Author: living2full

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LETTING GO OF OUR PAST—GOOD OR BAD 

Many of us have a tendency to drag our past failures and struggles around with us wherever we go and in whatever we do. It haunts us, drags us down, won’t let us forget how badly we failed last time… and such and so that did or didn’t happen the way we thought it would. We can’t help ourselves… we’re expecting that same failure… again! 

If this is you (it was definitely me!) …you might find this verse Paul wrote helpful. He wrote it about successful things in his life that had the potential to make him think too highly of himself… but it also fits for those of us who have failures that haunt us and tend to take us down time and again 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️… 

Philippians 3:8 TPT—To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past… …  It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness. 

Truly knowing Christ means throwing away all the garbage from your past… whether good or bad… you need to cast it far away from you like it’s a pile of rotting manure! No longer letting it influence your life as if it has a right… and very good purpose for being there! 

Nobody I know would be willing to sleep in their bed beside a pile of rotting manure… and yet we’ll go to bed with our past plaguing us, depressing our thoughts, disturbing our sleep, or destroying our peace. We’ll wake up with a heaviness or depression that sucks us down into the darkness of misery and defeat, before the day has even begun. Does this sound familiar to you? 

Dragging a steaming pile of smelly manure around with us everywhere we go sounds so ludicrous… and yet we don’t feel that way about dragging our past around with us everywhere we go! We think nobody notices… but really there’s no way to hide that smelly manure no matter how hard we try to cover up the stench! 

It’s time for us to let go of the rotting corpses from our past and instead start applying ourselves to the activity of becoming enriched by the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embracing Him as Lord of our lives in all of His greatness. 

Jesus is LORD of your life now. The past is just that… the past! All of your fleshly good has no value. All of the terrible things that were done to you, or by you, in the past… is just that… THE PAST! Jesus is your life now. Your flesh is dead and gone… you are new creature IN Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) What happened to you in the past has nothing to do with your new life here and now in the spirit (Col 3:10; Eph 4:22-24)! 

Christ is the Source of your new life! He is the Author and finisher of your faith… 
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV—looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… 

Philippians 1:6 AMPC—And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. 

THE GREAT HEALER

Jesus is your Great Healer. He bore all your sorrows and pains—so you don’t have to.  
Isaiah 53:4 ESV—Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…

Much of what we struggle with from our past can be defined as griefs and sorrows. Things over which we carry grief and sorrow than just won’t let go of us! Jesus carried all of that so we don’t have to!

1 Peter 2:24—by His wounds you have been healed… 

Jesus was wounded so that your mental, emotional, and physical wounds could be healed. And if we’re healed… then why are we still carrying those wounds around with us?

Matthew 9:35—Jesus healed every sickness and every disease…  

Struggling with depression, fear, doubt, anxiety, social issues, and constantly feeling unable to move away from our past qualifies as sickness and dis-ease! Jesus paid for the healing of all that emotional hurt!

Psalm 147:3—He heals the brokenhearted 

You are brokenhearted if you’re continually struggling with a past that refuses to let go of your present! 

Jesus took your sorrows and pains on Himself, so you no longer need to carry them. They are removed from your life. Exchanged for His Life, His Strength, and His Power. It’s time to let go of the past. Time to stop letting your past dictate your future. Time to stop letting your past hold you hostage to the past.  

Let go of your failures—Jesus already paid the price for them! Repent of them, if you haven’t already, and then let go of them! Don’t let them dictate what will happen in your future. Your past is not written on stone! You’re not doomed to repeat it over and over and over again! Jesus paid the price for all of your sins, failures, and shortcomings. Isn’t it about time that you receive His forgiveness and walk in His Victory? Isn’t it about time you forgive yourself, and others if necessary, let go of your past once and for all, and embrace your future. I guarantee you… it is so much better than what you’re hanging on to right now!

Isaiah 43:18 NKJV—Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 

Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC—For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV—Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Jesus paid the price for every evil thing you’ve ever done or will do! Remember, every sin, every failure you’ve already committed or will commit was in the future when Christ died for you! He’s redeemed you from sin, He’s redeemed you from the curse of the law; you are not doomed to make the same mistake over and over again! 

Galatians 3:13 NKJV—Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”). 

