April 5,2014
Been reflecting back and seeing the movement of God, as He has been changing me and shaping me for His glory.
So
I will begin with a word that was spoken at church approximately a year
ago. In the message my pastor said "Everyone wants to see the glory of
God, yet do you know what you are asking for?" I thought not really but I
am fixing to find out. He went on to say "When God reveals His glory,
He will reveal more of you, and He will reveal more of Himself". So I
began to pray; regularly, Lord I want to see Your glory, reveal more of
me and reveal more of You. Little by little He would do just that. Then
approximately nine weeks ago our church began a series entitled: "From
Death to Life". It has turned into a life changing series for me, and a
series where God revealed His glory to me, I would see more that was in
me that needed to die and to be buried, and He began to allow me the
privilege of experiencing Him in a fresh and new way.
Most who know me, understand that I love the Lord very much,
and know that I desire to walk in a close relationship with Him. But I
still have life struggles, and everyday I struggle with just living,
making an income, paying bills, etc. There are times when I think "I'm
not going to make it" "It is never going to get better". As I was
sharing this one evening with my pastors, my pastor looked at me an said
"You are looking at your job as your provider and not Jesus". Needless
to say, a little self-righteous indignation rose up inside me, and I
thought (but didn't say) "I know that Jesus is my Provider". But at the
same time The Holy Spirit said "He is right". I went home that night and
asked for forgiveness, repented by aligning my mind with the Word, I
began to study the covenant relationship I have with Jesus Christ. And I
began to ask Him to let me experience Him as my Provider. Let me say
that God honors your prayers, when you pray from your heart and desire
to understand yourself and Him, as you journey through this life to
fulfill the destiny He has for you.
Three weeks later, came a shift in my life. To get out from
under a particular struggle I had with paying the rent where I was
living, meant I had to break my lease and move. I began to realize that
was what I needed to do because God had said in my heart "You will have
victory in this, but you must obey what I say" So I spoke to the office,
turned in my notice, and began to pack. Yet, I had no place to go. My
church is located at the entrance to the community of Clinton and for
several years I had been praying for the community. Several months ago
the Lord had spoke to my spirit and said "I am placing you in the
community you have been praying for". But at that time I believed it
would be at a later date. To be completely honest, I have no desire to
live in Clinton. I am definitely a city girl (laughing). But if God says
that is where He is putting me then I am willing to go.
But there was and is no where to go. I have a budget that I
must stay within and nothing at this time is available, where I am lead
to go. Other possibilities have been offered, yet they are not in my
price range, or not in the area I believe God says to go to. So my
furniture is in storage, and I came to stay with my daughter and her
family, until God opens the right door. Instinct says run out and find a
place any place, just some place to have yourself and your belongings
together. Yet, I have determined to not settle for my less out of fear
and stay ready to receive God's best for me.
My biggest concern with staying with my daughter was that I
would be in her and her family's way, that I would interfere with their
life and they would interfere with mine. It has been six days, and all
is well. Praying God's peace with me and them. I think for me it has
been the biggest adjustment, I have lived alone for years, no noise at
the house, stuff done the way I wanted it and when I wanted it. Now here
I am with my daughter and her husband three kids and a dog they had a
cat but he must be gone because I haven't seen or heard him. I must
remember to ask what happened to the cat. Definitely different from what
I am used to.
So that brings me to something else I have been praying, (I
really didn't have a clear understanding of). One Sunday my pastor said
"Keeping Jesus in our focus will cause us to be creative and stop
reacting to life and life will begin to respond to us" I had the
reacting part down pat, I knew exactly what that meant, since I did it a
lot. So I began to speak and to pray "Lord teach me not to react to
everything that comes my way and let life begin to respond to me". Then
about a week into this I realized I didn't have a clear understanding of
what it meant to have life respond to you. So I approached my pastor
and asked him what did that mean, after all I was praying it. To simply
put it "When I am faced with a situation either I can react to the
situation or I can allow the peace of God to be released in me and the
situation, and then I will see it from a different perspective and not
react." Now those are not his exact words but that is how I received it
to my understanding.
So where am I in this journey "From Death to Life"? Jesus
is allowing me the privilege and the opportunity of experiencing Him as
my Provider and my Provision. He is teaching me to listen and obey His
voice. I have had several opportunities to react, yet I have chosen His
peace and joy. You see God is moving me, yet the enemy has sent several
distractions to me to get me off course and get my focus off of Jesus,
yet I recognized his tactics. I am praying that while I am staying with
my daughter that the light of Jesus will be seen in me and that I will
not be the reason for another mother-in-law joke with my son-in-law. I
hope that I will be a help and not a bother to my daughter. And I hope
to enjoy my children and grandchildren during my stay.
What is this new life, this resurrected life look like?
Let's just say that the resurrected life indwells me and has since I was
born again. The anointing power that raised Jesus from the dead is in
me. And as I live this life in Christ I walk in that power. This enables
me to live in such a way, that Jesus is seen in me and not Linda seen,
it allows my circumstances not to hold me as a hostage, binding me to
them. It releases freedom in Jesus and then the chains fall off. I may
still face many battles in this life, yet the battles are already won,
all I have to do is keep Jesus as my focus and walk in His peace,
lifting Him up, continue the upward call on my life. I have the victory
already the biggest lie the enemy can convince us of is that he still
has power over us. Wherever He places me the anointing of the Holy
Spirit will penetrate the atmosphere and both myself and others around
me will be changed not by me but by the presence of Jesus Christ in the
room. A lot more to share on this subject but will wait until the bible
study. This is just an update of where I am in my walk with Jesus.
Remaining steadfast on this journey.
Check out the on-line bible study and begin the journey From Death to Life at www.lindagroberts.com
