. I will enjoy the moment that I'm in and praise God in the midst of it.

I rest in the fact that He is my perfection. I don't have to be perfect. He already is, and I put my faith in Him.



32.  I'm Not Worthy. I Don't Deserve To Be Blessed
 (After All I've Done Wrong).


The battles of life are won or lost between our ears. It's in our heads. 

Satan understands that the root to everything in our lives is what we think about. That's why he fights so much to fill your mind with wrong thinking. But we have declared war on wrong thinking!

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says:

"I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to be blessed (after all I've done wrong)."

I can't be the only who has had this thought. The below steps take us deeper in our freedom from guilt.

1. Stop focusing on your "wrongs," and focus on His "rights."
We've all done enough wrong in life, to send us straight to hell. But God doesn't judge us based on our right or wrong. He judges us based on what Jesus did right. We just need to believe it.

2. He doesn't bless us because we deserve it.
He blesses us because He promised He would. This will free you when you know that God is a God of promise. Genesis 17:1 says, "I will bless you and multiply you and make you exceedingly fruitful."

3. Blessing flows when you believe you are forgiven.
Romans 4:7 says, "Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven." This is amazing! Putting your faith in God's forgiveness is the gateway to blessing in your life. That's why Jesus said to the paralytic man, whose friends lowered him through the roof, "Son, your sins are forgiven." THEN He said, "Take up your pallet and walk." You see, the blessing of healing was the RESULT of BELIEVING HIS SINS WERE FORGIVEN. (Mark 2)

4. Jesus IS WORTHY of God's blessing, and you are IN HIM.
Galatians 3:29 says, "If we belong to Christ, we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise." Galations 3:9 says, "Those who are of faith are blessed..."

5. Stop condemning yourself.
STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE. Romans 14:22 says, "Blessed (happy) is the man who does not condemn himself."

6. He took the curse so you could take the blessing!
He deserves to see you blessed, because of what He went through to take your curse! "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... on the cross...that the blessing of Abraham might come on us through Jesus Christ." (Galatians 3:13)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I take my eyes off all that I have done wrong, and put my eyes on all that He has done right for me.

He blesses me because He promised that He would, therefore I expect to be blessed coming in and blessed coming out.

I choose to believe I am forgiven, and therefore BLESSING FLOWS. I belong to Christ, therefore I am blessed with Abraham. Genesis 24:1 says, Abraham was blessed IN ALL THINGS - therefore that's what I expect.




33. It's Not Going To Happen For Me.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "It's not going to happen for me." Ever heard that or thought that? 

Or thoughts like: "I'm not going to get the job. I'm not going to find the right guy or girl. My situation is not going to turn around."

Let's begin thinking that it is going to happen for us. Ready?

1. Expect something good to happen to you today.
The Lord has done great things for us! (Psalm 118:24 & Psalm 126:3)

2. Know that God has a good plan for you today!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good, to give you a future and a hope." (Notice those 2 words: "I know." This means that God is certain about it. It's definitely going to happen. Take it to the bank! It's coming!)

3. Expect doors to open.
Psalm 5:12 says, "Favor surrounds the righteous like a shield." Favor means: God opens doors that no one can close. Expect doors to open today.

4. Believe in God's fairness.
Life's not always fair, but God is! Romans 12:19-21 says He will right every wrong. Remember, it happened for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore, it will happen for you. The Bible says, "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) That doesn't mean He doesn't respect you. It means that He won't show partiality - blessing one person and not another. But you have to believe it and expect it. What He did for Abraham, He has promised He would do for you. Galatians 3:29 says, "For if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed, and heirs of the promise!"

5. Think "solution thoughts".
No matter what the problem is, no matter what hasn't seemed to happen for you yet, expect a solution. Expect an answer. James 1:6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, ask of God...who gives to ALL men generously." Notice, He gives to all men, not some. You're one of those who He does give it to. You're not just in line. You're in the front of the line!

6. Think about some good that has happened in your life.
This shows the past faithfulness of God. Since He never changes - expect His faithfulness AGAIN today! (Psalm 23:6)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Something good is going to happen for me today. Things are going to work out. God has a good plan for my life today. He is certain that it is good, therefore I'm certain as well.

I expect favor today. Favor surrounds me like a shield. Doors are going to open for me that no one can close.

God is going to right every wrong, and show the same help to me as He did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He gives me wisdom and holds nothing back. I am in the front of the line.

