Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
Did you catch that?
Sin will have NO dominion over you. Why? Because we are not under the law, but God’s grace.
We are no longer under the law because of Jesus’ payment on the cross for our many sins.
God’s grace covers us, removing the burden of our sin.
But Paul starts this passage with a warning: don’t let sin reign, or have control, in your body here on earth.
He recognizes we all have choices.
Hundreds of times each day, we choose whether to sin or not.
We often obey the passions or wants of our flesh even if they don’t line up with God.
But we don’t have to obey our flesh as sin has no power over us.
God’s power is bigger then the pull of our flesh which leads to sin.
When we choose to sin, we step out of grace.
We step out of what God has for us. What He wants for us, which is way better then what we want.
But when we repent, choosing instead to obey God, we step back into His grace.
We step back into what He has for us.
Recognize your choices.
Purpose to choose life each day.
It’s often incredibly hard as the pull of our fleshly desires is strong.
But sin has no dominion over us because of Jesus.
Live under Jesus’ power and authority over sin, death, and the grave in your life.
He’s your constant Protector, always ready to help when you simply choose Him over all else.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 4:20-21
Are you ready for God to work in your life?
He is.
He is more than ready.
Are you?
Are you willing to put in the work?
Meaning, set yourself aside so God can use you?
You might say yes, but do you understand the cost?
It could cost relationships that are dear to you.
It could bring you confusion at times when you fail to understand His plans.
And it could cost you your very life.
But God is able to do more than we could ever possibly think or imagine.
Imagine allowing Him to use you as He sees fit.
He has great plans for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God’s perfect peace surrounds you when you are within His will.
When you suspend your personal desires for God’s instead.
His plans for you might include simply loving others who utterly dislike your existence.
You can remain peaceful, simply loving, not retorting anger for anger.
Or He might have you react in a kind way when every fiber of your being screams for justice.
God is more than able to provide you the strength only He can to fulfill the plans He has for you.
Big or small, the plans He has for you are so good.
Allow Him full access knowing He is able to do far more than we could possibly imagine.
Apart from God, we are one thing.
But working together with Him is another matter entirely.
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2
Are you running into the freedom God has for you?
Running from the lies you have believed?
Running from the temptations that once held you captive?
Running from the ill reactions you normally exhibit?
Malachi reminds us that when you fear God’s name, when you are His beloved child, He will respond with healing.
Healing your mind.
Healing your will.
Healing your emotions.
When you ask Him to change you, freeing you from nasty ingrained responses, He will.
He promises you will not only be free, but you will run like a wild animal.
Uncontrollably free.
Decide to trust Him.
Read His word, worship, and pray.
And run as you are free.
Smile because you are loved.
Rejoice because you are His.
There is no turning back.
Every time you are tempted to return to the pit, align yourself with God and run free towards Him instead.
I know that’s not breaking news, but it’s time to be reminded.
When others don’t like you, do you let their condemnation define you?
Do you live within their definition of you?
Do you crumble, becoming the embodiment of their definition of you?
Or do you refuse their lies, recognizing God’s definition of you instead?
Has your crown fallen, or worse, did you forget to put it on today?
God created you in His image.
Genesis 1: 27 declares this as absolute fact: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God defines you.
Live within His definition of you.
How dare we allow others to define our worth. Our value. Our purpose.
God created you in His image, which is perfection.
Yes, sin mars our flesh on a daily basis, but your worth is not defined by your sin.
You are inherently valuable. Simply by God creating you, you are deemed as so.
Because you reflect God’s image. God’s very self.
Stand tall, plaster that smile, and live within your value from God.
He will help you live up to His purpose as you continually submit to His authority.
But you easily can, know why?
Because God, your authority, values you like nothing else.
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
What spills out of you every day?
Your moods from yesterday you simply cannot let go of yet?
Your depression from the hand life has dealt you?
Negativity, expecting the worst every time?
Anger as you are better then all of this?
Or joy, knowing God is above it all?
Peace, resting in the knowledge that God’s got this and more?
Mercy, remembering how God has poured out His mercy liberally on you?
What spills out of you tends to resort back to one question: who or Who is on the throne of your heart?
If it’s yourself, which is extremely common, then whatever spills out of you will be contingent upon your flighty circumstances.
It will depend upon who pleases you or not.
If God is on your heart’s throne, out will spill the fruits of the spirit as you remember God’s in control and you are not.
Luke 6 reminds us out of our heart’s abundance, the mouth speaks.
Out of your heart.
What’s in your heart? Values, beliefs, things you know and believe to be true.
If your heart believes God’s got this and more, spilling out of you will be His mercy and love to others.
But if your heart desires yourself and the things of this world, ugliness will spill when things do not go your way.
What will you choose?
Will you spread God’s very self to others this day?
