Expectations

God is really laying a message on my heart this morning that I need to share.

You know what holds us back from joy, peace, and contentment? Expectations.

Expectations of how we should be, look or feel. Expectations on how others should be, look, or feel. Expectations on how life should be, look, or feel.

Expectation are like the sign that was nailed above Jesus’ head on that cross. Everyone expected Jesus to be king of the Jews in a way that wasnt His character. Many times we nail signs above others heads expecting them to be something in a way that isn’t their character. Same goes for the expectations on ourself and our life.

Now, that loud voice in our heads will tell us that our expectations are valid, and it is easy to agree with that voice, isn’t it? That voice is loud and proud and….full of hate, negativity, and bitter roots.

There is another voice. It is a stil small voice. It is a voice we must seek to hear. It isn’t loud but it is mighty. It is there to serve us and to guide us. We must intentionally go to this voice and deny the loud one. This is the voice of the Spirit of our gentle Savior and mighty God. This voice pulls away temptation, expectation, and condemnation. It is still. It is small. But it is mighty! Invite that Spirit to stand between you and that loud voice. Cut out the bitter root with the sword of His words

God tells us that two commands fulfill all the others. Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) This is not an expectation. It is a command. He does not expect us to be able to fulfill it on our own. He knows we can’t. But His command can be fulfilled through Jesus who has fulfilled it all perfectly. Through Him we find our strength to do all things God has commanded. (Philippians 4:13) We go to that cross and see every expectation and sin that was ours washed away by the blood of Christ who never held either of those in His own flesh. We are given much forgiveness, grace, and mercy through that cross so we are commanded to give much forgiveness, grace, and mercy through that cross. (Luke 12:48)

Let go of expectations that turn us into victims. God gives us everything we need. Amen? Do we all agree on that? Then what else are we expecting? We have all we need in Christ. That leaves us room to rejoice! To pray for ourselves and others! To praise! To have compassion! To see the fruits of the Spirit grow and become evident in us!

As Christians we walk with the Spirit not by the flesh. That flesh may speak louder than the Spirit but that Spirit is the same Spirit that gave Christ strength for the cross. (Matthew 26:41) That same Spirit rose Him from the dead and that same Spirit lives in us. (Romans 8:11). That is the power we have over that loud voice. When that voice gets loud, seek the still small voice and you will find the power and strength of Jesus. When we have been given that what else could we expect?

The sexual intention

God never intended for our focus, lives, or decisions to be governed by our sexual desires. Our identity was never meant to be based on our sexual desires. Sex is not a sin when it is between husband and wife alone. That makes it pretty simple to discern whether or not to have sex with someone or who to have sex with. It’s not complicated or confusing. Are you in a marriage with the opposite sex as stated in the bible (old and new testament, by the way)? If yes, then it is not sin. No? Then it is sin. No confusion. Plain and simple. May not always like it but that’s the truth.

But you know what else is the truth? The bible also states you can be washed clean of that sin just like all the others! We come to Jesus, choose Him as our Savior, repent our sins, and He gets to work on changing the desires of our heart to match His. Nothing confusing about that either! Praise Jesus for His grace and mercy and transforming power!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ❤

No more punishment

Do you think God sent His Son to save you just so you could keep walking around guilty and depressed? Do you think Jesus was tortured and killed for your sins just so you could continue to walk around feeling ashamed and horrible? Do you think the Holy Spirit was sent here to encourage you for you to just push the encouragement away and walk around discouraged and bitter?

We are all sinners. Guitly in every degree. Jesus washed that away at the cross. The forgiveness, the change, and the rest is all right there waiting for you to accept it. I know it is hard to let go of beating yourself up. I know. You feel like you have to because that is what you deserve. But that takes away from the suffering Jesus went through to save you. It says that what He did wasn’t enough. That you don’t think His power was enough to save you and you must punish yourself to be saved. Jesus did it because you can’t. Do you hear me? You can’t!! You will never punish yourself enough. You will never punish others enough. You will never behave well enough either and neither will anyone else.

What God sent His Son to offer you is forgiveness, continual forgiveness. Guilt creates bitterness creates sin creates guilt creates bitterness creates sin….
How do we break this cycle? Believe in your forgiveness by the power of Christ (breaks guilt). That leads to believing in forgiving others by the power of Christ (breaks the bitterness). Believe the power of Christ will change your desires (breaks the chains of sin). Do you see how accepting the gifts you inherit when coming to Christ benfits you, others, and your testimony?

Believe the words of God are for you. Believe Jesus died and resurrected for you. Believe the Spirit when it encourages you along your walk with Christ.

Believe that God is working in you. Pray back His promises to Him and let your faith grow. Like the woman that touched the hem of His garment with great faith…you will be healed.

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 9:22

Joy and peace is mine

One of the biggest things that has held me back from receiving the joy and peace offered to me through salvation in Christ is how I hurt people in my past. How can I receive joy and peace when people I had a hand in damaging are still hurting? That’s not fair. I should hurt with them. And I do hurt with them. It is just now my pain feels different. It feels shared. Like Jesus is right there with me. He suffered through pain He didn’t deserve so He could be there to take pain I do deserve. I look forward with joy and peace because I see what God saved me from. I know He will do the same for those I hurt, damaged, or directed down a wrong path. I do my part in saying I am sorry. He does His part by working in their hearts to give forgiveness and no longer use their pain as a reason to keep sinning. Exactly what He did for me is what He will do for them. God knew exactly what I would do and He put these people in my life anyway. He has a plan. He wants them, too. I will accept that joy and peace because I trust Him. I will accept it because me walking around in a defeated, sorrowful way will not lead one soul to my Father that heals. I want you to see the work God has done in me. I want you to see the Christ that saved me. I want you to see the Spirit that moves in me daily. That joy and peace is mine. I don’t deserve it but I inherited it the moment I submitted my life to the salvation offered by Christ. It is my inheritance and I fully accept it! You can inherit it as well. Pray for the power of God that redeems, resurrects, and relieves! There is more to life than this punishment you are doling out to yourself. You don’t have to live like this anymore. Let today be the day.

Ezekiel 36:33

“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.

Lord, I pray over every soul that reads this. If they don’t know you, I pray that soul becomes so restless without You they have no choice but to give in. I pray if this soul does know you but still living in their punishment that they accept the inheritance You have offered. For the souls that have reached this level of joy and peace I pray You shine on them so others can find them and be led to You. In Christ name, Amen

Endurance

So, I have felt under attack the past few days. You know those times when it feels like one hit after another. And if you arent careful then you crumble. You hit your knees because the attack just doesnt seem to let up and running off to cry and pray is all the energy you have. Well, in the midst of my bottom moment my husband was all smiles and trying to cheer me up. And I bit him. Not literally. But I bit him. I lashed out. Then, of course, it made the attack even worse. Because no matter how much I apologize it doesnt take it away. No matter how forgiving Daniel is, it doesnt take it away. This morning, as I am regaining strength and hope, Thank You Jesus, I still feel horrible for the bite. Jesus just reminded me that I am not alone in this. Jesus had a best friend named Peter that would go to battle for Him. Oh the love Peter had for Jesus! Never would he ever do anything to harm Jesus. Until he did. He denied his best friend 3 times at His darkest hour. He was even warned he would do it and it still didnt stop him! My point is, or Jesus’ point is….we are not alone in this. Peter wept in anguish over what he did to Jesus. But he also accepted Jesus’ grace and forgiveness and continued on his walk stronger than ever. I pray I handle it better next time. And I know there will be a day that I dont bite anymore…I feel it in my heart and I feel the time is near. Hence the increase in attack I am sure. Dont stop fighting yall. Even when you fall. Accept Jesus’ grace and forgiveness and ask for guidance on what made you stumble. I dont believe these are tests of our faith. Not a test you either pass or fail. But it is training for our faith. Endurance training. So, get up, brush yourself off, and run the race God has put before you.

Lord, I thank you this day and everyday for Your grace and forgiveness. I also thank you for the training You give me to increase my endurance in my faith to You. I thank you that the contentment in all circumstances that Paul speaks of is on its way. Thank You also for the forgiveness of others. Please help me to also forgive without hesitation. In Christ name, Amen