Light to Dark

Is there a dark place in your life that you are hiding or lying about? It may be time to begin cleaning out the cobwebs and bring light, honesty, truth, and transparency to those dark and hidden sins and secrets. Take a step today to walking in light! Shine!! You can't do it without God, so ask Him for help! 

If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:36 ESV)

Surrender

"All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give!" (Hymn: I Surrender All) That's my prayer for this week!!! 
It's Monday, we don't know what's going to happen this week but we can choose to surrender our week now! 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

I Surrender YOU!

Too many times we try to take control of situations and people.  We try and impress our own goals and visions and expectations for what we think their lives should look like.  We mean well, we really do. We have fears and hopes and dreams for them.  We try so hard to hold on to them and help them rather than getting out of the way and letting the Lord work.

Received this prayer from a dear friend and mentor tonight.  A prayer of release, a prayer of surrender!  

To my friend who I want so much for, this is my prayer for you:

"Because Jesus Christ is my Lord, I free you from my anxiety, fears and control.  I trust the Holy Spirit to lead you and show you the way that is right for you--the way of love, joy, and peace and all that salvation includes. I place you at God's throne of grace.  I cannot force my will on you.  I cannot live your life for you.  I give you to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  You are a very special person.  As much as I love you, God loves you more.  Your life today is totally in His hands, and I trust Him with it.  In Jesus Name I release you from my expectation.  I place you on open palms to the Lord. I give you my blessing. I let you go. "

I Am Strong

"I hear the Savior say, Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all."  (Song: Jesus Paid It All)

Whether it's physical weakness, mental weakness, emotional weakness or spiritual weakness, we must always remember that although we are weak, our God is strong! Take it all to Him today. Take your job situation, your marriage, your singleness, your children, your financial instability, your broken heart and all of your fears to the foot of the cross. Jesus is there to carry those burdens for you.

"..Let the weak say I am strong." -Joel 3:10

Rest

When situations force you to take time to rest it's amazing how the Lord can reveal new or old things to you. He can use this quiet time to remind you of things you already know, like who He is, and who you are in Him. These simple reminders can change our perspective and refocus us to an eternal one. Only God can heal a broken body, wandering spirit, and wounded heart. It takes time, it takes rest, it takes being gentle to ourselves. Find rest my soul, in Christ alone!

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." -- Psalm 62:5-8

Change Of Plans

When things don't go exactly as planned we have two choices, to complain and sulk or to embrace it and seek God's face in the situation. Yes, it's important to plan, prepare, and be responsible, but at the same time, we need to hold loosely to our plans so that we are able to get out of the way and let God work! May we choose joy as we seek God's face and the lessons He's teaching us in the midst of what we may call a frustration or change in plans. 

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” --Jeremiah 29:13

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy..." --Psalms 16:11

Timing!

Timing! Sometimes God allows difficult situations to occur earlier in the week, month, year, or in life in order for you to have the strength and wisdom to walk through present or future situations. Embrace them. God is always on time! Thankful that His time table is not mine!! 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalm 28:7 ESV)

In My Weakness

In awe of how even in our weakness, our brokenness, or frustration, our confusion, our selfishness, and the messy parts of our lives, God still chooses to use us! Why?? Because at those moments, it's when we are humbled and reminded that we can't do anything on our own, it must come from Him and Him alone. 

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. (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV) 

For you...

Your past doesn't have to dictate your future. Take it all to God because only He can heal a wounded heart. There can be change in your life, but only with God's help.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! (Philippians 1:6a)