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darkness, deeper, God’s Word, relationship, understanding, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Deeper: Diving Deep Into God’s Word Instead Of Treading On Its Surface

DevotionalsJune 2, 2019June 2, 2019

We have been given the best treasure for finding and knowing God. The only true way to truly know Him is by diving deeper into the Bible.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:2, CSB

What Treasures Lie Below The Surface?

Have you ever noticed the deeper you dive into scripture, the more you seem to find? Hidden treasures lie deep below the surface of the Word. We are not meant to tread on its surface because it will only give us a small glimpse of who God is and what He has for us.

When we tread on the surface of the Word, we also find ourselves face to face with the darkness that covers it. This darkness is where we find ourselves lost, tempted, and treading in the territory of the enemy.

Instead of living our lives on the surface, we should dive down deep to see what hidden treasures we will find in the waters below. Doing this, we will gain a deeper realization of who our Creator is, a deeper relationship with His Son, and a deeper reason for diving further into the scriptures.

Dive deep with me today, Dear Reader, as we explore together these hidden treasures.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:2-5, CSB

Deeper Realization of Who God Is

God wants us to know who He is. He created us in His image. If we desire to know how we are supposed to live or be, then we would be wise to know who God is first.

Knowing the attributes of God will help us better understand ourselves. Before I knew Jesus as my Savior, I read the Bible. I knew how to read each and every word. Yet, I had no clue what it was saying. I was only reading on the surface.

It wasn’t until I was saved that the Word of God became easier to understand. Even then, I remained on the surface when I read. I would read a random place in the Bible, mostly the New Testament, and then try to apply what I read to my life.

The scriptures helped me, but they didn’t give me fully what God had originally designed. He wanted me to dive deeper. He wanted me to come to a deep realization of Him. I couldn’t do that by reading the Bible the way I was; which was for mostly selfish reasons.

God’s word is full of encouragement and good stuff, but it’s much more than a ‘pick you up when you feel down‘ book. When we dive deep in the scriptures and ask ourselves, how does this scripture characterize God? first, then we understand the direction clearly on how to apply His Word in our lives.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Ephesians 1:17, CSB

Deeper Relationship With His Son

Understanding who God is will inevitably lead to a closer and deeper relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. If we only allow ourselves 5 minutes a day in our Bibles, how deep can we expect our relationship with Christ truly to be?

I’m not saying that we should all spend our days with our noses shoved in our Bibles doing nothing else. Although, if given this option, I’d happily welcome it. All I am saying is the amount of time we invest in the relationship, is what we will naturally expect to get out of it.

When I find myself reading my Bible with intention, I tend to be led to discover sweet treasures of God and His relationship with His son, Jesus. This prompts me to feel a love so high and so deep between the two of them that it moves me to tears. I need to be truly invested in what I’m reading in order to get that kind of emotion and reaction.

For example, my younger sister LOVES to read! I’ve always admired this about her. She will sit and read an entire book as big as Harry Potter in one sitting if allowed the time. She always tries to explain the story to me when she is done reading, but I never seem to have the same reaction she had.

This is because she was invested in the story and the characters of that story, while I was not. She got to know their character well; So when those characters experienced something very tragic or very exciting, she experienced it too. Her ability to understand them as the role they were created to be in that story, is what drove her into an intimate and deep connection with them.

This is the same way God designed us to read His Word. When we allow ourselves to understand the main characters of the story, which is not us, then we will reap a more meaningful relationship with them. You can not know the Father without knowing His son. And you can not know His son without knowing the Father. When we know the main characters, we then deeply come to know ourselves.

They saw the Lord’s works, his wondrous works in the deep.
Psalms 107:24, CSB

Deeper Reason For The Dive

Upon looking at the scripture in Genesis 1:2, I found a startling discovery. The scripture says that darkness covered the surface of the watery depths. When you think of darkness, what comes to mind?

For me, these words are triggered: isolation, depression, lost, blind, fear, cold, temptation, and evil. We all have been there. We all know it well. It isn’t a place we enjoy living in. God understood this fact which is why, if you dive into His word, you’ll find His sweet warning from the very foundations of the earth.

The fact that God reveals to us from the beginning that darkness covers THE SURFACE of the waters, is not accidental. He intentionally put that there for our own benefit and knowledge as a warning not to tread there. Knowing this will help us stay away from the surface and dive down deep for all things good. There is a reason for God’s placement of scriptures. He wants us to unlock these mysteries and find as many hidden treasures as we can.

Today, Beloved, I urge you to do this very thing. Read your Bible to know who God is. Read your Bible to grow in a deeper relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. And understand, Sister, there is a deep reason for EVERY. SINGLE. WORD!

The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.
Proverbs 18:4, CSB

Read your Bible to know who God is and grow your relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. Understand, Sister, there is a deep reason for EVERY. SINGLE. WORD! Click To Tweet

Jason Leung

trust, path, God’s Word, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

GPS: Using The Best Navigation Helps Us Find Our Way Home

DevotionalsMay 12, 2019May 12, 2019

Just like we all rely on GPS to get us to and fro, we need Spiritual GPS to keep us from becoming lost. The Trinity has everything we need to make it to our Heavenly home.

I tell you, use the worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever.

Luke 16:9, ERV

GPS – Global Positioning System

GPS, Global Positioning System, is a nifty instrument used to help people everywhere determine their exact location on Earth. When this technology came to my attention, I was certainly the one shouting Hallelujah! Finally! I will NEVER be lost again!

You see, I was always the one that had difficulty reading maps or any written instructions for that matter. Even though I trusted the person writing the instructions, I still found myself not trusting the path. I always doubted each and every turn I’d make.

When GPS came into my life, I found myself heavily relying on it because, quite honestly, it works! I get where I’m going and I always find my way back. Robert L. Easton knew what he was doing when he engineered this brilliant design. He is clearly smarter than I am! I’m just thankful it works! I know I can always trust my GPS will get me home safe and sound. And for that, I’m forever grateful.

I mean, aren’t you, Dear Reader?

God is Global

According to Google, global by definition means relating to the whole world; worldwide; relating to or embracing the whole of something, or of a group of things. God is the Creator of ALL things, which includes our world. I love how the second definition of global uses the word embracing, to give it a just description. God certainly embraces the whole world in His hands.

