Day 10: Rebuilding {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Ephesians 2:19-22

After we have repented of our unhealthy emotions and work towards turning away from them completely, we will find ourselves a little empty. The emotions we were once comfortable with do not fit into our refreshed minds. As our hearts become cleaner, our motives change. Therefore, we must rebuild what our bondage has damaged. 

Let's think about a home. If the foundation of that home was not built upon the right ground, when the earth shifted or the house settles, it would change how straight the supportive beams would be. If one of those beams ever snapped, a complete remodel of the home would be in order. It could prove dangerous to try and continue life with a broken, supportive beam.

Sometimes those supportive beams within us are those same unhealthy emotions, such as depression, anxiety and loneliness. We find comfort in them and rest on them. They have become part of our support system. Throughout the repentance process, God eliminates any man-made support system. Why? That was never in His plan for us! The Master Builder has all the tools, all the knowledge and all the right plans to create the perfect support system for our hearts. Once a man-made support beam is broken, we must approach Him so that He can properly rebuild it.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezekiel 36:26-27

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

The rebuilding process is one that can last a lifetime. Rebuilding means renewing and restructuring. Have you ever started a project at home that should be easy but once you started there were other things that needed attention too? God may start rebuilding one supportive beam but find another beam is about to break. He will alert you and try to get your attention on taking care of that issue as well. We must trust that whatever the Lord shows us that needs to be rebuilt, He is not showing us to do it ourselves but to surrender and obey His commands. This is the only way for an impure heart to be completely changed. 

Reflection:

Now is not the time to hide when something has been revealed. God wants us all to be honest and truthful about the state of our emotions. Have you truly repented of your unhealthy emotions? God cannot rebuild what is not broken. It is time for us to hand over our hearts, completely surrendered to His will.

Action:

Ask the Lord to show you the scriptures needed to start rebuilding your support system. We cannot build without the Word. Pray and fast for wisdom and guidance. Take time with the people you love and bring happiness and joy into your life. Try to limit time with negative influences. The rebuilding process is a vulnerable time and we must be discerning who we spend that time with.

Prayer:

Lord, You are awesome! I'm in awe of who You are and what You've done. I'm so thankful I can approach You and You will embrace me. Thank You for Your mercy and love. Show me my weak support beams and break them so that I may be rebuilt in You. Lord Jesus, guide my thoughts and emotions during this time, that I may only think and do good things that are pleasing to You. Help me move past the brokenness and closer to the completed masterpiece! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Think about the emotions that are not pleasing to God.

Are you ready for them to be broken and made new?

Day 8: Justification {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

In the world today, we cannot come across one person who hasn't been hurt or is hurting. Many of us are bound by fear, guilt, anger, hatred, depression and so many other unpleasant emotions. The Lord Jesus Christ has given everyone opportunity to be delivered. Yet it is not enough to just recognize that we need Him...we must know Him. Through that knowledge, through that real faith, we then are able to see our sin clearly instead of pointing at other people. A new door opens up towards repentance and (hopefully) a complete healing process.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" Romans 1:20

This entire devotional series is about emotional bondage and is geared to deliver us from unhealthy, sinful emotions that keep us from fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. One thing remains clear when it comes to deliverance over bondage: we must first acknowledge that we are sinful and recognize those emotional sins in order to overcome them.

We can't spend our breath and time putting the blame on others. Even if someone else was in the wrong and we are emotionally paying for it, we are still responsible for how we handle the situation. Holding on to fear, guilt and pride is non-verbally justifying our sinful nature. When we choose to embrace our hurts instead of Christ, we are easily deceived.

Romans 3:20 says:
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

To justify ourselves is to place us in the position of a righteous man. We paint ourselves as a victim, innocent and just when we are offended. Yet the scripture plainly states that by the law is the knowledge of sin and the deeds of that law no one should be justified in his own eyes. We are all sinners! Even if we are heavy with emotional pain, it is not right for us to grip onto them and hold them over people's heads.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Romans 3:23-24

It is a very hard concept to wrap our minds around. That even those who are broken, crying alone at night due to some unfortunate circumstance in their life, are still sinful. We want to believe that the wounded are just but the Bible says that every single one of us come short of the glory of God because of our sin. The Lord is the only just one.

But there is hope. God's glory was justified freely by His grace through the cross! When the Lord manifested Himself as a man and gave His life, that redemption was made available to wash away all sin. We no longer have to carnally justify our emotional pain but we can boldly approach God and receive deliverance!

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6

Reflections:
Have you ever said: "I know I shouldn't be mad at her, but she shouldn't have done that" or "My heart is hurting too much, Lord, for me to forgive them." These phrases show a person justifying why they should stay in their emotional bondage. Think about the offenses and relationships in your life. Think about the people who have wounded you the most. Are you still living in a justification mindset?

