Affirmed in Christ

Great Gift, Great God

As we have just finished celebrating Holy week (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday), let’s continue to deeply reflect on the greatest gift we, as born-again believers, have been given.

Though we may have what are considered to be nice things. Nice job. Nice home. Nice spouse. Nice vacation. You may be intelligent, witty, or funny. But the greatest gift, the greatest, is in none of those things. And it is not the mainstream motivation, the power couple or play. It is not even about you. Or me.

The greatest gift happened because Jesus Chris died on the cross for our sins. He was mocked and crucified so that we may receive the greatest gift of all – To be called a treasure of God.

There is nothing that can compare to the sacrifice. There is no love that can be held at a higher regard.

Pause: Take a moment and reflect on the fact that God loves YOU. He knows EVERYTHING about us, imperfections, missteps and all – and He still loves us. Jesus loves YOU enough to lay His life down.

His resurrection will surely provide the hope of eternal life.

The breadth and depth of the love Jesus has for you is beyond measure.

You are valuable in the sight of God.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:18-19, ESV

Soul Work

Your inner child. The part of you that’s still attached to your youthfulness. The part that carries the wounds from your early years. There are many books and resources on healing your inner child, but I think this term has been played out by pop psychology. A therapist friend suggested that a better way to view dealing with our inner child is doing “soul work,” because childhood experiences leave lasting impressions on our soul.

Childhood can be a hard time. The days when you are supposed to be built up and encouraged can, instead, be a time of great abandonment and pain. This is not God’s design. Jesus himself condemned those who would lead children astray (Matt. 18:6). Ephesians 6:4 ESV says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Parents and caregivers are responsible for the social-emotional development of their children. Most likely, today you are carrying a burden that an unloving or at least insensitive adult placed on you as a child. I want to say to you that “it is not your fault.”

You were a child. You were not responsible for your emotional and physical well-being. That was the responsibility of your parents. You should not have been required to engage in adult level responsibilities or shoulder the emotional burdens of adults.
childhood affirmation

God sees your pain, and he can restore you. He agrees that any childhood pain that you experienced was not your fault. But as an adult you are responsible for handling the fallout and the impact of that pain. I pray that this affirmation is very helpful for those of you, like me, that are still dealing with the impacts of childhood trauma.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 ESV

Let the Father work in your soul.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

Because HE loves

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

We love because He first loved us. Yes, we do but what does that mean?

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19, ESV

This statement is a reminder that our love is an obedience to God – to love God means to obey Him.

1 John talks about this sincere, perfected, no fear love that we have nonstop, 24/7, access to through Christ.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10, NIV

This love from God, through Christ, is the kind of love that is always there with you. God’s love does not disappoint. God’s love is fulfilling. God’s love is faithful.

Experience the joy of salvation and a love like no other. Remember whose you are and relish in your Father’s love.

You are loved.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

Seek God in His Word:

Psalm 86:15: “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”
Romans 8:37-39: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

God Shatters Us

Have you ever felt like your entire life has fallen apart? Plans fail. People disappoint you. Nothing makes sense. Everything is disarrayed. You don’t even know where to start picking up the pieces or how you would even go about it. And on top of all of that, God seems silent!

In my own journey, I have had periods of unemployment, grief, and being betrayed where I have just wondered, “God, why?” Sometimes it feels like our lives have been shattered. Sometimes it feels like we have been shattered.

In a previous post, we looked at how God allows afflictions into the lives of His people for their good. In Jeremiah, we see the instance of a potter taking a vessel that was disfigured and reworking it into a new form (Jeremiah 18:4). God often has to do this with us.

Over the course of our lives most people develop ungodly attitudes about their core identity and their approach to life. Then, we bring those mindsets into ALL of our relationships. The way we see things is not the way they truly are.

Sometimes the Father shatters our lives to make us take a real look at who we are, forcing us to recognize the dysfunctional areas of our lives. Only then, in reality and objectivity, do we invite His power in to rebuild and restore us.

I have had periods of unemployment that forced me to evaluate what I base my self-worth on, grief and trauma that made me confront dysfunctional mindsets, and betrayals that showed the shallowness of my own spiritual maturity. My Father stifled my plans so that He can reform and rebuild me. God shatters us because we need to be shattered. Indeed as the Psalmist says:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Psalm 119:67 ESV

Meditation scriptures: John 15: 1-11; Hebrews 12:6-11

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

Everything is Red?

“Daddy, you’re red!” My daughter said this to me one day. Confused, I turned around to find her looking at me while holding a red balloon up to her face. She exclaimed, “you’re red, everything is red!” looking around the room. Obviously, everything in the world did not receive a red tint in those moments, but the world looked red to her. Her perceived reality was different than the truth.

Life has a way of doing this to us. We all encounter brokenness and unhealthy relationship dynamics throughout life. Dysfunctional childhood experiences are especially impactful and can “tint” our view of the world. We develop views of the world that veer from the truth. You perceive hostility from people who mean no harm. You run from all conflict because you’ve never been taught to dialogue healthily. You may even see an unhealthy pattern in your life, but keep on ignoring it because you don’t know what else to do. Unlike the humor of a child looking through a red balloon, damaging experiences can skew our view of others, ourselves, and even God.

Meditation scriptures: Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Do you see God as the loving Father that He is? Only then can you learn to love yourself and others well. Without Christ our perceived reality is far from the truth.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

God is our Refuge

Depleted. Crushing weight. Fearful. Had enough of it all. The highest highs and the lowest lows.

These were all used in conversations I had this past week with some of the dearest people I know. Some statements were specific to circumstances, some were an overall feeling.