Isn’t it about time that we begin to believe what God’s WORD says, and receive the forgiveness and the freedom that is already ours in Christ? 

Philippians 3:13 TPT—I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. 

Follow Paul’s advice—don’t depend on your own strength to accomplish this change of thinking and acting! Instead, forget all of your past and fasten—direct your eyes, your thoughts, your heart to your future with Christ, and IN Christ! Focus on Him and His plans for your life… instead of your supposed shortcomings. Receive what He has for you! 

If you’re still not fully convinced that your sin is forgiven and forgotten… If you’re still feeling like someone whose sins are beyond forgiving—then get your FREE download of my short eBook: Life or Death. Understanding the Difference Between Sin & Your Sin Nature. If you’re interested in having a copy of this free eBook leave a Reply of “Life & Death”, along with your email, and I’ll get it to you as soon as I can.

Philippians 3:16 TPT—And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion. 

Philippians 3:9 TPT—My passion is to be consumed with him and not cling to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My only “righteousness” will be his, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God. 

I’d love to hear about your passion… Drop it in the comments below.

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Is That Really a God–Thing?

Have you ever seen something happen in a church or online that claims to be godly but it looks a lot like some of that New Age stuff that’s being touted everywhere you look?

I have…and it made me seriously question if that was really from God or simply New Age stuff making it’s way into the the church? Personally, I was inclined to believe that the world’s latest and greatest had somehow found its way into the church. But it got me to thinking, questioning, and wondering! And I set out to prove to myself…and eventually to others… that “that thing” did NOT belong in the church!

So I started studying God’s Word and looking up Biblical passages that spoke of that thing. And between what I’ve read and learned from God’s Word and going back into my notes of what I’d learned in Bible College I came to a conclusion of my own…and to be honest it kind of took me by surprise…

Want to know what I found out? Listen to the video below where I share what I discovered about this question… and what I heard from a trusted teacher that put the final touch on my understanding…

Feel free to comment with your thoughts on what I just shared. I’d love to hear from you.

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It’s ALL Free

So, I just learned something new!

Grace & Faith work together

I’ve always thought of Psalm 91 as a perfect example of God’s promises for us, His people! Listen to these verses:

Psalm 91:1-3 AMPC—He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

This Psalm is a perfect example of the “If I do this…THEN God will bless me with that” promises. But what I didn’t realize is that it’s a perfect example of the Law being lived well.

Only problem with that is that we’re no longer living in the under the Law, but under Grace. Just as Romans 6:14 AMPC tells us—For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and mercy].

God’s “If you do this—then I will do that” statements under the Law became a series of “I will” statements…without the “If you first” statements, under Grace.

Take a look at these 5 “I will” statements from God to Abram found in Genesis 12:1-3 AMPC:

1️⃣ I will make of you a great nation
2️⃣ I will bless you with abundant increase of favors
3️⃣ I will make your name famous and distinguished
4️⃣ I will bless those who bless you
5️⃣ I will curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you

(By the way: Five is the number for grace in the Bible.)

Notice that there’s no longer any “if you, then I will” statements. It’s strictly “I WILL” from God. There was nothing that Abram had to do to earn these blessings.

Read through the New Testament carefully and see how many times you read about God’s graciousness toward His people. How many times Jesus says, that you will receive what you have asked for. How many times Paul talks about God’s provision and Grace.

Did you know that Grace is God’s provision for your every need? Just as it says in 2 Peter 1:3 AMPC–For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

 Notice that you didn’t earn any part of that. It’s God’s Divine power that’s given “all things” to you as a gift. Bestow means to give an honor, right, or gift. God has given you the gift of ALL THINGS…and just so you know…that word “ALL” really means ALL, everything.

You can’t earn the gift of Salvation. You can’t earn the gift of healing. You can’t earn all the blessings that Jesus’ death released for you. You can only receive it. Jesus is the One Who’s spotless, sinless life earned it for you. Jesus is the One Who satisfied the justice that the Law demanded.

The Law showed you clearly that there’s no way you can fulfill any of it, in and of yourself. You needed Jesus, the spotless Lamb, to do it for you! And now that He has—Grace has been afforded to you and you became the righteousness of God IN Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It's all about Grace

For you to try and do anything now to receive His Grace and Favor is to say “Christ’s death wasn’t enough for me! I need to add my fleshly and sinful actions to ensure I receive His promises.”

