Our Daily Affirmations

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God tells us consistently not to worry, yet we are human and to worry IS human! I have to remind myself of this fact constantly, yet there is a part of me that knows God is not going to let me go when I falter or I’m afraid or worried about something that is going on in my life or around me.

So, what can we do to help ourselves? Here’s what I do:

I have found that prayer is my conduit to let some of that stress and worry go. Here I am talking to my very best friend and guess what?! He NEVER condemns me for being upset or even angry at a situation. He listens and He loves me and He holds me through it all. There is not a human alive (except for Jesus, of course) who would give me that sort of latitude when my feelings get out of control.

I have also found that I am comforted when I read the Bible. What’s really neat is that because it is a living document, what I may read one day will hit me differently on another day. God’s got us covered in every way, shape, and form when we read His Holy Word.

Another thing that I’ve especially recently been doing is “speaking it into existence” which is more of a way that we affirm God in our daily living and reminding ourselves that He is with us even when we are at our lowest. I will find an uplifting verse that resonates for that situation or that day and repeat it consistently so that it gets me through and I feel better.

Last but certainly not least, I will listen to Christian music with Christian artists like Forrest Frank, Toby Mac, for King and Country, Phil Wickham, CeCe Winans, Brandon Lake, Lauren Daigle and so, so many others. It’s so uplifting when you can worship our God through song and dancing. It frees my spirit and gives me the strength to keep going. (Related post: “My peace I give you”)

What did I learn from this? When I do these daily affirmations, it fills up my soul with positivity. Who doesn’t need that nowadays, right? We are surrounded by so much negativity that tries to push us away from God, so I push right back by surrounding myself with the things of God. I know that I can’t control what happens in the real world but I sure can control what goes into my brain and my heart.

So, what can you gain from this? Do you have a favorite verse that you find inspiring? Maybe you haven’t ever read the Bible so you don’t know one or have one yet. That’s okay. You can wait on that until you get to that point where you can get or find a Bible. You can listen to music that is uplifting and that puts you in the right frame of mind and, most certainly, you can pray and ask God to give you what you need because trust me….He is the one to know! Our God knows you better than you know yourself and He has special plans for you. So, wrap yourself in those daily affirmations. You will not regret it! (Related post: God’s in the Details)

The Repetitive Pattern

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I don’t know about anyone else but I have tended to focus more recently on the current world happenings and the stress and worries that go along with seeing that. I’m certainly not oblivious to the past. Trust me, I have known and have studied events from the past, but, again, my focus was more on things that are occurring now. However, I started to notice something very curious. If you are reading your Bible, you have known that it has been foretold in Revelations about the second coming of Jesus. However, we also need to remember that it was also foretold in the Old Testament as prophesy in the book of Malachi and well as other old testament books. (I’m focusing on Malachi mainly because this is where I had my epiphany).

All of Malachi is about prophesy but I want to bring your attention to three verses that stuck out to me as it relates to human nature and what I now see. In Malachi 3:6-7 which states: “Surely I, the Lord, do not change, nor do you cease to be sons of Jacob. Since the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Yet you say, “How must we return?””. Verse 13 states: “You have defied me in word, says the Lord, yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?””.

As I began reading some other books that has helped me to break down what each book in the Bible is about, I began to notice a pattern…and, trust me, it’s a VERY distinctive pattern that tends to get missed because we are so focused on what we are seeing now. So here it is: God gives (love, support, guidance, miracles, etc.), we take what He gives, then, after a while, we forget what God has given us. Wars are fought, conquering happens then we beg God to save us and God does. This is the pattern that goes on and on, and here we are today, doing the same things as our ancestors did, never learning from it all. The pattern repeats because we take and follow his laws and statutes for a while then we forget again how loving our God is and how much of a relationship that He wants with us. Over and over this pattern has been repeated throughout the Bible. I never saw it before but I can’t unsee it now.

So, how do you break a destructible pattern?

