Tag: Thanks

Boasting in Weakness

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

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.

Knowing you can’t do it all.

But God can and He will.

Photos by Ýlona María Rybka, Debby Hudson, Ales Maze, & Miglena Georgieva on Unsplash

Wearing Him

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How do you wear Jesus?

Does your face reflect His peace?

Do your eyes reflect His love?

Are your lips proclaiming His faithfulness?

Is your spirit praising His worthiness?

Is your mind focused on Him?

Aligning your will to His?

Wearing Jesus looks different from one person to the next as we are all created as unique individuals.

Since we are all created in the image of God, reflecting Him will ultimately look similar: peace, joy, love, and patience.

Do you invite Him to cover you with Himself?

Every day?

Each moment?

He will. We beg to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

That’s what He asks of us while soldiering on in this earth.

But that means more than having a servant’s heart.

More than thinking of others before ourselves.

Means aligning your very self with His.

Keeping a running conversation with Him, acknowledging His sovereignty.

And praising Him all the live long day.

Do you thank Him randomly for anything?

You should. Let’s start. Thank you, God, for the sweet air I breathe.

Thank you for the sunshine on my face and the coffee in my pot.

When you praise Him, the devil hates it.

He tends to run when hearing God’s name praised.

Hallelujah! The devil can’t run away from me fast enough.

Am I right?

Wear Jesus well. Show Him to the world. It might be their only glimpse.

Photos by Ben White, Mehdi MeSSrro, Redd, Nathaniel Chia, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Slapping the Devil

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

What situation in your life begs God to enter?

Something you have zero control over?

I know, you have control over your reactions, but not over the actions or responses of others.

You have no control how other people will react or sometimes not even care.

You also have no control over circumstances thrown your way.

Sickness, job loss, inflation, an inconsiderate spouse, ungrateful children, the threat of war.

You can only control your reaction.

What does your flesh immediately do when faced with any of that ugliness?

Become wrapped in self-pity as unloving or fear try to walk back into your mind?

Seems justified, yes, but that choice brings darkness.

Walks you away from God and His love for you.

What if instead, you began to thank God for walking with you, for providing you a continued walk with His peace?

And what if you continued to thank God for your circumstances and His provision for all things we pray?

You’d be slapping the devil in the face for sure.

I don’t know what you think, but to me, when we step out in faith while slammed by life outside our control, there’s a bigger hallelujah sung behind us.

Bigger than when we are simply obeying God through flowery, sun-shiney days.

When we choose to ignore our pity party, celebrating God’s goodness instead, the sting sent the devil’s way is a little more obvious to him.

A little more painful. A wee bit more disappointing.

The devil knows you, knows your weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Why give him a good time instead of you?

Give him a bad time. An absolutely horrid time.

Keep showing him Who is boss over you. And it’s not him.

While life is often completely unfair, remember God is always kind and just to you.

He’s always with you no matter your attitude. And that’s not fair to God.

So resolve to give the devil a hard time by ignoring your fleshly cries, filling yourself up with God instead.

In return your days and nights will be even better.

The devils’ not so much.

Photos by Nick Page on Unsplash

Hope for the World

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And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

Christmas means hope.

Hope for our redemption.

Without Christmas, we have no hope.

No hope for heaven as mere Gentiles.

And the Jewish law was incredibly hard to keep perfectly.

Christmas is our celebration of Jesus’ birth.

His birth ushered in a new era of hope.

Hope for our broken world.

When Jesus came, the world was steeped within itself.

The Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah.

But when He came, many did not believe.

In fact, they crucified Him as an imposter.

He didn’t look like what they expected.

What has God done in your life?

When He answers your prayers, does it look like what you expected?

Is it possibly different than you thought?

Ever feel convinced your answer isn’t God since it looks different?

Keep pursuing Him.

God’s heart poured out on Christmas Day when His Son was born.

His Son, Jesus, was born for you and for me.

He was born to fill the world with the hope of salvation.

And God’s answer to the world looked different than what His people expected.

What type of hope do you need this Christmas season?

Is it material?

Relational?

Physical?

Jesus came to bring Himself into the world.

He came to sever the barrier between God and His people.

He came to crush the neck of Satan.

And He did all of that and more.

Look upon the baby Jesus, sleeping in the manger.

Think about the hope we now have because of Him.

Thank our Father for sending Jesus, keeping us in His thoughts.

God wants the very best for you.

The very best was sending His only Son.

Jesus is simply everything.

Because of Him, we have hope for all things.

Which is everything.

Thank you, God, for pursuing us.

We are incredibly grateful and forever in debt.

May we remember Your hope that spilled at Christmas.

May we remember Your defeat of Satan as you rose from the dead.

And may we always keep You close within our hearts.

Photos by Max Beck, Tanner Mardis, Greyson Joralemon, Yannick Pulver, Inbal Malca, & Sebastian Fröhlich on Unsplash