Shake it off!

I awoke this morning with the most delightful memory of a dream. I dreamed a friend and myself were seated on a sofa, drinking a hot beverage while we sunned ourselves on a white sandy beach. This scene was presented to me at least three times before I awoke. I could hear the surf and the sun was so bright and penetrating. I stretched and asked the Lord what was up with that dream. It was a very pleasant dream and I knew it was from Him since it came to me more than a few times just before I opened my eyes.

The Lord told me the dream was just a way to get my attention. Then I heard the Lord say "Whatever you desire..."then again "Whatever you desire..." I referred back to the dream-- "Lord, was the dream about something I have desired?" It was like the Lord chuckled..."The dream was just to make sure I had your attention." Oh duh...now I get it. Then I hear..."Whatever you desire when you pray BELIEVE and you shall have it." (Mark 11:24) Then of course I understand this thought is what the Lord wants me meditating on for the day. Very cool way to start my day. If you have a similar sense of humor to mine maybe you are chuckling too.

I have been challenged recently by more than a couple people to really get it established in my heart to KNOW that I'm a blessed child of God.

This has not always been the case for me. I used to go by my circumstances to judge whether I was in right standing with God. My natural senses or what was going on in my life was the barometer for my spiritual health. I assumed if I read my bible and prayed "faithfully" then somehow God would be obligated to "bless" me. And of course when I was not being a "good" Christian then God was just as obligated to make sure that I would have woes.

I really had an unhealthy view of God's grace. I knew I was saved by grace but for some reason believed I had to do XY & Z to stay in His “good graces”.

It was mixing Grace with the Law.

Trust me--this is a yo-yo way to live. Instead of going from glory-to-glory you will go from the rare mountaintop to plunging into the depths of despair. The bible calls this double mindedness and it must make God just shake his head longing for us to stand firm in faith.

So what does it mean to KNOW you are blessed and not cursed? First of all it has nothing to do with you--or me and everything to do with what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

I needed to learn that Jesus became the curse so I would not have to suffer any of the curse. I had to come to recognize that salvation does not just mean saved from hell and eternal separation from God but ETERNAL LIFE starts now --in this life--with blessings that we experience NOW in this life and not just in the sweet by-in-by.

We need healing now--not in heaven.

We need prosperity now--not in heaven.

We need peace now etc... We have been duped by the enemy of our souls into believing that we would have to live a perfect or near perfect life in order to have God bless us even a little in this life.

I'm purposing to shake off a lot of religious mindsets that have hindered my faith.

*I'm shaking off the religious notion that I am a vile sinner. Yes we need to confess we need a savior but rather than concentrating on my sin, I'm choosing to be Christ-conscience.

This might shock some of you, but it is empty, vain religion that wants me focused on sin. If I focus on sin then I can't fix my eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of my faith.

*I'm shaking off the notion that I'm desperate for spiritual things.

I hear songs "I'm desperate for you..." and realize that if the Holy Spirit resides on the inside of me--available to me and fellowshipping with me constantly then to say I'm longing for relationship does not make much sense.

I'm realizing a better way of approaching this is

"I'm so enthralled by Your glory...”

“I'm ravished by Your tenderness and mercy...”

“I'm delighted by Your loving kindness...”

“I'm so blessed!”

To me it is like being in an embrace with your lover and then saying...I'm so desperate to be in your arms...huh?

*I'm shaking off the concept of continually being hungry for God. WHOA! Back up the truck! Jesus said, "Blessed are you who hunger for you will be filled." But does that mean we keep hungering? No, Jesus accomplished everything we need to be filled. I am going to recognize that He fills me and gives me everything for life and godliness.

God knows I love word-pictures and today He showed me a plate of steaming hot food--all my favorites--and the plate was heaped full. He said if you are hungry it is because you got up from the table without eating.

My mom used to say, "It's not my fault if you walk away hungry." That makes me chuckle. She was right. The food was all prepared and on the table and if we didn't come to the table well we just went hungry. It's like complaining to God, "Fill us!" when it's our fault we do not come and dine.

So I’m shaking that off. I'm focusing from now on that everything I need for life and godliness in in Christ Jesus.

And lastly, I'm purposing to acknowledge that faith means I know I have it in Christ. I'm not waiting and hoping for a blessing in the future but thanking God now that He has blessed me with everything spiritual blessing in Christ. NOW faith is the substance---whatever you desire—believe you receive.

This does not sound like a wait and hope that it all works out type of mindset. And since I am a joint heir with Christ, I recognize the authority given to me by Christ.