Action:
It is time to take those to God! To boldly approach the throne, not just asking forgiveness for how you feel but asking that the Lord place compassion upon your heart towards others. Pray that you can move past your emotional turmoil and into grace! Grace towards them and for yourself. Then go to them and declare that forgiveness and mercy (Matthew 5:24)

Prayer:
Lord, we are so thankful for Your grace and love! Thank You for Your sacrifice at Calvary, that each of us has the opportunity to be redeemed and washed of sin. Help us to believe in Your power more than our own, for we all come short of Your glory. You are Holy, Righteous and Just. Show us the reality within our justification so that we are moved towards forgiveness and then eventually repentance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Are you holding your emotions hostage against someone?

Is that person God?

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Repentance
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

 

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Day 7: Selfishness {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

Wow, it has been a full week of the Breaking the Chains devotionals! It has truly been inspiring and life changing, at least for me. In fact, last night I received confirmation through my pastor's evening message that I am on the right track! Don't you just love when that happens? He actually spoke about the exact same thing we talked about in yesterday's devotion topic, "Playing Victim". God is good!!

Today, it's all about me. Okay, and you. Isn't that was selfishness is? Putting the spotlight on ourselves and being consumed by it. When we think about emotional bondage, many times we experience depression, anxiety, loneliness and so on because of past or current circumstances. These unhealthy emotions may not have been triggered by our selfish desires but holding onto them instead of giving them to the Lord borderlines on selfishness.

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24

As Christians, we are suppose to be like Christ. We are suppose to be selfless. As our Lord and Saviour graciously became the sacrifice for us, His mind was on what would benefit His children. His mind was on love. As humans, we tend to hold onto the emotions that we are suppose to let go because we have not learned to love right. Or trust right. When we love the way God loves and we trust in Him, we are able to let go of our selfishness and embrace freedom.

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." Psalm 29:2

Selfishness is usually wrapped up like a pretty present but when opened, only destruction lies. It looks appealing and feels good. When we take, hoard, keep instead of give, purge and bless. Being selfish in our ways actually steals the glory away from God! How can He be glorified in your life if you are in the spotlight? How can we be free from unhealthy emotional bondage if we only look at ourselves and not the One who truly delivers?

"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." Isaiah 42:8

No matter how hard we try, we cannot change God's mind. He has stated in His Word that He will not give His glory to another. Yet, we in turn are so self-consumed, that spiritually we steal the show and expect Him to perform for us. We are looking inwardly to benefit our desires and justify our emotional bondage, that we are blind to an outward God who provides all the benefits we shall ever need!

Reflection:
Think about your daily priorities. Do you put what you want to do in front of what God wants you to do? Have you asked Him what we wants? Think about your relationships. Are you constantly being offended? Are you always dissatisfied? Many times selfishness comes in the form of pain. If we've been wounded, we automatically play the blame game instead of analyzing our motives and actions. Maybe it was our selfishness that triggered the offense.

Action:
We must ask the Lord to reveal our selfish motives and desires. Ask Him to change your thoughts and your hearts. Think about how you feel when someone asks you to do something. Do you feel happy to help or sulk and pout? Pray for God to be glorified through all that you say and do, so that it may bless others and free you from selfish tendencies.

Prayer:
Lord, we are so thankful that You gave Your life unselfishly at Calvary. Our minds cannot begin to understand the level of love You have shown. Help us to walk with You, so that we may be changed and can act more Christ-like. I pray that we will move to bless others first before ourselves and do it with joy. That we will let go of unhealthy emotions and trust in You, so that Your name is glorified in our lives. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Have you ever hurt someone else because you were so focused on how you felt?

When was the last time you blessed someone happily?

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Justification
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

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Day 6: Playing Victim {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
1 Corinthians 15:55-58

One of the most difficult things I encountered when the Lord first showed me that my emotions were impure was admitting that I wasn't a victim. The problem was that I has allowed other people to control my emotions. I was on a rollercoaster, going up and down on a daily basis, and instead of being accountable for allowing myself to be on the ride, I was blaming the operator.

The truth is, playing victim is selfishness justified. Although we may be honest about our situation and the other person was in the wrong, painting ourselves as the innocent soul being bullied is not always accurate. For example, let's say someone lied to you and you found out. Our initial reaction would be anger and feeling hurt. This is not playing victim but you are reacting naturally to what happened. Now, what are you going to do with it? If you approach the Lord, asking Him for clarity and peace in the matter, that is mature and right. You will soon realize that those emotions shouldn't hold you and you move unto the next stage, which is forgiveness.

However, if you dismiss seeking God's help and instead retaliate by sulking, wallowing or complaining, this is playing victim. You are robbing both parties from forgiveness, peace and joy. Most importantly, you've allowed yourself to be so consumed with yourself and your feelings, that you no longer can see the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:14-15

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Playing victim puts us on a road of self-pity. We start thinking we have been victimized and lose sight of being victorious in Christ! We forget that we can overcome because He overcame. Victimizing ourselves prolongs healing and strains our relationships. We become easily offended instead of easily forgiving. We hold onto expectations and forget who God revealed Himself to be. Our suffering becomes more important than Christ's suffering on Calvary.

