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possession

Pause VI Day 12 In Real Life

January 17, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 12 In Real Life

Melodye Reeves

January 17, 2023

Blessed,Freedom,Future,Joy

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5  Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Read More Of His Words

One day on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus began teaching a group of people. What became known as The Beatitudes sums up Jesus’ teachings on earth. In essence, blessed are you if you need Me for you shall have Me. The reward and joy of the believer is Jesus! In the world as we know it, prosperity means bigger and better. It means accumulating more stuff.

But the gospel meaning of prosperity is different! Paul had more than wishful thinking for the Philippians. He had an assured hope, produced by longing, for them to discover the abundant life of knowing Jesus. Life with Jesus had become real to him, and his desire was for them to know the reality of life with Christ.

Paul’s genuine concern is seen in his many letters as he calls for gospel unity. In the previous verses, he specifically mentions a disagreement that had occurred in the church at Philippi. (Philippians 4:2-3) Real life happens, doesn’t it? But, Sister, disagreements don’t need to squash our joy. With the help of mature friends and the work of Jesus, we can restore relationships and renew our joy. We can discover and display the gift of grace and graciousness. (Philippians 4:5)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Always?! Who likes commands such as “always” or “never”? Usually not me. Unless it’s a reference to always experiencing my favorite thing and never experiencing a hard thing, these words feel so perpetually binding. What kind of joy is this anyway?! It’s essential that we realize that this kind of joy is a gift from God. It comes when we experience the delight of heaven in the real world of now.

The root word for “joy” in Greek is chara, closely related with charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God and a response to God. Joy comes when we experience and relish the gift of grace through Jesus. Just like Paul, all believers live in an alternate reality once they’ve tasted the goodness of God. (Psalm 34:8) Joy is not seen only when circumstances appear favorable (i.e., a plastic smile), but it is sensed deep-down in the soul of a believer. “It is a well-being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord.” (preceptaustin.org)

So know this, dear Sisters: A life of joy is not only attainable, it’s sustainable through the Spirit of Christ. What do we get from our salvation? We get Jesus! What kind of joy does He give? The kind that sings about the goodness of God in the midst of real-life suffering and pain. (Acts 16:24-25)
This. Is. Our. Life.
… in Jesus.
Pause and dwell on these things, sweet Friend.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Pull out your Bible and read Philippians 4:4-9 fully through 2 times. Go slow. Emphasize different words each time you read it. Savor the message and pray as you read. Write out the verses in your journal.

2) Each time you read it, write down everything that pops out at you, making special note of the word “peace.” When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Pay special attention to the fact that these verses are written as commands from Paul. Note each instruction Paul gives. Consider how obedience in these areas is connected to knowing Jesus. Pray over how these can be more integrated into your life.

4) Memorize Philippians 4:4-5

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family,hope,possession,rejoice
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Pause VI
Day 11

Paul must have often preached to his own soul through his letters to the gathered believers in the churches he had planted. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells the Philippians not to be anxious, but I sense his own anxious heart toward his friends. With tears, Paul prayed and pleaded for the believers not to be swayed by enemies of the gospel, those who would disrupt their fellowship or turn them from the truth about Jesus. (Philippians 3:18)

“… my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.” (Philippians 4:1)
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Posted in: Blessed, Freedom, Future, Joy Tagged: family, hope, possession, rejoice

Treasure Day 11 Treasure In The Mirror

January 20, 2020 by Mandy Farmer 4 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
1 Peter 5:1-11
Ephesians 2:1-10
James 4:1-10
Hebrews 12:1-13

Treasure, Day 11

We are God’s most treasured possession.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God Himself. And yet, we find ourselves struggling to believe this truth.

The enemy whispers “unworthy” in our ears. He tells us we are no good and pulls us down into the depths of depression.

It’s a fight, my friend. Satan goes about the earth like a lion seeking whom he can devour. We must resist him with all our strength.

He uses any tool he can find to defeat us.
It could be society telling us we are worthless,
our bathroom mirrors,
or what we read or watch (like social media).

It’s a spiritual battle and must be fought daily, hourly, or even by the minute.