First, we must recognize that there is a pattern. We must see how we constantly turn away from a loving God and we turn back to worldly things. Secondly, we need to realize that God NEVER steps away from us. That’s on our shoulders. We see something shinier and prettier and reach for that instead of reaching for Godly things but we need to remember that those shiny and pretty things will not get us very far. Thirdly, we need to be vigilant and to stay faithful as best we can and trust in our God who is always faithful to us. Is that easy? No, not at all. Finally, we have ONE saving grace… that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for ALL of our sins and rose again so that we know how much we are loved and can be saved if only we just believe. (Related post: When God Promises… He Delivers)

Jesus did this so that at the end of time, our time and God’s time, we know that God has given us EVERYTHING that He can to save us from ourselves. Sorrows will happen, but when we turn from God and ONLY remember Him when we are in need, then we have no one to blame but ourselves when we continue to repeat a losing pattern. God’s not to blame for the burdens that we put on ourselves, but He is the answer if we only know where to look and to keep our eyes on Him through it all.

What did I learn from this? That pattern sure was an eye-opener for me. Sure it’s easy to get caught up in worldly things especially when we have so many things, like technology, at our fingertips. The question that I have for myself and others is this: are we using the knowledge, that we can get so easily, in a wise manner? Are we asking God to give us a spirit of discernment in what we see and hear so that we can begin to know how the world (the devil) tries to keep us in that destructive pattern? Again, I cannot unsee that pattern anymore. So, my goal is to help others to see that pattern as well so we can all break the chains of sin that keep us from our loving Father. (Related post: Correcting Our Course)

So, what can you gain from this? Look back on your life. Look at the directions or the paths that you’ve traveled on over that time. Were those paths guided by your needs and wants or was there something bigger that guided you to where you are today? If you relied on your own understanding and choose your own path, where was God in those choices? Were you just repeating a pattern or were you trusting God to get you where you needed to be?

It sure is something to think about, isn’t it? Also, remember that if you don’t like the path you’re on, ask God to help you out…but then don’t go back to the same old pattern that you were stuck in. God gives us free will and the choice is yours after all, but don’t blame God for the choices that you decided to make. When you understand that, then you are well on your way to creating a new pattern in your life and one that will take you down a new and better path. (Related post: A Blessed Path)

The Very First Social Stories (The Parables of Jesus)

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Everyone reading this should know about parables in the Bible during Jesus’ time on Earth but I will explain them anyway maybe to those who don’t know what they are. According to the official definition from Oxford Languages which states that parables are, “a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.” (related post: Our God Waits)

What does that have to do with a Social Story?

According to my research and knowledge (I’ve looked into this before through my time as a Special Education Teacher and a Behaviorist) is the following explanation: “A Social Story is a personalized, short narrative tool, created by Carol Gray, designed to teach individuals-particularly those with autism-about social situations, expectations and skills. They use clear, descriptive language and visuals to reduce anxiety and promote independence.” (for more information on social stories, please visit her website: https://carolgraysocialstories.com )

Now, I don’t know Carol Gray but I do know that what she came up with is a way to reach those who cannot communicate like you and I do. A Social Story is about using visuals and not just words. What’s really beautiful about it is that it’s a way of teaching a much needed skill and, in fact, I can also say that it can be used for ANYONE who needs information given to them in a different way, not just someone within the autism spectrum. If you think about it, Jesus, when He was here on Earth, did the same thing with us. He gave us stories that we can learn from and grow in. It was and is our Lord’s way of helping us to make that connection with God and each other.

When I’m speaking with others, I also have a tendency to add in stories of things that I have seen and experienced. It’s a way of connecting to others and helping them to see a point of what I am talking about. We also can use Social Narratives, which is more like parables than even social stories and it is described in the following way: “a personalized, short story with text and visuals that describes a specific social situation, skill or expectation to help individuals-particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-understand social cues and appropriate responses.”

These Social Stories/Parables/Social Narratives all follow the same idea and our Lord and Savior thought of them first! He wanted us to know that we can learn from what we hear and see in the stories and visuals that are presented to us. Thank you Carol Gray for coming up with that concept in this more recent timeframe for students with ASD, but I’m going to say the biggest “Thank you!” goes to Jesus because His model is the BEST one to follow on what has, can, and will help us in the right now when we are coping with the everyday of our lives.

What did I learn from this? Every one of us has a story to tell. Every one of us can use our own stories to help and shape others. I’m an observer. I know that that makes some people nervous but I have always been fascinated in watching others and figuring out why they do the things that they do. There is so much that is shown in our facial expressions and body language and each one tells a story of what is going on inside of us. I also know that our God knows and sees everything that we don’t say. He knows when we are troubled or unsure, when we are happy and joyful, when we need comfort and reassurance. I know that any emotion that I feel is seen and known by God. My comfort is in reading His Holy Word, the Bible, in worship, in song and in prayer.