He is the inventor and maker of it all. He controls all things by keeping everything working in perfect harmony with each other. The Sun has it’s perfect position, as do the planets, the stars, and even you and I, Dear Friend. God is holding it all out of a love we have only scratched the surface to comprehend. For me, knowing this gives me a safe feeling inside. Knowing He’s got everything under control. It gives me peace and rest.

Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14, ERV

Prophet is Positioning

Again, using Google as my dictionary today, I found it interesting to see that the word positioning means, put or arrange (someone or something) in a particular place or way. Or to promote a service as the fulfillment of that sector’s specific requirements.

Beloved, I pray you receive this today. Jesus is the Prophet whom the Old Testament prophesied would come. The Disciples had been waiting for Him! They knew Jesus was the One.

The people saw this miraculous sign that Jesus did and said, ‘He must be the Prophet who is coming into the world.’

John 6:14, ERV

God sent Jesus to fulfill specific requirements. He came to fulfill the Old Testament Prophesy; to live the life we could not live; to die the death that we deserve; and to resurrect from the grave defeating death itself. He is positioned at the right side of God, in Heaven. Jesus holds everything together with His powerful command.

The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.

Hebrews 1:3, ERV

Spirit is Systems

You got it! Google defines systems as being a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. It even breaks it up into four parts: Physiology – (The human body and organs working together), Computing – (Technology, like computer parts, working together), Geology – (Land and nature working together), and Astronomy – (Celestial objects, like planets orbiting around the sun, working together). This was very interesting to me because that is the divine purpose of the Holy Spirit. To work all parts; mind, body, and soul, together according to the will of God.

In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:21-22, CSB

The Holy Spirit enters our bodies upon salvation and begins re-building our parts to work according to the will of God. Our bodies become the Spirit of God’s dwelling place. That is so neat! It is trustworthy to believe, Dear Sister, that the same God who holds ALL things together, lives in us, holding us together as well. This is such GOOD NEWS! Just like our GPS is an instrument we use to locate where we are and where we are headed, The Spirit within us is the instrument helping us to determine which route to take.

Just like our GPS is an instrument we use to locate where we are and where we are headed, God’s Spirit within us is the instrument helping us to determine which route to take! Click To Tweet

GPS is God – Prophet – Spirit

After reviewing all this, I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to re-write my first paragraph. It looks a bit different now…

GPS, God – Prophet – Spirit, is a nifty instrument used to help people everywhere determine their exact location in life. When this trilogy came to my attention, I was certainly the one shouting Hallelujah! Finally! I will NEVER be lost again!

You see, I was always the one that had difficulty reading the Bible or any written instructions for that matter. Even though I trusted the person writing the instructions, I still found myself not trusting the path. I always doubted each and every turn I’d make.

When GPS came into my life, I found myself heavily relying on it because, quite honestly, it works! I get where I’m going and I always find my way back. I felt like, God, the genius behind this neat creation, knew what He was doing when He engineered this brilliant design. He is clearly smarter than I am! I’m just thankful it works! I know I can always trust my GPS will get me to my eternal home safe and sound. And for that, I’m forever grateful.

I mean, aren’t you, Dear Reader?

fire, gifts, good news, salvation, spiritual gifts, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Fire: Igniting Our Gifts To Spread The Message of God

DevotionalsApril 30, 2019April 30, 2019

When God uses our gifts to fulfill His will, it becomes a consuming fire that feeds our souls the nourishment we so desperately need in this life.

And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.

Zechariah 2:5, ESV

God Prepared

I love to write prayers, poems, letters and more. I have countless journals that record all my prayers. Going back and reading them has been so enlightening over the years because it shows me how God has been working in my life. It truly helps me have a better understanding of God’s sovereignty and provision.

Writing has always been something I’ve done and enjoyed doing, but I never knew it would lead to becoming an actual writer. I see now how God was using this gift within, to prepare me for the journey ahead.

each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.

1 Corinthians 3:13, CSB

What’s The Spirit Up Too?

When the Lord started to give me certain topics and perspectives to write about, I honestly had no idea what He wanted me to do with them at first. Were the tools to help grow my own faith? Was I writing a book? What am I supposed to do with all this God? It wasn’t until a chain of events occurred that really seemed to get my attention and show me where all this was going…

I was sharing one of my writings with my sister one afternoon, hoping she would provide me with some insight I needed to unravel this mystery. When I was done reading it to her she quickly responded by saying ‘I don’t think you’re writing a book, Kris. I think you are meant to blog.’

I chuckled and told her ‘NO WAY!!!!’ I’m not at all tech savvy and wouldn’t even know where to begin. The thought completely overwhelmed me. With that said, blogging on a computer was the furthest thing on my radar. God knew what He was doing and was about to show me in a very unforeseen way…

A Stranger Reveals “My Fire”

On this particular day, I was taking myself and my kids to get our routine cleanings done at the dentist. I was catching up with the receptionist when she begins telling me that I would be great at blogging. I looked at her in shock and told her my sister had recently said the same thing. As we were speaking, a young girl, who happened to be sitting in the waiting room, got up and poked her head around the corner to talk to me.

She excused herself for jumping into the conversation and continued to tell me that as she was listening to me, she noticed something special and attractive in my voice. She agreed with the receptionist that blogging would be a great path for me to pursue. I completely blushed and thought ‘What is going on here!?’ Then that sweet girl, whom I had never met until that day, shares with me that she believed blogging would become My Fire to spread God’s word in the world.

I had never heard it described that way. ‘My Fire’. Though, it made perfect sense to me. Whenever I open my mouth about God, a fire of passion ignites inside that can not be quenched. Naturally, this unforeseen witness, caught wind of the fire that day and was moved by the Spirit to share her opinion with me. Oh, Dear Reader, how glad I am she did!

God Opens A Door

I went home from the dentist office unsure how to get started on my new blogging journey. I had confidence knowing that if this was the path God wanted me to pursue, then He would make His way known. I trusted He would pull everything together. One day, the Holy Spirit reminded me of someone I knew that blogs and might be helpful in moving forward. I called my blogging friend, Katie, and told her EVERYTHING!

She was so encouraging and willing to help me as best as she could. She informed me that the site she blogs for was looking to recruit a new writer. She wondered if I would be interested. After I sought prayer and counsel, I came to the conclusion that this was the door God had opened for me to pursue writing. God wanted me to deliver these messages to the world, and now I had a way to do that. I phoned Katie and joyfully said ‘I’m IN!’.

