I identified myself completely with Him

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20 The Message

Paul understood the freedom that comes when we identify ourselves completely with Christ.  He knew that there was absolutely nothing he, Paul, could do to restore the relationship with his Heavenly Father. Only Jesus's death and resurrection could allow us to be in right-standing with God. 

I am not going back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:21 The Message

Paul knew there was only one way forward. And that was to receive God's grace and follow Jesus. 

For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favour) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Romans 5:17 AMP

Why is that we sometimes find it so hard to keep our faith journey so simple? Is it because the gift of grace and right-standing with God is free, and we are used to having to make payment for something good? Is it because to follow Jesus, we need to learn how to let Him be in control of our lives, every single aspect of our lives? We have to do life His way, not our way.

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Mark 8:34 The Message.

Questions for today, who do you identify with? Do you identify with Christ? Do you have a personal and free relationship with God? If not, ask God to show you how to receive His grace in your life and live in the freedom Christ has given you.

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 6:22,23 The Message

Peace I leave with you

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMP

His peace. What a magnificent gift Jesus' peace is for us! How would our lives be if we lived every moment of our lives out in His peace? How differently we would cope with circumstances if we always stopped allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed. How much more would we enjoy life if we didn't permit ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and cowardly and unsettled?

Here is a description of the peace that Jesus has given to us,

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 AMP

Over the past few years I have had times when I have experienced that beautiful peace. Times when I have pressed into God completely and trusted Him with everything. Had I not done that, I know my life would look very different today. But I am not perfect and there have been many times that I have let fear come in and take over my thoughts and actions. In these times of fear I somehow lose sight of who Jesus is in my life and become consumed with my circumstances. I forget to put God's hedge of protection around my mind. I forget to do exactly what the next scripture tells us to do, focus on what is true! 

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Philippians 4:8 AMP

Question for today, are you experiencing the gift of Jesus' peace in your life today? If not, ask God to help you take every thought that is preventing you from living in peace, captive into the obedience to Christ. 

I love the way The Message bible tells us to how to take captive our thoughts.

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 The Message.

Then get ready to receive the peace of Jesus Christ that passes all understanding!

Earnest prayer

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 AMP

Every morning during my devotions I pray specifically for a group of young people. It started with four people that God put on my heart. It has now grown to seven. For at least half of the youth on this list, if I met them in the street, they would have no idea who I was. However, I believe that God has asked me to intercede for them. The first part of my prayer for them is always, 'to have the mind of Christ.'

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP

After that my prayer is whatever the Spirit prompts me to pray. Today it was God 'please wrap them in your love and let them know that that they are accepted by you today.'

Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgement on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him. Romans 14:3 AMP

What a privilege it is to pray for people. I may never know the impact of these prayers. But I trust God that 'tremendous power, dynamic in it's working' is and will be released in their lives. 

How can I trust God with this truth? I can trust Him because I know literally thousands of people have prayed for our daughter, many who will never meet her. Today, Victoria is a living example of God's dynamic power here on earth. We are so very grateful to everyone who has said a prayer for her and those who continue to pray for her today. Thank you.

Question for today, has God put someone on your heart to pray for? Please be obedient to His prompting and pray for them. If you are in communication with this person, why not take that obedience one step further, and ask God for a word of encouragement or specific scripture for them. When you received the encouragement or scripture, use wisdom in the way you communicate it to them. 

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. ... Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 17 AMP

Be of good courage

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 AMP

Just recently I found myself in a situation that required an immense amount of courage. I hadn't expected to be faced with this circumstance. At first I wanted to 'run away and hide' because I felt emotionally it was too difficult to cope with. I prayed with some friends and asked God to change the situation. But even as I prayed that prayer I felt the still small voice of God say to me, 'I will decide what is going to happen here.'

When I heard that response, I knew I needed to ask God to help me be brave and have good courage. In fact, it felt like I physically reached out to God and 'took courage' from Him, just like the Israelites did.

But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day. Judges 20:22 AMP

This was a battle I had lined up to fight previously too, but here I was again,  having to rely completely on God to give me the courage to stand firm and believe in His Goodness alone.

I remembered listening to the audio book, Talent is never enough, by John Maxwell. In the chapter, Courage tests your talent, he spoke about 'growing in courage by deciding to do the right thing instead of the expedient thing, and watching your horizons expand with each courageous act.' 

As I remembered the teaching from that book, I thought, 'I know I am here for a reason. God has something He wants to do in me, and possibly through me. So I will be brave. I chose to trust in God's plan.'

Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight. 1 Chronicles 19:13 AMP

God did help me to be brave. He gave me good courage and I was blessed. My horizons were widened. I experienced His goodness in the land of the living. I am glad I didn't 'run away and hide' but rather, chose to face my fear in His strength.

