Processing the prize
When you think about it, the past makes us who we are.
Where we are today is a reflection of how we've been living our life.
Elizabeths favorite life verse: Philippians 3:13,14 " brethren, I do not count myself to have arrived but this one thing i am doing, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for those things which are ahead. I press for the goal for the prize of the upper call of God in Christ Jesus. ( this is very awesome. Memorize it!).
When we keep looking back. We can't move forward. We are hindering ourselves when we keepin looking on the past.
3 step program
1. Past- forgetting what lies behind us.
2. Present- reaching forward to what IS ahead of is.
3. Pressing for the prize in how we will live present?
Make sure your running in the right race.
The person who looks backward will stumble.
1. How Paul tells us to forget the past
Forget the past- step 1- if we are going to think on what's true and real.
When Paul says he forgets what lies behind, it's active and it's obliteration.
It's a constant decision to say " no. I'm not going to think about that. " ( I do this constantly for a week now. Sifting through my thought and clean them out. This Is no easy task but very necessary. )
2. God is calling us to reach forward.
We are called to an active life of pursuing God with all our heart and mind.
3. Remember to press on.
If it's something that should be on your prayer list every day, that when I think this thing , I will not think this thing.
Wisdom usually comes from failure.
But learn it, log it, and leave it.
Paul is not only talking about forgetting the bad, but forgetting the good.
We're called by God to keep achieving and keep accomplishing.
A forward moving Christian
- they know where they are going
- they have a sence of Gods call on their lives
- they undertand the purpose of their lives
- they focus on God and God given goals
- they choose wisely from among their options.
Do you know what it take to reach for the prize?
It takes all your spiritual energy, mental energy, emotional energy, and physical energy.
We can't block everything out, but we can focus on the grace of God.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
I have no words
I have been fumbling through the thoughts since Monday. I still keep coming back to your words. I can't believe you said them. I have spent years reminding myself you never would. And to know warning, no planning of words you said them. With no thought to the daggers you had thrown. You had no idea the pain I would feel. It's not your fault. It's mine for letting the pain. The questions. And thoughts and fears that flood in over past, present, and future.
I see it. Every week. I am sick about it. I worry about it. I fear about it. I want to hear and believe your promises but the last 2 days I question it. Why? For how long?
I have questions myself. What will happen. Who? Was it like this too? Questions I will never know. Questions that I don't even want to take steps to know. Questions that I fear the answers will change everything
So for now I will hold tight to Christ. I will capture these thoughts and fears and questions that are eating me alive and turn them to truth and faith. I will not let Satan control this pain and my actions. Psalm 23. How I love it.
I see it. Every week. I am sick about it. I worry about it. I fear about it. I want to hear and believe your promises but the last 2 days I question it. Why? For how long?
I have questions myself. What will happen. Who? Was it like this too? Questions I will never know. Questions that I don't even want to take steps to know. Questions that I fear the answers will change everything
So for now I will hold tight to Christ. I will capture these thoughts and fears and questions that are eating me alive and turn them to truth and faith. I will not let Satan control this pain and my actions. Psalm 23. How I love it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Toquitos and Mosquitos!
Emma and Amy and I went to wal mart early this morning for some shopping. Nearing the end we were getting cold stuff. I asked Emma. " what do you think em. Should we get some toquitos ?". And stood on the rail and leaned over to look. Then she said " no. I don't like bug. No quitos.". Lol I laughed so hard! My baby thought I said Mosquitos!! Oh goodness what a delightful start to a day!!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Verses
YOU, MY FATHER, are the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man. You are the One who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth - the Lord God Almighty is Your Name! (Amos 4:13)
THIS IS WHAT YOU, THE LORD MY GOD, SAYS " You who created the heavens, You are God; You who fashioned and made the earth, You founded it; You did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited" You say: "I am the Lord, and there is no other."(Isaiah 45:18)
O LORD MY GOD, help me never to worship any other god, for You, my Lord, are a jealous God. (Exodus 20:5)
YOU, MY LORD, ARE A WARRIOR; THE LORD IS YOUR NAME.(Exodus 15:3)
~ Maggie Krantz
THIS IS WHAT YOU, THE LORD MY GOD, SAYS " You who created the heavens, You are God; You who fashioned and made the earth, You founded it; You did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited" You say: "I am the Lord, and there is no other."(Isaiah 45:18)
O LORD MY GOD, help me never to worship any other god, for You, my Lord, are a jealous God. (Exodus 20:5)
YOU, MY LORD, ARE A WARRIOR; THE LORD IS YOUR NAME.(Exodus 15:3)
~ Maggie Krantz
For all females of all ages!!