God Supplies My Needs

God knew I was in need of a laptop, printer, and space to do His work. My husband, Mike, has stood by me throughout this entire process and has supported me the whole way. For Christmas, he gifted me with a laptop, carrying bag, printer and a computer desk that he designed and built himself! I was so thankful and eager to get started.

God had used my Sister, the Receptionist, the young girl in the waiting room, Katie and my Husband to fully supply all my needs to get this journey started. They ignited the spark God gave me. His messages would now be heard through the Oh Lord Help Us ministry. Please understand, when God is working something new in your life, Beloved, it always falls into place.

You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.

2 Corinthians 9:11-13, CSB

Wildfire

I love being an instrument used by God to spread His good news. I am humbled and honored to be given this ability to write and share these important messages with you, My Friend.

I am just an ordinary woman living life with an extraordinary God. When God uses our gifts to fulfill His will, it becomes a consuming fire that feeds our souls the nourishment we so desperately need in this life. We, as God’s children, are called to help reach those who don’t notice the spark inside themselves. This simple act of obedience is what leads to a massive wildfire of salvation forming all over the world.

Lost souls are found. Those who have been trapped become rescued and saved. Blind eyes begin to see. Brokenness is restored and made whole. The messy life suddenly reveals a life message. This, My Friend, is what it looks like to follow Jesus. Someone’s spark out there in the world is relying on you to fan the flame.

So tell me, Dear Sister, what is “your fire” to help spread God’s good news to the world?

save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Jude 1:23, CSB

We are called to help reach those who don't notice a spark inside themselves. This simple act of obedience is what leads to a massive wildfire of salvation, formed all over the world. Click To Tweet

Joshua Newton

God’s Word, love, God’s love, salvation, holiness, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Foundation: Distinguishing God’s Word As the Final Authority

DevotionalsApril 28, 2019April 28, 2019

Giving Scripture the last word lays a solid foundation in our lives that cannot be moved. We must be alert to follow God’s Word and encourage each other in it daily so we do not become deceived (Hebrews 3:13).

One of the many conversations in our home right now is learning how to spot false gospels. In many circles today, the message of the cross has been altered to make it more polished, palatable, and attractive. But when the gospel is watered down, it is no longer the gospel. And it is alarmingly easy to veer off course. For example, take the phrase “God gives you what you need.” Think about that.

Pause for A Moment…

Where did your mind go when you read that? Perhaps you thought of the meme you’ve seen floating around that guarantees God will never give you more than you can handle. That is not in the Bible. I looked. The only pledge that comes close is 1 Corinthians 10:13 where we are promised not to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and that God provides a way of escape so we can endure. Or perhaps you thought of Philippians 4:19 which says God will supply all of our needs.

I don’t know about you, but I can quickly become discouraged by phrases that have been taken out of context or have had the gospel stripped from them. Without understanding who God is, and what assurances He has shown throughout Scripture, what does God gives you what you need even mean?

When I heard someone say that several years ago I smirked and thought, I know that’s what the Bible says, but it doesn’t feel true in my life. I felt forgotten, overlooked, and cast aside by God. However disappointed I was with myself, I believed I was living the life I had created. But that was a lie. I wasn’t relying on truth. My feelings were my final authority; not the sure foundation of God’s Word.

Without Love

This past weekend, my husband Sean and I were able to attend a free marriage enrichment seminar offered through his work. We had a wonderful time away together and I am very grateful! But my point in mentioning it has to do with the curriculum we went through.

I was familiar with the original material, but the version taught at the seminar had been, as the instructor called it, “de-Jesus-ed.” The only note I took the whole weekend was in response to this statement—”We all need love.” I wrote:

Why [do we need love]? How do people without the God of Creation, who is LOVE, find an answer to that question?

I know we need love because I believe what the Word of God says. Because I know Him, I believe the need for love is also satisfied in Him. Without the hope of Christ, people are left to the exhausting and futile task of manufacturing love.

I imagine many perceive the gospel to be ethereal. Spiritual but elusive; like an ungraspable vapor. Yet we have been given the Word of God to instruct, guide, and embolden us to stand firm, to live lives worthy of the gospel! But we have to open it up and read it! And as David did, we must ask for help over and over again…

Help me understand Your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.

Psalm 119:34, HCSB

Costly Message

In the midst of a texting conversation between me, Sean, and our two teenage daughters, Sean sent Galatians 5:13 and Psalm 5:3 as ways to pray for change in the hearts of their friends, and for God to work in their school. He challenged the girls not to pray flippantly with empty words, writing: “Don’t drop BS to the void. Speak God’s Word back to Him with hope.” Then he shared some of Jesus’s words from the gospel of Matthew.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:21, HCSB

I admit I have read this passage before and thought that seems harsh. Strict? Yes. Unreasonable? No. Why? Because He is God, and there is only one way to Him, and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

God is bigger than me. He is bigger than you. God is the Savior of the whole world, and salvation is freely given. But it costs everything because it cost Jesus everything. Every single day, as a follower of Jesus, I must die to what I think is best for me or fair. Daily the Father calls me to admit the ways I choose my own self-exalting, ethereal ideas above what He has clearly put forth in His Word. In His mercy, He shows me His way is best for me.

What is Needed

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4, HCSB

God has absolutely lavished His love on us in Jesus! Through the life of Christ God has given us all that is needed for this life. In Jesus, we have what is needed to live godly lives because we have the gift of God’s Word and His indwelling Spirit for those who believe.

Final Caution

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the mass majority of you know on some level that Jesus loves you. It is a comforting and powerful statement. For years I lived off of that phrase alone. Even if [fill in the blank] doesn’t love me well, I know Jesus does. Then last summer I read how raising a foundation on this methodology can be deceptive.

This approach subtly turns Jesus into the One who meets my needs and fills my emptiness—as I define them. It turns God’s love into something that only serves me. Repentance for our rebellion and sin against God is minimized or even ignored while God’s love for us is maximized. We turn Jesus into someone whose goal in life is to make us feel good about ourselves…[Jesus] is the Holy One who comes to cleanse us, fill us, and change us…He loves us too much to merely make us happy. He comes to make us holy.

How People Change, by Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp

God’s love does fulfill every single one of our needs! The best way to fully believe that with conviction, is to read and pray His words. Then we can be confident that though sin does separate us from God, He made a way for us to become holy. Praise Jesus!

Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14, HCSB

God's love does fulfill every single one of our needs! To fully believe that with conviction is to read and pray His words. Sin does separate us from God but He made a way for us to become holy. Praise Jesus! Click To Tweet

Has Fakira

Deliverance, freedom, hope, plans, redeemed, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Hoped: Past or Present, God Reveals and Restores

DevotionalsApril 21, 2019April 22, 2019

Circumstances can pull us away from our once fierce hope in the Lord. We don’t know the whole story and must submit our “hoped for’s” to God’s plan.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel…

Luke 24:21a, ESV

The road to Emmaus…Cleopas, (and several scholars believe), his wife Mary, were decimated by the crucifixion of Jesus. After the Sabbath finally came and went, with heavy hearts and dragging feet the couple gathered their belongings together to return home. Despite Mary’s news of seeing the angels at the tomb, despite the unthinkable announcement that the tomb was empty, Cleopas and Mary headed out of town, shrouded in sorrow. In the words of Dr. James Boice:

…they were going home. It was all over. The dream was dead, and they were sad.

Many, many years ago, the infant daughter of some friends of ours was diagnosed with a brain tumor. At the time, our church was in the throes of an unusual months-long, Spirit-filled revival. We experienced the power of God in numerous, unexplainable situations and we were excited to incorporate it in prayer, at times without wisdom and discernment. Oh, how we prayed for that baby! How we entreated God’s healing hand, anointed with oil, trusted He would intervene, despite what the doctors said…

Precious baby girl died three months later. Our small group was devastated, not to mention her parents. We had trusted. We had believed God. Had hoped He was who He said He was.

Hoped…

Not unlike Cleopas and Mary, our hope and trust became past tense for a season.

When Jesus joined them on the road home to Emmaus, He didn’t allow them to recognize Him. After all, the last time they had seen Jesus, He had been a bloody mess, beaten and beyond recognition, hanging on a cross. Their story borders on comical, however. Jesus approached them on their journey, behaving as though He was clueless to recent events. Jesus asked them why they were sad. Cleopas and Mary were incredulous!

Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” Jesus said, “What things?” They answered, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we hoped that it had been he who should have redeemed Israel.
Luke 24:18-21, KJV

But we had hoped that He should have…

I wonder how often I have looked into the face of Jesus and claimed, I had hoped, I had trusted, I had believed, but You didn’t do what You should have done.

For we hoped that He should have redeemed Israel. We had hoped. We had trusted that He should have redeemed Israel.

Irony

If it didn’t feel so sadly familiar, I would feel sorry for the Emmaus disciples. I wish they had said, “Even though everything we see assaults our hope, and it looks as though we have trusted in vain, we continue to believe that we will see Him, again!” But instead, they walked beside Him declaring their lost faith, and He had to say to them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe!” (L. B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert).

The irony is that Jesus, indeed, came to redeem Israel, whether each of His disciples held to their faith or not. That is exactly what lead Him inexorably to the cross – our redemption from sin. This kind of redemption, this freedom from bondage and subjugation isn’t what Cleopas, Mary and many others had in mind; not at all. Their sights were set too low. They only wanted a physical king to bring emancipation for an earthly season.

Jesus offered so much more…immeasurably more.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’—
Galatians 3:13, ESV

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19, ESV

Deliverance

In today’s culture, everyone seems to have their rights violated in one way or another. It might even be labeled oppression. Sometimes the pervasiveness of that attitude becomes wearisome.

But let me be clear, the Jewish people had experienced centuries of severe oppression, so I don’t want to be too critical of Cleopas and Mary. Their hopes were soaring. Jesus was finally going to bring the longed-for deliverance for which their hearts had yearned for generations.

And then He was crucified.

Hopes dashed against a cross.

What else was there to do, but to go home?

But then Jesus, in His infinite love and mercy, showed up on the road to Emmaus. He began revealing to them the Scriptures. He told them the rest of the story.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:27, ESV

Eyes Opened

Do you ever stop to realize that we don’t know the whole story? The beginning, middle, and end? Has it ever occurred to you that maybe we only have a minuscule speck of awareness concerning what God is doing in relation to the vast scope of things? We see through a glass darkly (I Corinthians 13:12); unless and until the Spirit reveals His truth to us, that is our limitation.

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’
Luke 24:31-32, ESV

Their eyes were opened. Their hearts burned within them.

Where do we need our eyes opened? When did our hearts stop burning and our hope fail? Did God’s answer refuse to fit the parameters we had set, Beloved? It happens to all believers at some point. For reasons of sin or reasons of growth or both, we have each known times when we were convinced God was going to answer one way and He didn’t…or hasn’t.

Has God failed? We may never utter those words, but what does our walk with Him look like today? Do our hearts burn within us or is our hope a past tense thing, our faith a yesterday or last year topic?

It doesn’t have to be. Cleopas and Mary were desolate, hopeless. Yet, Jesus restored them to resurrection hope by opening their eyes to Truth.

May He do the same for each of us.

Did God’s answer refuse to fit our parameters, Beloved? Do our hearts burn within us or is our hope a past tense thing, our faith a yesterday topic? Jesus restores us to resurrection hope and opens our eyes to His truth! Click To Tweet

Annie Spratt

Obeying: Learning to Be Hearers and Doers of The Word

DevotionalsMarch 13, 2019March 13, 2019

To fully follow Christ, we must learn that obeying God means not only being hearers of the Word but doers also. Understanding God’s commands required following through as well.

It’s not a subject that’s all flashy and dressed up in lights. In fact, it’s a topic that some preachers try not to touch, even with a ten-foot pole! It’s obedience. No, I did not just curse. But by the time this nine-letter word hits some believers’ ears, it shrinks down to a four-letter word!

By contrast, messages about God’s grace, favor, blessing, and prosperity gently tickle our ears. But when it comes to obedience, lead balloons are released, promptly falling onto toes. All joking aside, I truly believe that this simple topic of obedience serves as a key to unlock all of those other–seemingly more flashy–things such as blessing and favor.

Truly Obeying?