I remember the good that God has already done, and therefore I expect Him to do it again. Good and right things are going to happen in my life today - goodness and mercy shall FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE!



34. Things Aren't Getting Better. They're Getting Worse!

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "Things aren't getting better. They're getting worse!"

Gang, thinking this way is NOT AN OPTION.

This thinking keeps us bound to the past, or moving backwards. The media espouses negativity. The spirit of darkness is behind all these thoughts. The devil promotes doom and gloom, to get people depressed, on drugs, fearful and timid, distracted from the worship of God and the work of the gospel.

The world is full of bad news - the economy is getting worse, society is getting worse, etc.

But we reject this thought TODAY!

1. The path of the righteous ... gets brighter and brighter until the full day.(Proverbs 4:18)

2. "Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) But the opposite is true about you! Goodness follows you, therefore, you go from good to better!

3. Don't think "glass half full or glass half empty." Think: My cup runs over! (Psalm 23:4)

4. Your life is going to end up better than it started!
Eccl. 7:8 says, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning."
Haggai 2:9 says, "The latter days of this house shall be greater than the former."

5. Believe that God has saved the best for last.
John 2:10 says, "...But you have saved the best for last!"

6. God only has the best in mind for you.
In Luke 15:22 the father said, "bring the best robe, and put it on my son..."

Follow the pattern of how God does things-

He takes us from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from the blood of animals to the blood of Jesus; from law to grace; from sin to righteousness; from sickness to health; from adversity to prosperity; from defeat to victory; from unclean to clean; from empty to filled.

Everything in God's kingdom gets better and better.

The kingdom of God is in you (Luke 17:21) therefore, expect things to get better and better in every area of your life.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

No matter what is happening in this world, things are getting better and better for me! God has made me righteous through His blood; therefore, my path is getting brighter and brighter every day.

My inner man is being renewed, day by day. Evil people may go from bad to worse, but the goodness of God follows me, so I go from good to better, every day.

I can celebrate in the presence of my enemies, because my cup runs over, and never runs out! God has saved the best for last in my life, and my latter days will be better than my former days, in Jesus' Name.



35.  I Just Can't Stop Blowing It. I Always Seem To Mess It Up.

As we celebrate another awesome day in Christ Jesus, I want us to particularly fast from thoughts that take for granted what Jesus did for us. We need to appreciate the power of His blood, and the power of His sacrifice.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "I just can't stop blowing it. I always seem to mess it up."

Jesus did more than just forgive us from our sins when He died on the cross and rose again. He gave us power over sin! No more should we see ourselves victims of a defeated, beaten life. We are the head and not the tail; above only and not beneath!

1. Rejoice in the grace of God.
Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace." Titus 2:11-12 says the grace of God enables us to say "NO" to ungodliness.

2. Stop beating yourself up.
Romans 14:22 says, "Happy is he who does not condemn himself..." Remember, God doesn't beat you up, He builds you up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "Love builds up!"

3. Remember the woman caught in adultery.
In John 8:1-11 Jesus said to her, "I don't condemn you. Now go and sin no more." Notice, first there was acceptance and forgiveness. Then there was POWER over sin. The power over sin was the RESULT of recognizing her freedom from it. Sometimes we feel we have to repent of everything before we can be forgiven. Jesus forgives first, and that gives us the power to be free.

4. Believe in the power of the blood.
Paul said not to drink the communion cup in an unworthy manner. We need to renew our mind about what makes us worthy. It's not our holiness that makes us worthy to drink the cup. It's the "cup"; it's the blood of Jesus that has the WORTHINESS to cleanse us and empower us to overcome anything. (1 Corinthians 11)

5. Think about the 3 gifts God gives in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but POWER, LOVE AND DISCIPLINE." You have the power of discipline and self-control. Stop thinking you are out of control and realize you have been given the power of self-control.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am not a slave to sin. I have dominion over it. It doesn't have dominion over me because I am not under the law, I'm under grace.

I expect the free gift of God's grace to enable me to say NO to ungodliness. I am free because I am forgiven. God is love and love builds me up today!

I put my faith in the blood of Jesus to forgive me if I have fallen; but also to empower me to be free from the things that I'm struggling with.

I have the power of self-control. I am no longer out of control. I have been given power, love and a sound mind. I am free from fear and free from sin.

Breaking Yokes - Part V.

Breaking Yokes - Part V.