I'm on a HUGE kick
Concerning this stuff. I have been called a martyr and prude. I welcome the chastising. I am sticking to my beliefs and faith.
Distraction
“I’m walking across the campus of my so-called ‘Christian’ school, and I can’t believe how girls dress. It’s hard enough for us guys to have pure thoughts as it is without being tempted by scantily-clad students everywhere!”
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: First Timothy 2:9 says that women should wear “respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control.”
The word respectable here means: orderly, decent, not causing distraction or temptation. It’s so easy to just accept the latest styles and not even think about modesty. But when we do, we’re likely to cause the men around us distraction and temptation.
“I just don’t think women realize that we are so stimulated by what we see.”
Nancy: Have you given modesty much attention? The next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself: Will this cause distraction or temptation?
Women, let’s show modesty and self-control.!!!!!!!
Concerning this stuff. I have been called a martyr and prude. I welcome the chastising. I am sticking to my beliefs and faith.
Distraction
“I’m walking across the campus of my so-called ‘Christian’ school, and I can’t believe how girls dress. It’s hard enough for us guys to have pure thoughts as it is without being tempted by scantily-clad students everywhere!”
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: First Timothy 2:9 says that women should wear “respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control.”
The word respectable here means: orderly, decent, not causing distraction or temptation. It’s so easy to just accept the latest styles and not even think about modesty. But when we do, we’re likely to cause the men around us distraction and temptation.
“I just don’t think women realize that we are so stimulated by what we see.”
Nancy: Have you given modesty much attention? The next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself: Will this cause distraction or temptation?
Women, let’s show modesty and self-control.!!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Fears mixed with prayer
For a few weeks now I catch myself praying the same thing over and over. Sometimes in tears some time as sober as I can be. My fear of it scares me so bad. I know that things will be different merely because the girls are being raised different buy God forbid it I am seeing things in me that damaged me when I was little. I don't want to do it to the girls and I sure don't want them to be older and praying the same thing I am. Just the opposite is what I want. So I'm praying. Watching my actions and my words. Making sure things are done and said with them.
It's a strange combo. Sadness that the thought of it scares me. Fear. And desperation of never ever being the same way. All into one person
It's a strange combo. Sadness that the thought of it scares me. Fear. And desperation of never ever being the same way. All into one person
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Where has the time gone???
It's been 9 moms today since my mom left.
Tomorrow Amy turns 9 months. I can't hardly believe it. Where did that tiny baby that had hair go? " growing old mama" says my friend. Yes. Yes she is. I'm fighting tears. Just yesterday her legs didn't even fit through the holes of the swing we first had. Now she is close to touching the ground with her toes. Why didn't I see this. My tiny thing is now almost 20 pounds. She is such a doll. Recently we held up the new born dress she took her hospital picture in to her. It was so huge on her. Now. The whole dress is the size of her torso. I love this baby. I've loved her since march 6,2009. She is amazing. She has an amazing family. Her friends and her mommies friends that love her as a niece.
So here she is. 9 months and counting down to December. My little girl.
Miss Lynne you are an angel. Yet another miracle baby. I'm blessed to be borrowing you. You love your sweet potatoes and football. You are your
Mommies girl.
I love you little pooter bug. More than you know.
Mommy
Tomorrow Amy turns 9 months. I can't hardly believe it. Where did that tiny baby that had hair go? " growing old mama" says my friend. Yes. Yes she is. I'm fighting tears. Just yesterday her legs didn't even fit through the holes of the swing we first had. Now she is close to touching the ground with her toes. Why didn't I see this. My tiny thing is now almost 20 pounds. She is such a doll. Recently we held up the new born dress she took her hospital picture in to her. It was so huge on her. Now. The whole dress is the size of her torso. I love this baby. I've loved her since march 6,2009. She is amazing. She has an amazing family. Her friends and her mommies friends that love her as a niece.
