Are you in a wilderness season? Do you feel blind?

May I encourage you for a moment? Maybe it is not that you’re off God’s track, but that you’re on it.

Consider this…

When Saul (soon-to-be Paul), a lead persecutor of Christians, encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus said to Him, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:6)

Following these words, Saul may have wanted to go, but found himself blind. Seeing black, he lost all ability to control his future, his steps, and his path.

He would never find his way on his own.

Maybe you are in shoes like Saul was – without sight to your own answers, your future or your safety. In a place of complete reliance rather than answers.

There are 3 key details from Saul that may encourage us, as we try to chart our way:

ONE: “Saul picked himself up off the ground…” to obey Jesus (Acts 9:8)

Certainly, Saul could have wailed and lamented His past and sat hopelessly in the mud. But, chose not to. The only way to get where God is calling you is to get up an go. Even if you’ve made a mistake in the past. This is okay. Getting up is repentance (repentance = hearing + a new-doing).

TWO: “His companions led (Saul) by the hand to Damascus.” (Acts 9:9) Later, the Lord led Ananias, through a vision, to lay hands on Saul and to set him free.

Some of us feel we have to control our destiny. We have to manage our ship. We have to make things work. The reality is, God is God enough to line up everyone and everything just right.  God will put the right people around you, the right hands on you and the right path before you – to get you to where He’s taking you. He knows what He’s doing. We can rest in that.

THREE: Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) and something like “scales fell from his eyes” (Acts 9:18).

Greater sight of God is always our goal. And, blind faith often leads us there. It is not by our power or might, but by the Spirit. The bumpy-road process of getting somewhere is a time of grabbing-onto-God and learning about Him. It is where we find God does have us and hold us, forever.

So, friend, if you don’t “know” today. . . If you can’t see. . .  If you feel like you can hardly make your way. . . be encouraged. . . God sees you and He knows where He’s taking you. He’s always known how to get you there. You are not lost to Him.

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For more on this topic, see my books, Battle Ready or  Fear Fighting .

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Fear, although it feels so real — so tangible, often lies. It not only assumes our future, our happiness levels and our outcomes, but it pulls our attention away from God. God works in our present moments. Fear tries to pull us ahead to a turbulent land where everything may “go wrong”. A place full of hypotheses and worst-case scenarios.

Beware of fear, it’s a land of dark woods, with seething coyotes and deep pits, full of landmines.

The land of fear is a scary place — and its easy to arrive to. Thus, the reason why we are going to learn how to avoid it at all costs.

3 Steps to Disassembling Fear

ONE: Pray and CHOOSE to believe God has everything in His good and faithful hands.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Ps. 23:1)

No matter what, we have all we need:

• heaven
• help
• hope
• the healer
• Him, being with us

TWO: Do not let the enemy steal God’s will in your day.

Fear looks at self. Faith looks to God.  Fear is a distraction and a diversion. Faith is peace. Fear is stuck in its own world. Faith keeps on loving others despite itself. Fear is not part of God’s plan for you. Faith is your way out.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)

THREE: Understand, God has your best way.

Avoid: Leaning on other’s opinions, conducting online searches, and assumptions
Choose to: Dwell on what is good, holy, noble and of good report. Remember and state aloud truth. Dwell on the fact that God’s timing is always perfect.

“God’s rod and staff protect and comfort me.” Ps. 23:4

“Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me.” Ps. 23:4

“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.” Ec. 8:6

Lean not on your own understanding. Faith moves beyond this place. Indeed, choose to repent, forgive or let go of what you need to and do this often, but beyond this. . .never move too far down the road. Ever. That’s a dangerous place. Chose not to dwell on whys, hows or what you can’t understand. That is not your territory. They lead even the best-intentioned people to the pits.

Think on: God’s faithfulness to you in the past, His miracle-moves in your life, His love, His care, His abilities, His might, and His goodness. Thank Him for this present-day opportunity to draw near to His heart. Undoubtedly, He will be there for you and will not fail you.