I sat in these feelings with my loved ones, wanting them to know they were affirmed in their feelings AND reminding them of the truth of God’s word.

He is our refuge.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Psalm 62:5-8, ESV

Selah means to stop and think about what you just read. In the moments of anxiety, frustration and feeling overwhelmed, take time to pause, regulate and think about what God’s word says.

Refuge is a state of being safe and sheltered from trouble. So, in present times of a global crisis, along with every other issue, how can God be our refuge?

First, as the scripture says, we must trust in God at all times.

We must believe that God is our protector, He keeps us safe from all trouble and danger. We must trust His will and know He is our refuge.

In Christ, your soul is fully secure. Through physical pain, relational discord, and emotional turmoil; no one and nothing can separate you from Jesus’ love (Romans 8:35-39).

In uncertainty, God is here, He is present and He is our refuge.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

Forgiving Others

During my devotional time this week I came across this quote:

“There is such a big difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. It takes two to reconcile, so it is not always possible to be reconciled. But it only takes one to forgive.”
Phillip Graham Ryken

Such a powerful statement!

Have you ever been wronged and sought the apology? This is exactly what this quote is speaking towards.

Following well known passages in Matthew 5 – The Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes – and then The Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:

¹⁴For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15, esv

There are two action items here for us to note:

Forgive others because God forgives us
Do not hold unto unforgiveness because that leads to anger and bitterness.

Regardless of how we feel, many times people hurt us and move on.

Often, the ones who hurt us have let the situation go and may not even remember what happened.

Don’t allow the damage of betrayal to persist and penetrate your ability to love yourself, others, and God.

God’s love can free you from the pain of your past, even life’s deepest wounds.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be affirmed in Christ.

Happy New Year! Let’s pray…

Lord, I am so grateful that You want to hear my prayer. You are an awesome and mighty God and You desire to not only hear me but to bless me with the desires of my heart as it aligns with Your good, perfect and holy will.

It is with the promise of Your hope that I can come boldly to the throne of grace. Acknowledging my sorrows and my suffering to the One who gives me peace and comfort. And rejoicing and praising my Father who cares for me.

God, 2021 has at times felt like an extension of the tumultuous and uncertain times of 2020. I have felt weary with health worries for me and my loved ones. I have felt the division that is present within this current culture. And still, nothing surprises You.

I have also seen Your loving kindness in Your abundant and undeserving grace. Your love has gleamed through reconciliations, transitions and new beginnings.

The truth that I know is to seek You always. So Father, as I ready for a new year, I put my trust totally and completely in You.

The past years have taught me how uncertain the world is but God, You remain the same. Steadfast. Trustworthy.

I ask for peace from any hurt I have experienced in 2021. Gracious God, forgive me and lead me to be able to let go of bitterness and resentment. I long to continue to press deeper into my relationship with You and know that this comes from a renewed spirit.

Heavenly Father, let my daily actions align with what You want me to achieve in this year.

You have given me so many gifts, ideas, dreams and plans. God I need You to continually seek Your purpose and Your vision for me in 2022.

Lord, help me to act in a way that is pleasing to You and to daily live in the belief and truth of Your Word. Help me God to fully trust that when I fully seek You with all of my heart that I will receive everything that I need from You.

You are my Father and You are so faithful. Thank You for protecting me and providing all that I need.

Thank You for loving me. I pray this trusting and believing in You, Amen.

Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4, ESV

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10, ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16, ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10, ESV

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14, ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33, ESV

Complete Control in 2022

I had a LONG to do list this week.

While getting ready for the transition from one year to the next I had my end of the year plan for contacts to make, tasks to complete, and places to go.

Then, it happened. I started not feeling well and, out of precaution, needed to rest for most of the week.

Although most of my list is still in the “to-do” category instead of being “done” I received a great reminder. I took time to rest and the world kept spinning. I was reminded that, even though I need rest, God never sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He’s always working on my behalf.

While it is true that God honors hard work and discipline, our Father does not want us to be burned-out and always drained. Our seasons of hard work must be complemented by intentional and regular rest.

Life may have taught you to take control of all circumstances.

Trauma may have caused you to set things up so that you will never feel helpless again.

But the truth is, being in control of our lives is a myth; it only makes you worry more.

What issues in your life are you trying to control right now? Yes, we all have things to manage, but what areas are you attempting to have complete control over? Let it go.

The future is uncertain, but God is eternally dependable. While you will get tired, He never sleeps. He has promised peace beyond understanding and supernatural peace for your soul, if you just trust Him. So, take breaks, get rest, make time to relax. And trust God, the trustworthy One, who is in total and complete control.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:4, ESV

A prayer for a weary soul

Oh Lord my God, I am weary.

And Heavenly Father, I must confess my first response was not to seek You. I cried, tensed up and sighed in my own weakness. But now Lord, I am releasing these tears unto You.

With each sigh, I remember that You are each breath of my life (Isaiah 42:5). And in every piece of tension is another opportunity for me to give You every burden (1 Peter 5:7).

Lord, please forgive my discontent. It’s in weariness that I wrongly think that I shouldn’t have to withstand these certain things, but You bore the cross and took on every sin, for me (1 Peter 2:24). Forgive me.

Father, I ask in these moments of weariness that I remember the power of Your Holy Spirit is always with me (Romans 15:13). That I remember the life-giving promised truth of Your scriptures. That I can pause and say:

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬, ‭ESV‬)

Thank You Lord for being my strength and joy forever.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
Isaiah 42:5, ESV

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7, ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24, ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13, ESV