Living Real

"Many of us have forgotten that we really are children of the Most High God. We have allowed lies to remain embedded and unchallenged in our lives. We have created a performance-based relationship with the Grace-Giver. We live in fear of failure, and so we avoid stepping out in faith, thinking that failure means rejection. Some of us are afraid to move forward in boldness because we still believe that God can only love us if our performance is without fault. " Garry Elkins

These words are grabbing my attention this afternoon. It is as if they have taken the message from Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman and are walking hand in hand through my mind. "We have allowed lies to remain embedded and unchallenged in our lives." How true, how true. God has been revealing these lies that have been embedded and unchallenged in my life. One by one these areas of unchallenged falsity are being challenged with the Truth. Life is springing up in places long thought dead.

All around us the world and it's way of doing are falling apart. American's everywhere are beginning to waken to the fact that life as we once knew it is over. It's not ever going to be quite like it was. As followers of Christ we are being given a gift, an opportunity to live the faith we profess to believe, to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Many people who don't know Jesus and the promises in His Word need the Hope we possess. Yet how can we share something with others that we fail to live in ourselves? The answer is simple. We can't. We cannot live in constant fear and almost panic ourselves then try to comfort another with the love of God. Why? Because the love of God drives out fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. That is what God says. That is truth. I have made a conscious decision to belief truth, God's truth, His Word.

Contrary to popular belief, Christians do not have to fall prey to a spirit of fear, confusion, doubt, or any other negative emotion currently bombarding the world. They do not have to be worried, anxious, worked up, irritated. As a matter of fact, God has instructed His children not to be any of those things. He has commanded us to not allow ourselves to get worked up. He is not a hard taskmaster giving out commands that are impossible to keep. Nor is He a drill seargent barking out orders. He is a loving Heavenly Father telling His children the way to live fully in Him. His yoke is easy. His burden is light.

The rise of violence and the tolerance of evil in my nation grieves me. Yet Jesus bore my griefs and carried my sorrows.. I don't have to sorrow as one without hope. The God of the universe busies Himself with my every step.(Psalm 37:23) He has good works planned in advance for me to do.(Ephesians 2:10) I can't do the work of God if I am not confidently trusting in Him. Psalm 37:28 says "28 For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off." If I believe these words, I will live confidently, do confidently, speak confidently of the One who is in all, through all, and made all. I have cast my cares on Him for He cares for me.(1 Peter 5:7) Our family has taken Him at His Word in 2 Chronicles 7:14. We His people who are called by His name have humbled ourselves and prayed. We sought His face and turned from our wicked ways. We have done the If portion of that scripture. Because He is faithful and true, God will fulfill the Then portion. He will hear from Heaven. He has forgiven our sins. He will heal our land.

It is time for God's children to live as chidren of the Most High God. It is time to unbed and challenge the lies that have kept us from walking in the boldness of the righteous. It is time to realize such lies exist. It is time to live what we believe, all of it, every little detail. As believers there must be a "no tolerance" policy for sin and evil in our lives. God is speaking to His people. He is speaking to His church.

Can you hear it? I hear a roar, a mighty mighty roar. It's a magnificent sound roaring through the atmosphere. It's the sound of praise to the Most High God being lifted high. God's children are rising up. The church is wakening from her slumber. The bride of Christ is preparing her robes. She is allowing herself to be made spotless and pure. This isn't a promo for a brilliant sci-fi movie. This is reality. It is what is going on right now, even as we speak. The things which are temporal are beginning to pass away so that which is eternal might come. The world's system is falling apart. This must happen. Have no fear. It isn't disaster for followers of Christ. It is necessary preparation for the establishment of Godly rule and government.

Psalm 37 is filled with promises from God to His children. May our hearts be encouraged through its words. May they be life and health to us, strengthening and healing as we speak them out in prayer. Each of us prays as God leads us. However, sometimes praying scripture is a new practice for believers. I'll give a small example of how I pray the Word of God. It is just an example to help explain what I mean when I speak of praying the Word. It is not an absolute, one and only way, only an example.

Here's the example: I would begin in the first verse and using the verse, personalize it.  "I fret not because of evildoers, I am not envioius against those who work unrighteousness that is not upright or in right standing with God. I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in the Lord and I do good. I shall dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and I shall be fed. I delight myself in the Lord. He gives me the desires and secret petitions of my heart." and on I would continue throughout the rest of the chapter. Practicing the habit of praying the Word of God is very encouraging. It is very powerful, especially when spoken out loud. Worrisome and troublesome thoughts can't torment when I am speaking out loud. With love dear ones, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm 37

[A Psalm] of David.

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God).
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.
6 And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.
7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.
11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plot against the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright in right standing with God); they gnash at them with their teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at [the wicked], for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly (blameless in conduct and in conversation).
15 The swords [of the wicked] shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the [uncompromisingly] righteous have than the abundance [of possessions] of many who are wrong and wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the [consistently] righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage will abide forever.
19 They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke] and as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly] righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able].
22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.
25 I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.
26 All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.
27 Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever [securely].
28 For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off.
29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and seek to put them to death.
33 The Lord will not leave them in their hands, or [suffer them to] condemn them when they are judged.
34 Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; [in the end] when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen a wicked man in great power and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil,
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was not; yes, I sought and inquired for him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; in the end the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him.




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