The definition of "victimize" is:

1. To subject to swindle or fraud.

2. To make a victim of.

Reflection:

Giving into our emotions when we've been hurt by someone only hurts us more. It blinds us from having the victory that the Lord wants us to have and giving forgiveness that the Lord wants us to give. Wallowing in self-pity justifies our selfish carnality, swindling us from overcoming the bondage that hold us down.

Action:

The first thing we must do is when the offense comes, we must recognize that we have a choice. Then we must ask the Lord for a clear view, unaltered by our victimizing ways. This will help us make the right choice and move us closer to healing, forgiveness and overcoming emotional bondage. 

Prayer:

Oh Lord, You are so Awesome and Magnificent. Great are Your ways! I'm so thankful Your thoughts are above mine, that You see what is true and good. Thank You for overcoming the world through the cross, that we have a chance to overcome as well! When offenses come, please show me what is true in the situation. Help me to let go of any unhealthy emotions, so that I may learn to be accountable and forgive. Thank You for being our Provider and Healer. I pray that we will trust in Your power more than the power of those around us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Do you often "play victim" when you've been wounded?

Have you ever victimized someone?

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Selfishness
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

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Day 5: Our Expectations {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

When we think about the negative emotions that bind us on a daily basis, we have to wonder how did they get there. Often times depression, anxiety, loneliness etc. stem from childhood experiences, a broken past or troubling situation that still leaves a mark. The majority of us, however, become so wrapped up in expectations within our relationships that guilt sets in if these expectations are not met.

I firmly believe that if we can direct our expectations properly, then our emotions will be properly filtered as well. Have you ever felt like you were not enough or you didn't do enough? Have you ever felt disappointed in someone because you expected them to act a certain way or to say a certain thing? Have you had relationships falter and fade because one or both of you expected a different outcome than what the reality was?

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
2 Corinthians 4:6-7

It is in these expectations that our insecurities swell and become burdens. Having the wrong expectations can birth wrong ideas, wrong mindsets and (you guessed it) wrong emotions. Yesterday we talked about how God defined love by becoming a man and dying at Calvary. All we ever need is in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

In fact, Psalm 62 verses 5 & 6 says:
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved."

When we know who the Lord really is, our expectations can be satisfied because we know and understand what He is capable of. We no longer are bound by the expectations among creation but can rest our expectation firmly on Christ!

Jesus proclaims:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection:
When was the last time you felt rest from your expectations? The Lord wants you to rest by coming to Him with your heavy heart and mind. Having wrong expectations robs you of the joy and peace that God wants you to have! Do you expect more from creation than God?

Action:
Honestly look at your relationships. Pray and ask the Lord to show you what expectations you have and how to lay them to rest with Him. Work towards being a blessing to other people instead of expecting people to bless you. 

Prayer:
Lord, thank you so much for being all that we need! We can rest our expectations and hope in You without fear of disappointment. We are so thankful that You can provide all satisfaction. Show us how to trust that You will never steer us wrong. Help us to put all expectations on You, so that we may experience the most out of our earthly relationships and our divine relationship with You. We are thankful for Your Word and promises. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

What sort of expectations do you have when in a relationship?

What do you expect from God?

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Playing Victim
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

UPDATE!! GET THE "BREAKING THE CHAINS" DEVOTIONAL EBOOK >>

Day 3: Real Faith {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

As the third day of Breaking the Chains is upon us, I can't help but feel a difference within myself. How about you? Day 1, we spoke about the power of the Word. Day 2 complimented that with praying through and how it is vital to our deliverance to keep an open communication with God. After all, He seeks after a relationship not our traditions. 

Today, we are going to talk about real faith. What do I mean by "real faith"? New age Christianity has become comfortable in mixing the words "faith" and "hope". Many of us have found ourselves praying with a hopeful heart more than a faithful heart. Hope is a beautiful thing. When we have hope, we are given a positive mindset to go on through our trials. However, in order to have a real deliverance from emotional impurity, we have to have faith and lots of it.

My pastor blesses us with each sermon because of his faith; his knowledge of who the Lord Jesus Christ is. He is a biblical scholar and teacher, using every opportunity he is given to help us go deeper into the Word. I encourage you to listen to our church's podcast right here. One of my favorite quotes from my pastor is "Faith is not a hope-so. It's a know-so." Real faith is real knowledge about the God we claim to love and serve. It is not hoping we understand but it is having the right information about Him so that we may be able to please Him.
This is the definition of faith courtesy of my pastor:

Faith is the personal intimate knowledge of the Person, Identity and Plan of God that enables you to discern what He intends to do, so that you can work in harmony with Him.

