Sunday Bonus / Warrior Woman

Warrior women come in all shapes and sizes, and races. Being loud and obnoxious doesn’t make you a warrior.  The louder you yell doesn’t make you better. The warrior woman has inner beauty and strength. She is a Proverbs 31 woman, and there is a such woman, it is attainable. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Read it again and see that she has wisdom. She also has help. You don’t have to do it all alone.  Wisdom is the principal thing. And one translation says supreme. Proverbs 4:7, and 7:4, says to make her your sister. That’s right, wisdom is referred to as a woman and a sister. The Hebrew word is sowrah, with a definition of a row. So, we should be getting our ducks in a row.

I have to admit wisdom still escapes me, I fall into way too many traps with that mouth of mine, but I have had a lot of oppression and spiritual warfare and I know that is no excuse. Just letting you know I’m a work in progress, just like you. But you know what, we are His workmanship, and a masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10

Let’s look at some other ways we are warrior women. Maybe you will see yourself as one. I’m beginning to. And you know what, I do better if I let Him fight for me and be still. Exodus 14:14.  I hope you enjoy this series, I wanted to start it in January but truthfully it is much needed in the holiday season.

Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:4.  And it is, though I love hair color and makeup and clothes. Let’s get quiet and listen to Him. We do represent Him and should be modest but not legalistic.

We are favored.  Psalm 5:12 we are blessed and highly favored and accepted into the beloved.

Warriors aren’t afraid to shed  few tears, in the presence of the Lord. I don’t like to let the enemy see me sweat. He has them in a bottle. Psalm 56:8

In Christ, there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1, He’s not condemning me so why should I condemn myself?

In Christ, you are an overcomer. 1 John 4:4

And while we are familiar with Isaiah 54:17, that no weapon that is formed against me will prosper. And by the way, confessing His righteousness activates that verse, we are only righteous through Him. But what about his verse?

I will stand strong in the Commander of heaven’s armies. Every battle is His, and by His power, no weapon formed against me shall ever prosper. Psalm 91:7-8

He knows all my plans and dreams and has even bigger ones for me. He will do far above what we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Women who are subject to abuse and even those who aren’t can have problems believing they are worthy of God’s love and to receive from Him. He says we are worth many sparrows and He wants to take care of us, so we can be beautiful and tender women warriors.

Darrll Fraser / pexels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weapons of Warfare

We want to talk about our weapons as believers. I know they are are powerful and mighty against the enemy, especially , since he is already defeated by Jesus. We want to thanks Him for and use these gifts, if you operate in spiritual gifts all the better, but you have these and He will add more as we grow in grace.

His name. I have to believe that His name is the most powerful of all, the name above all names. Jesus, as the very Son of God was given the name Emmanuel, God is with us, so I believe He has all the names of God, included in His. Rapha for healing, Jehovah Jireh, provider and El Gibbor, mighty warrior. and although He is the Prince of Peace, and His peace is a powerful weapon, one I am using myself, His name tops my list.

Taking Thoughts Captive –  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 This one is something I was doing all the time as I stepped out in faith early on. I must have had a million thought a day, and I was exhausted putting them down or out, I was bombarded with spiritual warfare, I overcame it but I should have done better in my opinion, so let me help you.

A lot of thoughts, especially, accusations and self doubts, are from the enemy. I knew my Bible but was tormented by the accuse of the brethren even for thinking on the good things. Once I learned to discern and bring those thoughts into captivity.  I was obedient, but not like I could have been without that torment. I was trying to bring my thoughts into obedience alright but I failed to recognize it was into His obedience. He was obedient to even death. so I would have to be or live in the death cycle but joy life more abundantly. It eluded me.

The devil will tell you you will fail, the words says you can do all through Christ. And this one I caught for claiming healing, that it was a lie when I wasn’t, Maybe, I wasn’t but I was getting in line with Jesus, and imagine that the father of lies was calling me a liar. Renew your mind, as a believer feast on His words, you have the mind of Christ.

His Word – He sent His word and healed them. Literally, His Word was Jesus, it still is. Jesus used the Word on the devil, if He had to, what makes you think we would not have to? It is a sharp two edged sword. It cuts through flesh into our spirits and it will cut him to pieces and his plans for us as well. He will destroy the destroyer.