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There’s almost nothing more soul-dropping than when fear hits you like a free-dropping roller coaster. Friends, I am going through a health scare. Ahhh!!! 

The “what-ifs” feel giant. Monsterous. Looming.

Will you pray for God’s healing hand to move in my body?

Although this issue is different, I’ve been here before. Years ago, they thought I had Multiple Sclerosis. Praise God, I turned out okay. Yet, I deeply know how “scary” feels.

This 2-part series on fear is meant to encourage you, your friends, or family standing face-to-face with fear (be it: a job loss, a health issue, a marriage that’s crumbling, financial distress . . .). I want it to be a post people can lean on, return to and keep near.

Here’s what I believe God might want to say directly to fearing hearts, like mine:

Dear Child that I love,

You are mine. All mine. Entirely mine. Do not fear, for I am near. Nearer than the reality of your ever-present fear is me — the one who loves you. Choose to be unafraid and to stand strong in the power of my might. In me, in my strong tower, no winds can tumble you, no force can overtake you and no enemy can remove you from me.

Remember, you are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Wait for me. Trust in me. Pray to me. Expect from me. Expect to see. What you want, I know of, care for, and have the vision to see through. I see from high heights. I know what you don’t know. I have you and I’ll instruct you. I’ll show you the way to walk and then you’ll walk in it. I’ll be with you. Fear is an illusion. The only thing it serves to do is to block you from me — from hearing me, praying to me, and knowing me habitually in your mind. Do not allow what is not — of me to steal my words — from you. I am yours and you are mine. Forever.

The Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. (Ps. 121:7)

If you struggle with fear, check out my books, Battle Ready or  Fear Fighting 

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Hope deferred makes the heart sick… (Prov. 13:12)

This is a real condition. Sickness, due to a loss of hope.

Are you struggling with it? Perhaps you’re facing a marriage that is going the opposite way you thought it would. A dream that won’t seem to come to life, despite the time you’ve spent studying to make it happen. A person who keeps turning away from your heartfelt words about God.  A health scare that won’t leave you.

When you hope in God and are met with the same stuff, day-in-and-day-out the sickness of doubt and discouragement tries to settle in.

Doubt and discouragement defer hope.

Yet, faith ignites it.

“Hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” (Eph. 6:16)

In fact, faith not only ignites hope, but it can stop an attack in its tracks.

You hold up the shield. The arrows have no place to stick to you. You are protected with steel over your chest. Your heart can’t be injured. You have the shield of faith, the enemy has no way of assault any longer.

Gaining faith in the middle of a physical, emotional or spiritual attack is not hard to do — although the enemy would try to convince us of that.

2-Step Remembrance Plan to Regain Faith

1. Remember what God did.

I remember, when my husband and I just got married, I used to get so angry when a plate broke. I would ‘go off’. It was as if the world was going to end. Yet, today, if something falls, I sweep it up without a care in the world. God healed me of momentary and heated anger that came out of nowhere.

What has He healed you of? Where has He brought you from? What work has He done in you over the years that you forget to give thanks for?

2. Remember what Jesus did.

Speak aloud to Jesus. Yes, right there, wherever you’re reading this. Say: Thank you that you died for me. Thank you that you saved me. Thank you that, through Christ, I am holy, righteous and pure. Thank you that I am redeemed. I am a new creation and I am in Christ. I am blessed. I cling on to this. I believe in your plan. I trust you. Amen.

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

Learn more about Kelly’s new book, Battle Ready: Train your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt and Live Victoriously.

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Overnight everything can change. Everything. The previous day it was an old year. Today it is a new.

New year = New Beginnings.

You know, 2018 wasn’t necessarily the easiest year. Sure, I hit discouragement, doubt, despair at times, I hit pain, tears, issues, and physical scares. . . but, who cares?

Who cares. What is old is old and what is new is new.

