Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should always listen to God's direction

Go Right
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Since COVID-19 started, I now take drives to explore the mountains in my town so I can satisfy my travel bug and connect with God through nature. I’ve lived in California for almost seven years and there is still so much I haven’t discovered yet. That is one positive in this quarantine time.

I am so thankful that I am surrounded by so many places that I can explore in under three hours. Each time I take one of these drives, I come back feeling grounded and refreshed, having spent a bit of time out in nature with God.

Last Saturday, I revisited one of the backroads that my friend mentioned to me a few weeks ago. The mountain road is curvy, tree-lined and covered with wildflowers before it cuts through a beautiful valley. The sights on this road are absolutely breathtaking, and because of its sharp curves, you have to go slow or you will plunge off the edge of the mountain. The slow speed allows you to really take in all the beauty around you: wildflowers, large oak trees, birds singing, cattle grazing in the hillside. It’s now one of my favorite places to go.

At the end of this drive, there is a fork in the road. If you choose left, that will lead you back to town in about 20 minutes. I’d gone left three weeks ago and it was a beautiful drive. Now there was an option to go right, but I’d never gone that way before. I was a little afraid of getting lost and I didn’t want to accidentally end up three hours away from home.

I heard a whisper from God. “Go right.”

I was scared to go right. I knew what was to come if I went left since I’d gone that way before. So I went left.

The urge to go right became stronger. I felt like God was saying, “Alexis, if you turn into this turnout, you can still U-turn and go right.”

I knew that urge would not go away until I decided to go right. Swallowing my fear, I pulled into the turnout, made a quick U-turn when it was safe and headed right.

I am so glad I did.

Not only was the drive beautiful, it ended at a marina of a very large lake I’d never seen before. I couldn’t go onto shore because the lake was closed, but from my parking spot I got to take in a beautiful view: crystal blue water with mountains as a backdrop.

If I had listened to my fear and continued to go left, I would have missed out on discovering this lake. Taking a different path, the one that God chose for me, ending up being better than my original plan.

That often happens in my Christian walk. I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of the unknown. I like routine, I like to know what lies up ahead so I can plan and weigh my options. I like to be in control.

However, none of that exists in the unknown. Walking in the unknown plans that God has for us, takes a lot of trust and faith.

Faith that God knows what is best for us.

Faith that He is always with us, especially when things are hard.

Faith that although we think we may know the way, God always has a better way.

When God calls you to take a new path or leads you into the unknown, remember these verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV):

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

We may think we know the best way, but friend, God always knows better.

Trust Him.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA.  

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

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Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

My interview with the Truth, Salt and Spice podcast about my NEW book!

Dear Reader Friends,

I'd love for you to listen to my very first interview with Xamayta Graver on her "Truth, Salt and Spice" podcast!

She interviewed me about my faith journey with God, my work as a professional writer and how I wrote my first devotional book, Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God.

Listen and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! :)

Devotionals for the Heart: Life Advice

Don’t Go Running Blind
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
–Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Running races was something I did when I was younger. I loved it! I ran the occasional city race or fundraiser, and daily I ran alone.

The longest race I’ve run was a half marathon. The “half” is 13.1 miles. Initially, I wanted to run the full marathon, but early in training, I sustained an injury and settled for the shorter distance. I was disappointed to be running what I thought to be a second-rate competition. I was more bummed at lowering the bar of my personal achievements than my concern for my strained achilles tendon. I found a way to continue in training.

I was running for my glory. I was running blind.

Because of my running, I’ve appreciated this passage in Hebrews chapter 12. However, the author is not writing about a race like the one I ran. He did not promote challenges to prove oneself. This race he pens is a fight for life.

In the ancient world, the Olympic games were severe. Competitions were often to the death. While, like me, some contenders might have been seeking their own glory, but it was also common that prisoners were pit against each other for entertainment.

Imagine a stadium filled with spectators awaiting who would emerge victorious. This was no time to daydream or get sidetracked with whose shoes were a better brand! There was no silver medal for second place. Competition demanded focus and putting to use the daily training.