This fight is nothing new. The Bible is full of men and women wrestling to discover their true worth.

Moses fought when God called him to rescue the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 3:7-4:13). He told God he just couldn’t do obey because he was too flawed.

Oh, the excuses!
His failures of his murderous past.
His faltering speech and slow tongue.

Been there, sister?

God can’t possibly mean me.
My past can’t be overcome.
My failures define me.
My flaws are too big and too public.

Truth?
God can use anyone.
Together with his brother, Aaron, and empowered by God Himself, Moses confronted Pharaoh and eventually led the Israelites to their freedom.

Even our spiritual leaders might tell us we aren’t good enough, or overlook us because others are better looking, or smarter, or________ (fill in the blank). For example, when the prophet Samuel was tasked with anointing a new king, he looked at a family of strong and ruddy men and assumed one of them would be the obvious choice.

Yet, God highlighted a shepherd boy, the most unlikely of candidates, reminding Samuel people look at outward appearance, but He sees our hearts. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

In the New Testament, we meet Timothy, who was also disparaged because of his appearance, specifically because he was young. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy not to be deterred, or discouraged, by society claiming he was too young to lead and teach.

Like a father, Paul urged Timothy to be an example to all believers through his speech, lifestyle, and godly love for others. He encouraged Timothy to stay strong in his faith and steadfast in his purity (1 Timothy 4:12-16), so God’s character would be made evident within Timothy.

Similarly, God calls each of us, setting us apart with a purpose, to mirror His glory by reflecting His attributes to those around us.

Mirrors.
For many years, I lived in a virtual house of mirrors.
These carnival-style mirrors distorted the truth,
leaving me trapped in a maze of lies.

I struggled to grasp the treasure God had placed within me through His own Holy Spirit when He freed me from sin, shame, and chains of condemnation. Though God had gifted me with many talents and was growing His character in me, I could only see my weakness and incapability.

I did all the negative self-talk, embracing and repeating Satan’s lies to myself instead of the beautiful truths Christ had died to wrap around me like a royal robe. The evil one tries to beat us down and destroy us. He wants to keep our eyes turned away from our gifts and abilities and onto our weaknesses.

But God works through our weaknesses
to make us strong
and bring glory to Him.

So how do we fight the good fight? How do we defeat the enemy Satan, who is constantly whispering in our ears that we are no good?

We follow Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
We train ourselves for the fight.
We focus on reading the Scriptures,
and on stewarding the gifts God HAS INDEED given us.
We put on the full armor of God as defense against enemy attacks.

Begin listening to what God says about you. When negative thoughts come, and they will, resist them, rather than dwelling on them.

Look to the Lord (your wonderful and perfect mirror).
Let His likeness shine on you (Psalm 105:4-11).
Think on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure and lovely, and admirable.
Think on His words, which are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8-9).

Make a list of Scriptures that remind you of your righteousness in Jesus Christ,
which He purchased for you when He shed His blood and paid for your sin.
Write them out with your name inserted in them.
Stick them wherever you will see them every day.
On your bathroom mirror. Your fridge. In your pocket.
Set them as reminders on your phone.

Recite these Scriptures over and over, especially when the enemy attacks. You’ve got this, friend. You can renew your mind just as God has transformed your heart!

 Here’s a short profession to help you get started:
I look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. He created me in His perfect image. I am His masterpiece. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, His treasured possession.

Even before I was born, He knew me. He died on the cross and rose again to redeem my life. I will seek His face and His strength, always. I will live as a daughter of the King.
Daughter of the King. Wow!
If you aren’t 100% sure you are a true Daughter of the King, having been washed and forgiven and freed from all those chains of condemnation, will you please reach out to someone who knows and lives that truth deeply? Email the Sisters at Gracefully Truthful or drop a comment here. Choosing to become the King’s Daughter is the single most important decision you will ever make; it will last for eternity!

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Treasure Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Treasure!

Posted in: Called, God, Shepherd, Treasure, Truth, Wonderfully Tagged: Beautiful, fearfully, hearts, image, mirror, possession, sees, spiritual battle

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14