It’s not Jesus’ death plus your goodness! It’s Jesus’ death that results in your goodness. It’s only as you stand in His finished work on the cross that you are righteous. Nothing you can do will ensure righteousness for you. It’s ONLY WHAT JESUS DID THAT MAKES YOU RIGHTEOUS!

Psalm 91 was written in the age of Law and it showed the heart of the man God loved…King David. But because Jesus died for you, you no longer have to earn your righteousness and God’s Favor. It’s already yours…because Jesus paid the price for you!

It’s God’s Love shed abroad in your heart, His Grace and His Favor poured out in abundance into your life that now causes you to say of the Lord, “He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!” Psalm 91:2.

You don’t “speak” because you want to earn and deserve His Favor but because His Favor is so abundantly and freely poured out into your life.

Don’t try to earn what God’s already paid for. Accept the free gift and learn to live in, and enjoy, all the blessings He wants to pour out into your life!

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The Flesh versus The Spirit

Who’s winning in your life?

Spirit = Life and Peace—Flesh = death

Romans 8:5-9a NKJV—For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the  carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

To be carnally minded is death…
Carnally = G4561, “sarx”—flesh, body, sensuous nature, human nature, as opposed to the spirit
Death = G2288, “thanatos”—life on earth is ended, implies future misery in hell

To be spiritually minded is life and peace…

Spiritually = G4151, “pneuma”—Holy Spirit, our spirit
Life = G2222, “zoe”—the absolute fulness of life, life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God. Blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ.
(I like to think of it as the God-breathed fullness of life that Adam enjoyed before sin came into the world.)
Peace = G1515, “eirene”—tranquility, immunity from the rage and havoc of war, harmony, security, safety, prosperity (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous), joy

So, in other words, when you are carnally minded you’re living our lives in the flesh, “according to the flesh”. Your whole focus is on the things of the flesh—your life here on earth, your body, your pleasures, your likes and dislikes, your wants, etc. Everything is inward focused on you.

You consult your flesh when making decisions and choices. You live to please your fleshly desires. Your mind and life are in enmity against God. Your mind is hostile, has a deep-rooted hatred, and is in opposition against God. You’re not subject to the law of God but in opposition against it. The end of a life lived this way…is death.

Living in the flesh

Living from the flesh means living death. You are constantly working to meet the ever-increasing demands of the flesh. It needs more and more to make you happy. Serving self begins to consume your thoughts. Your world rotates around you.

This may be an extreme example, but the same is true when you look good on the outside. You’re other’s focused—you spend you’re life living for the good of others. In the world’s eyes that’s wonderful! But…doing good without God is called “being self-righteous”…and in God’s eyes that’s just as evil as being self-focused. It’s still all about
“S-E-L-F“!

Look at what the Bible says about “self righteousness”…
Isaiah 64:6b—And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
Romans 8:8—So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

And just for clarification “filthy rags” are equivalent to our modern day “feminine napkin or tampon”. That’s what God thinks of anything we do through our flesh. Doesn’t matter how good it may be…it’s as wonderful to God as a feminine napkin or tampon would be to us!🤮 For “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Don’t be discouraged

If you’re feeling like you’re living from your flesh more often than not…don’t be discouraged. Most of us start that way. It doesn’t mean you haven’t been saved, or you’ve lost your Salvation, or anything else like that! It just means there’s some work for you to do.

It’s called renewing your mind

Romans 12:2 AMPC—Do not be conformed to this world (this age) [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Renewing your mind is all about learning to think according to what the Word of God says about you…and the best way to do that is to know who you are now that you are IN Christ. I would highly recommend printing out this page, Click this link: Knowing Who I Am in Christ

Whatever your need, you’ve already got it

The best thing about having the Holy Spirit living in you is that you already have all the answers and the Wisdom you need living right inside of you! Jesus tells us that in John 14:26 AMPC, “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things.”

(I would highly recommend writing out this verse and then looking up the meanings for the different words and put it beside each word. Then the next time you’re wondering what the Holy Spirit can do for you, you can look back at this verse and know.)

