Like most moms, before I sent my oldest son off to college, we planned every detail of the process so he’d be equipped. I made sure he had all the things to live his new life on campus without mom. Before he left, grandma and everyone else also went to great lengths to ensure he had those items for his first year in the gloomy, cold, nasty, dorm. God delivers so I felt so should we, his parents. Ha!
Towels.
Check.
Sheets.
Check.
Blankets.
Check.
He had it all. He had exactly what he needed to make it. I’m sure he felt a bit more secure knowing the basics of life were within his reach. I sure did. He was my baby!
Did you know Jesus did the same for you?
God delivers you and provides for you!
Just like I did for my college-bound baby, Jesus made certain you have all the necessities for a successful Christian life. One of the major mistakes Christians make is not taking full advantage of these Heavenly resources. They are there for us. We can be delivered and set free from those things that bind us and hold us back.
I always say Christianity works if you work it. That doesn’t mean we do it all ourselves. I’m not talking about some weird doctrine that does away with the grace of God. We don’t earn anything in Christianity. I know that. I get it.
At the same time, in order to grow in the Lord and be strong, we have to utilize all He has supplied so we can walk powerfully and thrive. That’s what I”m saying.
For example, imagine that a loving husband gives his wife a “stormy weather” fund in case she runs short of cash and he’s not around. Wouldn’t it be foolish for her to have that money and not use it when she needs it? I think so.
God provided the same way for you too!
Girl, your heavenly father wants you, similarly, to be prepared for the tricky parts of life – the hard parts.
After all, just as diligently as I worked to make sure my baby was ready for college life, God gave everything to make sure you have everything you need for this cold, harsh world!
I can’t stop reminding you how fully equipped you are.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”. Eph 1:3
For one thing, the Holy Spirit is your AMAZING resource!
Oh yeah! The Holy Spirit will help you. He gives you the ability to produce:
“… love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,… gentleness and self-control….” Gal. 5:22-23
These are more than “good concepts”. These scriptures are the result of Who lives inside you – if you are Christian that is.
Whatever your weakness, whatever your vice, God has given you exactly what you need to be better and to be whole.
God delivers you! He really does!
We can become the kind of woman God has called us to be. You have the God-power inside to stop that nasty habit, be kind to an unkind mate, control that temper, forgive your “ex” and give up those unhealthy habits that distract from Jesus’ purpose for your life.
We really have to stop making excuses for our bad behavior when we identify as Christians.
After all, He really is able, and with Him inside you, so are you. You can overcome ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING!
Christian Lady, write this down in your phone:
The Holy Spirit + A little discipline/effort (prayer and the word of God) x faith = Victory
Look at it again. Think ab out it.
Whenever you find yourself on that emotional merry-go-round of frustration and repeated failures, refer to the above equation and ask yourself “What’s missing in my life?” What am I neglecting?
I know for me, when I’m at my very “worst”, I”m usually out of whack in either my prayer life, consistent Bible study or I am simply not disciplining myself properly.
For you, it could be prayer, it could be faith or again, maybe it’s self-control. Whatever it is, God will help you by the power of His Spirit.
My advice and what works for me…
Just like a good parent, God really has supplied everything we need for life and Godliness.
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3
Submit to the power of the Holy Spirit in your life today.
Read your Bible daily for strength, direction, and a status check on your heart.
Then exercise a little discipline, commune to God often, and utilize the powerful tools He’s given you.
Walk in Faith and stop doing the things that hinder you!
Finally, activate your faith (apart from your logic) and begin to do what you thought you could never do in your own strength. Maybe because you couldn’t without Him.
God delivers us from all the bands of wickedness and all the power of the enemy. Use your spiritual arsenal to your advantage.
PUT. ON. YOUR. ARMOR.
Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
He’s got you, Girl!
God may choose to deliver you supernaturally or it may take a bit of a process to break free from some things. Either way, He delivers!
One example is my mom. She was a heavy smoker back in the day. As a kid, I can recall seeing her hold her cigarette so elegantly and delicately with her freshly painted fingernails and pretty rings. She reminded me of a beautiful, brown Grace Kelly or something.
However, when she committed her life to the Lord, she prayede and asked the Lord to take it from her.
POOF! She was no longer a smoker! She said the urge just left! For years, she’s talked about how God “took cigarettes” from her.
Does He always deliver that way?
No! Sometimes, He needs you and me to go through a process. The choice is ultimately His. All we have to do is trust Him (i.e. have faith). He can do the impossible!
Get ready to walk on the “spiritual water” and say “NO” to the behaviors, habits, and vices you thought you could not live without.
Stand back and watch how God begins to work in you, draw others to you, and allow your light to shine for His glory!
Most importantly, Christian Woman, don’t be bound by things (vices) you can be totally free from. God can deliver you from ANYTHING!
Check out written proof that God delivers…it’s in Romans 8:11:
Romans 8:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Dr. Charles Stanley talks discipline…
I was also thinking of Ephesians 3:16 ?? in which Paul writes that the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead is the power we have at our disposal through the Holy Spirit!! How big does a problem seem now? 🙂