Are you feeling liberated yet? Feeling those yokes and chains falling away from you as you realize just how much the Enemy has had a field day playing around in your head? Doesn't it feel completely awesome to realize that God's Word speaks against every single negative thought you could ever have? Praise the Lord!


26. God is just so far from me 

Let's fast from the thought that says: "God is far from me." Not only is God with us. Not only is God for us. But He is also IN US. 
 
Remember, that the serpent was subtle in Genesis 3. Thoughts that can defeat us are often very subtle thoughts.

We have to learn to not only discern between right and wrong; but we must discern between "right" and "almost right."

It's "almost right" to ask God to come down and help us. It sounds holy. It sounds humble. But you will truly be free when you discover, HE IS ALREADY HERE. Emanuel means "God with us." When Jesus came to the earth, He put an end to the separation between God and man.

Let's fast from the thought that says: "God is far from me."

Not only is God with us. Not only is God for us. But He is also IN US.

This is an amazing mystery, and we won't understand it completely until we are in heaven. Colossians 1:27 says "...this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

It's "almost right" to believe that if we become holier, we can get closer to God.

But the separation between us and God is a myth. It's an illusion. The devil wants us to believe it to keep us powerless and misinformed concerning our connection with God. It's true that in Isaiah 59:2 it says that "your sins have made a separation between you and your God." But Jesus TOOK AWAY the sin through His blood. Therefore, THERE IS NO SEPARATION between us and God, if we have been born-again. It's our failure to recognize this that keeps us in bondage, feeling distant from God. We feel sometimes, He is so far away. But He is not. He is here. He is there.

For us today, let's replace this "almost right" thinking with "right" thinking.

1. Psalm 46:1 says, "He is an ever-PRESENT help in times of trouble."

WOW! You have to love this thought. Have you ever had times of trouble? (Ya think!) But notice, He is ever-present. THEN, it says, "help" in times of trouble. It is His "ever-presence" that brings us help in times of trouble.

2. Take Him at His Word.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always; even to the end
of the age." There is no way to misinterpret this verse. "I am with you always." That has to warm your heart and comfort you."

3. Christianity is not a life of attainment, but a life of recognition.

Philemon 6 says, "that your faith might become effective, through the acknowledgement of those things which are already in you, in Christ Jesus." Many people focus on "attaining" God's presence and God's blessing. But the scripture is clear: We must recognize and acknowledge that He is already in us. His gifts are already in us. This produces power that MONEY and RELIGION cannot buy! The first part of the verse says - this is what makes your faith become effective. Acknowledge. Recognize. He is already in you. His gifts are in you.

4. Christianity is not us "finding God."

It's that He came and found us; took us into His arms; spilled His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; and breathed His very Spirit into us. Now He lives in every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord. Romans 8:11 says, "and if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you; then He who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead, will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that indwells in you."

5. Eliminate every thought that says, "God come down and help me" or "Send your Spirit."

He has already come. He has already sent His Spirit. Our fight, our battle is to believe this whether we feel His presence or not. He is in you!

6. It's not: us living FOR God. It's us LIVING FROM GOD.

Galatians 2:20 says, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me."

David said in Psalm 139:7-9, "Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to heave you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even THERE your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me."

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I decide today to eliminate the thought that I am separated from God in any way.

He is an ever-present help in my time of trouble. His ever-presence brings me help! He is in my boat. And I will rest in knowing I am in His presence.

I recognize that He is already in me. That's what makes my faith work. He has found me and put His Spirit in me. The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living on the inside of me.

God is not far off. He is right here, right now. I am surrounded by His love and enveloped in His presence. Therefore I am not afraid.

He is my shield and refuge. My fortress and my very present help today.

I am not trying to live FOR God; I am living FROM Him. His power is in me. His presence is in me. His love is in me. And nothing can ever separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord!



27. I'm Alone In This Storm 

When we fast from wrong thinking, we're not just discerning between "right" and "wrong"; we also need to distinguish betwen "right" and "almost right."
 
There are many things we have believed that are almost right. t's "almost right" to believe that if we worship God with all our heart, we can usher ourselves into the presence of God. Many ministers will even say, "let's press into His presence." But you see, beloved, we are in His presence already, because we have passed through the veil that separated us from the holy of holies. It is through the body and blood of Jesus that we pass through the veil. (Hebrews 10:19-20)

We now stand in His presence unashamed, without guilt, without condemnation, without separation.