So, what can you gain from this? You are not alone and you are not isolated. There are so many others who feel joy and sorrow, pain and frustration, anger and sadness. Reach out to them. Listen to their story and tell them yours. You will find a connection. We are so much more alike than we are different. Also, reach out to our God. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to live and die on this Earth, then He rose up from the dead. We have a living God who loves you more than mere words can say. He will hold you in His arms and comfort you. Just know that you are loved. (Related post: For the Love of Our Soul)

I’m NOT Greedy… I Just Want Them ALL!!

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I don’t consider myself greedy at all, but I do want ALL of one particular thing… and that is, I want ALL of His creation to come to know and love and worship and follow our very AWESOME God! I don’t consider that greedy. Do you?

No, I think that when you know and love and worship and follow God, you begin to want others to feel the things that you feel and know the things that you know. The depths of my feelings for Him are tiny in comparison to what our God feels towards us. You see, He meets you right where you are. That place where He meets you may even be at the very bottom of a seemingly unsurmountable hole. Maybe you think, because of things that you’ve done, that you aren’t worthy of ANY of His love and compassion and grace. None of us are worthy of it, but He gives it to us freely. That’s how much He loves us! He also showed us the true meaning of a selfless love by suffering and dying on the cross…just to save us from our sins! (Related post: God’s Love Language)

I have known our God for a long time, but it is only now, in this season of my life, that I am really becoming more knowledgeable about Him through reading of the scriptures and studying the meanings of His Holy Word and the very rich history of what is included in the Bible. Now, the more that I learn, I find that I am thirsty for even more knowledge. In my joy of that discovery, I also want to share that thirst for knowing more about His love and knowledge for all of the humans on this planet. So what do you think? That’s not too much to ask, is it?

What did I learn from this? This is the time that the internet can be very rewarding. This is the way that we can reach out to others and let them know about the love of our God. We HAVE a living God! No other religions can say that! Not only that… we have God, the Father, God, the Son, Jesus, and God, the Holy Spirit. That’s three-in-one! Again, no other religion can claim that, at all! That makes it very special, indeed, to be a part of something that amazing, so I am honored and humbled when God wanted me to do this blog to spread His word and I will do my very, very best at it to the best of my ability! (Related post: Giving Glory to the God Who Lives in Me)

So, what can you gain from this? When you come to know Jesus and you accept that He lived on this Earth, taught and healed others, and when you know and understand that God sent His Son, Jesus to suffer, die and be resurrected, then you are beginning to understand the depth of His love for you. When you understand all of that, then you will see that God will begin to use you as well to reach others. Your joy and love will shine like the brightest beacon because you have been called by God, Himself. Wouldn’t that be something? What do you say…. would you be willing to take a chance? (Related post: A Simple Kind of Love)

The Church Within (Our Daily Bread)

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“Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name; thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen!”

When I take in You, oh God, through bread and wine, prayers, fasting, worshiping, singing, speaking, listening and hearing your Holy Word, I become the Church of You. My body has become your temple so it has become a sacred place that the evil one cannot destroy.

When we invite God into our heart and our soul, only then can we truly know that we are receiving His Living Water and will never thirst again. Not only that, but we also have to see and know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to take on ALL of our sinfulness when He died on the cross and rose again in three days. Also, get this…. our God also sends us His Holy Spirit to guide us through this wicked world that we live in! No other religion can say that they have a LIVING GOD! So awesome!! (Related post: Jehovah-Nissi: Name of God)

Realize that our faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the denomination of your Christian faith; instead, it has everything to do with you becoming one with ALL three as your focal point. It’s living your life the way that God INTENDED for it to be lived, as a vessel to carry His word and love and share it with the world. That is the purpose for which each of us are made.

What did I learn from this? I know that I am a sinful person. I fight that all the time. I also know that I feel like I am an empty book with blank pages just waiting to be filled up with His word and His love. I have been a Christian for a long time, but lately I’ve been feeling like I am a CHRISTIAN all the time. As I’ve gotten older (and wiser), it just hits me differently. My soul is being cleansed of everything that has tried to corrupt me in the past. I’m not perfect, but instead, I am perfectly imperfect with a liberal seasoning of God for major flavor to the mix!

