It dawned on me a few weeks ago that many of the negative feelings that I often deal with are directly related to how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking/believing about the future. Most specifically, how I'm FEARing something in the future. Whether it's the future in 5 minutes or the future in 5 years or more, facing the future can at times leave me dreading whatever I anticipate is to come. Guilt, shame, bitterness and the like are connected with the past. But most of my issues have to do with the FUTURE. If I'm not standing in faith and looking at the future from a God-centered, Trust-and-Truth-based perspective, I'm probably Facing the Future with FEAR and I will find myself feeling:
Defeated
Cowardly
Despairing
Anxious
Afraid
Worried
Discouraged
Depressed
Timid
Like Giving Up
Weak
Terrified
Insecure and
Powerless
But IN CHRIST, I am NONE of those things! A few weeks ago God showed me that too often I have anticipated battles (some that came and some that didn't) but stopped short of anticipating and expecting VICTORY. And you know what? When God got it through my head and into my heart that it was HIGH TIME that I started anticipating and expecting victory instead of just a battle... I STARTED EXPERIENCING MORE VICTORIES. And I so intensely want that for you too!
He's been teaching me that when I am Facing the Future with FEAR (see the list of symptoms above), I need to STOP, TURN myself AROUND and Face the Future with FAITH. Then I will experience the victory. I'm gonna write more about the ways God's been showing me to do that in another post or three. But I want to leave you with the words to a hymn that was written in 1891 reminding us that FAITH is the VICTORY. Remember that, Friend!!! And I'm praying that if this is an issue God wants to work on in you, too, that He will start by showing you how often you are looking to the future this way... because when we expect and declare defeat when it's not even half-time yet, we give up and the enemy wins. God almost always starts freeing my mind by showing me first that I AM IN BONDAGE to some kind of lie and I NEED TO BE FREED. So if that's the case with you, I'm praying God will show you. I feel like I should apologize if He answers, because it likely won't be pretty... but I don't believe He uncovers and exposes stuff that He doesn't intend to heal, so I'm gonna expect victory for you and praise Him for what He's gonna do... even if the process is painful. And if this is just about me, that's okay too... I'm already thankful for the victory He's bringing me.
Grace & Peace,
Melissa
Words by John H. Yates - Music by Ira D. Sankey
1891
1 John 5:4
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath, swept on o'er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray.
Salvation's helmet on each head, with truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
To him that overcomes the foe, white raiment shall be giv'n.
Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in Heav?n.
Then onward from the hill of light, our hearts with love aflame,
We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus' conqu'ring Name.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
Melissa, this is an awesome post! Thank you so much for sharing from your heart!
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your questions on my post,
hte retreat was done by the
Baptist General Conv. of Oklahoma
at
Falls Creek Baptist Camp.
Christy's husband, Nathan and the band were also there.