Building upon the last couple of days, today we're fasting from the thought that says, "I'm alone in this." "Where is God when I need Him most."

When the disciples tried to cross over to the other side of the sea in the boat (Mark 4:36-40), they were overwhelmed by the storm that struck their ship. They thought they would perish. They feared for their life, bailing out water furiously. Have you ever been in a storm? The waters crashing against you; you don't know what to do; you feel helpless. You cry out, "Lord where are you? Don't you care?"

The disciples forgot one small detail in the midst of their storm ... Jesus was in the boat with them! There was nothing greater than His presence!

Let's overcome the thought that says, "I'm alone in this storm." "Where is God when I need Him most?"

1. He is in the boat with you!

In Mark 4:36-40, Jesus was asleep in the boat. Someone asked me once - "how do we wake Jesus up, when He is asleep in our boat, in the middle of a storm?" Well, I said, "You don't wake Him up. You rest with Him!" If He's not worried, don't you worry. HIS PRESENCE calmed the storm then, just as it will do now.

2. The disciples didn.t need Jesus to awake. They needed to awake to the fact that God was with them.

When you know He is with you, there is nothing to fear; therefore, there was nothing to fear. Psalm 23:4 says, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO EVIL for You are with me!"

3. Great miracle: Jesus calmed the storm. Greater miracle: Jesus slept IN THE MIDST of it.

When you realize He is in your boat with you, you will have supernatural peace. Calming the storm is great. Peace in the midst of it is greater!

4. DO NOT MISTAKE A FIRE IN YOUR LIFE FOR GOD'S ABSENCE.

In Daniel 3:22-25, Jesus was the 4th man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. His presence was felt in the middle of the fire. Just because you don't feel His presence, doesn't mean He isn't there. BELIEVE HE IS WITH YOU, and eventually, your situation will FEEL HIS PRESENCE!

5. Psalm 91:10 says, "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your tent."

Notice, the next verse says, "for He will give His angel charge concerning you." There are many angels involved in our lives, but this is talking about HIS ANGEL. The Old Testament "Angel" is Jesus Christ. He is Lord, therefore He has charge concerning us!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

There is nothing greater than God's presence, and His presence is with me and in me. As surely as He was with Moses, He is with me.

I am not trying to get in God's presence. I am already in, through the blood of Jesus. He is in my boat with me. He is not "over there." He is "here" right now - with me and in me!

I awake to the fact that He is with me. There is no separation. I can rest with Him, in the midst of any storm. I can walk with Him in the midst of the fire.

I am fearless, because He is with me. Therefore, no evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling place - my church, my home, my body, my life - in Jesus. name.



28. It's Just So Hard

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says, "It's so hard!"

Many people don't even start some things because they have conditioned themselves to think it's too hard. We defeat ourselves with this thinking, before we even start.

Let's fast from this thought:

1. realize you are yoked to Him.

Many people find the Christian life so difficult because they are trying to do it on their own. The Christian life was not meant to be lived that way. We were meant to be yoked to Jesus. He said, "Take My yoke upon you. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28)

2. Accept that some things are difficult in your own strength, but God wouldn't ask us to do something that He doesn't give us the strength to do. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) His grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

3. Keep in mind (meditate on) the fact that we are one with Him.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Do you not recognize that Christ Jesus is in you?" He is in you, so whatever you are facing, He is facing with you. Your problem is His problem. Your trial is His trial. Your debt is His debt.

4. Meditate on God's nature; His ability.

Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for Thee." The Message Translation says, "Dear God, my Master, You created earth and sky by Your great power, by merely stretching out Your arm! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO!"

5. Matthew 19:26 "With God all things are possible."

6. Don't focus on doing things "for Jesus", but FROM Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 says "It's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."

You see, what is impossible and too hard for man, is easy for God. The God of the impossible lives in you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am not alone in the challenges and responsibilities of my life. I am yoked to Jesus. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

The Holy Spirit is my Helper. He lives in me and gives me His strength, encouragement and power.

God knows what I'm going through, and He has given me the grace and ability to make it. I have a covenant with God, therefore my battles are His battles.

Nothing is too difficult for Him, and all things are possible for me, because I believe. I live life from the strength that He supplies in me.

I can do all things through Christ, who infuses me with His strength!



29. God must somehow be mad at me 

Many people think that God is mad at them, or the reason bad things are happening is because God is against me. Or, perhaps you don't think He's overtly against you, but He's just not aggressively helping you.
 
