What is your real battle? Maybe get free this Independence Day?!
"It's easy to look at the outside of someone and not know which battle they are truly fighting." Those words came unexpectedly tumbling out of my mouth today, and put some personal puzzle pieces together for me. I know God put those words together because they had a peaceful deep connection within my soul.
It's a common saying, "you can't judge a book by it's cover." I'm thinking about both sides of this "coin" today. The first one is pretty obvious, the book cover. Don't judge others by what you see. It says in Scripture, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7. This was when the LORD was helping Samuel find David, the "small shepherd boy", who would one day be King. Everyone thought they would come upon the strongest looking man for the job. No one expected it to be a small young man whom God would anoint that day. God knew He wanted to "train Him up from the inside out."
But it also says, in Matthew 7:-2 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.…" It's easy to size up a person and think you've figured them out. But I am not writing this today because of the times. These are ancient Words of wisdom, said in ancient times for then and now.
The other side of the "coin" is one from the inside of the book cover. A friend taught me a verse a long time ago, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." Proverbs 29:25 This verse has helped me fight anxiety time and time again. Today the Lord ministered to me after a visit where I tried to make sense of "me" to someone I trust. This someone I trust listened and understood. She is the same one who gave me that verse. She is trusted.
I don't know what this means for you today. What's your take away? I don't think you can have understanding of one side of this coin without understanding the other. Maybe it frees you up. Maybe it helps you let some walls down. Our walls can be a healthy protection at times. But God wants us to have at least one or two, or a handful of people in our lives where it is safe to process our "walls." Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:32.
The key here is, "If you continue in My Word." Ultimately, if we continue in His Word, and in relationship with Him, then the truth will be truth, and we can walk in humility not humiliation. We don't have to exhaust everyone with "the inside of the book." One or two "grace filled" friends is enough to listen to the sometimes exhausting story. It in turn, allows you to reflect His glory in your story. Proverbs 29:25 say, "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." It. Is. A. Process.
Let's "run the race" people! We are complex and all uniquely different and yet made in the image of God. Pain and sin affect us all differently, but the key is this, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us," Hebrews 12:1 We heal and we give glory to God, when we completely empty ourselves of ourselves! We are the hindrance. When we put on Christ, His righteousness, there is beauty born. Isaiah 32:17, "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."
Let go of your book cover, be honest about what Christ is doing in you. And when looking at the frame of another person, Pause. Pray. Love. Grow. There is far more than meets the eye.
What does this have to do with me? It means that once again I lay anxiety down at the feet of Jesus. Anxiety has ripple affects that I can not control. Let go of control. Allow Jesus to work through the awkward anxious moments, and just let them be. Let Jesus use the anxiousness to draw me to Him and not away from Him, from others. Let it have me fall forward in faith, not be still in silence. Let it not define me.
Let. Jesus. Define. Me. Let. Him. Define. You.
Let. Jesus. Define. Me. Let. Him. Define. You.
My first trip to Haiti didn't scare me. It was the edge of this mountain top citadel that terrified me on our last day! I took this picture of Kristen on top of that citadel. Things don't always make sense! I couldn't wait to be in Haiti, but the mountain top...another story. Kristen can testify, I was not a happy camper being near the edges up so high! Kristen had no fear! I've always wanted to be strong and courageous in the way that God made my daughter. But I've learned to love her courage for the journey God has planned for her. My courage looks different. That is because we are different and I celebrate God in her and I celebrate God in me. There was a time I didn't understand His love for me, for my weakness. In the end, it's in our weakness that He is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9. We all have a part and different strengths for the same call. And in the end our strengths balance out the call of God to
Advance. His Kingdom.
Audio Adrenaline, Kings and Queens
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