The Holy Spirit also shows you the Truth, He will reveal Jesus to you…as well as comforting you, counselling you, helping you, strengthening you and so much more…

John 16:13 AMPC—But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes**, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

**We no longer have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. He came on the day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago…and He came to live in your heart the moment you accepted Jesus—at that very moment you were “born again” and Holy Spirit came to live in your spirit…making you a new creation.

I don’t know about you…but I find that extremely comforting! You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Ask the Holy Spirit for His help and He will enable you to change. 

Listen to what 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC says—“And all of us, as with unveiled face [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”

Understanding your new Spirit

If you’d like to gain a greater understanding of what your new Spirit is and how it functions within you…I would highly recommend you watch this very important video: Spirit, Soul, & Body Animation by Andrew Wommack.

I guarantee you that after watching this video you’ll have a better understanding of the difference between your Body, Soul, and Spirit and how each one works together with the other parts to bring you the God-Life you’re desiring.

Living in the Spirit

Galatians 5:24 NKJV—And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Psalms 37:4—Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

When we’re spiritually minded…when we delight ourselves in the Lord…our thoughts and desires are focused on God and our life with Him in the heavenlies where we are already seated in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:4-6 —But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV—If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

A spiritually minded life is ‘an absolute fulness of life’ experienced here on earth…. A life that is active and vigorous, blessed with Peace—tranquility, immunity from the rage and havoc of a war fought in our mind between death and life…harmony, joy,  security, safety, prosperity—because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous.

I don’t know about you…but I’d rather give my mind over to the Spirit than to my flesh. I remember my mom saying to me as a child, “Want is a cruel task master. It’s never satisfied. It will always want more and more and more!” That’s a picture of living in the carnal mind.

So…How do you live from the Spirit within

The Bible is full of advice on how to live from the Spirit rather than the flesh. Here are just a few verses to get you started.

Romans 8:12-1 NKJV—Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

2 Corinthians 104-5 NKJV—For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

These strongholds are the flesh fighting to live a fleshly life. Our mind is filled with thoughts of self and other thoughts that actually speak death to the Life within us.

Arguments are those thoughts that argue that being in the flesh is okay. That you’re not doing anything wrong. Nothing will be harmed by doing xyz. It’s okay, just this once. Arguments war against following the leading of the Spirit.

Everything that prevents you from growing in the Knowledge of God MUST go. Every flesh-serving thought we have must be taken captive and put to death at the throne Jesus.

Instead we are to think on these things:

Philippians 4:8 NKJV—Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

For more Scriptures about living from the Spirit within you follow the links below…

Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through these Scriptures. Ask Him to show you how to apply them to your life. Ask Him to help you become aware of all wrong thoughts. Ask Him to help you take those thoughts captive.

Rely on Him. This isn’t work you do through your own will…but through the helping hand of the Holy Spirit within you. With His help you CAN, and you WILL change!

What Does the Bible Say About Living By the Spirit?

15 Bible verses about Walking in the Spirit

29 Bible Verses about Living in the Spirit

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What to Do When You Get Offended

Dealing with offense is not easy…especially if the offense comes from someone close to you!

If you’re struggling with offense and want to know how to deal with it so it doesn’t poison your life…then I would highly recommend this video series about Offense by Pastor and teacher Duane Sheriff!

Most of the videos in this series are between 12-14 minutes long so it’s not hard to fit them into a short break in your day.

Click on this link below to access the series on YouTube.

OFFENSE Series by Duane Sheriff

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What Does It Mean to Seek the Kingdom First?

Have you ever wondered what Jesus was talking about when He said “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33?

What about Binding and Loosing?

Here’s another strange verse that may have had you scratching your head.

Matthew 18:18 – “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “

Is there any connection between these 2 statements that Jesus made?

I decided to tackle this topic with a video as there’s too much to say for a blog post. You can check it out here:

⬅⬅⬅ Click on the image to watch the video I made.

I’d love to hear what you think about this.

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How Does the Kingdom Of God Change Your Life?

Luke 12:31-32—But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 13:18-19—Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Luke 13:20-21—And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was ALL leavened.”

You are to seek first the Kingdom of God…and as you seek His kingdom all the other things important to life and living will be added to your life!

You should have NO fear because it pleases God…it is His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!!!

So…what is the Kingdom like?

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which a man planted into his garden!