In these verses in Hebrews 12, I see four “sights” to keep us intentional in this “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) rather than running blind. Let’s look at the scripture moving from the end to the beginning: “…Jesus…who for the joy set before him endured…and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Let’s examine those four “sights”:

Sight #1: Run with eyes set on the throne of God

There absolutely is an end to the marathon and the prize is a face to face with the great I AM! For all of the striving and effort we put into proving value, the time is coming when we will look our Father in the eye and He will know every footfall we’ve had. What a reward!

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith….”

Sight #2: Run with eyes set on Jesus

Jesus set the pace, training us daily by the records of him running ahead. It is Jesus who makes our victory possible! He endured what was set before him and knows we can follow.

“…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely….”

Sight #3: Run seeing that the thing that holds you back is sin and the shame of it.

The blood of Christ on the cross was death to sin and death to shame. Forgiveness does not hold a grudge nor does it consider you accountable. The price is paid. Let it be paid. Shame is weighing you down. Lay it aside. Jesus despises it!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses….”

Sight #4: Run seeing the eyes that watch

There is no such thing as a secret. There are always witnesses to how we run this race. Children observe parents. Neighbors survey their hood. Heavenly beings also watch on as we run.

Let us be encouraged as we run the race before us. Let us not run blind, as if a spiritual world does not exist or if our steps do not matter. Let Jesus continue to be your trainer, saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” as you power on toward the prize. Victory is ours, friend, fix your eyes on Him!

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior. 

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Author Interview with Malinda Fugate about The Other Three Sixteens (book)

Let's welcome my author friend Malinda Fugate to the blog today!

She's here to talk about her book The Other Three Sixteens, that releases today (May 12)!

Malinda also has agreed to give away ONE signed, paperback copy of her book to the ONE winner of the giveaway contest that you can enter via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this blog post. Please remember that this giveaway contest is ONLY for United States residents because mailing books internationally is expensive.

Read my interview with Malinda below and remember to wish her a 

"Happy BOOK birthday" in the comments!

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Interview with Malinda Fugate about her book, 

The Other Three Sixteens:

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Malinda: The Other Three Sixteens began as a personal study, sparked by curiosity and, I’m certain, inspiration from the Lord. After memorizing and teaching John 3:16 to my church kids, I’d especially notice other three sixteen verses when I came across them. I wondered if this could be a unifying theme, and as I read, God revealed a deeper understanding of His love. If I was so blessed by this, I knew I needed to share it.

Alexis: What was your inspiration for sharing these words?

Malinda: When something is exceptionally good, you gotta share! The more we examine God’s love, the more wonder we find. We can’t possibly keep such amazingness to ourselves.

Alexis: Who is your target audience for this book? Why?

Malinda: The Other Three Sixteens is written for everyday people. Sometimes, the advanced vocabulary of theology can be a barrier if we’re unfamiliar with the terminology. But the Bible is accessible for everyone, and the Holy Spirit helps us understand things we couldn’t quite grasp on our own. I hope this book inspires anyone who needs reassurance of how much God cares for them and leads to a closer relationship with Him.

Alexis: What is your book about?

Malinda: God’s love! The Other Three Sixteens moves through each book of the Bible examining various aspects of God’s attentive care for us, His precious children.

Alexis: What were the easiest and most challenging parts about writing this book?

Malinda: I think the easiest parts were 3:16s that were part of a story, because we naturally become invested in narratives. Other 3:16s required a little more examination to uncover how they related to God’s love, particularly in the books of prophecy that discuss ancient Israel’s destruction. But the thing is, God’s love is all over every page of His Word, so the love was there, too.

Alexis: How did you choose the title for this book? Explain its significance.

Malinda: The title sums up just what you find in the book, which is all the other chapter three, verse sixteens in each book of the Bible. At least, most books in the Bible are covered in my book because there are a few that don’t have a third chapter with a sixteenth verse!

Alexis: Why do you believe that John 3:16 sums of the Gospel message?

Malinda: The Gospel message is so amazing and deep that it’s not easy to simplify. Yet, when Jesus has a conversation with a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, He explained a big truth clearly in what is now John 3:16. God loved us so immensely that He gave Jesus to forgive our sins, resulting in our reconciliation with Him. Sure, we can go into lots of details – which is good and we should – but we have to start with the basics, just like Nicodemus did the night he talked with Jesus.

Alexis: What do you hope your book will teach people about God?