So what does the word “obey” really mean? We tend to think of it as following orders, being compliant, submitting to authority, etc. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for obey is “shema,” which essentially means to hear. But shema encompasses much more than simply hearing a command. It also means to listen, internalize, understand, and respond to that order or command. This element of responding brings this scripture to mind:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22, KJV

In other words, obeying doesn’t just mean listening to an order. It implies actually doing that which we have been commanded to do. As parents, when we tell our kids to do something, is it enough for them to simply nod their heads to acknowledge they’ve heard what we’ve said? Of course not. We want to see our children, in fact, do what we have told them to do. As children of God, we not only must listen to and understand what the Lord says, but we must also follow through and do that which He calls us to do.

As children of God, we not only must listen to and understand what the Lord says, but we must also follow through and do that which He calls us to do. Click To Tweet

Disobedience…

Perhaps the quintessential story in scripture that demonstrates disobedience occurs in 1 Samuel. Before King Saul goes into battle with the Amalekites, Samuel the prophet gives him a very clear instruction from the Lord: completely and utterly destroy the enemy and all that they have. But Saul does not obey this instruction. Rather, he captures alive Agag, the king of the Amalekites. Furthermore, he instructs his men to save the choicest animals for a burnt offering to the Lord. When Samuel learns of Saul’s outright disobedience, he asks him why he has done this thing.

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22

But Saul claims to have obeyed the command. And when Samuel presses him further, Saul tries to deflect the rebuke by blaming his men for keeping the enemy’s livestock and spoil. Isn’t this the perfect picture of our sinful nature when we’re caught doing something we shouldn’t do? We claim ignorance. We get defensive. Or we try to blame someone else for our own actions. But Samuel is not fooled, and the Lord is not mocked. When he finally realizes how badly he has botched the Lord’s command, Saul repents. But it is too late. And as a result of his disobedience, Saul loses his kingship. Samuel delivers the verdict:

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:23

I Didn’t Want To…

A few weeks ago, the Lord taught me a lesson in obedience. Had I chosen to disregard and disobey the leading of the Holy Spirit, I might have missed an incredible experience. That morning, I woke up feeling run down and sick. Drained. For two weeks, I’d been battling one sickness after another: a severe head cold that turned into a sinus infection, then strep throat, followed by a couple of days of who-knows-what that knocked me flat! All I wanted to do was pull the covers back up over my head and stay in bed all day.

As I considered the prospect of getting some extra rest, it suddenly dawned on me that I had something I had to do that morning. Every Wednesday morning, my pastor’s wife has a wonderful show called Welcome Home that airs on television. During the show, I help field phone calls from viewers who call in for prayer. Some days I don’t get any calls, but other days, I’m flooded with people calling in with all kinds of prayer requests. As I laid there in bed, I secretly hoped that no one would call for prayer that morning.

A Divine Appointment…

And just about the time I had that thought, the Holy Spirit checked my spirit. Feeling guilty, I immediately repented and asked the Lord to forgive me. I prayed that He would strengthen me and give me the energy to take any calls that might come in. And as soon as I prayed that prayer, a rush of adrenaline washed over me. I didn’t know why, but I was actually getting excited about who might call in. Little did I know, the Holy Spirit was quickening my spirit in anticipation of a divine appointment.

Sure enough, that morning the Lord had arranged for me to talk with a young man named Joe. Joe called in and said he needed a prayer of forgiveness. He had done some terrible things to some people in the past, and he knew that he had hurt them. The burden of what he’d done was weighing really heavily on him. Now in the past, I had kind of made the assumption that folks who watch a Christian broadcast and call into a prayer line are already saved. But the Holy Spirit was showing me that this was a different kind of call.

Holy Ghost Boldness…

When I asked Joe if he attended a church, he said he had gone to church with his girlfriend. Then the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask Joe whether he was saved. When I asked the question, there was a kind of awkwardly long pause on the line. At first, I thought maybe I had offended Joe by asking him this question. But I just waited in silence on the line. And that’s when the Holy Ghost took over the conversation with a boldness I would not have had on my own.

I asked Joe if he had ever invited Jesus to come into his heart. I explained that in order to truly be forgiven for the things we’re ashamed of, we have to ask Jesus, Himself, to forgive us. Only then can we truly repent and fully receive God’s forgiveness. Only then can Jesus cast our sins as far as the east is from the west and give us a clean slate. So I asked again, “Joe, do you want to ask Jesus to come into your heart today? He can give you a new heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone.”

Obedience Brought The Blessing…

Finally, Joe answered. Kind of shaken up, he said, “You know, my girlfriend has been telling me that her God is a jealous God. That I can’t be halfway in and halfway out. So, yes. I do want to be saved.” So, I lead Joe through the prayer of salvation, and his name is now written in the Lamb’s book of life. When that call ended, I was jumping for joy. I praised God along with the chorus of angels who were celebrating and rejoicing in heaven. Hallelujah! Praise God!! Thank you Jesus!!!

When I didn’t feel like obeying, I could have texted my pastor to tell her I couldn’t take calls that morning. But had I pulled the covers up over my head, I would have missed out on an incredible blessing–the blessing of helping lead a lost soul to Jesus Christ. The blessing of witnessing someone being raised from death to life. Obedience brought this blessing. And I will continue to do whatever it takes; obeying Christ because He is the blessing!

How have you learned a lesson in obedience? What was the blessing that your obedience ushered in?

All scriptures are from the King James Version of Bible.

Annie Spratt

obedient, obedience, Christian living, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Obey: Accepting Loving Discipline in Our New Identity

DevotionalsMarch 5, 2019March 5, 2019

Desiring to obey the Lord is a natural response to our new identity in Him. We don’t need to fear discipline for it is a natural action of love from our Heavenly Father.

I have a wall hanging in my bathroom that has the famous verse from Joshua on it.

It reads: HOME, home is where your story begins. Then at the bottom, it says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I see this verse every single day and it’s not something I take lightly. We learned nine years ago the lesson of truly choosing to obey and serve the Lord.

Lip Service

We had been living a lip service Christian life. We went to church. Said prayers at mealtimes and bedtime, but that was as deep as our relationship with the Lord went. He allowed me to get very sick and I immediately knew He was disciplining me.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My Child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’

Hebrews 12:5-6, NLT

I lost the ability to bathe myself, get myself dressed and to walk more than a few feet at a time. My husband became my caretaker through chemotherapy and steroids. I read through the Word twice in nine months and completely surrendered my life to Christ during this time.

My husband also laid down his own will for God’s through this ordeal. Not all our trials are a chastisement, but we needed this season to truly make God the Lord of our lives. Praise Him for His care, His discipline, His working in our lives. We aren’t the same people we were before.