Ask God to fill you with Himself.
Give Him the throne of your heart.
That way, when things spill out, you’ll be His hands and feet to those you meet.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practicers and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10
Have you put on your new self?
The one God created you to live within?
Entering into our relationship with God, He forgives our sin away.
Our old selves.
But it tends to sneak back.
Our old habits, thoughts, actions, desires, and selves.
Yes, we are still the Lords, but we begin acting as if we are not.
We forget who we have become.
We forget Whose we now are.
Colossians 3 reminds we have put down our old self and its practices.
Our old habits. Our selfishness. Our life apart from God.
Instead, we have put on our new selves.
Our new identity as God’s.
And our new identity is continually renewed within the knowledge that we are created in God’s very image.
But as Colossians reminds us, it’s a choice.
When life happens, what self will you put on?
Will you react within your old habits of fear and inadequacy?
Or will you react within your new self, wrapped in God’s image of peace, love, and joy?
Notice which you choose.
And purpose to dress within your new self: the very image of God.
Photos by https://unsplash.com/@brodatafotografia, https://unsplash.com/@beccamchaffie, https://unsplash.com/@belart84
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
What else in the world is there?
What could possibly compare to Him?
Look full in His wonderful face.
Gaze your eyes.
Stop everything else, and look.
For the things of earth will grow strongly dim.
Everything else will fade in comparison to the One who created You and all things.
As my grandmother used to say, “From the balcony of heaven, what will it even matter?”
For in the light of His glory and grace, these things simply won’t matter one bit.
Why do earthly things grow dim?
Because of Him.
His power, His glory, and His grace above all.
God created everything.
He reigns over it ALL.
So, we must turn our eyes upon Him, Jesus.
Because He is our everything.
When you allow your mind to settle on things out of your control, people who do not care, or circumstances you wish would change, peace will leave as fear is invited to stay.
As Proverbs reminds us, focus yourself on Jesus. Leave no room to divert your eyes from Him.
Means you will purpose your mind to focus on Jesus and His truth.
You will focus on His love, protection, and provision for each and every little thing.
Focusing on Jesus means you trust in Him fully.
For your everything, today and tomorrow.
Focus on Jesus, the Author of your story, whose steadfast love and faithful presence will remain with you now and always.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ever thanked God for your temptations or weaknesses?
For how you are tempted to sin?
There are many ways we can be tempted in our flesh.
Eating too much, addictions to sugar, alcohol, drugs, or technology.
Reacting in anger, putting others down, or thinking of ourselves always first.
Even wanting to do the right thing, whatever it may be, but instead listening to our flesh, following it instead.
What are your temptations or your weaknesses?
Have you thanked God for them?
Thanked God for being weak?
I know, sounds foreign. Almost like why would I thank God for where I am weak?
When you thank God, you recognize your need for His power through you.
You recognize your need for His strength covering your weakness with His power.
Your need for not only God’s saving grace, but His every day grace transforming you into your new person God created you to become.
When you thank God, you allow His power to shine through your weakness as resisting your temptation is possible through God alone.
2 Corinthians reminds us to boast in our weakness. To recognize them positively.
Because God shines through our weakness, making us strong.
If you had everything all together, all your ducks in a row, why would you need God?
Why would you need to rely on His strength?
You wouldn’t. You’d be fine on your own. You’d never admit your need for a Savior.
We are human. Flawed. Weak.
But when we submit our weak selves unto Almighty God, we are transformed, slowly, into His likeness.
Thank Him today for your flaws. For where you are weak. When temptation knocks at your door.
Then respond with God’s strength. He’ll shut the door for you.
And you’ll rest peacefully, knowing you don’t have to do it all.
As I’ve prayed during these last dozen years, I’ve purposely begged God to fling WIDE the doors He has chosen for me and to SLAM shut the doors not in His plan.
When you are walking through darkness during a season of complete uncertainty, you need His light to guide you.
You rely on His guidance.
I like the analogy of open and shut doors; although, I added an extra measure of assurance.
I wanted to easily walk through to His plan or get slammed in the face with a resounding NO.
Might as well be crystal clear, am I right?
I’ve had many doors open with ease: graduate degrees, student teaching, first job, and marrying the right man just to name a few.
I’ve also had plenty of slammed doors, mostly in the area of dating the wrong men before I married my husband. Giggle.
Guess what?
Those slammed doors are a whole lot of fun.
It’s a joy to know which man God did NOT have hand picked for me.
Back in the day, one date never showed up after weeks of talking on the phone.
He would have been my first date post divorce.
It was the weirdest thing, but God knew best.
I won’t lie – I was bitterly disappointed for a few hours.
My pride was wounded.
But I turned my focus to God and realized it was simply a closed door.
And each closed door moves you closer to a door flung wide open!
