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I have always been better at listening than talking. I feel awkward in impromptu conversations. lol I prefer to be behind the scenes...or behind a computer keyboard. I can prepare and speak in front of people, but it's not my comfort zone. Am I alone here? Can anyone relate? :)
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Through listening, I can hone into the messages God desires for me to serve readers with. If we slow down to listen to the pauses, questions, and repeated conversations people have, we will pinpoint their sources of frustration with life...and ultimately with God.
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One of these frustrations comes from the tension of letting go and moving forward. How do we do this? What does God expect?
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We are all probably familiar with the passage in Philippians 3:13-14 which says, "Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus."
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This is referring to our spiritual lives -- before and after Christ. A decision to follow Christ means we are wholeheartedly committed. We don't pine for our old, sinful ways of life. We don't value the worldly systems of thought nor crave what was. We are to walk in the new natures God clothed us with in Christ, with a heavenly mindset.
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Some use these verses to squelch any reflection of the past or grief over former losses. They think God wants us to have amnesia for all the moments of our lives before this day.
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However, there are also admonitions in Scripture to remember. Remembering requires us to "look back" - not to remain bound by the past but to bolster our resolve to live in truth. James 1:23-35 says, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
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To remember the faithfulness, mercy, and grace of God, we are called to look back at who we once were. We struggle when we forget our freedom from these things, letting Satan use them to beat us up with guilt and shame. We aren't to dwell on these things -- we dwell on the things of God -- but we are to put these memories into their proper place and live in gratitude for what He has done.
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There are many things God asks us to remember -- this naturally involves thinking about former things. Click here for a copy of a printable of important things God wants us to remember.
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I have come to understand through grief and loss that it's perfectly acceptable to remember what was. It is the refusal to accept God's will that hinders us from living in the present. Some tragedies shifted my whole world, becoming markers before and after the crisis. Life before didn't have to be forgotten. It was forever a part of the story God wrote for me. I could continue in God's plans even as I felt the reality of loss and change.
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The people I loved and lost -- the memories made -- shaped me into the person I am. Being aware of these things and healing from past wounds is the way to truly move forward in life and faith. The times of witnessing God's miraculous provisions, His tender love through others, and His promises of peace in times of unrest keep us grounded in truth. This truth sets us free to take forward motion in this day. It helps us to hold tight to the hope He has promised for our tomorrow.
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Our frustration comes when we confuse our ability to let go of the old ways with our ability to hold tight to the history of God. Lessons learned should help us avoid those pitfalls in the future. Sharing them can encourage others to not fall prey. With God's help, we can leave behind any weight that hinders our growth. We can heal from sinful patterns, destructive family legacies, addictions, and poor decisions, using the new freedom to appreciate the victory but not be stuck in the struggle.
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Through Christ, we can continue with the right perspectives of the past, present, and future.
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I pray that you would live in the freedom of Christ today.
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New on the Blog:
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Music I am worshipping with:
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Music has a way of healing and redirecting our minds. What we take in matters. This song, Reasons I Sing by Phil Wickham, will instantly lower your blood pressure. Escape to the car to listen alone if you have to! :)
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Encouraging you to good works!
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If you would like to help the Bone family from my church with their adoption costs, visit their fundraising page. In light of all of the abortion debates, let's be busy doing what we can to love on kids who need a safe, Jesus-loving home. Every dollar counts!
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Thought-provoking Read!
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Join me on Instagram each Wednesday as I synthesize one chapter of RC Sproul's, The Holiness of God. As we are commanded to be holy and to keep God's name holy, we should seek to understand what that means. There are many negative feelings toward the word holy, but it defines who God is - "separate" from everything. Join me as we challenge ourselves to go deeper in our understanding of who God the Father is!
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Read my devotion published by Proverbs 31 by donating any amount to support their ministry. A copy will be sent to you!
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I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this!
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Click the member archive to check out any free resources you might have missed!
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"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands."
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If you need prayer, please send me a message, and I will be more than happy to intercede on your behalf. If you would like to help support my ministry and purchase a beautiful resource for guided prayer, visit this link.
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Do you follow my posts on Facebook or Instagram for daily doses of encouragement?
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