Malinda: I very much pray that the Lord uses the words in this book to speak personally to each heart, whispering just how much He treasures them individually. You are not just one in a big crowd of humanity. You matter so much to God that He goes to great lengths to actively love you.

Alexis: How much time did you spend writing this book?

Malinda: It took me about a year to write, but I am such an inconsistent writer! I’d go through disciplined periods of time writing multiple chapters, then weeks or more would go by before I had another page. Publishing deadlines, however, kept me moving at a fairly steady pace, thankfully!

Alexis: Did you ever want to stop writing this book? If so, what kept you going? If not, why?

Malinda: I can’t think of a time when I wanted to stop writing, though there were challenging moments. The whole process was enjoyable, to be honest, because it was like opening a treasure chest with each new 3:16. Each chapter was a fresh, new look at God’s love, which never gets tiresome or mundane.

Alexis: If you choose just one word, sentence or message from your book that you want people to remember, what would that be and why?

Malinda: God loves you, and that means so very much.

Alexis: Tell us about your faith journey. When did you decide to follow Jesus? Why? How has your faith in God impacted your life?

Malinda: I’ve been blessed to know Jesus since childhood. My parents and grandparents instilled a love of Christ in me until I was mature enough to understand and choose to follow Him on my own. But the bottom line is that God has proven tangible and active in my life. His Word is consistent and true. He has been my joy and my lifeline, and I could not function without Him. There are many stories I could tell of good times and bad, provision and lifesaving, but maybe that’s another book!

Alexis: In what ways do you hope that your book will stir the faith of your readers?

Malinda: I think our faith often consists of believing without seeing, and so we stop looking for the things that are visible. However, when we are paying attention, we see God and His love in many very real ways. Then we discover that He has been doing great things all along and we can trust all the things He’s promised to do. And when we realize how busy He has been loving us in so many ways, our hearts are overflowing with … Gratitude? Love for Him? Wonder? All of this and more? It really is indescribable.

Alexis: If you could sell this book to people using just one phrase, what would it be?

Malinda: God passionately loves you, and you’ll be amazed when you see how.

Alexis: What is your favorite Bible verse? Why?

Malinda: You’d think I’d have a favorite with all this studying, but it’s actually made it more difficult to choose! And Scripture wasn’t designed to be isolated in quotable pieces, and the more I study, the more I see how it all fits together like a tapestry, each verse woven into the verses surrounding it. The passages that resonate most with me tend to change with the seasons of life. Right now, it might be 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Life seems to be turned upside down during this season, but we know just what to do.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: If I weren’t an author, I’d be _____________
because ________________________________.

Malinda: If I weren’t an author, I’d be finding some way to tell stories because I just can’t keep them contained!

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Malinda! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Malinda: I really do pray The Other Three Sixteens shines a light on how God so very much loves you. Thanks so much for this chat, Alexis!

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International).

She serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a Southern California church.

In addition to The Other Three Sixteens, Malinda has written Bible Time for Active Kids (an activities-based devotional) and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God (an interactive creative writing journal).

Malinda studied communications and theatre at Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.

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Blurb for Malinda’s book:

"For God so loved the world . . . "

Many of us could finish that sentence in our sleep. John 3:16 is a beautiful Scripture that neatly and simply sums up the message of the Gospel. But what do all the other 3:16s in the Bible have to tell us?

The words of the Bible weave a tapestry of love, particularly the love that our Heavenly Father has for His children. But a love so deep and so wide cannot be contained in one memorized phrase. It takes multiple authors of sixty-six individual books to begin to explore the mystery of God's care for us.

The Other Three Sixteens by Malinda Fugate examines each third chapter and sixteenth verse in the Bible and invites a fresh, new perspective to help readers uncover surprises or remind them of forgotten truths of a faith that has become routine.

Through Genesis to Revelation, we can soak in its depth, wonder at its intricacies, and be moved at how much the Lord truly does lavish upon us. Together, we discover God's love under the weight of Eve's sin in the garden. It's there in front of Moses, burning in a bush that is somehow not consumed. God's love sits in the dark with Job, rebuilds a wall with Nehemiah, and encourages a young pastor named Timothy. Together we will find a deeper understanding of the way our Heavenly Father cares for each of us today.

Discussion questions suitable for individual or group use included.

