Last Thursday, as the blog post I wrote about “patience” hit your inbox, let me tell you — my patience was running thin. Here I was telling you why you should be patient, yet, I was snapping at my kids…
What I thought I had it figured out when I wrote the post on Tuesday, was an issue again on Thursday!
The fact of the matter is — we don’t get it right, all the time.
Some of us need to hear this loud and clear today: you won’t get it right all the time. You’ll yell when you meant to be sweet. You’ll sweat when you should have stayed cool. You’ll be anxious when you determined to have peace. You’ll doubt when you determined to believe.
You’ll say to yourself, “Why can’t I do better? Be better? Act better?”
You may put your head down, in defeat. Yet, I imagine, God lifts it up again, whispering in your ear, “Child, I still love you. Even though… Always…”
Let that relief sink in… You see, where we are human; God is grace. Where we feel “fed up and ready to head out”; God still wants us. Where we are moody; God is constant.
Oh, how I celebrate this! He wants me, He wants me, He wants me. Even during all my — there I go again… why can’t I… I only wish…moments. He wants you too. It is His love that changes us. His love lifts us out of our pit of condemnation and sets us on a path of transformation, so we don’t do that thing we hate that we do.
Rest under His ever-flowing grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
It is not by your work that you change — lest you boast.
Little-by-little, step-by-step, it is God who carries us up and out of our old pit to new actions and reactions. He gets the credit. He owns the work. We meet Him as he prompts our new steps, sure, but he ultimately transforms and conforms us to His image, not to a pattern of repeat-wrongs.
Acceleration comes, in this process, by receiving grace. Otherwise, you strive and then seek to take credit for His glory. Or, you start comparing your self-righteousness against the next girls.
No. Grace is a gift and, through it, all glory belongs to the Lord.
Do you see the beauty here?
There is rest available to you. Accept His grace. Open your hands. Allow God to change you, renew you, free you, form you and fashion you. Obey Him as He leads. You are His masterpiece and His possession. He cares for you.
The Master is at work. Rather than putting your eyes on what you do wrong, confess, and put your eyes back again on Him. He will shape you. Entrust yourself into His hands. And, He will do it.
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Now, more than ever, we need to pray. We cannot change the climate of this day unless we pray. I am convinced of this. So much so, I feel an urgent need to create a reservoir of prayers to assist us in praying. Be it a daily prayer, a safe-keeping prayer, a repentance prayer, a protection prayer or a night’s end prayer. The goal of these prayers is to help you: persevere, gain courage, fight-the-good-fight and overcome through Christ Jesus.
While this is the first of a multi-part blog post of powerful prayers, it will eventually end up as a dedicated landing page on my blog with all the prayers listed. You can return to the page, to pray (more on that page link, later).
As you pray these, remember: 1. God hears. 2. There is power in persistent prayers. 3. God answers prayers.
Print these pages. Keep them prayers close to you. Share them with others (I will be posting these prayers on FB if you want to share it there).
Prayers to Pray (Part I):
“Accepting Peace” Prayer
Father God, the world is moving 1000 miles an hour. Often, I can’t keep up. I can’t keep track of the news coming at me. I can’t figure out my best way. I can’t manage every detail. I can’t make people do what I want. Things are beyond my control.
I feel restless in waiting. Unsure about what my future holds. Not knowing what to do.
But, Father God? I thank you that you have all control. Jesus, you as my Prince of Peace, have left me peace. Today, I choose to accept this peace. I take a moment to truly receive what you have given. I cast my cares on you and receive the peace you have given.
I also choose to stay near you today. I choose to think upon you. For it is written, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Is. 26:3)
Today, Father, give me the grace to keep my eyes on you, my ears attuned to you, my heart in check with you, and my feet following you. Then, I will live peace.
Today, I choose to fix all of me, on all of you!
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Resting in the Arms of a Good Father” Prayer
My Daddy God, you love me. I am loved by a good, good Father.
This is amazing! Thank you for wanting me. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for keeping me as your own. I am so glad it pleased you to save me. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that I am loved and wanted, but I AM!