According to Mark 4: 14 – 20…

Seed = the Word of God Garden or soil = your heart

So the Word of God planted in your heart will grow so big that birds can find refuge and rest in the branches and the shade of His Word will rest a weary traveler or protect the rest of the “garden” from being scorched by the heat of the day.

The Kingdom of God is like leaven which a woman hid in flour

Leaven = the Word of God Meal or flour = your heart

So the Word of God planted in your heart will grow and multiply till it fills your whole life with His life, power, authority, Love, compassion, Grace, Mercy, etc (every good thing that the Bible promises us).

Notice that in both of these parables the Word of God grows and multiplies till it overtakes everything else. It was the biggest tree in the garden and like leaven it raised and brought life to the whole lump of dough.

The Kingdom of God is like seed scatted on the ground

Mark 4:26-28—And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Mark 4:20—But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.

Seed = the Word of God Ground = your heart

I love what this parable tells us about God’s Kingdom! When you scatter God’s Word in your heart…that seed—His Word…sprouts and grows all by itself!

How? You don’t know!

And all by itself your heart will yield a good crop as God’s Word grows in your heart. First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. And when that Word of God fully matures in your heart it will produce good fruit in your life.

Sometimes it will produce a small change in your life, sometime a bigger change, and sometimes it will completely change an area, attitude, thought pattern, behavior ,or habit in your life.

Notice that the change is not you forcing it on yourself from the outside…but rather God’s Word working His good will in you so that you desire to change…so that you desire to do the very thing you thought you’d never be able to do!

This doesn’t mean you won’t have to push past your fears…but that’s so much easier to do when your heart is urging you…even pulling you toward the very thing you thought you’d never do!

Philippians 2:13 tells us the same thing—For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

It’s God Who works in your heart, through His Word that you’ve planted there…not just once… but over and over again, day after day after day, till like a good sourdough yeast (leaven), it grows and multiplies in your life until your heart and mind are filled with the power of God’s Word!

Then suddenly, and…often very surprisingly, you’ll find yourself being inexorably drawn to do the very thing you couldn’t do before…even though you wanted to do it or knew you needed to do it…and yet failed so miserably at doing!

This doesn’t mean that you won’t feel any fear or trepidation at doing this thing—but the drawing and pulling of God’s Word working in your heart will give you the strength and the power…

After all… “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me”… and you’ll find yourself doing the very thing you feared and doubted you could ever do!

Victory is yours! All it takes is seeding out God’s Word in your heart—day after day after day—till you see first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head.

I challenge you to find a verse or 2 from God’s Word to seed into your heart. Write it (them) out on a sticky note or a recipe card. Keep it with you wherever you go. Whenever you have a spare moment or two read the verse out loud to yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and speak it over yourself. Repeat this several times a day if possible!

Do this every day for 30, 60, 90 days or however long it takes for God’s Word to start changing your heart. I guarantee you…God’s Word will change you! IF you are diligent and give it enough time to do it’s good work in you!

Want to learn more about God’s Word and it’s affect on your life? Check out my Instagram page: @Joanne.Spruyt

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Which is TRUE: God’s Word or Man’s Interpretation of It?

Which do you trust more: God’s Word or man’s interpretation of it?

Man says, “God’s promises are ‘yes’ ‘no’ ‘maybe’ ‘not yet’.

God’s Word says, 2 Corinthians 1:20—for all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Man’s says, “God took your child because He needed him or her more than you did.” Or “He’s growing your faith.” Or “He’s testing you.” Or “He’s teaching you something.” Or “We don’t know why God took your child. But He has a reason.”

God’s Word says in:

John 10:10—The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

You know who the thief is, right? It’s our arch-enemy the devil!

God’s Word says in:

1 John 4:7-8—Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know god, for God is love.

According to the Oxford Dictionary online—Love means an intense feeling of deep affection.

According to A Close Look at the Meaning of God’s Love in the Bible⬇⬇ this word “love” means:

The Hebrew word for God’s Love is “khesed” which means more than just affection…it’s also a loyal commitment to be generous to that person for the long run. In Exodus 34:6 God calls Himself “compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in “khesed” and faithfulness.

“Khesed” has also been translated as “steadfast love”, “goodness”, “kindness”, “loving kindness”, “faithfulness”, “love”, and even “loyal love”.