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to things of old.” (Is. 43:18)

What God sees as an “old thing” has no influence as His hand creates “our new”.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Is. 43:19)

Just as one has to close an old book, to pick up a new book, I strongly feel we must close our books of “old” — old pains, injuries, insults, attacks, discouragement, despair, rejection, unforgiveness and sin to break into the best story of all time — to grab hold of His greater story, the gospel.

We must:
Ditch old memories, for the memory of Jesus on the cross.
Toss out feelings of separation of God, for the reality that God grants us bold-access to the throne of grace.
Let go of every 2018 mess-ups, because we can’t steal-back what Christ’s blood already paid a hefty price for.
Give thanks that the righteousness of Christ far surpasses the lack of faith, hope and love we failed to muster yester-year.

His book of “new life” falls open for us to read afresh. Here it is. Jesus waits to meet you. He says something like, “Close the book on that “old story” and partake in my new one.”

For Jesus’ life is now yours.

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Ro. 6:5)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

“…Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 517)

Jesus routinely made old issues new: the blind see, the lame walk, the poor became rich in His love, the afflicted get relief, the guilty are relieved and the dead come back to life.

Jesus is resurrector. He rebuilds broken bridges. He awakens lost loved ones. He heals pains and burdens. He restores finances. He answers. He shows up. He creates new callings. He reaches into pits. He fixes.

None of it depends on old stories you’ve written in your mind; all of it depends on the story of Jesus. He paid it all for you to walk into an extreme, abundant, love-filled 2019 like never before. Grab His hand, receive His new life and expect that this new year will be like never before. Jesus will never fail you. Ever.

What feels dead, let go of it. Walk forward this year, into the goodness of God. He will do all things in and through you as you trust Him.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

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“They’re renters.”

That’s how my husband and I were introduced. “So and so, meet Kelly and Emanuel, they’re renters.”

Yes. We are.

We’ve been renters off and on throughout our lives. God’s called us left and right, North and South, East and West — we’ve gone everywhere. We’ve been called to do certain things, no matter the cost. I try not to be ashamed about who I am, our calling or our present situation…

…but the way this person introduced me, unsettled me. Not only this, the woman seemed to avoid saying hi to me after finding out we were “renters.” I wondered why she didn’t stop to talk at all. Yet, after her introduction, it all made sense.

We’re renters. She’s right.

When I got home, her words kept on repeating in my mind, “They’re renters.”

Declaring my worth.”They’re renters.”
Slighting us. “They’re renters.”
Proclaiming the totality of who I am. “They’re renters.”
Summarizing my inadequacy. “They’re renters.”
Circling my lack of worthiness. “They’re renters.”

I began to get upset at her. How can a person judge someone based on where they live?

Yet, almost a split-second before I finished this internal question, it was as if God had a comeback, “Kelly, how often do you look at yourself as better-off than the homeless person you see on the street? Just because you have a home. . . ”

Oh my goodness! I am just like this woman. Subconsciously, I feel better-off, more worthy, more together, more valuable and more blessed, than a lesser-person. Why? Solely, because I live in a home and sleep in a bed — and not on a sidewalk.

Forgive me, Father, so often, I know not what I do. If I was at a party, I’d probably steer clear of the stinky, lowly homeless woman who is unable to give me anything too.

“God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Cor. 1:28)

All this gets me to thinking. . . this season, as we sit around the Christmas table — what if we let go of classifications? Immediate judgments? Old gripes because we’ve been wrongly classified?

The hard-to-face-fact is, many times: we’re just as guilty, in our own right. And, just as we want to be loved for who we are, so do others. We all want — a chance to change. Let’s afford others the ability to walk into new ground. We never know someone’s background.

Pray with me:
God, today we let bygones be gone by the blood of Jesus. We acknowledge — our deep roots of love, in you, make us strong enough to withstand the effects of hard-to-love people. We choose to honor them, Jesus, just as you honored us on the cross. We never deserved it, but still, you did it. You teach us how to rise above. Pour out grace. Teach us. Grow us. And may we never put ourselves above others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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