My Father God? Will you, today, reveal to me your fathering heart? Will you help me to see the million ways that you take care of me, provide for me and love me? I want to see your ways, above my own. I want to behold your faithfulness and goodness in fresh and life-inspiring ways.
The truth is: you are miles, lengths, widths, and depths — BIGGER –than my mind can even conceive. I cannot even begin to fathom.
You have small-me in your big-hands. And, your hand IS “the mighty hand of God.” Your hand IS mighty-to-save, mighty-to-move and mighty-to-provide. The bigness of you transcends even my faintest conception of You. Your ways far exceed mine, your goodness is far greater than mine, and your thoughts are galaxies above mine.
Today, I choose to rest all of me, in all of you! I can trust you.
For,
Everything belongs to you!
All kingdoms rest in your hands!
All money is yours!
You rule over everything!
There is nothing you can’t do!
Even more, you ARE faithful! Always and forevermore.
Daddy, I want to be close to you. Will you give me a more complete understanding of your goodness and your vastness? Wil you unveil yourself to me? Will you give me spiritual understanding so I may go, faithfully walking, by your Word?
In this, I will become more full of life and power that comes from you! I will more so love others with that same love in which you loved me. I will rest under the cover of you — a good Father — who loves me with love like I’ve never known before.
Fill every place of me, with every bit of your Spirit.
May I, down to the cellular and mind-level, know:
I have nothing left to prove.
I have no work left to do to gain love.
I need no weight of worry, for Jesus already carried the weight of the cross.
Everything has been proven on the cross. It is done.
Praise be to you, Father of Lights and giver of every good gift. I am loved! I am helped! I am protected! I am kept! I am led! I am equipped! I am called! I am whole!
Glory to you, God. And, thanks be to your son, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
“Affirming Your Identity in Christ” Prayer (See: Romans 6)
Father God, I thank you that it is done! Because of your son, I am now dead to sin and alive to Christ Jesus. My sin nature has NO power in my life (Romans 6:6). Praise be to the Lamb! I am dead to sin and now alive to Christ!
Christ is my living-reality. Christ is my vantage-point. Since I am united, with him, in his death, I am also raised with up him to new life (Ro. 6:4). With this, I live new life. I see new life. I believe in new life for all those I reach with his gospel.
This affects — all my life. I am not down and out. I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies. I am not ruined, I have a new heavenly vantage point. I see above earthly realities, for the Holy Spirit in me, illuminates all truth. I live by the Spirit and not my flesh. I am led by the Holy Spirit and not my flesh. Fill me afresh, today, Holy Spirit.
I am alive!
Because of this, in everything, today, I choose to see higher. I choose to see above my problems and my issues. I choose to set my eyes on the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6). I am no longer a slave to sin. I am set free from the power of sin and death. I now live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus!
When I make a mistake, I repent and move on, by your grace. It is that simple. I receive forgiveness and I forgive myself too. Your grace always makes way for a new habit or response. I live in the newness of life, not in the old. Not in the past.
I walk in the newness of life, all-the-time! I walk in righteousness and connected to righteousness.
With this, I am completely given-over to you, God. I live my life, through Christ, by Christ, with Christ, and for Christ. I shine the light of Christ. I am submitted. I am reliant. I trust God in all things, as I move with Him. No forces of hell or schemes of the enemy can stop the life of Christ that is working in and through me.
My body is a tool, unto the glory of God. This is why I choose to: get sleep, eat right and receive rest. I take care of my temple. I honor it. All of me is a worthy vessel, for all of you, my Father.
I also walk by faith and not by sight. I walk in obedience not in self-destructive self-sacrifice. I walk in hope and not disappointment.
Right now, I cast off any sin or hindrances that easily entangle me from moving forward with you.
I receive all the grace I wholeheartedly need today. I boldly approach throne of grace.
Here, I remember: I am adopted. I am a child of God. I am beloved. I am chosen. I am part of God’s royal family. I am free. I am always loved. I am whole. I am thriving. I am showing Jesus to the world. I am unafraid.
Whom the son has set free is free indeed. I am free.
Through God, I produce good fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Good deeds, flow easily through me, as I am submitted to the Holy Spirit working through me. I am not bound by the letter of the law, but free by God’s grace.
Shame has no claim to me.