Let’s think about this logically

Would you, as a parent, kill your child’s beloved pet because he needed to learn a lesson…or it was punishment for something bad your child did…or they needed to see your love in action—to learn that sometimes cruelty can really be love…or just to teach them some unknown lesson that will reveal itself over time?

Sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? I’m pretty sure that such an act would be considered child abuse.

And yet, we don’t hesitate to attribute child abuse, cruelty, or other such atrocities to our God, Who IS Love! Does that make any sense to you????

1 John 4:7-8—Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Exodus 34:6 “And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love (“khesed”) and faithfulness.”

John 10:10—The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

2 Corinthians 1:20—for all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

When you look closely at the 4 Scripture references above—what do they tell you about our God? Will this God have favorites and say “yes” to blessing your neighbor…but “no” to you or worse still…that wonderful 😖 “maybe” that He supposedly uses?

Will He steal, kill, or destroy your dream, your child, your spouse, or something else He’s given you—just because …? Or is that the trademark of the enemy?

John 10:10—The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I think that as Christians, we really need to start questioning what we’ve been taught to believe when it doesn’t line up with what God’s Word says. It’s time to start asking questions like—Is this the action of a God Who IS Love? And if it isn’t then we need to find another explanation for what we’re experiencing.

Remember: He isn’t just a God Who does Love. He’s a God Who IS Love! It is His very nature! He can NOT do anything that isn’t Love!

If what we believe doesn’t line up with what a God Who IS Love would do—then it’s time to rethink what we believe—till it lines up with what God’s Word says!

What do you think?

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Jesus’ Commission Isn’t Dead

John 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

The word translated as “ask” is translated from the Greek word “aiteo” = to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.

The word translated as “what” is a compound word in Greek “hos he ho” = which, what, that… and “ean” = whatsoever, whosoever. Together they would mean a definite whatsoever you desire.

The word translated as “desire” from the Greek “thelo” = have in mind, intend, purpose, desire, wish, love, like, take delight in, have pleasure, determine, choose, prefer.

The word translated as “done” is the Greek “ginomai” = to become, to come into existence, begin to be, come to pass, happen, be performed, finished, be made. This word is used with great latitude—literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.

Ask whatever you desire

So, Jesus is telling His disciples that if we live IN Him, make our home IN Him, take up residence IN Him…and His Word lives in us—we meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8) make it a part of who we are and how we think… then we can ask, desire, require whatsoever we have in mind, purpose, desire, take delight in! AND it will come into existence, come to pass, be performed, be made for us!

Wow! Do you see what God’s Word is saying here?

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, when His desires have become our desires, when we take pleasure in Him and desire to be obedient to His Word in and for our lives—THEN we can ask for whatever we desire and it will be done for us.

This is not a “maybe” people! This is a plain and simple and undeniable “WILL be done” for us.

When our hearts are aligned with God’s—then our desires become the same as His desires! In what world would we ever think that God wouldn’t want to fulfill His desires in us…and through us to others???

How can we know?

But how do we know if our desires are the same as God’s desires?

Psalms 37:4 tells us to

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

“Delight” from the Hebrew “anag” = to be soft, be happy about, take exquisite delight, make merry over. The dictionary defines it as “to very much enjoy”.

Does this describe your relationship with the Lord, or the desire of your heart? If you can say yes to this then you’ve probably already noticed that your dreams and desires are changing. Your taste in what you watch or read or how you spend your time is changing.

The more I started to desire to be with the Lord, the more I found myself hungering for a closer relationship and a better understanding of Him…the more I found my tastes changing. I became fussier about what I watched on TV, what I read, what I spent my time talking or thinking about. Slowly, but surely, my tastes began to change over time.

The more you find yourself hungering to know God more, to understand His ways better, to draw closer to Him, to receive and understand His love better—the more you know that you are delighting yourself in the LORD!

And when you do that His desires unknowingly and increasingly become your desires and you can be guaranteed that He will give you the desires of your heart! Then you will be able to “ask for whatever we desire and it will be given to us”.

And honestly…think of it…what loving parent doesn’t give their child their heart’s desire if it’s at all possible for them to do so? How much more will our Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask of Him! (Matthew 7:11)

Abide in His Love

John 15:9-10

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

You are to abide, to remain, to tarry, to not depart, to continue to be present, to live IN Jesus’ Love for you.