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15, NLT

Set Apart

Have you noticed that something you weren’t aware of before is drawn to your attention, and once you’re aware of it you see it everywhere? In psychology, this has a real name- the frequency illusion. Let me tell you, when you have decided to follow and actually obey Christ, you realize very quickly how many profess His name but deny Him with their lifestyles.

When Christ dwells in us and we surrender to Him totally, His Holy Spirit is there to teach, guide and correct us. His Word is alive and active and judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. When we compromise who we are in Christ to look like the world, we are disobeying His command.

And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.

2 Corinthians 6:16-17, NLT

World Appearance

We each have our own journey and our own relationship with Christ that we will one day answer for. My encouragement for you today is to really evaluate any part of your heart and life that you’ve allowed to be influenced by the world. Or parts you may not have ever surrendered to Him. Do you still dress like the world, have filthy speech like the world, watch TV shows that encourage you to lust like the world, listen to music that glorifies sin like the world?

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 John 2:15-17, NLT

We each have our own relationship with Christ that we will one day answer for. We must evaluate any part of our hearts and lives that we've allowed the world to influence. Evaluate and surrender them to the Lord. Click To Tweet

Desire to Obey

I have made many changes to my life in order to obey and bring glory to God. I don’t dress how I used to dress, make the same jokes I used to make, or watch TV shows that highlight my struggle against lust. Don’t get me wrong, I still have many struggles against sin in my life, and the Lord brings them to my attention often. I wrestle with a couple in particular that I have a hard time talking about. My mind truly is a battlefield and the war is ever raging…

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

1 Peter 1:14, NLT

God isn’t asking us for perfection. He knows we are helpless and our hearts are desperately wicked. All he wants and expects is the laying down of these desires that wage war against our souls.

Desire to obey Him, plead for His grace and mercy and He will give us the strength to make these changes in our lives that shape us into His image. Then He will receive all the glory and honor for how we’ve changed, and others will see His love and character slowly emerge in our everyday lives as we obey our Father in heaven.

identity, reflection, transformation, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Reflection: Transforming Our Mirror Image to Reflect Christ

DevotionalsMarch 3, 2019March 3, 2019

Our physical reflection can sometimes be hard to accept. Our true mirror image transforms through the power of salvation in Christ.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12, CSB

I have the occasional day where I look in the mirror with confidence ready to take on the world…or better put…the day ahead of me! BUT, more often than not, I tend to notice all the new things I swear weren’t there a few days ago!

For instance, a new wrinkle on my face, more gray hair on my head, and that lovely stretched skin that proves I’ve carried three children. Most of the time, my reflection leaves me feeling insecure and anxious, instead of recognizing I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Before I accepted Jesus into my life, seeing my reflection in the mirror was like entering a bathroom while someone is taking a hot shower. The mirror was too foggy for me to see anything…

In the Fog

If we were truly honest with ourselves, we would all have to admit there are times the mirror is hurtful and just plain mean. We usually see with our flesh before we see with our souls. Our first thoughts rarely consider the image of Christ. This makes the reflection staring back, hard to look at.

Approaching salvation can be difficult for most of us simply because we come face to face with our brokenness. What once seemed hidden in darkness, is now brought into the light. We all have different struggles with the mirror. Especially when we only see our physical reflection and not our salvation’s. Shame, sin, insecurities, discontentment, unsatisfied, fear. Even lust, pride, selfishness, and vanity… sin we freely chose while standing in the fog.

Honesty

Can I be honest with you, Sister? I struggle constantly with my own reflection. On one end, I struggle with my insecurities…

I’m ugly without make-up and without my hair done. I am not attractive at all. I wouldn’t be caught dead going out looking the way I do right now. If people saw the real me, they wouldn’t recognize me.

Then on the other end of the spectrum, I struggle with my pride which sounds like…

I’m looking good right now! This outfit will definitely turn some heads! My husband will be proud to take me out looking like this tonight.

I cringe typing these things, but it’s important to confess our sins. I am an insecure, prideful woman when I’m living in my flesh. Not a great combination. I have had to really wrestle with my identity. When I go through foggy days, my identity will present itself in the mirror as one of those; insecure or prideful.

The Fan Turns On

When I asked Jesus into my life, the fan in the bathroom suddenly turned on. The fog lifted from the mirror. I was finally able to see my reflection the way God intended me to see it…

A Beloved Daughter of a King, worth more than diamonds and rubies, precious and valuable. A Princess pursued daily by her Prince of Peace. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am loved so much that my Hero and Savior died for me. I am Priceless. And you know what? This is the same for you!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14, ESV

As I learned more about the Lord, my reflection started changing. I was transforming through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within my soul.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV

The Mirror is Lifted

I learned to accept that my reflection wouldn’t be perfect while I live on Earth. That’s the whole purpose of the mirror! To remind us that, just like Jesus turned the fan on to lift the fog, He will one day lift the mirror for us as well…

One day, we will stand face to face with our perfect reflection, Jesus Christ. On that day we will understand that we are fully known children of the All-Powerful and Mighty God. Our faces will radiate with joy for pursuing the One our hearts desired most.

Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

Psalm 34:5, CSB

We will stand face to face with our perfect reflection, Jesus Christ. On that day we will understand that we are fully known children of a Mighty God. Our faces will radiate with joy for pursuing the One our hearts desire most. Click To Tweet

Light’s Reflection

If you find yourself wrestling with the reflection in the mirror, then please know you’re not alone. We all wrestle with it. But, be encouraged, Sisters! Christ sees us only as the transformed creation we are. To Christ, there is no difference between our earthly self and the person He will see standing before Him. This time on Earth is meant to polish, sharpen and reflect His light, so it shines brightly for those around us to see. When people look at us, they should see the light of Jesus.

Christ knows our flesh and sin just as much as He knows our salvation and newness. But guess what is awesome? He willingly died for us knowing our flesh! He saw us at our WORST and loved us even still! He died for us, not because we were beautiful, but because we were broken. Our brokenness is only made beautiful through His death on the cross. When we see our flesh staring back at us in the mirror, Jesus stands by smiling, Good Morning Beautiful.

Today, Dear Reader, let’s go together and confront our mirror image with confidence! For we KNOW our reflection will TRANSFORM from broken to beautiful because of Christ.

