Are You Formed in His Image
Or in the World’s?
Have you ever thought about what shapes who you are today? Obviously, your family of origin played a part in shaping your formative years. But what contributes to the ongoing process of sculpting you today? As a Christian if you are fully surrendered to the Lord He is the one who molds, shapes and forms you daily from glory to glory. However, if you choose to yield to Him only in part who is shaping you?
Blame Game Drama
Are you staying stuck in a cycle of blame, unable to move beyond whatever happened in the past? Without taking responsibility for your own actions and reactions you sit on the throne of self-righteousness.
From this pinnacle it is easy to place responsibility on anyone else and never see what part you may have in a given situation. Remember, God looks at the heart and that includes yours.
How can you gain a more godly perspective? This can be challenging as much in today’s world, even among those calling themselves Christian, is based in drama. If you have lived surrounded by drama for any length of time you may be blind to it and the detrimental effects it produces in every area of your life. The enemy is crafty but God has the ultimate say in your life if you are fully surrendered to Him. Are you ready to walk in His peace or stay ever fraught with drama fallout?
Kingdom First!
What can you do? First and foremost seek first His Kingdom. As a true follower of Jesus Christ your walk will not and should not look like ‘church’ or ‘religion.’ He came for a relationship with you. He did not die on the cross to give you a denomination. He died to give you eternal salvation.
His people are called to walk out that salvation with Him as the Lord of their life not as an occasional flyby prayer request recipient. To walk in Kingdom authority and power requires an ongoing, deepening relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
What Are You Building?
Next, pray for His grace to release once and for all anyone you feel has wronged you in any way. Release them to Him with love and love yourself enough to let Him cleanse your heart as well. Let Him heal every crooked place in the depths of your heart. If you continually ruminate on past transgressions you strengthen their hold in your heart. Brick by brick you build such a stronghold that your heart is as stone lacking the light of compassion and love for others. Let Him turn that stony heart to a compassionate heart of flesh that beats in rhythm with His heart for His people.
When God Closes the Door, Keep Walking!
Check those you keep in close proximity. I read this week that you are shaped by the five people you spend the most time with in your life. Pray for Holy Spirit discernment here that you will be guided to see who adds to your walk with the Lord and who may be adding unnecessary drama to your life. Remember, not everyone you know is placed by God for your entire lifetime. Most are for a season to teach both you and them. When the season ends gracefully walk forward. Do not look back. Do not walk back.
To hold on to relationships that no longer serve where the Lord has you now keeps you stuck.
Please hear me here. I am not saying to dump everyone who irritates you and go looking for a new batch of friends. Many times you know that a relationship is no longer ‘working’ but in your humanity it is difficult to move on and release that person. God is always moving and to move with Him you sometimes have to step away.
What Voice Do You Listen To?
Jesus clearly tells His followers that the path with Him is a narrow one and few find it. If you find you are walking with fewer folks than earlier in your life perhaps you are on that narrow path. If you need a cast of thousands around you to feel connected take some time this week to consider your associations. His followers know His voice which will come through all the chatter of the world if and only if you are fully surrendered and in continual and close relationship with Him.
I hear so often that, “I do not hear from God. He never speaks to me.” Trust me, He has so much to share with you and He will if you are open to Him. Turn off your cell phone. Yes, you can turn it off. Do not put it on vibrate. Turn it off. Turn off your iPad, tablet, TV and any other electronic device you are blessed to own. Yes, you can survive unplugged to the world for a time.
When you plug into His Kingdom network prepare to be connected as never before on social media. Believe me; His media far surpasses whatever the world has to offer. For this week start the habit to ‘turn it off.’ Take one day at a time. Make a space in your life for quiet. Make a space in your life to hear Him. Make a space in your life to let Him revolutionize your journey with Him from this day forward!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:33
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” ~Mark 11:24
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” ~Jesus, John 13:34
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” ~Proverbs 12:26
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” ~Proverbs 13:20
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ….” ~Romans 16:17
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.” ~1 Corinthians 15:33
“…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” ~Philippians 3:13
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“You are called heavenward, to peace, and to holiness. And I pray that you would grow in your revelation of who you are and what God has empowered you to do with your life!” ~Sid Roth, It’s Supernatural
“Lose all your identity in the Son of God. Let Him become all in all. Seek only the Lord, and let Him be glorified.” ~Smith Wigglesworth, Devotional, page 534
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God we come before You with humble and contrite hearts. We thank You that Jesus Christ died for our eternal salvation. Jesus, teach us Your ways that we may ever walk in Your Kingdom path for Your glory to bring Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Thank You for positioning us here for ‘such a time as this.’ Lead us daily to walk ever close with You, to clearly hear Your voice and follow Your will for our life. We worship You. We praise You. We thank You for who You are. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.