It's been a while. I can't believe March is almost over and I'm just now getting around to my first post of the 2015 year!
I've been going through a Women's Bible study at our church. The study is titled What Love Is by Kelly Minter, and if any ladies reading this have not done this study, I highly encourage you to take some time to do it. It is a study of the letters of 1, 2, 3 John. The lesson today that spoke so strongly to me was about overcoming taken from 1 John 5:3-6:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) Paul is referring to his "thorn in the flesh."
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
I have no excuse to ignore God's commands because He equips me with what I need to accomplish what He's called me to do. There is no reason to go hanging my head in defeat. I need to let others see the Spirit of God shining through me!
One of my favorite songs is God's Not Dead by Newsboys. My friends, "God is not dead! He is surely alive. He's living on the inside roaring like a lion," and you know what? It's time to start living like it!
Mandisa and MercyMe also have some great songs that speak to overcoming and the One inside me being greater than in the world:
Overcomer by Mandisa
Stay in the fight! Don't give up! 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV) "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Greater by MercyMe
1 John 4:4 (NIV) "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [referring to false spirits/prophets from vs 1-3] because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
My finite mind cannot fully grasp the depth of God's love, but I am so thankful that His love has no boundaries. I'm thankful He doesn't give up on me when I fail time and time again. I'm thankful His mercies are new every morning. I'm thankful for the strength He provides to do what He's called me to do. I'm thankful for the Spirit of power and love He's placed in me. I'm thankful that through Him, I can overcome those fears, failures, and doubts that Satan tries to remind me of so often.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are overcomers; we are more than conquerors because of what Jesus has done for us! It's nothing of ourselves and nothing we can do, but God's grace at work in us. Soli Deo Gloria!
I've been going through a Women's Bible study at our church. The study is titled What Love Is by Kelly Minter, and if any ladies reading this have not done this study, I highly encourage you to take some time to do it. It is a study of the letters of 1, 2, 3 John. The lesson today that spoke so strongly to me was about overcoming taken from 1 John 5:3-6:
This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.The word "overcome" is used 3 times in these verses. Do you think John is trying to get a point across? These letters of John have been stressing how as a child of God, my love for Him should overflow into my actions and how I treat others. The way I show God I love Him is to obey His commands, which John points out "are not burdensome." As Kelly points out in her study, "something being hard, difficult, or even painful doesn't necessarily mean burdensome." I find I often create the burden on myself, especially when it comes to fear of failure or fear of how others might perceive what I'm doing/saying. The devil is so sneaky about creeping in and reminding me of my faults and weaknesses, but God in His Word is so wonderful to remind me of His love, grace, power, and strength as well! I'm going to try not share too many thoughts because God's Word can speak for itself, and I feel the verses I'm sharing are pretty self explanatory. Take time to meditate on them and allow God to speak to you through them.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) Paul is referring to his "thorn in the flesh."
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Okay, so I said I'd try not to interject thoughts, but I can't help it here. Having experienced Christ's power at work personally, I must say words can't describe the experience when I have allowed God to shine through my weaknesses. It's very difficult for me to step into situations I know I can't handle or ones in which I know don't draw on strengths of mine. However, the times I have stepped out on faith and allowed God to provide the strength in my weakness, have been some of the most amazing and wonderful moments.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.1 John 4:18a (NIV)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good pleasure.Romans 8:33-37 (NIV)
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.John 16:33 (NIV)
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.Jesus didn't say the Christian walk would be easy, but He does tell me to take heart because He has overcome the world. Because He lives inside of me, I can overcome, too!
I have no excuse to ignore God's commands because He equips me with what I need to accomplish what He's called me to do. There is no reason to go hanging my head in defeat. I need to let others see the Spirit of God shining through me!
One of my favorite songs is God's Not Dead by Newsboys. My friends, "God is not dead! He is surely alive. He's living on the inside roaring like a lion," and you know what? It's time to start living like it!
Mandisa and MercyMe also have some great songs that speak to overcoming and the One inside me being greater than in the world:
Overcomer by Mandisa
Stay in the fight! Don't give up! 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV) "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Greater by MercyMe
1 John 4:4 (NIV) "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [referring to false spirits/prophets from vs 1-3] because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
My finite mind cannot fully grasp the depth of God's love, but I am so thankful that His love has no boundaries. I'm thankful He doesn't give up on me when I fail time and time again. I'm thankful His mercies are new every morning. I'm thankful for the strength He provides to do what He's called me to do. I'm thankful for the Spirit of power and love He's placed in me. I'm thankful that through Him, I can overcome those fears, failures, and doubts that Satan tries to remind me of so often.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are overcomers; we are more than conquerors because of what Jesus has done for us! It's nothing of ourselves and nothing we can do, but God's grace at work in us. Soli Deo Gloria!