Fear cannot touch me.
Sin has no weight over me.
Feelings of ‘less-than” don’t rule me.
I abide in Christ. I believe God’s Word is true. I focus on what God says about me. I trust God in all things. I love others with all my heart. I am alive and it is well with my soul!
All glory to God, who is worthy of all my praise, affection and adoration. Worthy is the Lamb!
A couple months back, I asked, “How can I pray for you?” The response was overwhelming, so much so that I didn’t even think I could pray for everyone. But, I did.
And when I did, I somehow knew many would see breakthrough! I expected BIG answers. Why? For many reasons…
Because we serve a BIG God.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” (Eph. 3:20)
Because prayer moves mountains.
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” (Mk. 11:23)
Because God answers prayers for those who believe.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mk. 11:24)
Because God hears those who don’t quit asking.
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (Lu. 18:4-7)
Friends, keep asking. Keep believing. And, be persistent.
Requests sent up DO NOT fall on deaf ears. Actually, the time we spend speaking to God is far more effective than the time we spend speaking to anyone else about our issue. Prayer effects change, whereas small-talk — sits us down in pain.
Prayer works.
For example, earlier this week, I got an email. It read:
“Hi Kelly..
I trust this finds you well.
I was looking through my old emails and I came across this. Your prayer (for me) was answered totally and I just want to let you know I am very grateful…I won’t send you pictures but you would not believe it if I did.
Kindest regards…”
We pray, God listens. Even when we sleep, God doesn’t. He never sleeps.
“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” (Ps. 121:3-4)
God moves, even when we don’t.
I got another email. This one read:
“God finally answered a long-awaited prayer yesterday by blessing my husband with a new job right smack in the middle of a pandemic! And not just any job, a massive promotion to the executive level. Only God can perform such miracles and I believe he will do more miracles on the worldwide scale through this pandemic. I can’t wait to see what He does next!”
Friends — prayers open up God’s miracles. So, let’s pray for one another. Your breakthrough could only be one prayer away. A sister’s breakthrough could be the difference between you lifting her up and you moving along to another online thing.
Dear ones, we need each other now more than ever. We ARE the body. And, this IS the church. More than grandiose sermons, ample programs or big church buildings — this basic, elementary practice of prayer is Jesus’ great vision for “church”. Let’s get back to the heart of the matter…
“And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’” (Mt. 21:13 NASB)
Let’s pray:
Papa God, we ask for breakthrough for every person who reads this post today. We ask that you would extend such grace — such peace unexplainable and joy uncontainable that it would touch each and every one of us today. We ask that situations be transformed under your glory and grace. Where there is fear, bring faith. Where there is devastation, rebuild. In the face of depression, bring healing and great devotion to you. I ask for life in the place of death and hope in the midst of disappointment.
As the body, we also pray that:
prodigal children, return home.
the sad, be comforted.
the sick, be healed with new strength.
the hungry, be fed.
the weak, be renewed.
the lost, be found.
the marital issues, be transformed.
the pride in us, be humbled.
the fearful, receive faith.
the pain, be sorted out.
the bitter ones, forgive.
the broken, find breakthrough.
those waiting, get wisdom.
the unseen, know your care.
the hopeless, find hope in you.
the bound up, proclaim Jesus.
all glory, makes it to your throne.
Jesus, you are — our answer, our hope, and our ONLY way. In you, we place all our trust. Your way is our best way. In this, we lay down our good way, so that we walk your best way. Give us fresh vision to see and fresh ears to hear all you want us to understand in this hour. Make us, not just hearers of your Word, but understanders, who naturally become do-ers. May every bit and morsel of glory go to you. May we live all our life for: your glory, your honor, your acclaim and for your kingdom purpose! We pray in agreement. We lift all these things up to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Friends, if you find that God answered this prayer in a beautiful way, please share the testimony with me. I am expecting great things from our collective prayers. Thank you, Father God, that you hear us! We love you!
Today cannot be a time of blessing, can it? After all, we are social distancing, staying 6-feet away and looking at others like walking-viruses, ready to attack.
God, what do you have for me, here, in this weird place? This is an important question to ask.