So here she is. 9 months and counting down to December. My little girl.
Miss Lynne you are an angel. Yet another miracle baby. I'm blessed to be borrowing you. You love your sweet potatoes and football. You are your
Mommies girl.
I love you little pooter bug. More than you know.
Mommy
Fevers can be fun
I've always been terrified when ry would get a fever or sick. Bad memories. And Amy too what with having rsv at 8 weeks. Rylie brought something home from the hospital Thursday which sad to say I knew would happen. Every time we go there she gets sick. So today Amy is sick. She got sick about 3 am. 100.5 fever. Still has one but low and we can't kick it. However. After 7 or so ounces of food and hugs she started saying yay when I did after she finished her food. And when she would look at me I would say hey. And then she started saying hey too. So while her nose is running and he has a fever she is spitting out words. And squeeling and having a good day.
Almost 9 months. Where did the time go?
Almost 9 months. Where did the time go?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Verses 9-12
"LORD, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." (Psalm 90:1-2)
HOW GREAT YOU ARE, MY GOD! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants.(Psalm 104:1-4)
OH, FATHER, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)
~ Maggie Krantz
HOW GREAT YOU ARE, MY GOD! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants.(Psalm 104:1-4)
OH, FATHER, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)
~ Maggie Krantz
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Verses 9-12
"LORD, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." (Psalm 90:1-2)
HOW GREAT YOU ARE, MY GOD! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants.(Psalm 104:1-4)
OH, FATHER, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)
~ Maggie Krantz
HOW GREAT YOU ARE, MY GOD! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants.(Psalm 104:1-4)
OH, FATHER, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)
~ Maggie Krantz
Friday, September 3, 2010
Verses 5-8
"YOU ALONE ARE THE LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You."(Nehemiah 9:6)
MY MIGHTY GOD, in Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)You, my God, open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)
MY FATHER, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. You, my Lord, are faithful to all Your promises and loving toward all You have made. (Psalm 145:13)
"MANY, O LORD MY GOD, ARE THE WONDERS YOU HAVE DONE. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." (Psalm 40:5)
~ Maggie Krantz
MY MIGHTY GOD, in Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)You, my God, open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)
MY FATHER, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. You, my Lord, are faithful to all Your promises and loving toward all You have made. (Psalm 145:13)
"MANY, O LORD MY GOD, ARE THE WONDERS YOU HAVE DONE. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." (Psalm 40:5)
~ Maggie Krantz
A rainbow
This evening I went to walmart. Coming out this is what I saw. A rainbow. A huge rainbow. Amazing. Simple amazing. I was in shock for awhile and then the tears came. Just when I seem to not handle it any more then God sends me a reminder of his promises. Just a simple. Be still and know I am here. And as I looked around the people stopped in the parking lot and scattered far and wide with their cameras pointed to the air was a sight itself. And then on the power line I look up and roll down my window and cry again. From one end to another birds were sitting and singing praises to God. How beautiful to witness nature in the midst of thanks to God!!!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A rainbow
This evening I went to walmart. Coming out this is what I saw. A rainbow. A huge rainbow. Amazing. Simple amazing. I was in shock for awhile and then the tears came. Just when I seem to not handle it any more then God sends me a reminder of his promises. Just a simple. Be still and know I am here. And as I looked around the people stopped in the parking lot and scattered far and wide with their cameras pointed to the air was a sight itself. And then on the power line I look up and roll down my window and cry again. From one end to another birds were sitting and singing praises to God. How beautiful to witness nature in the midst of thanks to God!!!
