Friday, September 26, 2008

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil 4:13)

1. Able to do all things

When someone tells you that they can or can't do something, what are they saying? Usually, the first thing that comes to mind is that they just don't have the time or money to. In actual fact the words can and cannot indicate physical ability, for example my husband
cannot give birth to a child because he is not physically designed for that purpose. I, on the other hand, have been divinely designed and created for that mission. If a person cannot do something then there is something physically preventing them from being able to do that thing. Every time my sons tell me they 'can't' do something I instantly correct them and encourage them with this scripture because it's easy for them to remember, but if you look closely at this verse, i.e. pick it apart and break it down, you will see that Paul was speaking of spiritual ability.

That's the way I like to study. I take each word in the verse and look it up in my Strong's Concordance. It's amazing what you'll discover when you study this way. Let me paraphrase for you what I gained from these ten words.

"I am well able, because God has given me might and strength, and I make myself available to accomplish any and everything thoroughly. Whatever He asks me to do, wherever He asks me to go and to whomever He sends me. I will do that which is of benefit, right and good because Christ, the annointed one takes me in his arms and embraces me. He takes me up in his arms and empowers and enables me, increases me with his strength and makes me to be strong."

WOW! Are you shouting yet? Are you leaping? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? It means that you have power. You have strength. You are mighty in the power of Jesus Christ, the annointed one and his annointing. He totally and completely surrounds us with his love as he sends us on our way. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, if we go in his name we must prevail. Paul was saying that when God calls us to a specific task, He has already equipped us and given us the knowledge to accomplish that thing. It may look impossible, improbable or unlikely that we could do it but that's just because we believe that we do not have the know-how. God has already equipped you.

Yes, this scripture is speaking about spiritual things, like when the Holy Spirit tells us to do or say something and then we feel fear or doubt because we are not sure if we heard correctly, so we begin to talk ourselves right out of our assignment and our blessing. But we can also do whatever we set our hearts and minds to as long as it lines up with and does not go against the word of God and especially if God is the one who placed that desire in your heart.

Our problem is that we use the word *can't* too liberally. We say "can't" when what we really mean is "won't" or "don't want to". If we want to climb Mount Everest then who's to say we can't. Are we physically unable to? Are we physically handicapped in some way? Even
that is no excuse. There are many who are handicapped who have accomplished a whole lot more than those of us who are able-bodied. Look closely and I think you will see that we are the ones who are handicapped - in our thinking. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 to "be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." Start thinking differently about yourself and you will become that. There are times when we must acknowledge our weakness (2 Cor 12:9), but we need to see ourselves as strong especially when we don't feel strong - that's called prophesying. Don't let your body and mind tell you how to feel because they don't know the word, but you do because the word is in your heart.

The important thing to remember is that you may be a princess but you are also a powerful force to be reckoned with because of who you are - The King's Daughter. You have power, you have strength and you are mighty in the power of Jesus Christ.

Take the third paragraph (above), personalize it and make it your prayer, then watch your attitude about yourself change drastically.

God Bless


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Pearl of Great Price

What is a pearl? It's a gem, a precious jewel. People travel the whole world over to find them. A perfect pearl is completely spherical and even in color, texture, hues, sheen and lustre. A pearl is made when some kind of irritant - a parasite or piece of grit - gets inside the shell and the animal builds a layer of 'nacre' around it in order to get relief.

What has gotten under your skin? What has been irritating you lately? Family, friends, work, church, traffic or road rage?

How do we handle it? Do we get mad, get even, gossip, or do we do nothing at all? We say things like "Why is it that all the [angry, sad, whatever] people seem to be drawn to me like a magnet?" We try to rationalize - "This must be my new calling/ministry. This is where God is leading me." But have we ever stopped to think about what is really happening? If we are crossed by someone who was argumentative, talkative or who is in a fit of road rage then perhaps these are issues in our own life that require attention, especially if it takes us to the point of feeling the strong and overwhelming desire to express ourselves (read Psalm 139:23-24).

God is speaking to us not necessarily about ministry, but about areas we need to work on. We sometimes look at a negative situation and say that the enemy is attacking us when really what it is, is spiritual healing. People testify in church about how someone did something to them and they attribute that to Satan sending that person in order to quench their spirit. This would be true if that person is totally led by the Holy Spirit, with both feet planted firmly on the ground, because this person's life is so full of pearls that they have more than enough to share. However, for the rest of us this is, more often that not, God's way of calling attention to our own 'self mission'. Over time as the layers of faith and trust build up a precious gem will be formed until what was once an irritation is no longer recognizable as such and only the beauty and lustre of the pearl is seen.

In James 1:2-4, James tells us to "Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature [perfect] and complete, not lacking anything" (NIV). We need to take the irritants of each day and wrap them in a layer of faith and trust, believing that our loving Father would not allow his precious daughters to go through these things alone.

Our suffering, perseverance and victory become our testimony with which we can help others, and each time we persevere we get stronger. There is a strong woman inside of us and even though this process is a slow one, we look forward to the end result - a beautiful, lustrous pearl.

God Bless You My Sisters
 

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