If you need hope today, remember this, Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. ~ Exodus 14:21
God may not remove your “Red Sea,” but as He did for Moses and the Israelites, He will open up a path and lead you through it.
Trust Him for that provision today, friend.
You are loved.❤️
I have been on a mission lately to identify and minimize or eradicate the things in my life that compromise my peace. When I started putting ink to this stuff, I was surprised just how exhaustive my list is, and I have not unearthed it all yet. One thing that was at the top of my list is the bad habit I have perfected of assigning thoughts and feelings to other people. Not many things steal my peace like this destructive practice. You know what I am talking about, right? When a friend does not acknowledge a text or email promptly, I can easily allow my thoughts to sabotage me. My internal dialogue goes something like this,
“She must be mad at me.” or
“Maybe she didn’t like what I said.”
I have found that the overwhelming majority of the time I. Am. Wrong.
There are hundreds of scenarios like this that vandalize my sanity. It is plain ridiculous. When I get honest, though, it is much more about an unwise behavior. There is a deeper root to the problem. I want people to be pleased with me. I want people to like me. I am a forever recovering people pleaser. There should be a support group for this kind of thing! I am no expert but perhaps going even deeper this is about the sinful pride that lurks in my heart that I need to pray for the grace to see and uprooted daily?
In his short, but stirring book, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, Tim Keller says this;
“People sometimes say their feelings are hurt. But our feelings can’t be hurt! It is the ego that hurts – my sense of self, my identity. Our feelings are fine. It is my ego that hurts.” “Walking around does not hurt my toe unless there is already something wrong with it .” Well, a big ‘ole ouch and Amen to that!
When my identity, worth, value, and placidity are rooted in people, I am in trouble. There will be no peace in my heart. I continually have to put on the attire of Christ’s atonement that sealed all those things for me at a very high cost. Otherwise, I am simply not living free in the abundance of my Father, but a prisoner to the perceptions and permission of people.
Control is an insidious intruder. I have to be very intentional to guard myself against it, and even when I am aware, it is tricky. It sneaks into every relationship and situation often undetected. One reason control is so deceptive is that sometimes it is called “helping,” and isn’t that a noble thing to do? In some situations, yes; but often when I find myself saying, “I am just trying to “help” you, that can frequently be transposed to mean, I am trying to control you or the situation. When I dissect my misdirected helpfulness, fear is often at the root; and I have come to learn that although sometimes fear is an understandable reaction, it can also be an UNBELIEVING reflection that says God will not get it right. Lord Jesus, you are in control, not me. Sometimes hidden fears lurk in the deepest recesses of my heart, and I seek a false sense of safety by “suggesting,” fixing or doing which only translates to control. Help my unbelief, Father. Give me the grace to lay my fear and desire to “fix” within your power, not my performance.
When I am trying to patiently wait upon The Lord to give me my next assignment, I have to be intentional to guard myself against the thought that I am not doing anything worthy. As demonstrated in the story of Mary and Martha, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening is as much an active and necessary aspect of Kingdom work as anything else. Waiting and listening feel incongruent to my flesh, but they are invaluable to my Father.
Dear friend, You may need to hear this today. It is perfectly reasonable that you are both a masterpiece and a mess at the same time. You may not feel like a masterpiece, but here is the evidence in Ephesians 2:10~ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus. Yes, it is true you are a mixed bag. So. Am. I. We live in a fallen world, of flawed people, with fluid laws, feeble morals and a fierce enemy who wants us believe to false ideas about ourselves. Not one of us is perfect, but freedom is not found in our perfection, but in the forgiveness of our failures. You are loved!❤️
There was a time when I thought I was a good person, (notice the emphasis on I). Growing in grace has enabled me to see with my eyes, understand with my mind and confess with my mouth that there is nothing good about me alone except the holy, blameless, good and loving God who dwells within me. Sometimes even my best intentions are peppered with pride. It is when I remember my utter depravity that I became free to rejoice in The Lord’s unparalleled adequacy. Lord Jesus, I confess I am a mess. I am prone to wander, clothing myself in filthy rags and seeking perfection, approval, and satisfaction from the false God’s of idolatry. Grant me the blessing of quick detection and correction when my heart turns from you, Father. At the end of every road of obstinance is death; while the path of obedience leads to life. May your truth be my compass so that all glory shines on you, my Savior, not myself. Amen.
Manna for your moment from my yard. Notice that every individual dew drop is distinct in its resting place upon the rose. This picture reminds me that like the rose catches the rain, God catches every tear. He compassionately holds each one with singular significance and gives them shelter until the Son tenderly wipes them away. God never wastes your tears. Sometimes they are tokens of joy and sometimes pain, but not one goes unnoticed or falls in vain. Every part of who you are matters to Him. When you feel the least loved or lovable, remember that like the dew finds respite upon the flower, we find refuge in The Father; and hope accessorized with faith whispers, moments when we feel bruised are backdrops for blessings.🌹
My selfish desire is for everyone to be pleased with me, because of this, the relationships in my life that I am insecure about cause me to be anxious. I never know if I am enough or am doing enough to be loved and accepted by the other person. I begin to believe the lie that I have to perform in a way that pleases that person to gain their acceptance. That is bad news and not a healthy or peaceful way to live.
A relationship we have to earn will always end in our hearts getting burned.
Here is the good news of the gospel of Jesus; we do not have to do good works to be loved and accepted; we do good works because we already are loved and accepted. Isn’t that a breath of fresh air?! A relationship we have to earn is one that will always end in our hearts getting burned.
A leader of a prominent world religion said these last three words before dying; strive without ceasing. Jesus said these last three words just before dying, it is finished. One says work, one says rest. One says earn it, one says it was earned for you. One says it’s up to you, one says it was up to me. One says keep working to be enough, one says you are enough. One has a central concept that translates, incapable of satisfying. One’s central theme says I satisfied it all on your behalf so you are free to do good out of love not law.