You are to attend carefully to what Jesus has commanded you, to guard these commands, to keep an eye on them, to prevent them from escaping.

You are to prevent them from falling out of your understanding and knowledge, from falling into disuse in your life. You are to be keeping them in a fortress where they can’t be stolen from you by the cunning lies of the enemy!

Our commission

You are to keep doing those commandments of Jesus—and as you keep them you’ll be living in His Love—because Jesus was all about LOVE! To do His commandments is to LOVE on others. To pour out His LOVE to those around you. LOVE activates you. LOVE sends you to work in the fields and reap the harvest of souls. LOVE commissions you to be Jesus to all those around you. To…

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

This is what your life is to look like. This is how you LOVE like Jesus LOVED while He walked the earth!

When Jesus left He sent you the Holy Spirit to live in you. To make you all like Jesus. To turn you into His little brother or sister who continues His work that He was doing while He walked the earth.

That is your commission. That is the Father’s desire for you. And that is what the devil has stolen from so many of our hearts…mine included…for so many years.

It makes me sad😞😫😭 to realize just how many of my years were wasted chasing the things of this world—when our God, our Abba, our Daddy—has something so vastly much better for all of us to do!

Don’t let my mistake be your mistake. God has so much good instore for you and to do through you! If your heart is hungry to know more of this amazing God of ours…leave me a message. I’d be happy to share what I’ve been learning with you!

We are all brothers and sisters IN Christ! Let’s start working together to share the “to good to be true” gospel of Jesus Christ!

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God Still Works Miracles

I’m not sure that I would have said that God still did miracles in this day and age…except that He’s done one in my life!

Needless to say I’m now a firm believer in our Miracle-working God.

Let me start at the beginning of my story so you get an understanding of the incredible-ness (is that even a word?) of the miracle God did.

I guess you could say that I was a believer all my life. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t believe that God was real… and when I was around 15… I can remember waking up one morning with a heavy depression weighing on my shoulders…along with the thought that if I didn’t believe that God was real – I’d go out right then and there and kill myself. The depression was that dark and that pressing.

No sooner had that redeeming thought passed through my mind…the depression lifted and I never had that heaviness and darkness attack me again.

Sounds pretty impressive right? But what that little story doesn’t tell you is that I was the most excruciatingly shy girl you could ever meet. I was terrified of my own shadow. Honestly I think I cried my way through the first 12 years of my life. After that I hid behind my big sister and was her quiet shadow till the day I got married.

It’s truly a miracle that I even got married. My husband always says that I’m the one who turned him into a talker. If he didn’t talk then things would have been mighty quiet between us. But somehow or another he fell in love with me and soon took over the position of my protector from the world.

Believe it or not…I managed to hide from the world in general, and people in particular…till I was nearly in my sixties. Yup, I was that old before my life and personality did a complete 180!

Then one day God brought something into my life that started a health and healing process that literally turned my life around. The stronger and healthier I became–the more interested I became in knowing God more intimately…and as I started developing my relationship with God I noticed that my excruciating shyness started to fall away!

The day I suddenly realized that I was no longer terrified of people was a day of great celebration. My renewed health had given me the energy to desire and seek God more and the closer I got to Him the more I began to change!

I had always thought that I’d be stuck with my terror of people for the rest of my life…but God had other plans! If you would have told me a decade ago that I would be writing a blog for people to read and comment on…that I would be making videos where I talked to people… Honestly I would have laughed in your face and told you…well more like…think about telling you…that you were stark raving mad!!!

I would have thought about telling you to dream again…because that was NEVER going to happen! And yet here I am…doing the very things I thought I would never do!

Now if that isn’t a miracle I don’t know what is!

My purpose with this blog is to share all the things God has been showing me–because our God is so much greater than we think and He can do so much more than we ever dreamed of–and He has commissioned us, and given us so much more to do than we can ever imagine.

This blog is my attempt at sharing God’s “MORE” with you in the hopes that you will catch the same fire, or already have the same fire burning in you that God has put in me. The more we gather together the stronger our Light will be! There is power in the Body of Christ! Feel free to comment…to question…to post your thoughts and ideas. I’d love to hear from you… God loves us all and Jesus makes us all brothers and sisters IN Him.