Question for today, do you need good courage for a circumstance you are facing? Ask God to give you the courage you need. Reach out and take it. Trust that God will do what is good in His sight. Make a choice to believe that He will not fail you or forsake you. He loves you.

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 AMP

Your calling

With this in view we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness, and with power may complete in [your] every particular work of faith (faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). Thus may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified and become more glorious through and in you, and may you [also be glorified] in Him according to the grace (favour and blessing) of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 AMP

What is your calling? Do you believe that God has a specific purpose for your life? The older I get and the more Christians I meet, I am amazed at how our beliefs are the same, yet we each have such unique gifts and talents to enable us to fulfill God's calling on our lives. Even among the each of hundreds of categories of gifts and talents there are so many variations! To try to fathom how God made us each so beautifully individual is unfathomable for me. 

"My thoughts are nothing like you thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than you thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT 

So what of our calling? Are we living it? Are we harnessing the power that God has given us to complete our particular work of faith? I just love this description in the Amplified Bible, 

(faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). 2 Thessalonians 1:11 AMP

It is often that kind of faith that we need to live out God's calling on our life. It is that kind of faith that helps us to keep going when the time of trial comes and our flesh is saying, 'give up, it's not worth the time and effort.'  Keeping our hope in God, knowing He is faithful and trustworthy, enables us to press on and in His time, see the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be more glorified.

But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure. Romans 8:25 AMP

Question for today, what is the calling God has deemed you worthy of? Are you leaning on God, trusting in His power, wisdom and goodness, to enable you to fulfill your calling? If not, why not make a decision today to ask God to show you how to lean on Him and trust that He can give you everything to fulfill you calling. And remember, His ways are higher than our ways. Always!

Sticking with God

And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof)...But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:13,15 AMP

This morning I have been reflecting on some of the traumas our family has experienced, and where we are now. A friend visited our home this week. She commented on what a very different  household it was to 12 months ago. God has done some amazing things in all our lives. The restoration he has bought to us is incredible.

During this time of reflection, I wondered momentarily what the outcome would have been, if in the midst of the very dark times, we had given up on God. What if we had walked away from all we believed in, because our circumstances seemed so hopeless? I am pretty sure we wouldn't be where we are today, with a marriage that continues to thrive, children who are learning who they are in Christ, all of us actively involved in our church and wider community.

I will be forever grateful that we made the choice to position ourselves to continue to hear God's word and hold it fast in our hearts, despite the circumstances. As The Message bible puts it, we chose to stick with God.

But the seed in the good earth - these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest. Luke 8:15 The Message

Please don't thinking I am boasting about making this choice. I am not. I am merely saying that we had a choice to make, and we chose to stick with God. And now, as the years pass by we are seeing that harvest both in our own lives and in those around us. What a blessing it is to see. Please be encouraged to stick with God when the going gets tough. I have this verse at the front of my diary, to remind me of the decision I have made.

But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what GOD will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me. Micah 7:7 The Message

Sometimes it is only in the years after the trials and tempting, that in reflection you can see just how amazing God's grace on your life has been. That has certainly been the case for me. Don't give up on God. Stick with Him, so in the years to come, you too can see the harvest, and share about His grace in your life.

Question for today, where are you planted? on the rock? or in the good soil? Ask God to show you what needs to change in your life so you can be planted in the good soil. If you are already planted in the good soil, ask God to show you what you need to do to grow your roots stronger and deeper.

The Spirit of life in Christ

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Romans 7:25 - 8:2 The Message

Thank you Jesus that you acted to set things right in this life of contractions. Thank you Jesus that because of you we don't have to 'live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.'  Thank you Jesus for being our sacrifice so we are not 'fated' for a 'lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.'

What a life we have set before us in Jesus.

I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.... Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the lesson of My patience with the expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth. Revelations 3:8,10 AMP

Jesus has 'magnificently cleared the air for us' and given us a way to live our lives to the full. However, we have a personal responsibility to listen to The Spirit and follow His instructions for our lives. As it says in Revelations we are expected to keep and guard God's word; not deny God's name when times are tough; and be patient and wait expectantly on God's word to manifest.

None of these are simple tasks. I know! But not only has Jesus set life before us, He has left us with the Holy Spirit to help us with every step we take in that life. We are not expected to do it all alone, struggling in our own strength. We can seek the guidance and truth of the Holy Spirit.

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. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

Question for today, are you living in the freedom that Christ has given you?  If not, today, why not make a decision to live in the freedom Christ won for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the first step to take to living fully in Christ. He is there to help you, your Comforter and Counselor. You don't have to do it alone.