I believe there are blessings available for those who ask. A blessing, not a cursing — for those with eyes to see. A bounty, not a backbreaking burden — for those at home.
Is that you? Or, do you feel it is unbiblical to be blessed? To seek a blessing?
You know, my friends and family…
for a long time, I could not receive a blessing. Nor, would I ask God for one. It felt self-indulgent to say, “Lord, will you bless me?” It felt unbiblical to say, “God, I want your blessings.” There are so many people who need so much more than I do. Who am I to ask. I should be a servant, not a seeker for myself…
Yet, a Psalm, written by David, a man after God’s own heart — set me straight. Within it David says:
“With all my heartI want your blessings.” Ps. 119:58
If David wanted a blessing, and God inspired these very words in His Word, who am I to disagree? I can ask for a blessing, with my whole heart, without shame!
“God, I want your blessings. With all my heart, I want your blessings. In a time of Coronavirus I want your blessings!”
The fact of the matter is — I need God’s blessings — His unmerited favor, right now, in my time of trouble, more than ever. Anything less than me needing God’s blessing is likely pride in-action.
To think I can do it without God’s help and generous giving is probably self-work or pious self-proving.
Thanks to God’s wisdom on this, during this season, I have received His blessing. This is why this time of “social distancing” has become a different time. Rather than “social distancing”, it is a time of “family gathering”. I have gotten closer to my kids and husband. I have laughed more. I have played more. I have gotten to know fun without big price tags.
I am blessed! What is simple has trumped what is complex and the peace of the Lord is here — in my house.
Because of this, I give him thanks. All glory to Him; I am blessed.
Might you ask God for a risky thing: to be blessed today…?
Prayer: Father God? I ask you for more, today. More blessings! More of you! More of what you have for me! I ask without shame! I ask expecting to receive. I ask ready to give all thanks and glory back to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A friend looked at me and said, “With God, the bad is good.”
Hmm…she had my wheels turning now…
I wonder, how many of us can see the truth in her statement?
The bad boyfriend that we, at one time, thought was good for us? We can see now, it is darn good that we didn’t marry him.
The bad health scare that we figured would kill us? Well, it is good that we are still alive and, not only that but, we now have more faith than ever.
The bad news that we lost our job?
It is good that God repositioned us. We hated every minute of that job and now God has us on unique-assignment, impacting specific people.
What bad has become good, in light of your prayers and God’s grace? Think back. Recount. Reflect. Remember. Restore your countenance.
What looks bad, becomes good, with God.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Cor. 2:20-22)
With God, through Christ, it is: “Yes!” It is good. It is God’s promises, delivered. It is God’s grace, right here and now. It is what looks bad, coming into the light of Christ. It is what hope we cannot see, becoming manifest.
See beyond your natural eye and you will see again. See beyond circumstances and issues to hope in Christ, once again. See beyond panic and you will see The Prince of Peace. See beyond what everyone else is doing and you will see Him. By the natural eye, we are blind, but by the Spirit-eye, we see: God’s promises are yes and amen. Jesus is greater. Jesus has conquered. The war is done. We are safe, forever. God is the Pre-eminent Ruler of The World. And, we are His children.
There is goodness waiting for you — right here, right now. Bad becomes good in light of God’s mercy and grace.
Glory to God!
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Friends, during this time that can feel scary, panicked or stressful, I am doing more videos on Facebook and on Instagram. Come join me there, as I pray and share God’s Word to encourage your heart.
I was afraid. The second I saw the picture of my kids, fear climbed up my arm. Undoubtedly, it wanted to go straight into my heart.
They did what!? They know I hate it when they wear public hats.
Friends, I admit: I fear my kids getting lice. I know what it entails. Growing up the oldest of 6 kids meant we got lice more than a time or two. I remember the itching. I remember the endless washing and boiling of brushes and laundry. I remember covering of furniture and the constant search up the nape of my neck.
Frankly, to return home from a weekend trip to see my kids pictured with the hat that every-kid-at-the-city-museum put on– did. not. bring. me. comfort. Instead, I was — provoked to nervousness.
The more I stared at the photograph, the more I knew: I stood at a crossroad. What would I do? Where would I head?
I could worry, and wander from God.