When we tell one another to "have faith" what do we mean? Most of the time, we are implying to be hopeful. This is not the same as faithful. When we have real faith, we have true knowledge of who God is and therefore can make the right choices in our life. Through making the right choices, we become faithful to God.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith is the substance! That substance is knowledge that is obtained through studying the Word of God and communicating with Him through prayer. With that faith, that knowledge, we then are able to understand and see things is a spiritual light. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "For we walk by faith, not by sight", which means we should be walking by our knowledge and not by our carnality.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:4-6

Faith is powered by love. It is because of the Lord's love that we are able to have knowledge of Him. Our relationship with Him rests upon our faith. Without the right knowledge, we cannot have the right relationship. Therefore, our hearts will remain unclean.

Reflection:
Faith is not a hope. Faith is not acknowledgement. Faith IS knowledge! The truth exercised in our mind. Think about your faith. How well do you know God? How deep is your faith? To break the chains around depression, fear and anxiety it is going to take more than a hope. It's going to take real faith!

Action:
Take some time today to ask the Lord to reveal who He is to you. Pray for a real revelation. Ask that your mind and thoughts be changed and directed to new territory. Ask the Lord to reveal any false knowledge that you may have of Him and to guide you towards having real faith. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and resist feeling prideful or shameful. We want to build on what He has already done in your life, not take it away.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
We are truly blessed to have a God who cares about our hearts and minds. Thank You for loving us so much, that You have provided the knowledge we need to not only understand who You are but Your plan for our lives. We ask, Lord, for a renewed revelation. Please break down any false mindsets we may have built up. Help us to gain real faith by Your Word and prayer. Help us with our desires, that our relationship with You may reach a deeper level. Thank You for Your love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to rest upon your knowledge of God (your faith) in order to get through?

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Defining Love
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

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Day 2: Praying Through {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."

Psalm 5:3

Yesterday, we spoke about the power of the Word of God and how it can deliver us from unhealthy emotional bondage. I hope you felt as empowered as I did!

While the Word shows us who the Lord Jesus Christ is (which we will dive deeper into in the coming weeks), our God and Saviour, prayer goes hand in hand as a form of communication with Him. We cannot experience a full deliverance from impure emotional patterns without prayer. When we are in a compromising situation where we feel unhealthy emotions rise, a simple prayer can calm the inward storm.

Ephesians 6:18 says:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

An analogy I use in my book The Palace Keepers is one that involves a ballerina. To avoid dizziness, they are taught to keep their eyes on a single, unmoving target as they spin. When they turn, their heads snap back to the same spot, their gaze falling on the same area. Usually it's a pole or a corner of the room. This helps them focus and not become lost or dazed. 

Prayer is like that. It helps keep our focus on the Lord, our attention always snapping back to Him as our world and our emotions keep us spinning. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, it says that we must "pray without ceasing."

Prayer is not bound by time. While praying early in the morning prepares us to face the day, the Bible often talks about praying without ceasing, or without intermission. What does this mean?

Pray through the pain!

Pray through the clouds of doubt!

Pray through an anxious heart!

Pray through all hours of the day!

Pray through your transformation!

If you wait until everything was perfect to pray, you'll be waiting for all eternity. This means we must deny ourselves (1 Corinthians 15:31) and pray even when we don't feel like it. Because we cannot go by what we feel (Jeremiah 17:9)...that's how we got into emotional bondage in the first place! When the walls of depression are pressing on your chest, a prayer should be on your breath.

God adores you. He wants a relationship with you. This cannot happen without open communication, much like any earthly relationship. Your desire for healthy pure emotions lies in a healthy pure relationship with the Lord. It's not about giving Him a to-do list; He is not a vending machine, spitting out blessings at the touch of a button. We can pray for certain things (Matthew 6:8 and Matthew 7:7) but it must go deeper than that. It should mean more to us than that. 

Reflection:

Keeping that line of communication open between Creator and creation, is what will bring about profound change. As we pray through, we must believe that He will meet our needs while we take time to meet with Him. We don't pray to change God's mind. We pray to change ours. For He does not change but we are commanded to. (Malachi 3:6 and Philippians 3:21)

Action:

Yesterday, we took a look at our daily routine with honest eyes. Along with making sure we are in His Word daily, we need to incorporate prayer. Talking to the Lord needs to be a state of mind, whether through tragedy or victory, we are able to communication to the One who knows all things. If you are struggling, set a specific time each day to pray. This will help keep a commitment and make you accountable for this divine appointment.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we thank You the opportunity we are given to seek Your face on a daily basis. How privileged we are that You are so loving and merciful, that we are allowed to come unto You with our requests and sinful hearts. We ask, Lord God, for a revelation of who You are so that we will better understand how to communicate through prayer. Change our thoughts to Your thoughts, so that we are pleasing to You. We believe in Your delivering power and ask that You cover us and protect us from unhealthy emotions. Show us how to discern our feelings and how to behave within our relationships. We give You all honor and praise. In Jesus' name Amen. 