Verses 1-4
LORD, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE THE "I AM."This is Your name forever, the name by which You are to be remembered from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:14-15)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY LORD, MY HOLY ONE, MY CREATOR, MY KING. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE THE LORD MY GOD. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deuteronomy 30:20)
MY FATHER, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and you are the last and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, 'I know not one.' (Isaiah 44:6, 8)
~ Maggie Krantz
MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY LORD, MY HOLY ONE, MY CREATOR, MY KING. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE THE LORD MY GOD. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deuteronomy 30:20)
MY FATHER, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and you are the last and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, 'I know not one.' (Isaiah 44:6, 8)
~ Maggie Krantz
Verses 1-4
LORD, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE THE "I AM."This is Your name forever, the name by which You are to be remembered from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:14-15)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY LORD, MY HOLY ONE, MY CREATOR, MY KING. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE THE LORD MY GOD. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deuteronomy 30:20)
MY FATHER, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and you are the last and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, 'I know not one.' (Isaiah 44:6, 8)
~ Maggie Krantz
MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY LORD, MY HOLY ONE, MY CREATOR, MY KING. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)
MY FATHER, YOU ARE THE LORD MY GOD. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deuteronomy 30:20)
MY FATHER, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and you are the last and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, 'I know not one.' (Isaiah 44:6, 8)
~ Maggie Krantz
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Overcoming idolatry
I just did a note on idolatry. So to see that this is the next thing that comes up on the list blows me away!!! It's so amazing and awesome and I am , from the bottome of my heart, so thrilled to share this with you all! This experience is overwhelming an amazing. And every day in Gods word is beautiful!!!
So here it goes!!! We leap from overcoming unbelief to overcoming idolatry!!!
When I first began to research the biblical history of captivity among God’s people, I kept running into a conspicuous common denominator: idolatry. I don’t know why it was such a news flash. God warned His people over and over that if they did not resist the false gods of the nations surrounding them they would be snared, and He would ultimately allow them to be taken captive. They didn’t and He did. One sobering thing about the faithfulness of God is that He keeps His promises, even when they are promises of judgment or discipline. Over and over the Book of Isaiah seems to plead the question, “Why in the world would you worship idols when you have been chosen by the sovereign God of the universe to be His own?” Isaiah 43:10–12 packs a powerful punch:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am
God.”
You and I as believers in Christ have also been chosen to know and believe and understand that He is God. Our lives have been sanctified by the one true God. Heaven is His throne. Earth is His footstool. Awesome creatures never cease day or night singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” Lightning flashes from His throne. The winds do His bidding. The clouds are His chariot. The earth trembles at the sound of His voice. When He stands to His feet, His enemies are scattered. He is transcendent over all things. Absolute. Uncontested. Omniscient. Omnipresent. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. He is God and there is no other.
And, yet, this very One is our Father. Our Abba. He demands, deserves, our respect. Without it, for all practical purposes, we are powerless. Consider three reasons why praying Scripture regarding the “Godness” of God is so critical in the process of breaking free from strongholds:
1. Virtually every stronghold involves the worship of some kind of idol. For instance, the stronghold of pride is associated with the worship of self. The stronghold of addiction is often associated with the worship of some kind of substance or habit. In one way or another, something else has become “god” in our lives: the object of our chief focus. Filling our minds with Scripture acknowledging the “Godship” of God is a crucial part of renewing our minds. Until we turn from our idols to the one true God, we will never find liberty, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17). One missing link in almost every captive life is the spirit of God’s -lordship.
2. As long as our minds rehearse the strength of our stronghold more than the strength of our God, we will be impotent. As we pray the Word of God acknowledging His limitless strength and transcendent dominion, Truth will begin to eclipse the lies. We will realize that in our weakness He is strong and that as we bend the knee to His lordship God is more than able to deliver us.
3. We may be forced to realize that our perception of God is something that we, ourselves, have conjured up and not the one true God at all. This point may be a little hard to swallow. We may see ourselves as -conventional Christians, but if we believe our God is small, that’s not God at all. Truth sets us free. The truth may be that we’ve carved a “God” out of our own image, assigned Him the utmost and noblest of human characteristics, unintentionally envisioning Him to be more of a “superhuman” than the sovereign El Elyon—The Most High God. I am praying that this chapter will aid the development of a more accurate perception of God. I think sometimes that God must listen to our pitifully small acclamations, expectations, and petitions in prayer, and want to say, “Are you talking to Me? I’m not recognizing Myself in this conversation. Are you sure you have the right God?”