I'm speaking to the mountains and expecting them to be cast into the sea.

I'm cursing the root of any problem expecting the manifestations to be revealed.

I speak to my body and mind and tell it to line up with what God's Word says. I am not wondering why God is not "answering my prayers" since he gave me the authority. I am not demanding of God but just doing what he told me to do.

Religion says we have to beg God and hope He sees fit to bless us. It’s true some things we have to wait for His timing but mostly that is an excuse that allows us to say, “it must not be God’s will or He is saying not now.”

I want to make it my habit to step out of the boat and expect God to hold me up. But really when did Jesus ever say to someone while He walked on the earth, “It’s not my will you are healed or blessed. Go and wait on Gods timing.”? I know some of us get hung up on Paul’s thorn in the flesh since he asked God to remove it from him three times and God said “My grace is sufficient for you” then that must mean God says no. It makes more sense that He says yes but we are just stuck in a religious rut and don’t want to risk having faith. –Hey chill out--I’m preaching to me too.

And finally, I am to thank God He has qualified us to be partakers in our inheritance through Jesus. Thankfulness shows me and shows God that my heart is lined up with expectation and not hope for a future blessing.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.

post script:

Here is an excellent explanation of Paul's thorn in the flesh posted by a friend of mine. The explanation is from Gloria Copeland. Well worth reading!!!

http://treesplantedbythewater.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-about-pauls-thorn-in-flesh.html

Everything We Need for Life and Godliness

In Hebrews 11 faith is defined as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The Strong's concordance defines substance as "that which has actual existence". So just like we would expect it is something real...we maybe can't touch it right this second but just like the sands of Hawaii --it is real. The word *things* is the word pragma which means " that which has been done, a deed, an accomplished fact". And lastly the word evidence is just like we would expect that it could be used as proof in a court of law. Three pretty strong words: substance, things and evidence. I like it when there is no room left for doubt and God makes it so clear to understand FAITH.

All of us operate in faith on a day-to-day basis. We sit on a chair and expect it to hold us up. We know the earth makes it's 24 hour revolution expecting the sun will appear to rise in the East at about the same time every day. I have also experienced my faith in the negative sense. I used to expect sickness at certain times of the year or expected to catch a virus if it was going through my family. Not any more. Now I expect to stay well and NO UNCLEAN thing can come near my dwelling place. I have accepted the fact that by His stripes I AM healed. And if something does attack my body, I use my authority in Jesus' Name to tell it to leave.

A very practical example of faith is if I go to the store and purchase eggs and milk and put them away in the refrigerator, I can picture those items and when I need them I go open the refrigerator and take them out and use them. I put them inside the refrigerator and certainly I'm going to have faith that they will be there when I want them. Those eggs have substance and I am in hope of using them in a practical sense even if I'm not looking at them with my natural eyes. I am seeing them with my imagination and know they will be there when I want them.

Well, our Heavenly Father has placed things in the spiritual realm for us too. All the promises of God are in Him (Christ) yes, and amen. (2Cor 1:20) But some of us act like "some of the promises are yes, and some are maybe someday..." I'm doing my best to shake off an unhealthy religious mindset that tells me that most or many of the things mentioned in God's Word are things for the next life. Let us strip off and throw aside every unnecessary weight and that sin which clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12)

What are some unnecessary weights?
*Low self-esteem---we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus--so throw it off.
*Unhealthy relationships--ask the Lord who you should be close friends with and to whom should be an acquaintance.
*Religious baggage-- what does the Word of God really say? A lot of stuff we adhere to is man's opinions of God's Word and I choose to cast that away.
*Fear of failure or fear of causing Father God to reject you-- that's a very heavy and unnecessary load and you need to pray to get delivered from that mindset. You are 100% accepted by God because Christ sacrifice.
*Chasing the carrot on the stick--Jesus said repent (or change the way you are thinking) for the Kingdom of God is at hand--the promises are YES AND AMEN!

These are just a few possible unhealthy mindsets or wineskins (see Luke 5:33-39) that will cause you to lack faith in what God has already provided for your sake. The Bible says you have THE FAITH of Christ but our old, unproductive mindsets (wineskins) won't hold the substance of things hoped for. The wine is fresh and the wineskin breaks open and the fresh wine just spills on the ground. But if we cry out "OPEN the eyes of my understanding" then we can have a new wineskin and the fresh wine stays put on the inside of us.

Get it?
New wine--living active life from God's heart.
wineskin--our mindset--way we believe--must be of faith(being able to see it in our mind and know it is real).