Today, we are fasting from the thought that says, "God is mad at me."

Wrong thoughts are designed by the devil and our flesh to undermine our faith. If you think God is mad at you, you won't be EXPECTANT toward God to bless you.

Let's take this thought captive (the word "captive" means: "to conquer with a sword." We conquer wrong thinking with the sword of God's Word!)

1. God is not mad AT you. He is mad ABOUT you!

When you accept this thought, you will have confidence, expectation and peace. Who couldn't use that! How do I know this is true? Romans 8:37 says "Nothing can separate you from the love of God..." You are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and you are LOVED (1 John 4:10).

2. Think this new thought: God loves me as much as He loves Jesus!

In John 17:23 Jesus says to the Father: "I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You sent Me, and LOVED THEM, AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME!" What an amazing truth. God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. And there is no way God can be mad at Jesus.

3. He thinks precious thoughts about me ALL THE TIME!

Psalm 139:17-18 says "How precious are Your thoughts toward me, O God...If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with you!"

4. What God said to Jesus, is the SAME to you: "You are My beloved Son. In You, I am well-pleased." (Mark 1:11) Hallelujah!

He doesn't sound mad at Jesus! He sounds "mad about Him"! Well, 1 John 4:16 says, "As He is, so are we." Look, there is no getting around this marvelous truth: God doesn't love Jesus half-hearted, therefore He doesn't love you half-hearted either.

5. There is nothing God is holding back from you!

Romans 8:32 says "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him, freely give us all things!"

6. YOU ARE NOT CONDEMNED!

Romans 8:1 says "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." Condemnation is an expression of strong disapproval. God approves of you, because of your faith in Jesus, not because you have done everything right. God's love for you is non-negotiable. Deuteronomy 7:8 says He loves you with an everlasting love. It cannot be stopped, quenched or compromised.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

God is not mad at me, He is mad about me. He loves me as much as Jesus. He thinks precious thoughts about me all the time! I am His beloved, and He is mine!

There is nothing God is holding back from me. He didn.t hold back His best, therefore He won't hold back the rest!

I refuse to be condemned. I am forgiven. I reject the thought that He is mad at me or against me. God is for me, and not against me. His love toward me cannot be stopped.



30. God Is Judging Me 

We're fasting today from the thought that says: "God is judging me." "Why is God doing this to me?" "Why is this happening to me?"
 
We all feel at times like when we don't measure up, that perhaps God is mad at us. And we replaced that wrong thinking with the thought that "God is not mad at me, He is mad about me."

We're fasting today from the thought that says: "God is judging me." "Why is God doing this to me?" "Why is this happening to me?"

When something goes wrong, it's easy to think, "maybe God is letting this happen because of what I did or what I didn't do."

This kind of thinking distorts the true view of our Heavenly Father. We need to stop seeing God as a vengeful and judgmental God. He is just. But His justice is satisfied, through the shed blood of Jesus. All that's left is His mercy and grace.

We're going to blast this "judgment mentality" out of our heads!

1. It is impossible for God to give anything that is not good.

Psalm 84:11 says "No good thing does He withhold from the righteous." (And don't forget: you are righteous through the blood of Jesus, not through you own works.)

2. God's judgment "passed over" the children of Israel through the blood of lambs.

In Exodus 12:12-13 God said, "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn - both men and animals - and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

Therefore, God's judgment passes over us more powerfully through the blood of Jesus.

3. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights! James 1:17 - God doesn't change. He is GOOD, and the author of good. Never doubt that again.

4. EMBRACE HIS MERCY.

Lamentations 3:22 says His mercy is new EVERY MORNING. I love what Paul says in Hebrews 4:16, "So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." HE IS NOT JUDGING YOU!

5. Meditate on what mercy is.

A woman approached Napoleon to ask for mercy for her son and let him go free. He was to be hanged for crimes against Napoleon and France. "Do you know what he has done, madam? He doesn't deserve mercy!" She responded: "If he deserved it, it wouldn't be mercy, sir." Napoleon released him.

The next time you think, "why is this happening to me," EXPECT GOD TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING GOOD, rather than thinking God is judging you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

God is NOT judging me. He is my Father, and He is madly in love with me. I deserve judgment, but He gives me mercy.

When things don't go right, I will not believe it's God's judgment. I will not believe that I have lost favor with Him. His favor SURROUNDS ME like a shield.