So, what can you gain from this? God knows you…I mean He KNOWS you and, get this, He loves you and wants you to come to Him. When you ask God into you life, the old you is gone and you are a new creation in Him. You will find that everything looks and feels different. You won’t want to do the same things anymore or even find that you fit in with your old crowd. I know that can be a shock but you will find that it’s not so bad because you will find others who are finding their own joy in God as well. Trust God to send you where you need to be and who you need to be with. He won’t let you down…I promise! (Related post: Elohim: Name of God)

Jehovah Rapha: Name of God

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Jehovah Rapha is found in Exodus 15:26 and means “The LORD who heals”. Our God is a God who heals ALL that is broken inside of us, our physical ailments, our emotional wounds and scars as well as our spiritual brokenness that keep us from Him.

While Jehovah Rapha is first stated in Exodus and is speaking of God the Father, we also know that God’s Son, Jesus, can also be known as Jehovah Rapha when He came to Earth in fulfillment of the numerous prophecies from the Old Testament. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He took all of those sins and ailments and wounds and scars and brokenness and He healed us by His stripes. As long as we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that He died and rose again, we are healed and whole and then can be with our God in Heaven when we pass from this Earth.

This time on Earth is the time that we should and need to come to worship and believe that we have a God who loves us so much that He will do anything to bring us to Him. He never forces us to choose Him. Instead, God wants us to show our love and gratitude for His care and sacrifice that He gave for us. Our God has always been present, yet some of us have turned our backs on God and have been rather cavalier in how we treat Him. Some prefer their worldliness over His Godliness.

Remember there are two sides to the same coin- on one side we have our God who loves us, heals us and provides for us and He invites us to be with Him in Heaven when our time on Earth is done. Then there is the other side which offers us only things that may satisfy the flesh temporarily but leaves the soul cold, empty, and alone. On that side, if some continue down that path, it only leads to hell and permanent damnation.

So, which side do you choose?

What did I learn from this? Of the two-sided coin, I know that I want the side that helps me to be with God at the end of my time. I want the side that gives mercy and love and who heals me from all of my brokenness. I AM broken, yet He heals me. I AM a sinner, yet He shows me mercy and forgiveness. So, why in the world would I EVER want the other side that cares nothing for me and wants to see me broken and alone? To that, I say, “No thank you!”. I have Jehovah Rapha who heals ALL that I am and loves me for the potential of who I can be in His presence.

So, what can you gain from this? Ask yourself this, are you happy where you are? When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? A simple “Yes!” to God helps you to start the healing process. God knows what you need before you even say a word. He knows what’s in your heart before you speak it out. He loves you, but He waits for you to invite Him in. When you do, He takes all those broken pieces inside and makes a new picture. One that shows the potential for who you can be, as well. It’s definitely worth a shot. What do you think? Want to give it a try? I promise you that you won’t be disappointed at all with the results!

When God Promises… He Delivers

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It’s been on my mind for a bit now on how much our God does what He says that He will do. Sometimes, it’s an answer to a prayer and sometimes it’s acts that are not anticipated by those who love and trust in Him. I have been given permission by my parents to tell their story of something that was not anticipated but is such a blessing to them now.

My parents had a camp in an area that had developed a sinkhole, so that then changed the whole dynamic of the area. Mom and dad never felt right asking for money like others were doing and just asked that they be compensated for what they had put into their camp and to let them still come there until they had to leave. There was another area close by that was right by some beautiful waters where some others were allowed to stay. Some of those there had opted to move away and their houses were then available to others. One of those houses were offered to three others but was turned down for one reason or another. Here’s where it gets very interesting in my view…when they got to my mom and dad, they offered the new(er) house as a trade for their camp house. Another detail that is important is that their camp had been a 950 sqft house and this newer house was 2200 sqft and to take it “as-is”.

My parents are such stand up people that they actually asked all of us (my siblings and their spouses) if they think that they should! Of course, we said, “Yes!” and so they did. At that time, it was still a “camp” and not where they would live permanently, but the thought was there because of how beautiful it was. As that was being figured out, a long came a “hundred-year flood” in the area that they had called “home” and they had gotten 7″ of water there and their old house was no longer livable. Their camp now has become their home, and they are constantly telling themselves how blessed they are, which is so very true!!

