Words have power. Written words provide proof. You can read them, and reread them whenever you want. They can speak life to someone who needs encouragement. They can speak death to someone who is being deceived. The choice lies within you. How is it that you want people to remember you? Encourager...that is the gift that God has laid on my heart. To use my written, spoken, and/or sung words to lift people up. To be one link in their road to healing, restoration, joy. I have been without those things, and I claim them to be mine again. If you want me to seek God on a prayer for a specific situation...that is why I am here. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to pray God's Word of Life over you.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Live Love Out LOUD (Day ELEVEN -30 Day Challenge

What is your role or position in the church? Seat warmer...or active member? Fly on the wall looking for crap to get your hands into...or prayer warrior? Trouble-maker? Gossiper? Councilor? Teacher?  You will notice that some of those roles listed are not ones that you would hopefully willingly take on. The reality is though...that the enemy loves church struggle. He loves Christians fighting their own. I imagine the only other things that make him happier are when those struggles keep people outside of the walls of church. When people see the anger between people who are called first to love everyone as they do themselves...and want nothing to do with it. 

I've seen it firsthand. I've known the person who said, 'If that's what Christianity is about. If that's how love treats people...I want no part of it.' And if it doesn't break your heart, and make you want to flee from how you've been contributing to the enemy's scheme; lay on your face and pray. You are walking a road that you don't want to go down. It only leads to destruction in your life and doubt in the people watching it.

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord."  Isaiah 54:17  Let's write that verse again with expanded definitions in a couple of the words. I will italicize the definitions that I want to stand out to you. 

No weapon made or formed with concentrated effort against you will triumph, and you will prove to be false/erroneous every tongue that charges wrongdoing against you.

I don't want there to be any question on what that verse says. I want you to know that these weapons intentionally created to harm you...will not win. I want you to know that those who throw accusations out against you...will be proven wrong. It doesn't say they will give up accusing. It says you will be able to prove their accusations are false, fake, untrue. And if they choose to keep speaking them...they will only be destroying their own credibility. Pray for them, because they are being deceived. And sometimes...they like that deception. And that is even scarier yet. 

What if this isn't happening? What if these people accusing you seem to be winning? You are the difference. You can allow the weapons to be effective...or can you allow God to be God. He is always the victor. He is always the One to go to for truth. He has given us the Holy Spirit for times such as this. We can pray and the Holy Spirit will intercede for us.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance to God's will." Romans 8:26-27

Let today be a new day.
 A fresh start. Go to the people you are accusing and ask for forgiveness. Go to the people you are gossiping to and let them know your words have been proven to be false. THOSE will be actions worthy of the cross. Those will speak truth over lies. Those are more honest and real than the things you were trying to fabricate. Be worthy of your calling.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we might also share in His glory." Romans 8:16-17

Do you live, do you love...like you are the co-heir of Christ? Christ's inheritance. His eternal blessings are yours to take part in. You get a portion of what only He should deserve. Do you love like you are royalty? Sons and daughters of the King are not high and mighty...but they know the King of kings. Not only do they/we know Him. We are related to Him! We are proud to be His child. We have abundant provision. We have eternal promise. We have faithful help in our darkest hours.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11

What have been the purpose of your words lately? No one is condemning you for falling into the scheme of the enemy. We've all been there. We've all failed. The impressive thing is when we realize it AND FLEE FROM IT! What are trying to accomplish with your words? Are they helping others to bud and flourish? If not, change your purpose in speaking. Be intentional...because the enemy is. He works with intent to destroy and kill. He hates buds that he knows will soon bloom. He wants to dry up the Living Water that flows from our words of life. But he forgets...the Son always wins! 

1 comment:

  1. I really appreciate you drawing attention to our own words and asking do they "bud and flourish?" It is so beautiful and hope-giving that every word from God's mouth achieves the purpose for which he sent it! As far as those "weapons formed against us" that scripture is taken from such a beautiful chapter about Zion's fertility. I love that though Zion, in this chapter is called "barren", and compared to a "forsaken wife," God is calling Himself her "husband" and is going to heal her afflicted, "storm tossed" self with Himself! He also says that He will firmly establish her in precious stones. The chapter closes with the verse you quoted and says that her "vindication is from the Lord." It is hard for me to remember that the Lord is my vindicator at time (because sometimes His vindication is slower than I would like.) It can be tempting when those "weapons/accusations" are formed against me, not to want to vindicate myself--and prove why I am right and blameless! But the Lord sees our hearts and loves when we trust Him to be our defense. It's like that humility of Christ, as they made their threats and judgements of him, he was able to be quiet and confident that His Father would vindicate him, and only speak what the Father gave him to say, and when to say it! Oh God! Give us the faith in YOU to fuel our patience in waiting for Your vindication, in this life, or the life to come! Great post, thanks!:)

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