His armor.  – While I tend to believe His armor is the Holy Spirit, we have have helmet of salvation, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith, shoes with the gospel of peace. And while we gear up and gird to guard against the enemy, I think trying to visualize the armor is fine, but a king’s armor was too heavy, Saul’s, wouldn’t God’s armor be? It would for us alone but the Holy Spirit bears it for us, and He is the third person of the Trinity, Comforted, Counsellor, Teacher, the Spirit of Truth and Grace. It is not wise to not listen to Him as a believer. He is God, and God is our shield, kabodi in Hebrew, our glory.

And finally, in Romans 8, we are told what will not seperate us from His love, and how we are counted all day as sheep for slaughter, but I leave you with this, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37.

Natasha Fernandez / pexels

His Peace / Weapon of Choice

I thought about warrior women to use for these posts. But the white is pure, like Jesus. Soft, like His touch that heals. Powerful, like His peace, our weapon of choice. Yes, His peace is powerful because it is not like the world’s idea of it, it is inner peace, shalom, like the peace God had after creation, and after Jesus completed His sacrifice on the cross.

There is nothing missing in us when we allow His peace to rule. It is powerful, like a sword, the blade is clean and quick and severs fear and worry, It stops the panic and shortness of breath and weakens the cruel words of our enemies, and sometimes they are within our closest contacts. Sometimes, just the same old, tired thoughts that we have battled much to long.

Let’s look at how Jesus used peace as a weapon. Without going through each verse, He was often drawn into conversations about the law, the Pharisees and Sadducees always wanted to trap Him. He answered wisely, and they really didn’t have any argument. He was firm, angry but no so much as to lose His peace. He took time to braid a cord before going after the money changers. Jesus was the epitome of being angry but without sin. He was and is after all, the Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace.

He did have to rebuke Peter, but was also quick not to take offense to even the ” little faith ” they showed, after witnessing miracles, when they dared ask Him if He cared that they were in a storm and could possibly sink. Peter sank and He saved Him, that time they all saw it.

Sometimes, He will calm the storm and sometimes He will comfort the child and let the storm rage. That is what a powerful weapon His peace is and why it is a sword to us, when we know when to speak and when to remain silent. Jesus was beaten, scourged, mocked and spat upon. I often wondered how He could do that for me. Had He not been my Prince of Peace and yours, we would be lost. Even the best of us would let our temper go without Him. He opened not His mouth, even though He knew what was going on.

We can be silent before accusations, unless He says otherwise, because He defends us. He is our sword and shield, our protection. And He is our peace. Micah 5:5, Old Testament or Covenant, but He, Himself, is our peace. Ephesians 2:14, New Testament, further revelation of the plan of salvation. New Covenant, His Covenant of peace from Isaiah 54. And no weapon will prosper, He destroys the enemy, I think there should be a comma there.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. John 14:26, 27

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world! John 16:33

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Psalm 28:3 reminds us that some speak peace to the neighbors but have mischief in their hearts. And we are to speak peace but in His love, He told the disciples that, and if the house does not accept it to move on. Our houses or temples are ourselves and others, our bodies, and the body of Christ. we should be speaking peace to the body, to heart so it can rest. So may we speak peace and hold it when necessary so He can fight for us. Warriors of grace know the difference, when to keep our peace.

May the LORD turn to face you, lavishing peace on you!

Numbers 6:26 ISV

Kaitlyn Jade / Unsplash

The Kneeling Warrior

I can’t tell you how many times I have been on my knees in prayer. And I can’t tell you how many times I was unable to kneel. I was able though to even prop myself into a semi kneeling way of praying when I could not get up. I had a lot of trouble walking after a fall, I have even had to use toss pillows or a blanket to kneel.

There is power in kneeling prayer, it makes you a kneeling warrior, there is a beautiful song, I Get On My Knees. I understand that. I don’t understand that people are not there, haven’t they had enough illness, pain. sorrow and grief, aren’t their finances or fears or whatever enough to bring them there? Apparently, some people don’t find their way there.

I have been there many times. There is nothing sweeter than a mother who will kneel and pray over a sleeping child, a husband over a wife or vice versa, a child over a parent. Prayer is intimate and personal, especially, praying in the Spirit, and He will help you pray when you don’t know how.