His judgment passed over the children of Israel, therefore His judgment passes over me. I expect GOOD to happen to me. EVERY DAY, something good is going to happen.

I embrace His mercy. It follows me all the days of my life. No matter what happens in my life, I expect God to turn into something good!

Mighty Hands

IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

I Peter 5:6 
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time".

Each day we go out into the world, we must obey the traffic signs along the way to our destination. We are told when we must stop, when we can proceed, when to use caution, and given many other commands to obey, for our own safety, and the safety of others. All great things but there is so much more than this.

Because our lives are in God's hands, we have also been given His warnings and signs to direct us all along life's highway. God's Word tells us to resist the enemy and he will flee from us. We are told to think on whatsoever things are good, holy, have virtue, and are of a good report. His Word gives us cautions, advice, and guides us safely, if we only follow the instructions. We must take up our cross each day, follow the Lord, pray, and shun the very appearance of evil; as we seek to grow in God's grace.

Have you ever been given a ticket for going a few miles over the speed limit or going through a stop sign? If so, you know the penalty has to be paid, and there is a day one must appear in court. It's the same way with the Lord's laws. When we break them or go beyond what is acceptable in God's eyes, we too have a price to pay. We have one exception, God forgives his children who truly repent and wipes their slate clean. Jesus has paid the price for us, and we can go free, if we are truly sorry for sins and turn from them.

Life's warning signs are for our good and God's glory. He has clearly given us a road map which gives instructions to safely reach our destination. Each warning sign is for our protection. If one obey the laws of the land and believes they are for their good, why wouldn't they choose to obey God's laws? Yet, we see many have no interest in learning God's ways or following His commands. One day, these will be unable to find the bridge to heaven. Their destination will be the lake of fire, because they had no desire to obey life's warning signs.

There is only one way to heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to stand in the gap for souls of men. The Lord not only instructs us in how to be victorous, but also how to have good health, happiness, and to prosper, even as our soul prospers. Heeding God's Word and instructions gives us the assurance of His approval on our lives and eternal life. May God's Word be hid in our hearts that we might not sin against Him.

The Lord is directing the way on the spiritual highway today, and all who follow Him will be lead to safety. There is only one way, and that way is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who tries to enter in another way is as a thief and a robber, and will not receive eternal life. Being good, charitable, compassionate, loving, and kind are all qualities, God loves. Yet, without the blood of Jesus applied to a soul; one will not see the Lord. Without holiness, no man shall enter in, no matter how good to others they may have been, while on this earth.

The road to glory is a highway of holiness which one must walk. The way is straight and narrow. The broad way leads to destruction, but the narrow way to heaven. As the words to an old song relate to us, "it's good to be on this road to glory." When we are walking with the King of Kings, we have nothing to worry about. There will be no detours, roadblocks, or alternate routes. There is only one road to glory, but there is room for all who choose to follow the Lord. Just ahead are the lights of home. Until we reach that city, the light of the Lord shall guide us safely all the days of our lives.

Only Jesus is able to hold our lives in His hands and work all things out for Our Good and His Glory.

Father's Day

~ My Father ~


Psalm 68:3-6 "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land"

When I was very young, I lived for the most part in a very unstable household. To this day, I still don't understand how that works; children should be cared for in a loving way, but I do know one thing- that the Lord was with me all the way through it. He took care of me,and watched over me, and kept me safe, even before I knew who He really was.

When I learned of the truth of Him, and His Word, I began reading the Bible. Whenever I came across verses that talked about being forsaken by your mother and father, or ones that talked about Him being a Father to the fatherless, it was such a refreshing comfort to me. I realized then, that while I may have never had anyone down here on earth to count on as I was growing up, I did Have FATHER- FATHER GOD- and that my precious Father God cares for me, more than any earthly parents could ever care for their child.

No one will ever compare to Him - my Heavenly Father. I did not say that to in any way take away from earthly mothers and fathers that are truly there for their children and family. The Lord blesses each child in His own way. I was simply blessed with The Best! More than that really- I was Divinely Favored.

I felt compelled to share this, because I know that I am not the only one that grew up without a stable home life. I am hoping through these words that the Lord is helping me type, that others will see that they too have a Father that cares so much for them, that He sent His only Son to die, and rise again for them. That He has been taking care of them, just as much as He has taken care of me. Even if you do not see any physical evidence of Him being there, just know that He always has been, and always will be. What a comfort that is!


~ Happy Father's Day Father God ~