Or, I could cast my care on Him, allow Him to care forme and discover — how He cares for me.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Phil. 4:6-7 MSG)
Far too often, I worry away God’s wonderful care. But, when I pray I get to stay under God’s providential care. I find His help.
With the hair-issue, to fend off worry, I made a decisive choice to:
ONE. Not panic. I remembered God’s truth.
TWO. Pray over both my kid’s heads.
THREE. Stop looking at that photograph.
FOUR. Return to prayer anytime my mind wanted to return to the issue.
FIVE. To (physically and emotionally) let this issue go, into God’s hands.
You can do the same. Just because fear announces, “I am here”, doesn’t mean you have to pay attention to it. Just because Corona Virus is all-up in your face, doesn’t mean you have to live shackled to the news, or your hand-sanitizer. Just because you figure horrible is going to happen, doesn’t mean that it is. God is greater. Nothing halts His care.
God is up to wonderful things. Give Him a space and a place to work, clear your table of worry and begin to behold His wonder.
I let it that photograph — go. Later that night, I hugged my kids with their hair all tangled up in mine. I laid down on what could have been “infected” pillows, without concern. I spent time with God, without wandering off to a hat or a kid’s head of hair in my mind. I stayed with God.
The social media image said, “You get what you tolerate.”
I paused from scrolling for a second to ask myself questions: What have I been tolerating? Putting up with? Grinning, and bearing?
Scripture doesn’t say, “Tolerate the enemy.” It says, submit to God. Resist the enemy and he’ll flee. (Ja. 4:7)
Never once, did Jesus meet a person and say, “Oh, so you are struggling with sin? That’s okay. Not a big deal; grin and bear it.” Neither did He say, “So, you are feeling attacked? Just keep going, pretend that what you’re facing is not there and hang out with it for a while.”
No. We DO NOT tolerate attacks, bondage, lies or defeat. We do not give room for lesser things to overrule God’s great truth. We shut annoyances up and shut them down. Immediately, in the name of Jesus!!!
Never, ever, should we permit lesser lies to overrule our prominent position in Christ Jesus. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ! We do walk with a new nature! Nothing can take away what Christ has done for us…unless we allow our mind to agree with falsehoods. Or, we decide to ignorantly walk in sin.
With this, we must allow nothing to steal our identity in Christ Jesus.
Instead, we can choose to adamantly, radically, and furiously block lies, attacks, offenses, unforgiveness, bitterness, rejection and self-pity from redefining who we are. From morphing us into something or someone we are not.
To do this, we must disallow anything from putting separation between us and our first love.
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1 Jo. 5:21)
Because we are children of God.
Because we are eternally loved.
Because we are chosen.
Because we are called.
Because we are wanted.
Forever. And ever. And ever. And ever, more.
We are not slaves to fear. We are not defeated foes. We are not forgotten. We are not working to gain back ground. Or, trying to work around an angry father. We are not made to shirk or shrink back. We are not defined by the past. Or the sum of what others have said about us.
We are children. We have a dad who loves us. Who chose us. Who wants us. We have a Savior who died for us. A great path ahead of us. Nothing can stop us, in Christ Jesus.
Cast off whatever is entangling you. The enemy is a liar.
My face has looked like defeat, of late. I really thought big moves of God were going to happen: breakthrough would come, my kids would act nicer to each other, I’d see God open up doors that had never been open before — yet, it’s been much of the same.
In fact, things seem to be moving — s. l. o. w.
Are you in similar shoes? Maybe you’ve prayed and prayed. . . sought God and sought God. . . asked and asked. . . .waited and waited. . .
. . . well, keep doing it and don’t give up. The Lord is not done with you yet. He’s not done with me either. And, if I’ve learned anything through scripture, it is this: He finishes what He starts. He also is no minder of our timelines.
Be it David becoming a King, Jesus getting resurrected or Lazarus getting raised, God is okay waiting days.
What do we do in the meantime?
We set our face like stone.
“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.” (Is. 50:7)
Stone-faced, we set our eyes on Jesus. We determine to only look at Him. We know that we will not be disgraced. We resolve to do His will. We determine to see forth His cause.
We will not give up. We do not back down. We know that we will NOT be put to shame. We keep going.