Oh and don't bother trying to put a new patch on a basically old wineskin-- the newer patch will just break away from the old and the wine escapes. It's like believing that you are saved by grace and but then working really hard to keep God's grace by doing good works. Yes, that was my life and yes, the wine never stayed in the old wine skin. (mixing grace and law)

What are some hindrances that you have been dragging with you in the life? Hard to run a race if we are weighed down by so much stuff. My load is getting lighter. How about you?

Jesus said if you are yoked up with him that his burden is light. When I was a child I had no clue of a yoke. I heard yolk --like the yellow part of an egg but that made no sense. I had it explained as I grew up that the farmers put two oxen together. One was an experienced and very strong and one was just learning. The strong ox pulled the majority of the load while the less experienced animal just walked along until it learned to pull the plow. I suppose if a young animal were expected to pull a plow alone it would not get much accomplished. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2Peter 1:3)

EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness THROUGH our KNOWLEDGE of HIM!!!! Wow! That's an exciting statement. Chew on that for a few days and see if your wineskin can hold that fresh wine.

Seated with Christ- Ephesians 2:6

It has been a tough week (it's only Monday) but I felt strongly the Lord wanted me to be vulnerable in front of my readers and give God the glory through any growing season. I know a tree is not supposed to groan and strain to produce fruit but that's how it feels right now.

We went on a vacation and just got back on Friday. It was two days on the road of at least 12 hours each. I learn pretty quickly how much I LOVE my routine and my bed. Our girls are older now and are really great at traveling. They had their Ipod and hand help game things. I, on the other hand, didn't bring along enough to distract me from sitting and sitting and riding and riding. I whined and complained a lot more than I would like to admit. We did have a great vacation as a family in Florida but it's the ride that I don't enjoy. Oh, I did get some sun. I loved relaxing by the pool and just soaking.

Saturday, more riding in the car. I had to go pick up my fur babies from my parent's home. I was glad to visit my parents. NOT glad to ride an additional 3 hours in the car.

Sunday was a heating pad day. I was blessed to worship in church and kept thanking Jesus for paying the price for all sin and sickness and I was not going to suffer from the curse of a messed up neck because He already paid that price. Church was really good. I was blessed that my family was excited to discuss the sermon and we all seemed to be refreshed and peaceful. But the heating pad on my neck felt really good ALL afternoon.

Monday, I'm free from the pain in my neck but I'm weary emotionally. I'm so off my game. School seemed like a chore and my patience with the girls is less than stellar. My usual way of believing just seems to be flying out the window! I feel some really old emotional junk rapping at my heart door. I keep feeling overly sensitive to stuff I thought was way behind me.

I clearly and gently hear the Holy Spirit say, "Where is Christ right now?"

Through my tears, I knew He wanted me to answer, "Seated at the right hand of the Father".

The Holy Spirit continued, "Is Christ wringing his hands and fretting over this situation?"

I know He's not.

Holy Spirit continues, "Where are you supposed to be at?"

I know He wants me to answer, "IN CHRIST."

So I dry my tears and start "acting" like I believe it but it's not long and I'm allowing the devil to deceive me and believing the lies over the truth of God's Word. No weapon formed against me shall prosper but I have to embrace the truth and not the lies of the enemy.

Okay, so by Monday evening I'm recognizing that this day would go more smoothly if I start believing like I'm seated with Christ in heavenly places rather than below the feel of my enemies.

Guess what Rick Manis preached on for Monday night e-church? Yup, we need to humble ourselves and set our beliefs (he said it is like a thermostat) and then know for certain WHAT we believe so shall we become. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/e-church-live See the 1/11 sermon titled Automatic Blessing. I urge you to listen to this life-changing message.

Just like it says in Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. And Brother Rick reminded us that fear is just faith in the problems. Job said, "What I have feared (believed) has come upon me."

But there is no condemnation for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS! I'm not condemned by my whacked, warped, twisted believe system. God is not bent out of shape that I had an old wineskin and the New Wine burst through the seams. No, He's not discouraged with me and the Holy Spirit just says change what you think about this situation --set your thermostat--and watch the fruit manifest without you even struggling. Sorry about mixing so many analogies--

It's not by might nor by power but by MY SPIRIT says the Lord that this mountain will be removed. I'm believing that I will see fruit manifest and supernatural power to overcome this old way of thinking.

So Monday is over and I'm looking forward to Tues with a renewed hope and great expectation. I am expecting a good week.