Reflect In Prayer

Oh Lord Help Me to reflect your light in this dark world. Transform my reflection in the mirror to look more like you and less like me. Thank you for your never-changing, perfect image, God. Forgive me when I make this life about my kingdom instead of Yours. When the mirror starts to get foggy Lord, remind me to turn on the fan. I pray this today in my Savior, Jesus’ name. Amen.

Annie Spratt

creation, creative, create, gift, salvation, worship, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Gift: Remembering the Intricate Work of God’s Hands

DevotionalsFebruary 20, 2019February 20, 2019

Our human hands can create such beautiful things. But nothing compares to the intricate work of God’s hands or His beautiful gift of salvation.

I have made the earth and created humans on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded everything in them.

Isaiah 45:12, CSB

I am amazed by what our human hands can invent, create, build, design, craft, and even restore. Our hands have the ability to do so many wonderful things. It blows my mind how a surgeon’s hands can heal the inside of someone’s body.

I’m speechless when I see a piece of architecture beautifully designed and brought into existence by human hands. It’s truly an incredible gift to have the unique capability to use our hands to create things that bring us joy, comfort, and help.

God’s Hands Create

With all these amazing things our human hands can muster up, some things remain untouched by our hands. The planets and stars in the universe, the oceans, the mountains, and the spirit inside of us are just a few examples.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1, CSB

This allows us to know that we, and the beautiful world around us, were handcrafted by our Creator. God’s hands have done a perfect work and He alone has accomplished it all.

We are creatures made to create just like our Creator. Whether we use our hands to produce art, write, farm, build, craft, sculpt, dig, fix, measure, or sew. No matter what we choose to do with our hands, we still are unable to create EVERYTHING! Why do you think God designed it this way? I personally think He did this to show that He is in complete control.

Making Idols

When we marvel at the works of our own hands, we can easily idolize and forget where our ability to create came from.

Their land is full of idols, they worship the work of their hands, what their fingers have made.

Isaiah 2:8, CSB (emphasis added)

God sees all, knows all, and creates all. He knows when we forget where our abilities came from. And He calls us out when we do. As God’s people, we are called to understand His divine mystery behind creation. Simply by acknowledging at our highest intelligence, we still cannot create the heavens, the earth, or even the stars in the sky.

Safe Hands

The hands God gave us, create many good and useful things. They also create many evil and sinful things. Satan will use his deceiving, sneaky hands to tempt us with sin. He corrupts our minds and hearts faster than we can blink. This deception begins chasing after us the moment we’re born. We, as God’s children, are not immune to Satan’s conniving schemes. We are very much prone to wander as the hymn suggests.

As Children of God, we must be aware of this and do whatever seems necessary to keep ourselves from falling into Satan’s trap. Satan’s hands, like our own, were created by God. I know, kinda mind-boggling isn’t it?

Many people, including myself, at one point or another, have wondered why God allowed the devil to even come into existence. This is such a good question that requires much knowledge and wisdom to comprehend. We can’t expect to understand the answer to this without seeking to know who God is first.

To know God is to know His son, Jesus Christ. If you want to get to know anyone better, then you need to establish a relationship with them, right? Otherwise, how will you learn who they truly are? We are incapable of understanding these profound mysteries we crave to know, without establishing a relationship with Jesus. Holding hands with Jesus is the only way we can stay safe against the devil and his demons.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:28, CSB

Hands that Heal

There is a story I love in the Bible that is found in John 9. Jesus bends down to use his hands to spit and stir up the dirt to create a substance that would heal the sight of a blind man. Just like the blind man in the story, we have been blind in our lives.

We need a Savior’s hands to wipe us clean so we can see HIS way instead of our own. Jesus didn’t use clean water to heal the blind man; He used mud in the ground that was made from His spit! I believe He did this to show His followers that He, and only He, has the ability to use our filthy sin and make something good come from it.

The Gift

I was once dead in my trespasses and now I am alive in Christ. My guilt and shame are the very things Jesus used to humble and restore me. When I was confronted with my sin, I immediately became aware of my need for Jesus.

Jesus was sent to us from God as a precious gift for us to observe and follow. He is the example and role model we are supposed to seek in order to understand how to navigate this life correctly. Without Jesus, we go through life blindfolded, having to feel our way through with our own hands.

My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Isaiah 66:2, CSB

Jesus’ Hands Paid The Price

Creation is a magnificent use of God’s hands. But the most amazing use of God’s hands is found on that rugged cross. Jesus’ hands were nailed to the cross so ALL would see! The same hands that healed the blind and calmed the storms are the very same hands put on full display to show God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and good news.

Oh, but we serve an even greater God than this! His love didn’t stop there; It went all the way to the grave where Jesus resurrects from the dead to reveal the very same holes in his hands from that historical day. What better use of His hands? God made a way for His children to find the light in a dark world that separates us from Him. I can’t think of anything better! The love God has for His children is always seen in His hands…

The same hands that calmed the storms are the very same hands put on full display to show God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and good news. Oh, we serve a great God! His love went all the way to the grave for us. Click To Tweet

Lift Up Your Hands

God’s hands hold us when we are crying.

His hands mend our broken hearts and restore our souls.

God’s hands heal us and save us from Hell.

His hands mark the starting point to where our salvation is found.

Today believer, I implore you, to lift up those beautiful, hardworking, helpful, creative, useful hands of yours and worship in awe our Glorious God above! Let’s fold our hands in prayer and thank Him for the wounds His hands endured so we could have the gift of everlasting life with Him. This is the best gift we will ever receive… Hands down!!!

With Folded Hands, I Pray

Oh Lord Help Me to see that your hands are not my own. Help me to use my hands in a way that will glorify you and make your name be known. Teach me to follow Jesus in all my ways and seek to know Him more.

Thank you for the sacrifice your hands endured for me upon the cross. I am so undeserving of this free gift of salvation, but I receive it with a full and thankful heart.

Help guide me Lord to show love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with my own two hands the way you did with yours. I lift up my hands today and surrender my life into your hands, God. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Amaury Salas

acceptance, approved, grace, salvation, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Exposed: Finding Approval in Jesus Instead of Others

DevotionalsJanuary 30, 2019January 30, 2019

Sharing about our past can leave us feeling exposed in front of others. Our approval comes from God alone. We must proclaim the good things He has done in our lives!