In some translations, setting our face “like stone” is written as we set our face “like flint.” I want us to realize that our face, set on God, has the ability to start a fire. It has the ability to light things up in our lives and in the lives of others. Do not discount a face — intent on God.
Be like a warrior. Keep working, listening, loving, helping and looking to God — for your God never fails. Ever. You can trust in that.
Just a while ago, I had a speaking event at a church. I was so amazed at how God seemed to be working in the women’s hearts. I felt excited. I felt sure life-change was happening — for God was at work. But, after the event was done, after I was off-stage I turned to the woman’s pastor and asked, “What do you think? Do you think I did a good job?”
Immediately, after the words came out of my mouth, the weight of conviction hit me.
Did God do the work, or did I? What does it matter — her thoughts, if I did — God’s work? And, what I am performing for — man’s approval or do I serve from the position of already-being approved?
Jesus said, “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me for I know you do not have God’s love within you.” (Jo. 5:41 NLT)
Another translation says, “I do not accept glory from human beings…” (NIV)
If Jesus did not accept or need “glory from human beings”, then why do I?
Jesus said 1 chapter earlier, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God…” (Jo. 4:34)
Where does my nourishment come from? What about yours?
Does it come from — the faces people make? The way you are acknowledged? How you are perceived? What people say about you to others? The opportunities given to you by man? Pay? The praise you get? The criticism that comes your way?
True freedom is unhinged by man’s response, reaction or rewards. It does all for Jesus, thanks to Jesus and trusts Jesus’ reward.
Perhaps, you hear those words-of-old still reverberating within you. . .
You’re SO __.
You’ll always be ___.
You’ll never ___.
You’re such an ___.
No matter who you were – a child, a dreamer or vulnerable one, negative words like these can hurt us. They don’t always have to be spoken to be damaging, either. A picture or a face can say in a moment what the thousand-word put-down could never say.
Recently, I heard a mom inform a daughter, “You’ll never get that award for good character. You’re mean like me.”
Upon hearing this, my head sank down and my heart nearly cried out. I could almost imagine the girl thinking, “I guess I won’t try next year. My mom knows who I am. I’ll never be good enough for that kind of good award.”
At the same time, how many times have I proclaimed things that bind people?
“You’re like me. . . you’re so. . .”
“You are not clean.”
“You never listen.”
Jesus spoke differently. He spoke “to proclaim good news to the poor. . . to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. . . recovery of sight for the blind. . .(and) to set the oppressed free,. . .” (Lu. 4:18)
To talk restorative words, like Jesus, I must do 2 things:
ONE: Forgive the people who spoke things over me — and receive God’s truth.
You always __, you never __, you are so __, you can’t __, or you are a burden-type of statements of old must be recognized. Who said them to you? Forgive these people. Why? Not because they deserve it, but because Christ didn’t “deserve it”, but still paid the price for you.
Seek the Word, God’s heart and through prayer obtain the actual truth about yourself. For some it may be: I am growing in this area. I am not an idiot or stupid, but wise through Christ generously gives wisdom to all who ask (Ja. 1:5). I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. I am now holy, blameless and pure, because of Jesus.
TWO: Resolve to speak blessings.
Decide to speak blessings. I realize, not every word can be a blessing, as we have to say things like, “Can you pass the butter?” but if it opposes Jesus’ words to — “set free, build up, send forth or proclaim freedom”, then censor it and don’t speak it. Look for the good. The worthy. Use encouragement. Do this, even with inner-words you speak towards yourself.
Also, be freed friend, there is absolutely no “perfection” in this process. Since I’ve started thinking about what I am speaking about, I have caught myself 50 times being too quick to speak. This is okay. God is faithful. He will teach us. He will free us. He will help us. He will give us eyes to see the good, both within our self and within others.
There’s grace for our going and for our speaking.
Amazingly, the more grace-filled words speak, the more they’ll exist within us. Rather than looking for the bad, we’ll start looking for the good, even within our own lives. As we redirect our words, our mind will hone in on the heartbeat of Christ. Rather than going down dark and discouraging roads, we’ll hope on paths that speak and promise new life.
We can do this! I believe in you — and most importantly, Christ in you.