You see, God knew what they needed, but they never asked for that. Yet, God delivered for them actually BEFORE they even knew about the flood that would make that their permanent home! I thank Him for that because all of us (my siblings and others) worried so much less than if they had been stuck in that 950 sqft camp as their house. (Related post: The Seasons of Change)

What did I learn from this? My prayer: Almighty Father, I ask that you help me to remember that You are in control. I pray that I know in my heart that when You promise, You truly deliver. I think of the story of my parents and I have seen the wonders that you provide to those who trust and abide in You and Your Holy ways. God, I know that I am not worthy of anything that You give me, so I humbly and joyfully hold out my hands for You to guide me in the way that You want me to go and that I walk down the paths that You lead me to. I thank you, Father, for giving me Your strength, love and courage when I feel weak. I know that You will always provide a way. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Related post: A Leap of Faith)

So, what can you learn from this? We have a God who delivers on His promises. He knows our thoughts and wishes AND He knows what we truly need before we even ask for it. I pray that for anyone who reads this that you come to know our God and truly know that He loves you. Know that your miracle will look different than my parents but also know that He has something special planned just for you! Do you trust Him to deliver? I hope so and I can’t wait to hear the story that you have to tell others! (Related post: A Blessed Path)

A Leap of Faith

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When I look back on my life and the many twists and turns that it has taken, I have found that there are many places and ways that God has intervened. Of course, I never saw it at that time and in that way. It’s only in looking back and reflecting on it is where I see His hand in each turn of that timeframe. I’m very sure that you may feel the same way, if you look back on your own twist and turns that have occurred in your own life.

Now, I know, that not everyone is at the same place at the same time, but since I now see Him in each of those paths in my life, I KNOW in my heart that I rely on Him more and more now, to get me through the next juncture in that path as well. It reminds me of when Peter and the disciples were on a boat after the feeding of the five thousand and they were being tossed around by the waves. In Matthew 14: 28. Peter spoke with Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Peter took a leap of faith and stepped out of the boat but grew frightened because of the strong wind and water and cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” where Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up and did not let him drown.

I think about that a lot and it makes me think about the courage that it took for Peter to do something that logistically shouldn’t have been able to happen, but God still provided a way. Here’s the thing, God ALWAYS has a way of making things right in our lives, even when everything else says it is improbable and even impossible. He knows what’s deep in our hearts. He knows our deepest wishes and desires. Maybe it’s things that we’ve never even said to anyone else. Moreover, He knows more than that…. He knows what we truly NEED. (Related post: God’s in the Details)

When we are choosing to trust God with everything that can and will happen in our lives, we are beginning to take that leap of faith. We have reverted to that childhood game of, “Catch me, daddy!”, just knowing that He will do just that because that’s what having faith is truly all about. (Related post: An Act of Faith)

What did I learn from this? I can try to do things on my own and sometimes they turn out okay, for a while. I have to battle my human nature, which causes me to worry about something (or anything) until I am consumed with it. Yet, I have discovered that with God, all things just turn out for the better, if only I had turned to Him first, then I wouldn’t have lived with all this stress that I put myself under. I also have begun to understand that there was purpose in the paths that I was on, although I didn’t know it at that time. So, what did I truly learn from this? I want to be brave like Peter when he first stepped out of the boat not even fully understanding or remembering that Jesus wouldn’t ever let him go even when he was afraid.

So, what can you learn from this? I tend to think that it’s a process that us humans need to go through before we get to that point to being able to take that leap of faith. My suggestion? Look back on your own journey and ask yourself about the times that our Lord and Savior showed up for you. Did He ever let go of you during those times? Maybe we think that He did, but instead it was us who closed the door on Him and then blamed Him for the choices that we had made. It takes a lot of humble honesty to see and admit where and when we didn’t trust God enough with our struggles. If that is the case, realize that our Lord and Savior is never so far away where He won’t help you out of the pit that you are in. It just takes a leap of faith and then He will hold you tight and never let you go. (Related post: “My peace I give you”)

A Reason to Hope

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Life sure can stink, sometimes! Here you are just rolling along, the sun’s shining, the wind is blowing, the birds are singing then BAM! Something happens that changes in your life and that can throw you into a tailspin. Unfortunately, that can and does happen a lot during our lifetimes. I am not here to get you down or have anyone thinking negatively; instead, I want to share that there is a reason to hope in better things to come.