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

Proverbs 15:7, CSB

Have you ever had a dream where you are naked and exposed in front of a huge crowd of people with nothing to cover up with? We wake up and immediately say ‘Thank goodness that was only a dream!’ I can’t say that right now as I type. Oh, how I wish I could.

I feel extremely exposed sharing my past. Sometimes I think I’d rather just act like that part of my life didn’t exist. But I know I can’t do that. So, I am exposing my past to you all whether you want to see this or not. This is 100% necessary in order for you to understand HIStory in my life. Ready or not, here I go…

Wanting Attention

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been the girl who was comfortable standing in the spotlight. As a child, I loved demanding the attention of a room by singing loudly and expressing myself in the silliest, most embarrassing ways. I sought and craved the applause I would get after finishing one of my solo performances. I didn’t care if I received attention out of sympathy; you know, the kind grown-ups give children that look homely.

I remember watching adults look at me with their heads tilted and say ‘oh you poor dear’. I was the child who would have the tangled hair, mismatched striped and polka dotted clothes with folded over socks in sparkly ruby red slippers. You know, THAT kind of attention! Yea, it never seemed to bother me how I got the attention, as long as I got it.

I enjoyed holding the microphone, standing center stage, under a spotlight dressed just like THAT without a worry in the world. A hot mess of a child who was carefree just wanting to put on a show for anyone willing to watch.

I was the never-ending story of a drama queen. Still am at times, if I’m being completely honest. I was always known to over exaggerate and use my imagination to its fullest ability. As a child, this behavior is often viewed by the world as ACCEPTABLE and ADORABLE. As a teenager though, this behavior would be likely viewed as ANNOYING and AWKWARD.

Desiring Affection

I was, am, and always will be a person that craves attention by affection. Physical touch is one of my love languages for sure. The best medicine to calm down my waterworks was a genuine, heartfelt hug. Still is actually.

As a parent now, I see how hard this must have been for my parents to do. Especially with the waterworks taking place inside a grocery store checkout line over a candy bar I was told I could not have. In that kind of moment, hugging is usually the LAST thing on a parent’s mind.

But hugs always seem to calm my soul and bring me back to reality. I learned that if I didn’t get the affection I so desperately needed from my parents, then I would seek it elsewhere. This need for affection carried into my adolescent years as well as my constant desire to be the center of attention. As you’ll see, this was not a good combination for someone living outside of Christ. The transition from a carefree energetic child to a rising adolescent in search of approval was quite a bumpy ride, to say the least.

Seeking Approval

My Dad’s job changed often. So, as a result, I moved around from school to school during my adolescent years. This made me a pro at using my outgoing personality to gain friends and establish popularity. I learned how to do my own makeup and started shaving my legs early on. I took pride in looking good outwardly because I noticed, very quickly, how much attention the boys gave me. Having the approval of boys was the key to my identity.

I was seeking their approval for so many things. I can still hear the thoughts going through my teenage mind… Am I pretty enough for him to notice me? Will this outfit turn his head my way? Am I cool enough to be his girlfriend?

All these things played in my mind every day before I would go to school. If I didn’t get the approval of the boy I wanted it from, then I would come home feeling ugly, unwanted and worthless.

This way of thinking is what led to my downward spiral of promiscuity and lust. I was fully aware of how to turn some heads. I was willing to push it as far as I felt comfortable, in order to receive the approval I was longing for.

Little did I know that I was completely misusing something inside of me that God intended to be used for good. This wrong way of behaving and thinking, unfortunately, kept making me feel unloved, exposed, dirty and ASHAMED. Who am I? What am I doing?!? How did I get here?! Is there ANYONE ABLE to help me?!

Finding the Answer

I’ll never forget the night for as long as I live. I was out partying at a club with my friend. She thought it would be funny to enter me into a mechanical bull riding contest, behind my back. Top prize to this particular contest was $100 cash.

What’s worse is that it was a contest that would be done wearing a bikini top and jeans in front of a VERY large crowd of people. I was mortified that she entered my name into this contest! I was already inwardly wrestling with who I was, and now here I go again seeking the approval of man.

Prior to this embarrassing moment, I had been invited by one of my Christian co-workers to a church event that was taking place over the weekend. I told him I didn’t have the $100 it cost to go. I’m sure you’re seeing where this is going. Yep. You got it! I won the bikini bull riding contest and used the $100 top prize to go to the weekend church event.

Yea I know…quite an interesting way to be saved! But it wound up being the best mistake I’ve ever made because it led to my salvation in Christ. I had finally found the ANSWER to my need for attention, affection, and approval. JESUS. Jesus was the ONLY ONE ABLE to help me recognize my sin and need for a Savior.

God instilled in me the ability to attract people and feel comfortable gaining the attention of a room. This was a gift He gave me that was never intended to be used for self. It was a gift intended to broadcast His truths and make His name known, not mine.

Writing for Him

Writing is the platform He has chosen for me to spread the good news of the gospel. The motives of my heart and how I live changed from making it all about me to making it all about HIM.

I have been following Jesus for the past 14 years, establishing a more mature and solid relationship with Him. Living this way has provided some of the most rewarding blessings! I have an affectionate, faithful husband of 10 years and three dramatic, imaginative kids.

My love bucket is beyond overflowing. God has handed me the microphone, and I’m excited to use this opportunity to tell more about Him and less about me. Jesus is the reason I write. He is the reason I make a joyful noise singing in traffic for all to see and hear. He is the reason I dance uncontrollably in my living room with my kids. And He is the reason I feel no fear of being exposed for Him.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed–a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘the righteous will live by faith.’

Romans 1:16 & 17, CSB

Exposed for Him

When the world would see me as unworthy, unloved, dirty and ugly; Jesus sees me as a valuable, loved, pure and a beautiful gem. My identity is no longer defined by my own worldly way of thinking. My identity is now found in Christ Jesus and I no longer have to worry about feeling exposed! Exposing my testimony is now His good and for the good of others.

So there it is. This isn’t a dream, it’s my reality. And I humbly share it with you today. I’m ready to do the work God has called me to do! I’m unashamed because I know I have the approval of the only One that matters… His name is not Kristen, it’s Jesus.

Be diligent to present yourself to God as one APPROVED, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15, CSB

When the world sees us as unworthy, unloved, dirty; Jesus sees a valuable, pure gem. Our identity is not defined by the world but in Christ. Click To Tweet

Radek Vebr