I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit. Ephesians 3:16
Our Spirits are the parts of ourselves capable of truly worshipping the Father. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, that the Father was seeking those who will worship him in Spirit and in truth. Scripture tells us that “A cheerful heart is like medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” Proverbs 17:22.
A weak spirit leaves you vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. If your spirit is weakened, you may be experiencing an unbearable feeling of grief, loneliness and despair. In addition, a wounded spirit causes you to be easily overwhelmed by challenges, wreaks havoc in relationships, and keeps you hostage to living with a victim mentality. A weak spirit can be evidence of a deteriorated prayer life, and a lack of immersion in God’s word.
God places more of a priority on your Spirit, than he does on your physical body. Paul wrote to Timothy cautioning that while exercise was good for the body and useful, it is in living a Godly disciplined life that is even greater for it not only prepares you to live life in the now, but it prepares you for an eternal life with Christ. God wants you to be strong in spirit, and he has already equipped you with the mind of Jesus Christ. Now, you are accountable for cultivating the Spirit of Christ within you.
Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, your word declares that a broken and remorseful heart you would never despise and turn away. I offer myself to you now Lord, please make me whole again. Strengthen me where I am weak, give me a hunger and thirst to drink more of you. Speak to me clearly, that I may know and do your will for my life. Thank you for being my strength. Amen.
Now, take at least three minutes, consider at least two areas of your life where you may have been experiencing chaos, those things that may be out of alignment with the principles of God. Write them below, use only line. Then, write down how you feel God is be leading you to correct them.
I’m a dreamer. Today, I take
delight in this assertion. Admittedly, this was not always the case. I’m also
an empathic, romantic idealist (which basically means I sometimes I prefer to
see things the way they could be, rather than what is).
Trust me, this is not always
as endearing as it sounds. I hated these labels because people often mistook me
for being weak, naïve and emotional, as If being mindful of your emotions and
the feelings of others somehow makes you incapable of being rational.
Nevertheless, today I take
great pride in who I am, and in the person, I am becoming. I fully confident in
Jesus, who is the author and finisher of my faith.
I Had a Dream….
Last week, I dreamt I was 9 months pregnant, and I was once again in a relationship with my Ex. I was so happy, then I began to go into labor. However, rather than go to the hospital, my ex began speaking into a microphone in front of a crowd.
As he spoke about another
woman, I was embarrassed. I remember being astounded at his lack of empathy for
how his words and actions were affecting me. I was hurt, and I no longer wanted
to be in a relationship with him. Then, my contractions ceased, and my labor
stopped. So, the dream ended with me being way past the due date, and unable to
give birth to the baby I was carrying.
I knew the dream was a
message from God for my life (Yes, God still speaks to people see Acts
2:17). So, I asked him to give me an
interpretation, and he did!
Restrained Affections
For me, 2019 has been a year
of intensely seeking God’s will and plan for my life. While I was keenly
focused on seeking the Kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 6:33), I enjoyed:
Increased peace
Increased
self-awareness
An enhanced
ability to hear from God
As the year progressed,
several distractions began to surface. These external influences threatened to
erase the growth I had attained and attempted to keep me from growing any
further.
Some people are afraid to
enter a relationship with Christ, because they are afraid of living a
restrictive life. For many years, all people ever heard about the Christian
life was what they “can’t do” where they “can’t go”, or “what they “can’t
wear.” We tend to blame God for our unhappy situations. However, as the Apostle
Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 6:12, it is not the gospel which restrains us,
but we are restrained by what we highly esteem and value. It is not that we
should not aspire to accomplish goals, but we should be careful not to consider
our own self-ambition over the plan and will of God. We should always remember God’s primary plan
is to prepare a Bride for his Son, Jesus. And, we our lives should be aligned
to accomplish this mission, everything else is secondary.
The Message
In my dream, I was pregnant.
The pregnancy was symbolic of the gift the Lord has paced within me, meant to
be shared with the world. However, when I allowed my focus to be redirected to
my ex, my labor ceased. My ex was on a stage and speaking into a microphone.
This meant I had placed or was beginning to place a higher importance on my own
desires. I was beginning to serve my own needs, rather than serving others. Therefore,
the gift God placed in me was being hindered.
I am not going to let this happen
to me or to you! Below are four ways to
live an unrestrained life:
Know your own
Limitations and put the proper boundaries in place. When we are being tempted, we are being
tempted by our own desires, not by God. (See James 1:14)
Be Anxious for
Nothing, make your requests Known. Pray About Everything. Be patient in hope. Waiting only increases
the Joy you will experience when your desire is fulfilled. (See Philippians 4:6)
Be mindful of
the company you keep. Surround yourself with people who are honest and
encouraging. Form the right alliances, can light have fellowship with
darkness? (See 2 Corinthians 6:14)
Serve God
faithfully and with all your heart. God will give you your reward. You don’t
have to strive to force things to work in your favor. (See Colossians 3:23-24).
I love the new life and freedom I have found
in Christ. Yet, there are times when I am reminded of my own shortcomings and
desires.
I don’t always respond to
every situation in the most Christ-like manner, and at times I still wince at
an engagement video or wedding photo from time to time. However, I believe the Lord was telling me
not to allow myself to become too wrapped up in the things that I
want to accomplish.
Perhaps, you too are waiting to receive the promises of God for your life. Or, maybe you need a resolution to a very difficult problem. Well, take heart God sees you, and he knows exactly what you need. Seek Be anxious for nothing and PRAY about everything. May God’s grace and peace be upon you, and I hope you all are empowered to DREAM BIG.