To do that, let’s look at Hebrews 11:1-3 (New American Bible Version): “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.” Whichever version that you read, it all amounts to the same thing. These verses help us to know and believe that we can rely on God to hold true to His words and His promises for our lives. It’s our reason to hope in a brighter future even though we can’t see where that path is taking us, right now. (Related post: Knowing and Believing)

I like to think of it as a new chapter in our book of life. (Related post: A New Chapter in the Book of Life) You turn the page and it’s empty. Your journey isn’t finished because, it’s still going on. Sometimes, I feel as though I’m just along for the ride and knowing that I will eventually see some beautiful things, but I have to wait for what is as yet unwritten in my book. I also know that the waiting is the hardest part of having trust in the unseen. However, we should know in our hearts that we have a God who does what He says He will do. We are the impatient ones. We question and yell and beg God to show us, but sometimes we have to wait because the gift that He gives us is bigger than we’ve ever imagined. So by waiting, it can produce within us patience and endurance and a much firmer knowledge in Him.

What did I learn from this? I like to think that I am growing my “fruits of the Spirit” (from Galatians 5: 22-23) in my search to seek Him in all things. I’m here not for earthly things but for Godly things. I have many, many reasons to hope in a brighter future and not just for me but for all of us, together. Is change hard? Yes! I don’t always want to change to a new chapter in my book, but God asks me to trust Him, so I will. (Related posts: The Seasons of Change and A Blessed Path)

So, what can you gain from this? I get it! Change is hard! However, as you develop your own “fruits of the Spirit”, you will begin to see the change within yourself. You were meant to stand out, not to blend in with everyone else. We each have a choice to make in this world, so we need to ask ourselves some questions: 1) How much do I love God? 2) How much do I trust Him to write my next chapter in my book of life? 3) Am I willing to hand control over for something that I can’t see yet?

If the answers to any and all of those are yes, I love you God, yes, I do trust you, God and yes, I am willing to give your control, then I say that you are ready for the next step. Will it be hard? Yes, but know that you are not alone in your journey. You have a God who sees you and knows right where He wants you to be and that, my friend, is the biggest reason to hope.

The Hardest Lesson to Learn

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I know that the hardest lesson that ALL of us have to learn, especially when we are trying to walk through our Christianity, is to “die to self”. There are numerous verses that all carry the theme of ways that we are to “die to self” such as Galatians 2:20; Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 6:6; Luke 9:23; John 12:24 and Romans 14:7-8.

What does those words “die to self” mean, really? When we ask God to come into our lives, then we have to look within. We have to look at our hearts and our minds. We need to really delve into the person that we are now and decide how to “clean out” and get rid of those parts of us that don’t align with what God wants from us. We also need to look at all areas within (our thoughts, our actions, our beliefs, etc.) that need to be pruned and thrown into the fire. You see, they don’t match what you have now become. You have become a new creation.

It’s not easy to do that, at all! It takes us being honest with ourselves and seeing the parts of ourselves that need to be changed in order to be a follower of God. The most perfect example that we have is in His Son, Jesus, who came and lived with us on Earth. He loved and rebuked and taught and healed all of those who came to Him. He taught us about perfect love through the actions that he took. He didn’t die on that cross for His own glory, but for God’s glory and He took on our sin, so that when we take up our own cross and follow Him, we can then be with Him for all eternity.

Whew! That’s a whole lot of stuff to unpack, but it’s actually simple, really. just not the easiest thing to do. We need to take up our own cross, recognize that we have our own scars, as well as have our own crown of thorns in order to follow Jesus. Jesus is the perfect role model that we could ever have in dying to self. He humbled himself and took on our sin. That’s completely powerful stuff, right there! It doesn’t get more powerful than that, for sure.

So, my question to you is this…. are you willing and I mean TRULY WILLING to look within? Are you willing to get rid of those parts of you that don’t align with what God wants for you as well as from you? When you do clean out all that old yucky stuff…. trust me, all of Heaven will rejoice!

What did I learn from this? I feel like I am a better human because I have gotten rid of things that I have no more use for. They just don’t fit into who I am now. Oh, trust me…I still catch myself (not as often as I used to, though), so I’m not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. I’m still me, just an updated and better version, like Jennifer 2.0!

So, what can you learn from this? I know that you will be such a happier person when you let go of your old self. You will become a newer and better version of yourself. You will begin to look at things differently. The world won’t have changed, but you will be changed. It can still be a struggle to walk that path, just keep your eyes on Jesus. He will NEVER, EVER steer you wrong! What do you have to lose? You lose nothing and can gain EVERYTHING!