And He understands if you cannot kneel, it is just that you still should have a submissive  spirit. We are so often taught to resist the devil, but like a lot of verses, a few words left out here and there make a difference. Resist, but first submit to God, then he will flee.

One of my favorite stories is that of Mary of Bethany, against all opposition from the religious and Judas’ greed, she took her most precious gift and poured it on the Lord. She had been admonished before for not helping serve when she was at His feet, but not by Jesus, but her sister. Relatives can be critical. He said she had chosen the one needful thing.

And now, here she was again, back at the feet of the Lord but anointing Him for burial, no wonder she had tears, and wiped His feet with her hair. No one else had washed His feet as was the custom because of dust and sandals even Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples. He was, in effect, at their feet. Doesn’t it make sense that although we serve Him, he longs to reach out to us, especially through our pain and tears?

He knows hearts, He knows who only wants to be seen or heard, all the ulterior motives but He also sees and hears the pure in heart and they are blessed and even more so, and a more powerful prayer warrior, on your knees.

Kayla Renae / pexels  * I airbrushed this a little, just a little too much cleavage and the song about the Alabaster Box and I Get On My Knees are on YouTube.

Healing Warrior

This year has seen a lot of uphill health battles. I have had fewer colds, allergy and bronchitis symptoms and I am grateful for that. Still pain and a couple of falls were a pest. I have been taught to resist all kinds of ills. Thankfully, Communion, will always help. Fruit juices and rest, using an inhaler or nebulizer to knock it out before it starts. Common sense and wisdom. We live in a fallen world with an enemy bent on our defeat but it is he who has lost the battle to the Healer, Jesus Christ. I know no plague can come near you is true, and I want it to be at 100%.

A lot of pain comes from overwork, overtaxing a body that has already been attacked. There are ways to help alleviate it. Having had broken bones and scoliosis I know that kind of pain sometimes is just God working, I have seen backs heal slowly but I know He is healing them. He knows how much a person can bear, and it is not a correct quote that He won’t give you more than you can bear, it says He will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear. Don’t you think merely being a believer can target you for more than you can bear, and start really seeking Him, you will have to learn to overcome in spiritual warfare.

Don’t think for a moment He is punishing you with pain and suffering, sometimes it is just a part of healing, however, I know how much He bore for me and you, so I know there is a place of no pain like no fear, but it found by walking in the Spirit. The more you do the stronger you will be. Forget poor old Job, and remember perfect Jesus. He made a difference in the Covenant of Peace with God.

I never tell people not go to the doctor, seek professional help and I don’t like the term faith healers but it takes faith to be healed. One of the most beautiful stories is that of the woman with the issue of blood, she had spent all her money on doctors and still never got well, considered unclean, she risked arrest or worse were she caught outside.

But Jesus didn’t care about that, according to tradition, He should not have touched her, but I’m sure He did after she touched His garment and was made whole. He faced her and told her her faith had made her whole to go in peace. Here is another instance of peace as weapon of warfare, healing peace. A heart at peace gives the body rest, she had nothing to fear.

Jesus was all about healing, as I began to study it I just believed everyone I prayed for would be healed, I was following a good example after all. I would hear how Jesus healed them all. And He did, those who believed. There were places He could do no mighty works because of doubt and unbelief. And then there the ” other nine “, who were unappreciative. I have seen people get well and still talk about the hospital stay, and they should not be here.

And I have had the honor of praying for some who are still here, by the grace of God, one woman who was literally told she had no chance of living, another doctor gave her very little, two years later, she is here. I saw it with my mother in 2003, doctors told her she had stage 4 breast cancer. I prayed for her, wrote prayers and verses, Isaiah 53. Her x rays were negative. She did have a hysterectomy though, she was  so overworked. I have seen the miraculous. Don’t ever doubt it is real or for you. If you can believe, God does impossible things but sometimes in His time.

I know not everyone is healed and I grieved some losses but not for long because grief is a terrible place to live and shroud over you like an evil spirit, left to itself, I know grief really is an evil spirit. I have seen it ruin lives. And I know these friends would not want me to have some sort of survivors guilt but to keep right on believing, they are with Jesus, and they would want others to know Him and be healed even if they were too weary.