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Buy Malinda’s book on Amazon

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*United States residents ONLY may enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Devotionals for the Heart: God's View

A Higher Perspective
A devotional by Wade Webster

“As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)

I've spent the better part of the past thirty years or so driving trucks for a living, 18-wheelers mostly. Like any job, it has its good parts and its bad parts. Sharing the roads with people who seem to routinely make unwise maneuvers while driving on the road, has got to be the worst part of it.

I've seen so many not so smart moves on the road that I've learned to expect other drivers to do the most unexpected thing. That way I'm not disappointed very often. Yes, if I'm totally vulnerable with y'all, I have to admit to performing my share of not so smart things while being behind the wheel myself.

I've hauled everything from dirt to a fully tripped out military Hummer. I delivered Christmas mail and completely decorated Christmas trees. It's been quite frustrating when I have a load of mattresses while forcing myself to stay awake while driving down the interstate.

I've lost count on how many kids have pumped their fist in the air at me just to get me to blow my own air horn. God only knows how many bugs have splatted on my windshields over the years. I've endured my share of blown tires and breakdowns. Driven through thunderstorms and blizzards … all for the satisfaction of a job well done ... and a paycheck, of course.

Oh, sure, there are many disadvantages to pulling a small warehouse down the road, like turning a corner on city streets. It's considered bad luck to run over nice people who are simply trying to cross that same intersection. So why won't those not so smart drivers back up in the left turn lane so I can swing out far enough to keep my rig off the sidewalk? Yes, it does take three lanes to safely maneuver a right hand turn.

One of the main advantages of driving a big rig is the ability to see farther down the road than most drivers. My driver's seat sits so high it's like I'm sitting on the roof of a large SUV or pickup. I do my best to look over those four-wheelers so I can slow down when I see brake lights glaring ahead of us...even if drivers who are zooming around me don't trust my judgment. Their brake lights work eventually.

My ability to see ahead better than other drivers reminds me of God's perspective in my life. Isaiah 55:8-9 explains this better than I can: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

I don't know about you, but my life hasn't made much sense for quite some time now. I know I'm ready for a career change. That's for sure. But I trust God always works things together to make me more like Jesus Christ everyday.

I remind myself that God has an eternal perspective on everything that sees much more than I ever will. His plans might not make sense to me now, but someday they may. Even if they never do I still trust my heavenly Father to keep me safe and build me into the child He wants me to be.

Whatever you're facing in your life that doesn't make sense to you, trust God to see what's ahead in your life that needs this training you're going through now.

Even if it's painful, God will use it for His glory.

~*~
Author Bio:

Wade Webster is a farm boy turned city slicker, heathen turned born-again Christian, truck driver turned writer doing his best to point folks to his best friend, Jesus Christ. 

He currently lives in Plano, Texas.

Wade is the author of 100 Prayers of a Writer, a book that didn't begin as a book, just weekly prayers to a group of writer friends.

He enjoys spending time in nature, running for exercise and dark chocolate, though not necessarily in that order. Apart from driving 18-wheelers for a living he has a part-time job painting houses on the side...and the front and back and inside.

As a teenager, he told his friends he never wanted to be considered normal. So far he's done a pretty good job of living up to that aspiration.

Devotionals for the Heart: Self-Care

The Rainbow and Self-Care
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”– Genesis 8:22 (NLT)

Crises are what they are because they suddenly and sometimes imperceptibly rob us of our sense of self, autonomy, community and security. When the enemy is silent and invisible, it is feared all the more because there is no apparent defense against it. We are vulnerable and as we have seen with COVID-19 the enemy may be indiscriminate and merciless.

Yet in the midst of it all, one day I went outside and almost immediately my visage, countenance and perspective changed. Why? Because I saw the sky. It was limitless. The clouds were floating silently in their appointed courses, gathering moisture to deliver somewhere else as rain.

I looked at the trees and the grass and saw that they were becoming verdant and green. Birds were chirping and squirrels were darting across the yard and through the trees. It occurred to me then, that a pandemic can stop the world economy. Travel, commerce, community and church stopped and regrouped. However, the earth kept spinning on its axis, which made the clouds move. The orbit around the sun changed the season from Winter to Spring.