I will never forget the story I once heard about a Sunday school teacher giving his elementary school class an assignment on Easter Sunday. He asked them to make an acrostic of the word “Easter.” He was stunned by one student’s perception. The child had written: Every Alternative Savior Takes Early Retirement. What a thought-provoking statement! Hear this from a former captive: every alternative savior must take early retirement if we are ever to be free. Only one God can deliver us. The most monumental leap we take toward freedom is the leap to our knees—the lordship of Jesus Christ.
I suggest using several of these Scripture-prayers or others like them every single day. May God remind us daily—no matter what kind of obstacles we face—that we are loved and empowered by the One who brought the universe into existence with the mere sound of His voice. Nothing is impossible for Him.
So here it goes!!! We leap from overcoming unbelief to overcoming idolatry!!!
When I first began to research the biblical history of captivity among God’s people, I kept running into a conspicuous common denominator: idolatry. I don’t know why it was such a news flash. God warned His people over and over that if they did not resist the false gods of the nations surrounding them they would be snared, and He would ultimately allow them to be taken captive. They didn’t and He did. One sobering thing about the faithfulness of God is that He keeps His promises, even when they are promises of judgment or discipline. Over and over the Book of Isaiah seems to plead the question, “Why in the world would you worship idols when you have been chosen by the sovereign God of the universe to be His own?” Isaiah 43:10–12 packs a powerful punch:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am
God.”
You and I as believers in Christ have also been chosen to know and believe and understand that He is God. Our lives have been sanctified by the one true God. Heaven is His throne. Earth is His footstool. Awesome creatures never cease day or night singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” Lightning flashes from His throne. The winds do His bidding. The clouds are His chariot. The earth trembles at the sound of His voice. When He stands to His feet, His enemies are scattered. He is transcendent over all things. Absolute. Uncontested. Omniscient. Omnipresent. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. He is God and there is no other.
And, yet, this very One is our Father. Our Abba. He demands, deserves, our respect. Without it, for all practical purposes, we are powerless. Consider three reasons why praying Scripture regarding the “Godness” of God is so critical in the process of breaking free from strongholds:
1. Virtually every stronghold involves the worship of some kind of idol. For instance, the stronghold of pride is associated with the worship of self. The stronghold of addiction is often associated with the worship of some kind of substance or habit. In one way or another, something else has become “god” in our lives: the object of our chief focus. Filling our minds with Scripture acknowledging the “Godship” of God is a crucial part of renewing our minds. Until we turn from our idols to the one true God, we will never find liberty, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17). One missing link in almost every captive life is the spirit of God’s -lordship.
2. As long as our minds rehearse the strength of our stronghold more than the strength of our God, we will be impotent. As we pray the Word of God acknowledging His limitless strength and transcendent dominion, Truth will begin to eclipse the lies. We will realize that in our weakness He is strong and that as we bend the knee to His lordship God is more than able to deliver us.
3. We may be forced to realize that our perception of God is something that we, ourselves, have conjured up and not the one true God at all. This point may be a little hard to swallow. We may see ourselves as -conventional Christians, but if we believe our God is small, that’s not God at all. Truth sets us free. The truth may be that we’ve carved a “God” out of our own image, assigned Him the utmost and noblest of human characteristics, unintentionally envisioning Him to be more of a “superhuman” than the sovereign El Elyon—The Most High God. I am praying that this chapter will aid the development of a more accurate perception of God. I think sometimes that God must listen to our pitifully small acclamations, expectations, and petitions in prayer, and want to say, “Are you talking to Me? I’m not recognizing Myself in this conversation. Are you sure you have the right God?”
I will never forget the story I once heard about a Sunday school teacher giving his elementary school class an assignment on Easter Sunday. He asked them to make an acrostic of the word “Easter.” He was stunned by one student’s perception. The child had written: Every Alternative Savior Takes Early Retirement. What a thought-provoking statement! Hear this from a former captive: every alternative savior must take early retirement if we are ever to be free. Only one God can deliver us. The most monumental leap we take toward freedom is the leap to our knees—the lordship of Jesus Christ.
I suggest using several of these Scripture-prayers or others like them every single day. May God remind us daily—no matter what kind of obstacles we face—that we are loved and empowered by the One who brought the universe into existence with the mere sound of His voice. Nothing is impossible for Him.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