Isaiah 53 is a complete account of healing. Let me challenge you to look up even more verses and stand on them even as you do what you can in the natural. God can show up in the supernatural. He sent His Word and healed them then and now, he still heals.

My aunt worked with a man who was at a service and saw an arm restored not healed but grown back. Creative miracles happen, I know a pastor, not personally, who has a young man at his church that had no brain in the womb, but he was born with a brain.

Just as He restores souls, He can restore bodies. There are many paths to healing, even as you got to doctors, laying on of hands, prayer clothes, Communion, speaking in tongues. Jesus showed so much love and compassion, but was hated just like believers are in many ways. Why would you go through all that and not want people healed?

Drug use is rampant and destroys lives and generations. It is rooted in sorceries. Even prescription drugs are being abused, so if you take medication, take it wisely, especially pain medicine. Never put your faith in that alone, Jesus paid a high price, is the gentle healer and He will restore health and heal wounds.

Some illnesses are from grief, unbelief, unforgiveness. You can make yourself sick with worry and fear. I always encourage people to sow healing verses into their spirit before they need them so they will be the first thing you think of when you get a bad report, Isaiah asks whose report will you believe? I believe God’s, He may even guide you to a doctor, but nothing is too hard for Him after all He created us.

May He renew and restore us as we become Healing Warriors, in Jesus name, Christmas is a time for miracles, and there is power in the blood and in His name. Sometimes, we just need to be still and let Him fight. Exodus 14:14

The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. 1 John 2:20 God’s Word Translation

Taylor / pexels

Dedicated to Wendy and Jesse.

His Peace In You, Armor For Your Soul.

Peace? A weapon of warfare? Armor? I know we are taught to put on the armor of God, it has a helmet of salvation, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith, but the shoes are the gospel of peace. We read that those who carry the gospel have beautiful feet in Romans 10:15, that is the gospel of peace.

Jesus didn’t open His mouth against accusers and that is difficult. Human nature wants to lash out, I have done it so have you, and probably regretted it. I have a lot of people disagree with me, that’s okay, but you don’t have to be arrogant or abusive. And that is not my readers, comments are good and a blessing, I am talking about more in person conversations.

If peace wasn’t important, He would not be bringing it to my attention all the time. John 14:27, His peace is palatable, tangible and sweet as opposed to the chaotic and confusing. God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33, and John 16:33, He said we would have peace in Him.

In the Old Testament, Micah 5:5 declares He is our peace, but after the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus has truly doubled the promise. He, Himself, is our peace. Ephesians 2:14. I know people who like to get up in the morning and put on their armor, as a mental image, a sort of spiritual exercise.  That’s great, but  a while back I was thinking about Saul’s armor, the king’s armor being too heavy for a young shepherd, David.

I’m a poet and so was he, but he also had the wherewithal to fight Goliath when no one else would, not even the king, that armor was too heavy, but God’s armor, the Holy Spirit might have been heavy, weighty and powerful but was it was not too heavy an armor as He came upon the future king, and the stone went right to the giant’s head. I want the shofar to blow and the lion to roar over me and if He wants to zap any enemy, that’s fine with me.

The point being, the king’s armor was too heavy. God’s wasn’t, even though He is the King of the Universe. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon people. In the New Testament, Jesus said the Comforter would come and He did and people began to speak in other tongues in Acts, they had received power. The power Jesus promised. The baptism of fire, and when some had not heard of Him, Paul explained the subsequent baptism, even though they were baptized like John had done.

Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came at the same time. That to me is the best way to receive, but don’t worry. You can ask even if you were baptized in water or sprinkled on the head. It is a power gift, so if you decide to ask, study it out, and if you speak in tongues, keep it up or the enemy will try to creep in.

Jesus wanted us to have rest, and we can in the Spirit and in His peace, knowing He is in control and will take care of us. I thank God for His peace and that His gospel is peace, for the ” shoes ” of peace. People will receive if they ask and believe, and the power is a huge part of His peace.

Whether or not it is actual armor or spiritual, the Holy Spirit is there to help. Jesus was specific about why He sent Him. And I want the Prince of Peace to send Him ahead in the battle, because He already won it.