Another story? Well, a different date ended in disaster after he told me he had been ‘quite bored’.
I was sitting at home when I got that text.
I began to laugh.
This man had spent the previous two weeks proclaiming his devotion and wondering ‘where I had been his whole life’.
He was also a Christian, but every time he called, I almost broke out into a sweat, because he was easily offended.
Not a good sign!
This guy was the one missing out on me.
It was his loss, certainly not mine.
When the ground shakes from a slammed door, get on your knees and thank God for having your back.
He knows what is best for you.
Because God flung wide the door with my beloved almost a decade ago, I am even more grateful for the closed doors.
I mean, God saved me from a lifetime of misery with the wrong man.
How can a girl not get on her knees thanking God for that?
When God answers you, it may be in a way you absolutely never expected.
Trust Him.
You pray for open and shut doors and wisdom for a lunch date.
The door slams shut.
Why? Because the date never shows up.
Recognize God’s shouts after you’ve ignored His whispers.
Yes, God will communicate to you, but we must listen.
And after listening, we must trust that yes, God still knows what He’s doing even after we hate His answer.
Pray for those doors.
Ask your friends and family to pray for you in this way.
Out loud with words or crying out within your soul?
David, the man after God’s own heart, did many times.
This Psalm is one example.
He starts by royally complaining.
From the depths of his soul he wonders how long God will forget him.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (verse 1)
He then tries to console himself.
We all do, when we fail to hear from God.
Or we think we don’t.
He forgets he can choose to praise God instead.
He focuses, instead, on his sorrow.
Again, like we all do.
David goes on: How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (verse 2).
David again pleads, sharing with God he will die if his sorrow remains apart from God’s peace.
He desperately wants God to intervene so his enemies don’t take pleasure in David’s weakness.
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. (verse 3 & 4).
David ends the psalm by choosing to praise God.
He remembers how faithful God has been to him.
That, in turn, helps David realize God will again bring him out of the depths.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (verse 5 & 6).
Maybe David has found the key.
The key to reconnecting our mind, soul, and body to the One who created us.
Praise.
Choosing to praise even in the midst.
Even when every fiber of our being wants to remain wallowing in the pit of self pity.
Praise the Lord even if.
Praise the Lord even if you don’t feel like it.
You will remember how faithful He has always been in every circumstance.
And you will suddenly lift your eyes, knowing He will once again show Himself.
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. Isaiah 42:5
God breathed and life erupted.
His life filled what He breathed upon.
Creation.
The apostle’s baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine anything better than the creation of life or the indwelling of God’s spirit within you?
When God breathes on something, life erupts. Multiplies. Becomes alive.
While at worship last week, I had a picture of God breathing on the ugly parts of life.
The sections of our hearts or lives that contain ugly, messy cobwebs.
With one word, God breathes and darkness disappears, clearing away the cobwebs.
Whoosh. God says, “I am breathing on all of your cobwebs. Cleaning them all away. Forever gone.”
What areas of your life do you desperately need God to breathe?
With His breath, you’ll replace death with life. Destruction with living. Selfishness with godliness.
Ask Him to breathe on your heart. Ask Him to clear away your cobwebs.
Cobwebs connecting to family members. Gone.
Cobwebs connecting to destructive habits. Gone.
Cobwebs connecting to ugly past sins, guilt, or shame. Gone.
Cobwebs convincing you God truly deems you unworthy of Him. Gone.
When you allow God to fill you with His breath, He will make all things new.
Breathe Him in and receive His healing. His power. His peace.
Breathe Him out and become His hands and feet. His witness. His proof.
All glory returns to God for creating us in His image, allowing us to experience the freedom, forgiveness, and purpose He has for us. Spread the word. To God be all glory.
Like the prodigal son’s father watched every day for the return of his wayward son, God watches for your arrival.
For your restoration.
If you are completely lost, when you decide to return to God, He’ll scoop you up the second He sees you, forgiving you completely.
If you are wandering away, stepping off into self-focus, not relying on Him, the moment you decide to return life’s burdens to Him, He’ll take them back in an instant.
Because He’s always watching for you.
Watching out for you as you walk with Him, guiding you around the rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
Showing you which path to take, when the path splits in two.
And protecting you with His umbrella when the dark storms arrive.
He’s also watching for you when your choices take you apart from Him.
When you’re determined to make it all on your own.
When you selfishly trudge on alone, thinking the entire world is against you.
It’s not, and God’s available to give you His peace.
He longs to have a relationship with you.
What are you waiting for?
God, who created you and all things, craves a relationship with you.
He can make all things new.
He can cross your every t and dot your every i.
Effortlessly.
Why wait?
Whenever you are ready, God will be there.
Always.
Because He is forever watching for you, His precious child, to return completely unto Him.
Amy Linnea 
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