My Chaos… God’s Kingdom

How are you my sweet wildflowers (you know the ones that God takes care of)? Has life been lifing for you too? Well I came to talk just about that, you see my children are on spring break and well we control screen time because well gates right. I allowed them to turn on the TV so I could shower but here I am writing this post and allowing the gory of the Lord to disrupt my plans to bring you this. So settle in, grab a drink, your bible, and maybe even a snack and let’s go deep for a minute. You ready?

About a month ago Nebraska has their women’s encounter, it was amazing as always because the Lord shows up in so many beautiful ways. Many of us experienced the mountain top, you know like Moses standing in the Glory of the Lord on Mount Sinai. Surrounded on every side by the presence of the Lord, I mean sure the enemy tried but “no weapon formed can prosper”. Many experienced freedom for the first time and some in new ways, or ways they never thought would be possible. Then they had to come home, they came down off the mountain top to the same broken people (maybe not all of them, some may already have a community of sound free believers to help), the same jobs, the same darkness, the same valley they walked out of to get to the mountain top. So what changed to help them change how the valley is? Well the prayer would be that they (the person) would change, and they maybe they picked up a tool or 2 to use. Coming home a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and mixing it with the old can be hard to do. Some people could continue to see the “old man” and press into who you WERE. You see not everyone believes people can change. Not everyone will WANT to see that change.

So how do we combat that? How do we stop the attack on who we are and what we are worth? The truth, we have to use the truth about who we are.
Genesis 1:27 says that you are made in the Image of God. This means it was intentional, with a purpose, for a purpose. There is nothing accidental about who you are! John 15:16 and Ephesians 1:4 say that you are Chosen. Again there is nothing accidental about being CHOSEN. He knew you before you were ever born, he knew every mistake you made, every sin you’d choose to commit (willing and unwilling) and yet he chose you. Romans 5:8 “for in the way God showed his love for you that while you were still sinners Christ died for us”. And he would choose to do it again and again even if you were the only sinner. Take a minute and let that sink in…

Jeremiah 31:3 says that you are loved. Not the earthly kind of love that we all are used to. You know the kind that can be hurtful (especially when we are broken), or come with expectations, not that kind of love. Instead the Lord loves us with an everlasting love that never tells us we have to earn it, that never leaves because we made a bad choice. Love that stays no matter the cost. I don’t know about you but that sounds better to me than anything else. Along with being loved Isaiah 43:4 says “Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” Did you see that? Because you are precious in my eyes… The Lord says you are precious my dear brother or sister. Isaiah 40:31 says you are strong! Not because you can do it, but because God can do it for you. All you have to do is allow him to take the wheel and get it done. Another good scripture to back drive this home is Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” Just lean in my sweet friend and let Him do the heavy lifting!
Psalm 139:13 (and many others) says you are unique. I want you to close your eyes and think really hard… is there anyone out there that is legitimately exactly like you? I’m not talking similarities I’m talking carbon copy of who you are? No there isn’t, and that is by design! God needs you and exactly who you are. Your unique gifts and experiences, will touch someone in ways that you and I couldn’t even begin to imagine! However God doesn’t stop there, in 1 Peter 2:9 He says “you are a royal priesthood”, I don’t know about you but that sounds pretty dad gum important to me!! I mean royal and priest in the same sentence… how does it get better than that! We were called to be set apart on purpose for a purpose! He wants to use you!
How many of you (like myself) have struggled with feeling like you are adequate or worthy? Well read 2 Corinthians 12:9 with me “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Did he say if you are good enough? Did he say if you perform up to my standards? No, NO he did not! He said in your weakness my power is made perfect! We don’t have to measure up the way our broken world says we do!
The final one I want to mention in this post is 1 John 1:9 (ESV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You are forgiven my friend, end of story, rather beginning of story! The only thing he requires of us is to repent (which means to turn from) of our sins and follow him! He doesn’t ask us to clean up first, he doesn’t say feel adequate for the love I give. He says if we confess he is FAITHFUL and JUST! Name one person in your life that has always 100% of the time been that for you? Is that addiction going to do that? Is the lust of others going to do that? Is that demon, or god going to hang on a cross for you to be what I just said?

I can tell you from experience that nothing, absolutely NOTHING will fill what you are searching for except Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior! And sweetheart no matter what any mere human has told you, you are so sooo worth it!

So how do we combat these attacks, well the first step is that if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that’s a choice you need to decide upon. Will you say yes to him and allow Him to change your life?
Once you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you need to fill your life with truth. Make sure that you put on the full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18, this will help you to be ready and have less spiritual attacks land on you. Less not none, you will still struggle. Fill your mind with the Word, God’s truth so you can clap back when the enemy tries. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The ultimate goal is to be able to take the thoughts captive and never let them come past that (2 Corinthians 10:5). However that takes time to learn to do, so if you find one slipping past and coming out give your self grace and forgiveness and start again! It will become easier the more you flex that neuro-pathway!
Finally trust in the Lord Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” If you try to do it without the help of the Lord it will not go well! Another good one to help remind you of what God says he will do for you is Psalm 37.

The Lord wants you, he wants to use you! Things are shifting in our world and we are seeing things unfold that point to Jesus’ coming. No one knows the day or the time that he will arrive. Are you ready?
I pray that you know our Lord and Savior and that you are under the blood!
Much Love, Stacie