Do you have something on your heart today?

Leave a prayer request in the comments so that we may pray for you!

Simple state "unspoken" if you'd like to keep details private.

God already knows the details :)

Tomorrow's Devotion Topic: Real Faith
For a full list of daily devotional topics & more information about 31 Devotion in 31 Days: Breaking The Chains, go here to read the original post.

UPDATE!! GET THE "BREAKING THE CHAINS" DEVOTIONAL EBOOK >>

Obedience + Submission = Wife Curse Words

"Oh no, she didn't?!" I can just hear that little voice in your mind right now. You know, the one that talks back to your husband even when your mouth stays shut. Or the one that criticizes your pastor after he preaches something you didn't like. Ouch, feel that? I did. It's a pretty big nerve too, I might add.

If you couldn't tell already, I'm not here to feed you fluff. I've struggled {am struggling} with these words daily. So why do I want to act like I got it all together? I don't and probably never will. However, today I had a turning point. I can't explain how, it was a spiritual shift. My focus had been on the wrong target for so long, that the false became truth and vise versa.

The truth is this: it's not about me. Or you. Sorry. Actually, no I'm not. It's about Jesus. It's about others. It's about His will and His kingdom. I'm not saying we are insignificant. I'm talking about order. And the Lord Jesus Christ is definitely all about order...{1 Corinthians 14:40}

These words are in place for a reason. For correction but mainly for protection. And I don't just mean from that red guy with the horns. Sad how you knew who I meant based on the world's image of him. I can bet he looks nothing like that. The point is, there is a battle. Good vs evil. Man vs nature. Men vs women. Uh, wait, that last one doesn't seem biblical. And yet we somehow think it is.

I'm not going to talk about the history of women's rights, equality, the liberation movement or anything like that. I'm going to talk Bible talk. It seems to me that is where understanding and knowledge {two very different things} make the best marriage. Oh, did I say marriage? Ha, we'll get to that...

Obedience and submission are very similar. To obey an order or a rule, you must submit. In order to submit, you must obey. They go hand in hand like candy and sunshine. Only we don't feel as warm inside. Or outside. Or anywhere, really. Why is that? Have we been programmed so much by society's definition of these words, that now as a Christian wife we seem to allow that definition to trump the Word of the Almighty? To be obedient, we must be submissive by complying with orders. This usually means denying how we feel and what we want. I mean, who wants to do that?!

Soldiers. Soldiers are obedient. Soldiers submit themselves everyday, doing things they don't want to do, fighting fights that aren't even theirs, never knowing more than their leaders. They are only told specific details attached to the job given. They must trust in their leader. Trust that they know what they are doing. Trust that they are plugged into the overseer of the entire operation.

Why? Their very lives depend on it. An order is given and they don't have time for questions. It's time for action because there is a battle and one hesitation can mean life or death. If they wait, it could be the last thing they ever do. If they rebel and disobey the orders, not only can they get hurt or worse, but the ones around them are in danger as well. Side note about orders: life revolves around them. Orders don't have to be looked at as negative. Orders bring, well, order.

As Christian wives, we are soldiers of the home. I'm not trying to feed you any 1950's tv commercial slogan.
Check out Titus 2:5 KJV:
"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

A few months ago I read a book called Pursuit of Proverbs 31 by Amy Bayliss. My brain has been spinning since then. When you read her words, you can't help but feel like they aren't really her words. She allowed the Holy Spirit to pen these truths:

"All are equal but one takes on more responsibility than the rest."

"If your country were being invaded by terrorists and a soldier knocked on your door and said, "Follow me" you wouldn't hesitate to go. You have a reverent fear and awe of those serving your country and know that they have your best interests in mind. He is reporting to his commanding officer who is ultimately  reporting to the highest of authority in your country. You trust those sent to protect you by this higher authority. God placed your husband there to protect you and keep your best interest in mind. He is your soldier. He is reporting to the highest of authority. You should have reverent fear and awe of him.

When you submit to your husband you are submitting to Christ. This submission is for your protection. It is not to strip you of who you are or your full potential. That is a lie from the pit of Hell."

Whoa, right? I urge you to get this book if you have not already, right here on Amazon. This isn't a paid sponsored post. I'm not getting paid to talk about this topic or her book. It has truly changed my life and I can say my marriage is better because I am better. There is still so much I am working on but I find peace knowing I'm breaking those lies; the mindsets that have taken root in my heart and are poisoning my soul. Because, honestly ladies...when the wife is dying, the entire house dies.

We are both soldiers, fighting in the same battle. There is a Divine order given that we both must follow. Just because you have someone leading you, doesn't mean you are not important. Having "reverent fear" is not being scared or terrified. It's having a deep respect for someone that you don't want to go against them or displease them. Soldiers need to remember who their battling. It should never be their fellow soldiers.

