The Father's Best

While here in London my heart has ached for home, and I have felt very alone. I miss my family and friends. But it is here in this place, the place of the wilderness, where Jesus teaches us to lean. Song of Songs 8:5 puts it perfectly: "Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?" He is removing everything that i have been leaning on, only to show that He is sufficient.

It is in this place where stuff we know about God in our head is tested, and its this testing that will move the head knowledge the 18 inches into our hearts, and solidify it. I have known for a while that Jesus has the best for me but lived my life in such a way that showed that I didn't believe it. I have often tried to gather via my own strength, what i thought would be best for me whether it be relationships, plans, dreams, etc... God has asked me put all those on the alter if I really believed that he had the best. I was clearly unwilling to put ALL on the alter, I thought just a few things here and there would be good enough, so God in his mercy put me on the alter and set me ablaze. My dreams, plans, etc...were all burned up, and I began to be refined. It hurts so much, but here is the firs fruits of it my friends: Jesus has brought me to a place where I actually believe that he has the best! That his will is not only the best for him, but it is the best for me too!!  

This isn't to say we can't or shouldn't have dreams hopes and plans, even those can often be God given. We just need to remember to hold them loosely, believing that if he does change them, then it really is for the best.

He really wants to bless us and take us on a wild adventure with him, and this is the proof: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32). He won't force us to come along. He lets us chose and we can chose our wants, desires, plans, and he will love us all the way through, but we will be missing out on so much, and it will be a lot more work when we realize that we are using our own strength to get to places in life instead of being blown by the Wind of God. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) We also come to find that when we go where we think is best, or do what we think is best, we wind up disappointed because it didn't fill that gap or satisfy us the way the will of God always does. We look for freedom, only to find that it's only the will of God that we are truly free. 

 

With that said, I have come to find that it is easier said than done. But God knows our hearts and even if we don't have strength to give up our dreams and ambitions, plans, he in his mercy will set things on the alter if our spirits are willing, despite our flesh being so weak. The fire of his mercy and kindness can hurt but it really is for our good. The best that he has for us doesn't always equal easy, comfortable, or fun, but it is all for our best.

Let us always remember that no matter the shaking around us, God's character never is shaken.

UK Update # 1

Sorry its taken so long, I wanted to get the videos edited and with spotty internet here and there it took a lot longer than I thought. The second video audio got messed up but if you turn it up loud you might be able to make out me saying that I made it but was now lost and trying to find my friends house :) But i found it eventually :) I miss you all!!! Enjoy!

Seeing Ourselves with the Father's Eyes

"He does not deal with us according to our sins,nor repay us according to our iniquities." Ps. 103:10

Over the last month Jesus has been daily reminding me of my righteousness (right standing) before God. My righteousness is not from me but I am clothed in the righteousness of another. Just as from the begining, sin could only be coverd by the life of another. When Adam and Eve sinned they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves that would eventually wither away, just like our good works or anything that we use to try to cover over our sins. But God came and saw fit to cover them in the skin of an animal. That animal had to die so they would be coverd, covered in the life of another. This is the Lord’s doing it is marvelous in our eyes.

Even though my righteousness is not from me, I often live like it is and worst of all I often approach and interact with God like it is. For example, the other morning I woke up and this lustful thought popped into my head, it was really annoying and it filled me with guilt all morning. Not guilt as in doubting that it was covered by the blood, but more so feeling bad about letting God down and really wanting to love him so well, but failing at it so often. Later that morning I was driving to go have coffee with a friend and I was praying that God would give me the words to say but in the middle of asking for that, I stopped because I felt that since I had "let God down", I probably shouldn't bother him with a request. Where as on a day where I feel like I am doing better, I have more confidence to approach God and make my requests known to him.

This morning though, was differnet. God spoke the same words to me as he did the other mornings but I finally "got it". He told me that not only did he take the punishment for my sins and keeps no record of wrongs, but that he also treats me as if I had never sinned! So now when I go to approach the Lord I can go with not only the confidence I have on a "good day" of not sinning, but I can go with the confidence of someone who has never sinned!! God does not punish me for my sins but he treats me as if I had never committed one. He really sees me as pure and holy. This is my identity.

Jesus give us yours eyes!

The root of the issue is unbelief in the Word of God. The enemy is whispering lies in our ear all day and when we give in, like I did, and think that God sees us as anything less than perfect, then what has happened is this:

We have put our faith in the words of Satan and have unbelief in the Word of God. 

Sounds really intense when we put it that way, but neverthless, this is the reality of it. Faith in the words of Satan and unbelief in the Word of God equals bondage. So to get free we just do the opposite. Reject the lies of the enemy repent for unbelief, and put our faith in what God says about us!

"Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Heb. 10:18-23)

No matter what you have done, let us run into the open arms of our Father, who has a ring and new robe waiting for us.



YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS SONG:
Dusty Road by Michael Ketterer