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Winter Warrior / Unburdened

As believers we are taught and rightly so, that love bears all things. And that we are to bear one another’s burdens. Often, we feel a burden to pray, especially as intercessors, and the Holy Spirit will interpret the prayer language if you ask. I don’t always have to know, just to pray, until that burden lifts. Nahum and Habakkuk, for example use the word burden for visions, and prophetic words.

But we are many times just so overwhelmed and over burdened and that let’s our enemy get a foot in the door. Back to resting in Him. We have to get back into Matthew 11:28, we have to dig deeper into the words of Christ calling us to His rest. He knew we would be heavy laden. And invites us to come and rest.

He goes on to say that His yoke or guidance, like a fine team of matched horses in step, to give an illustration, is easy and light. Not hard and cumbersome like a pair of pack mules trekking the Grand Canyon. He could have went on to say that if it is not easy and light, it isn’t Him.

Now, not the prompting to pray or the recognizable presence of His Spirit but what you do and how you work all day. And some of us are on the go day and night, the brain never switches over to calm down, rest, God is in control.

Isaiah 53 is a perfect illustration of what He bore for us. A crown of thorns for our peace. Stripes, more like gashes, wounds to the bone, for healing. The devil doesn’t fight fair, we don’t either, our weapons are not carnal or of the flesh but of the Spirit, and he has lost from the beginning.

Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 Some translations say shaken or to slip and fall.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19

Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. Psalm 37:24

They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Matthew 23:4

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

https://biblehub.com/esv/galatians/6.htm

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4

Borne, is past tense for bearing. He took it all on the cross, many of us want to take it up and carry it, fine. Be a believer, but He already bore sin, sickness, disease, fear, depression, sorrow and grief. Why grieve the Holy Spirit when Jesus sent Him to help?

Cancer is not a burden for your to bear.

Heart trouble, diabetes, strokes, blindness, lameness, deafness. Heartache, loneliness, pain. depression, anxiety and and anything else you can name it is under the blood and body of Jesus.

There is a song that asks if Jesus must bear the cross alone and suggests we all have one, but the truth is He did bear it alone, the only one worthy of praise and adoration. He bore it, it is not your burden to carry.

So Winter Warriors, unburden yourself and let Him be the Lord, your burden is to pray, and His is easy and light.

Rebecca Jones

Ali Pazani / pexels
    

 

The Battle Rages

As the end of the age approaches before Jesus’ return to rule and reign, which is the Second Coming, the next event would be the Rapture or catching away of the church. Many people do not recognize that as doctrine, even with 1 Thessalonians 4:17, that the Lord returns in the clouds with the trump, we have already been through the fall feasts. Jesus could come at any time, no one knows the day or hour.

Many people are mid trib, post trib, but I believe in a pre trib Rapture. Trib being short for tribulation, the Great Tribulation not the everyday tribulation Jesus said we would have in the world. Although it is a span of seven years and without delving deep into prophecy, time is different to God so I believe it could be different in heaven and earth.  In other words, like the Rapture, when He comes quickly, like a thief in the night, He could turn that time around in heaven and come back to defeat the Anti Christ, Like I said, time is different, suppose a day is like a thousand years. Don’t worry about complex eschatology, just believe in Jesus.

So what about the Rapture? It is fashioned like the Jewish Wedding. After the couple agrees, the groom goes to prepare her house, it can be added to his father’s house. He has up to a year to return and shows up in the night to surprise her. And then there is the wedding and that celebration can last seven days, see the comparison. Seven days, seven years?

Jesus was good at telling stories, He was excellent at parables, one is the parable of the ten virgins. In anticipation of the bridegroom’s arrival, they wait in the night. Five are running low on oil and five have plenty. The five lacking ask to borrow from the others, they say no to go buy some.

In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is given many metaphorical references, fire, water, a dove, and of course oil. So the hidden message is to keep your oil burning and bright, in anticipation of His arrival, like the bridegroom our beloved bridegroom, Jesus will come and whisk the church away to heaven, likely when you least expect it. So keep the Spirit in you, as Him to fill you daily, keep your lamp lit, He wants us to light the world, not hide under the bushel.