Here are some scriptures that I urge you to pray over and study on your own. Remember: don't make decisions by how you feel or what you see. Go by what you learn and what you know. That's what all soldiers do. If every soldier went by feelings, we'd have to surrender because no one would be on the battlefield.

It takes more strength to follow, obey and submit then it does to disobey and run away.

{The Lord}
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

 {Marriage}
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Ephesians 5:22

{Leadership/Pastor/Elder}
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. "Hebrews 13:17

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Choose Joy {Free Printable}

Lately I've been feeling kinda far from God. I didn't understand why. I pray every day and have been trying to have a set morning time for more deep prayer and Bible reading. I may not sit down and study like I used to, but I do read scriptures and meditate on them.

In these moments, I always start to question what I'm doing. Is it this blog? Is it my priorities around the home {or lack of}? Am I reading what I'm suppose to? Am I doing what I'm suppose to? Time and time again, I realize how hard I am on myself. My personal expectations. It's like I can't make a mistake. I have lost sight of being merciful to my own person. 

I've been talking to God about this for a while because I don't want to be going astray and I want to make sure my motives are correct in everything I do. It was yesterday as I pulled into our garage that I felt something inside of me. There was a song playing and I felt this excitement come up from my soul. David and I had just come from a local produce place and thrift store. He watched from the back seat as I jumped out of the car, singing and dancing, practically in tears. It had been so long since I felt that way. Since I felt joy.

I'm not saying I'm unhappy. I absolutely adore my husband and son. Being a stay at home {wannabe work at home} mommy is one of the biggest blessings I have. Yet days go by, and I feel disconnected from everything. Not necessarily my family but from my calling. It is then I have to remind myself that part of my calling is to provide a loving home to uplift my husband and train up my son. The other part is to just love God with everything I have and obey His word. And choose joy. Yes, I must choose joy!

 {Free printable} Right click, save to your computer & print

Joy is not a feel-good feeling. It isn't a happy-go-lucky jackpot that if you put in a few quarters, you get a couple of hours of it. Joy is a choice. It is you actually telling yesterday's mistakes and today's expectations: "Listen, no matter what goes down, I am choosing to be happy. I'm blessed and nothing is going to tear me down, not even my bad attitude. The enemy wants to see me gloomy but I am choosing to be joyful!"

When I don't choose joy, I stay in a selfish state of "poor-me's." I'm the queen of my own pity-party; the princess to my wallow brigade...the beggar at the foot of my own table. I end up choosing sorrow which is what Jesus saved me from so long ago! Why do I go back and why do I want to? The thing is, it's comfortable. Being grouchy and sad is normal for us sometimes. It's sick but true.

Today, don't hide behind a frown mask. Whatever expectations you have of yourself, remember that we must put ALL expectations on God!

Psalm 62:5 says "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."

I can expect great things from God because He is all powerful and all knowing! I am but a sinner trying to get through this life, in a world that is not my home. Today, I am letting go of yesterday's mistakes because His mercy covers them and His grace buries them! I'm washed by His blood and redeemed for a purpose. His purpose! It's not about me and so I choose joy because when I do, others will see it. They will experience His joy and will see that He is truly great.

Words to Remember....

So, here we are. Just a few days left, and my Facebook/Twitter & this Blog will be done. Closed. All gone.

I am sure in the future I will be back. But I have to say, I am excited about this new journey! I mean I just look back at the last couple of years and all the things I've learned. God is truly remarkable and I have no doubt that this avenue I'm about to walk on will lead to even greater knowledge!

This more than likely will be my last post. I will be working more on my upcoming books (anyone love a good Christian love story? what about some advice from an accomplished author?) and on my online art shop {do you see that awesome painting above?? It's my latest, "Say Cheese." You can pre-order your print here and get 20% off!}

I will still be advertising on awesome blogs and will still have my Google account to follow my favs. Blogging will always be a part of me, it's just I really don't have time to keep up with my own one...

So before I say goodbye, I wanted you to please take a minute to sign up for my art + ministry newsletter! It won't be spammy, promise, just about one email a month to update you on what is new in my shop and any news I need to share. You can unsubscribe at any time but this will help us stay connected and you in the loop with my business. There will also be special discounts and giveaways just for newsletter subscribers, so what do you have to lose?! Take a minute to sign up below.

You guys have been amazing, to say the least. I adore each one of you and appreciate your dedication to this blog. You are all more like friends and I know this isn't a final goodbye...more like a "see ya next time!"

So, smile for the camera and say cheese...because you look lovely today :) 

May the Lord bless you and your family in 2013!