Then I remembered the rainbow and God’s promise that from now on and forever, there will be seed time and harvest. The cycle of cold and heat, Summer and Winter will persist and day will inexorably, follow night.

That blessed assurance of tomorrow comes with a divine guarantee that each sunrise will be accompanied by new mercies and compassion sufficient for the day, because God is faithful. Great is thy faithfulness. That faithfulness gives us hope.

My sense of hope and my identity and security in Christ were renewed when I went outside and looked up. If you are feeling the blues because of this current pandemic, the isolation borne of social distancing, and the incessant news, get up! Go outside! Look up at the sky and see the vastness. Look at the nature around you and be comforted that Our God is greater than COVID-19 and any other malady that we might meet.

Go outside and see if you don’t reconnect with your sense of hope, security, and purpose. I did, and several songs came to mind: “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” “I Know My Redeemer Lives,” “Because He Lives,” and “Blessed Assurance,” among others.

So, when you go outside in your yard, balcony or courtyard, look up! Look around!

Feel the air on your skin and perhaps be soothed by a breeze. Listen for the birds chirping and the sounds of your neighborhood. Listen for the whisper of God in your soul.

Does a song come to mind? If so, let it envelop you and wash through your psyche. You may begin to relax. Vital metrics may slow down and balance. Whatever your experience will be, I would like to hear about. Leave a comment below this blog post and let’s talk about what you heard and felt when in pursuit of self care, you went outside.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

Devotionals for the Heart: Grace

The Freedom of Grace
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:9, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 6:1-7, 2 Peter 1:2-4, John 14:15, Galatians 5:13 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 6:12 has Paul tell us “…all things are lawful for me…” How does that work for believers? Does that mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want? Well, yes and no.

We have been given freedom in Christ. Read Galatians 5:1. We are no longer bound to sin, and we no longer bear the consequences of it, namely, death. Read Romans 6:23. The wrath of God for sin was laid on Jesus’s shoulders. Read Romans 5:9. We have been given a free gift, nothing we earned or ever could earn on our own. With that gift, we have been given freedom. Paul telling us all things are lawful for him is correct, however, the rest of the verse is too important to leave out. It says, “…but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Sin is slavery. We all have something, or even some things, in our lives that we are still battling to let God have victory over. I believe God did not tell us what Paul’s thorn was so that we can use our own thorn to fill in the blank. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7. It could be lying, overeating, gossip, judgement, unforgiveness, or any of things the Bible tells us to put off from our new life. We’re still living in a fleshly body that wants to win. The battle is daily for the Spirit to have control. Paul’s, “I will not be mastered by anything” speaks to that. Anything that has mastery over you is your master! Every time you let your flesh win, it proves who holds the reins in your life.

Romans 6:1-7 shows us that the old self in us DIED. It is as dead as Christ was in the grave. Now, we are ALIVE in Christ, just as He was raised to new life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us! That power can overcome any of the thorns we face. It already DID. We have victory over our flesh. We just have to tap into the power we’ve been given.

Lots of Scriptures tell us how to be filled with the power of God to overcome. There are too many to list. One that God takes me to the most is 2 Peter 1:2-4. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation adds a word that others do not. I think it is a word that changes the verse. The word is “true” and the verse says, “…through the true knowledge of Him….”

I was raised with lots of knowledge of God, but I’m learning much of it was not true knowledge. It was man’s wisdom or interpretation of the Word. Such a Scripture is John 14:15. God’s not saying that you don’t love Him if you aren’t perfect in keeping His commandments. None of us is ABLE to keep the commandments. He would have to withhold His love from us all were the case. Instead, what it is saying is that we will keep His commandments BECAUSE of our love for Him, not out of obligation. That is an enormous difference from what I was taught as a child.

In Galatians 5:13, we are called to use our freedom in grace to serve one another. We cannot do that if we don’t understand the freedom we’ve really been given. There’s a song by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser called, “No Longer Slaves.” I love that song and the declarations in it. I am no longer a slave to any sin. I AM A CHILD OF GOD.

Let’s Pray: Dearest Jesus, You died to make me free from all sin and unrighteousness. You see me as a blemish free bride. Give me the true knowledge of the power that You have put inside of me through Your Spirit to overcome the flesh and its wants. Speak Your truth to my heart that I may have the victory of Your freedom. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

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Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson