STAYING DOWN?

..Grow up into Him in all things.... Ephesians 4:14

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

I wanted to share a few entries that I wrote in my written journal.
This was taken from Tuesday's entry:
"Jesus, when my eyes are kept on you and ONLY You, I am in awe of what Your doing in my family's life. So much change, transorming us from glory to glory through Your anointing. Healing, peace, restoration, countless blessings. You are sovereign.
Jesus, You have brought my family to this 'desert' so that Your glory and power will enter there and that many will be saved through it. You brought us here Jesus, not to destroy us but to display Your lavish love. "

This is some of Monday's entry:
"Jesus, this is my prayer. That my heart be made beautiful unto You, filled with Your holiness. Rid me Jesus of a harsh heart, set me free from being a shrew. Jesus, help me be a wise investor of my time instead of a killer, wasting precious time You have given unto me. Oh precious Jesus, change me. Make me more like You. Fill me with hope and a gentle walk. Help me Jesus to walk in love."

In blog land and msn groups,it seems to be alot of people are either hurting, anxious, worried, saddened, fearful, disappointmented or all the above. The reason being because the new President that was elected.

I'm Canadian. We just finished having our elections a few weeks back. The Prime Minister we have is NOT the one I was hoping and praying for. Sigh!

Psalm 31:24 was my scripture today from the Gift Box I have filled with scriptures.

God is telling us beloved one, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. He knows how your hurting, your questions and concerns about the uncertainities of what will be, and the stresses of walking this Christian walk in this dark world.

You ask how you can have courage when the torrents of the storm are crashing in all around you?

Grow up into Him in all things. Ephesians 4:15 has been speaking to me about growing up in my faith walk. Going the distance. Stop making excuses. Keeping my eyes on Jesus. Not allowing the circumstances, the emotions, the brokenness all around me determine my peace, my joy, my hope in Christ.

I struggled today with an incident with parenting which left me failing. For a good hour, I was consumed with anger, frustration, unforgiveness, lack of peace, lack of joy, bitterness and questioning God.

I kept hearing the Lord speak ever so softly: forgive, walk in love, let go and let Me, trust, believe the best. God also said to me: do you NOT behave this way yourself, is that why you are so angry, expecting your child to act differently than you, who has also done this?

I'm learning to let go and let God. I'm learning to walk in peace, AT ALL COSTS. I'm learning to keep my mouth shut, not voicing my opinions, my concerns, what I think is the best. I am being still and knowing God is God.

God gave me the opportunity, HIS TIMING, to finally talk with my child, with peace in my heart and love in my words. I apologized for my behavior, he apologized for his. That was God.

The 'old' Angie would have carried this circumstance to screaming matches, mine of course being the loudest mouth, blush blush! I would have demanded my way, making threats, withholding love (even though I would never think I was doing that). The circumstance that was between just the two of us would have spilled over into everything else. No peace in the house, taking out my frustrations and hurts on everyone else with harshness. Going about my day with a heavy heart and unforgiveness. This would in turn effect my relationship with God, feeling He was distant, not hearing me, not there for me, and not helping me at all but allowing all this to happen.

Well, He was allowing it to happen because I was NOT walking in love, peace, forgiveness, joy in Him, but walking in the flesh. So I reaped what I was sowing all around me by my actions and thoughts.

I'm growing up into Him. Making sure that when there is a problem that is making me be angry, unforgiving, losing my peace and joy; I STOP. I stop my thoughts, my actions that are causing these emotions and go before God in prayer. I let go and let God work in me, ministering to me, allowing Him to weed out what is not of Him.

I find all around me that many of us Christians really need to grow up in Him. We have allowed our emotions, our thought life, relationships, and circumstances to determine how our days will be.

I'm tired of all the excuses I have made all these years. I'm tired of being sick and tired. I'm tired of allowing a negative thought life to steal my joy and peace. I'm tired of throwing temper tantrums when things are too hard and difficult for me, I'm tired of being unforgiving. I'm tired of hurting.

So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), than you are really and unquestionable free. John 8:36

Joyce Meyer wrote in Ending Your Day Right Devotional "If you allow yourself to be controlled by other people, thoughts, feelings, and habits, you are not free." She states " people that are free are not limited by past mistakes because they serve a God to whom nothing is impossible."

So I chose to walk in my freedom in Christ Jesus. When I fail, when I slip, when I fall down, I grasp the hem of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. I let go and let Him lift me up. I let go of the everything and anything that is keeping my eyes off of Jesus and I turn my gaze upon Him.

Than, and ONLY than is He able to do the impossible that I was facing in my life.

My precious one who has been lead here by God (for it is not by chance that you were led here). As you lay there in your hurt and pain, grab the hem of Jesus Christ. Let go and let Him lift you up, lifting you up to walk in your freedom that He has destined for you to journey on!

amen amen amen

STAYING DOWN?

http://www.freespirithaven.com/2008/11/staying-down.html