He will also baptize you in the Spirit. It is a powerful gift and the Holy Spirit will teach you, as a winter warrior or any other season. We are definitely in a season when He could return. As we are we in spiritual battles, we are in a battle that rages, against our hearts and minds and bodies, but the good news is Jesus is greater, and He has fought and won the battle already, so we have nothing to worry about, but still we do, even if we shouldn’t.

As the enemy rages and wages war, be sure the Lord is already the victor and so are we as believers, keep His peace, when the dove descended on Jesus, some heard God’s voice and some heard thunder, and some nothing. It will likely be the same at the Rapture.

Some will sense it and be taken, others may hear thunder and still others will have no clue. And they will be left behind if they are not a believer in Christ. There is already spiritual chaos and confusion, violence, murders, and the floods and fires taking place, people are not repentant of sorceries which is also drug addiction. Revelation is close. Make your decision, because it will be so much harder then, the battle will rage.

Esther Huyhn Bich / pexels

Sunday Bonus / Warriors of Grace

What better way to depict a warrior of grace than a bride standing on a rock. A perfect depiction of a Daughter of the King, a bride of Christ. He is our rock, and we are to stand on His promises of grace. As we continue with our Winter Warrior Series, we will take a look at Him as the rock of our salvation and some promises of grace.

For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? Psalm 18:31

The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation. Psalm 18:46

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Psalm 31:3

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. Deuteronomy 32:18 Let’s not do that. And of course we know He is the rock that is higher. Psalm 61:2

And now, we can be lavished with love and grace verses. Sow them in your heart.

From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16, this is New Living, I like abundance in stad of fullness.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Phillipians 4:23

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:11

Now, we know there are lots more verses, so please make time during your holidays to celebrate His grace.

 

Winter Warrior / More of Him

Not in a bridal gown but a guiding star is behind her. The star or literal glory guided the wise men and is still guiding us to God’s plans. Are we driving ourselves or are we resting in His love? There is more.

Many people use the phrase and I believe incorrectly, that we must decrease so He can increase, that has to do with John the Baptist and his ministry, for Jesus’ ministry to begin and to grow, John’s had to decrease.

In truth, He was going to baptize people with fire, the Holy Spirit, even though it is fine to have been baptized in water, there is more. More authority, power and gifts. A lot of people like the phrase more of Him and less of me. I have have a bookmark with those greater than, less than math symbols.

But the truth is to me anyway, I have found that the more I enjoy Jesus, sow His words in, soak in His love and peace and just rest and let Him help me. I am more of me. You do give Him your soul at salvation, which is your mind, will and emotions.

But often our minds get into battles, sometimes we are not willing to obey the Spirit or are even spiritually mature enough to discern His voice.  Fear and worry, anxiety will grip us, and deception is not far behind. We do not or should not have a spirit of fear ourselves, because we have not been given a Spirit, the Holy Spirit, of power, love and a sound mind. 1 Timothy 1:7.

We shouldn’t be afraid, because He isn’t, not worried, He isn’t. Not anxious or panicked because He isn’t. I would love to tell you I don’t worry, never have a problem, I have to choose not to, and there are days it easier than others to not let it get to you, there will be tribulation or trouble in this world. Jesus acknowledged that and He didn’t mean the Great Tribulation, which is ever closer, He also said we would overcome because He did. And that doesn’t just mean at death, He wants believers alive and remaining when He comes, He defeated death, though some may pass, others will not.

We are crucified with Him at salvation, He gives us new and hidden lives we have to seek. We are emerging butterflies, but have to be strong in Him or we will never soar. I don’t want you to believe that because you give more of yourself to Jesus, more time or study, prayer or allow Him control by submitting to the Spirit or being baptized in the Spirit, that you lose yourself, the truth is that you find the real you, the best you that you can be, the enemy is the identity thief, he will rob you of your identity or destiny in Christ if you allow him to. You can learn it by reading all the verses with the words ” in Christ ” and I will post a link at the bottom for you.

You are submitting, surrendering, but you are not giving up more of you, you are gaining more of Him, and His peace is powerful. I pray He speaks it to you. I know He wants us to be winter warriors with more of His rest, joy, peace.

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https://adaughtersgiftoflove.wordpress.com/2018/02/17/who-am-i-in-christ/