I will leave you with some words I'd like you to remember in this new year:

God is always Sovereign, no matter what you or I think.
Follow Him and you will never be confused!
Obey the Word, it is the final say.
Love each other more than life itself. 
Surround yourself with positive people; and pray for the negative ones.
Look up, not down; aim high, not low.
In all things, honor your Father which watches all you say & do.
Be a blessing and be blessed.
Be pure in heart and you shall see the Lord.
Smile often. It scares people.
Laugh at the little things, it will make you wiser.
When you feel alone, remember Christ was alone on the cross to bear your sorrow!
His blood covers ALL sin; not just the ones you want to give up.
Have faith by having a relationship.
BE A LIGHT ON A HILL!! 
Spend more time with family than with social media.
Give your home more love than strangers. You will be held accountable.
Watch your words, they cut deeper than the sharpest swords.
Be humble like a child; let them be your teacher and you the student.
Grow from mistakes, but not grow bitter.
Forgive early, find peace early.
and finally...
BLOG WHAT YOU LOVE NOT WHAT YOU THINK OTHERS WILL LOVE!!

XOXO
~JACY~

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Sunday Devotion: The Heart of God

A Heart. Everyone has one but that doesn't mean everyone knows how to use it.

We were given a heart for two main reasons. The first is the most obvious because we need blood to transfer throughout our body, so the heart pumps it around for us. Amen for that! The other reason is not a physical purpose. Rather, our hearts were created in such a way that there is also a spiritual, emotional side to it...and God wants in. I talk about this a lot in my book since it is about the purity of the heart. Our hearts need to be guided by the Lord. This is the other purpose of our hearts yet the most important...to love God with it all.

 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, 

and with all thy soul and with all thy might." Deut. 6:5

Recently, I was listening to one of our camp services online entitled "The Heart of God."
{You can listen to it for free here} 

The speaker asked the question "What is the heart of God?"  That made me think...what is the purpose behind all He does? Why does He do certain things? What drives Him? This scripture in Jeremiah leads us towards the right answer:

"And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart." Jeremiah 24:7

One word. Relationship! Jesus craves a real, intimate relationship with His creation. He wants your heart! The Lord's main purpose is to be known by us; we must read His Word, pray continually and seek God with everything we have. God yearns for that relationship with His children; you and I.

Today {and every day after} connect with Him. Talk to Him, listen to Him, vent to Him. He is waiting for our hearts to return to Him, to know Him. Just like our relationships down here, when we are connected with someone, we find out their name, their dreams, goals, get to know who they are, their personality etc. God is the same way!
Many people may think that they cannot know God this intimately or that He is somehow this invisible cloud far above our eyes that it is impossible to connect with Him. These are false ideas from the enemy! He is among us, doing great things, all for the purpose of relationship...so that we may seek Him and know Him.

Our God CAN be known AND understood, even to our little human minds. This is possible because of His purpose, to be known...our main purpose in this life is to know Him. Everything points towards that direction. So take some time to do just that! Get alone, even if it's just in the shower {us moms have to multitask this way :)} and speak to Him. Ask Him to reveal who He is to you and what He expects from a relationship with you. Read His Word, hide it in your hearts. Meditate on it, pray about it.

The heart of God is not a hard concept to see when you read the scriptures...it becomes clear that He wants that bond with us, that His love is endless, everlasting, true and pure. There truly is no greater love than the love of Jesus!

What is on your heart today? Would you like prayer?

I don't need to know all the details, for God knows them already...

I'd love to pray for you. Please leave your request in the comments.

Word of the Day: Distraction

Yup. One word yet SO much power.
The power of distraction, that is.

I actually have been thinking about this word more and more lately.
It probably is because I have so much I want to do and so much I need to do {two different things} that the lines get blurred and I end up doing nothing! Feel me?

I was organized at some point in my life but then life takes different turns and you find yourself spinning from them all. I am in NO way an expert at how to keep things together, believe me, but I do want to encourage someone today. As I am typing this, it took me about an hour to even get to clicking the "New Post" button!

Before that, it was "Email" then "Facebook" then "Twitter" then "Email" again then opening "Photoshop" to go through some photos because I needed to return an "Email"...blah. That was NOT what I wanted to do! haha I had planned on sitting down and writing blog posts...but I was easily distracted.

This is kinda scary because I realize how easy I get distracted now and it makes me wonder...God, am I leaving you out? I mean, I pray and read the Bible. I talk to Him daily and sing praises. However, deep in my heart, I can't help but wonder...do I just go from "Prayer" to "Bible" to "Prayer" to "Bible" to "Worship Song" without really listening to His voice? Seems like a silly question, but think about it. If my heart is not connecting right in prayer and the scriptures, and I'm just checking off my spiritual to-do list, was it a distraction from actually listening to what God needed to say to me that day??

Prayer and Bible reading is essential. I'm not saying if we do it, it's a distraction from God. That would be quite dumb if I meant it that way. What I'm saying is, we can get distracted by our own voices in prayer and distracted by those "feel good" scriptures we like to read, without getting deep and listening to what God really wants for us to hear...does that make sense? We can get distracted by our daily traditions and feel good but God is in the background asking "What about me? Isn't prayer suppose to be conversation between us? Aren't I suppose to guide you to the scriptures that will prick your heart?"

Here is my prayer right now:
Lord Jesus, you know how easy I can get distracted, especially in my daily life.
God help me to be organized and prioritize, not just my time, but my thoughts and my intentions.
I don't want to be distracted from hearing Your voice and listening to what You want to tell me.
Let me not get caught up in my spiritual traditions but let me approach You first for guidance. Amen.

What prayer is on your heart today? Share below and let us pray for one another, in Jesus Name!

The Palace Keepers {My Book Highlighted}

Some of you awesome peeps may have noticed the last couple of Sunday devotionals I've posted have been excerpts from my new book, The Palace Keepers. While thinking about a Monday blog post, it came to my mind that this past weekend, I received a phone call from a local pastor's wife. She had just finished reading the book and wanted me to come next month to speak to the ladies at her church...I cannot tell you the perfect timing for this phone call.

Lately, my heart has been really heavy. Like super-duper loaded. Spiritually I feel like I'm just getting by; almost like my head is completely below the water but I'm trying to breath through a straw...does that makes sense? Anyway, when I hung up the phone after she called, I felt so joyful (at least for a moment lol) It was as if Jesus was letting me know that even though I was going through tough times, He still has a calling on my life and a purpose to fulfill. Thank the Lord!

As I prepare to minister, I want to share with you a little about my book, since that's what has been on my mind:

The Palace Keepers are people who protect the purity of their hearts by, not just protecting only their heart, but their entire palace. Our palaces consist of our minds, thoughts, decisions, heart and body.  It is through the process of purifying our entire palace that we can preserve the pure and cleanliness of our heart.

God showed me that the modern Christian society has focused so much on the physical, that we are losing the basic fact that we need to watch our emotions. We cannot protect the body first and the heart second, that's a backwards system!

With The Palace Keepers book, you will learn through Bible scriptures, Bible & real life stories, thought provoking questions and insights that King Jesus is waiting for us to put Him in the Throne Room of our heart. He has called us to be our own Palace Keepers and we cannot give that job away! If we do, that means we allow other people to control our emotions and ultimately our hearts...and that can do SO much damage!

So take a moment today to pray and ask the Lord to reveal the emotional state of your heart. Have you been a good Palace Keeper or have you given that job away and need to reclaim it?
The book is available on Amazon/Kindle, which is compatible with any tablet or pc. Also in classic paperback form through my ministry website.

I'm not pushing this book for the money. There is a message that needs to be addressed and it is my job, my calling, to get it out! The purity if our hearts is so important and this book will help each of us in the process.

Have you ever heard of emotional purity?

Do you feel like you can relate to a book like this?

Would love to hear your thoughts! Comment below, please :)

xoxo

Sunday Devotion: Power of Influence

          

"As females, we have more power than we know what to do with. If we can learn to lean on Jesus and allow Him to use that influence to enrich His kingdom, just think how many hearts we can reach!

In society today, we see the negative effects of a woman’s influence. Instead of using her body for God’s glory, she has exploited it to curve men’s attention to herself. Instead of using her words for pleasant admirations, she speaks foul language and uses conniving attitudes to fulfill material desires. This is not how the King wants His daughters to act.

“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:16-18).

In the Book of Proverbs, we are warned of the ways in which not to act. What is more, gentlemen are expected not to give in to such women. Not just to avoid giving in physically, but also emotionally. God cares about men’s emotional states just as much a woman’s. The Scripture is clear that young men must also work on guarding their hearts as well. Yes, ladies, men do have hearts!

“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:1-8).

Gentlemen, you are not exempt. You have a different kind of power of influence. While a woman more than likely uses her influence to manipulate others to do what she wants, you on the other hand are more bold and strong. The most attractive part of the power of influence for you is that first word, “power.”

A perfect example is Jacob using his power of influence to gain the birthright from his twin and older brother, Esau. Esau was only older by like two seconds, but here’s the deal: first-born sons in those days were supposed to get a special blessing from their father. This could include giving them all of the father’s possessions and livestock. It could mean land and also money. Basically, it was a very honorable blessing, one that Jacob managed to buy with one sorry bowl of soup.

Jacob was always jealous of his brother. Even as they were in the womb, they fought and their mother Rebekah was confused:

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them” (Genesis 25:22-26).

 

There came a point when they grew up and Jacob was preparing some stew or soup. Esau, a cunning hunter, came from the field and was faint. So, naturally, he asked his younger brother for some of the food:

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint” (Genesis 25:29-30).

Jacob seized the opportunity to use his power of influence on his brother!

“And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:31-34).

This “power of influence” is a powerful tool, and if the heart has wrong intentions, it can cause some deadly damage. With actions and words, a message is sent to the other person. Verbally and nonverbally, we are given power to influence our world. 

How will you use it?"

- Excerpt from Chapter 8  of my new book "The Palace Keepers: Protecting the Purity of the Heart", available here for Kindle/iPad/Tablet users or here in paperback