Within your Bible is the most interesting story personally told by Jesus in a total of 13 verses. Now, unlike other stories told by Jesus, this isn’t a parable. This isn’t a made up story to illustrate a point. No, when Jesus uses a parable, he always clearly states it is a just a story. But what Jesus is about to tell us here isn’t a made up story, this is for real. It happened. And it not only happened, but only Jesus could tell about it.

This is the temptation of Jesus. Over the next few days, we’re going to look at all 13 verses and learn some absolutely life changing lessons from Jesus’ encounter with the temptation of Satan. Oh, it’s going to be so good. You should see these 2 pages of my Bible highlighted in 4 different colors, filled with ah-ha moments written down. I’m so excited to share this with you!

Let’s begin in Luke 4: 1-2, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.”

So, Jesus is coming from the Jordan River. What happened at the Jordan River? He had just been baptized by John the Baptist. And when he was baptized, the Holy Spirit had descended on him like a dove. And there was a loud voice coming from heaven that said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Oh, what a highlight day! That’s some rainbows and glitter and fluffy kittens kinda happy stuff right there! All the feel goods! All the happiness! YAY JESUS!

And he went from that to the wilderness. Dang.

Have you ever been in a wilderness in your life? It’s the place where nothing is growing, everything is ridiculously hard, and you feel absolutely lost. Maybe that’s where you’re at right now. What got you there?

It’s easy to blame the devil for the wilderness in our life, but we give his evil far more credit than he deserves. Sometimes GOD HIMSELF leads us to the wilderness. How do I know? Because Jesus came back and told this story himself and he made it very clear it was the Holy Spirit that led him there. And I know this much, Jesus wasn’t confused. Sometimes we get confused about the voice of God. Sometimes we twist what we hear to fit our feelings, but that’s not what happened here. Jesus was led to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. He was intentionally put in this place of hardship, this place of nothingness, this place of loneliness.

And it happened right after all the good feelings of being baptized and hearing God declare his delight in his son. Then, BOOM … hardship.

Why? Because God chose to identify Jesus with our sinful human struggles in every way.

Think about this, when Jesus was 8 days old, he was brought to the Temple and circumcised. Circumcision was part of the law of cleansing from sin. Jesus didn’t need to be cleansed from sin, therefore, he really did not need to be circumcised. He was perfect, spotless, and blameless. He could have been spared from that painful tradition of the law. But, God chose to identify him with the sinners of the world from the very beginning. He would face everything his beloved creation faced, and do it perfectly.

Ultimately, this led Jesus to a cross.

We think of a cross today as a symbol of salvation and hope, but please understand, there wasn’t a single person wearing a cross around their neck or hanging a cross on the wall of their fireplace. Then, a cross was a symbol of one thing … execution in the most brutal form. The cross was an instrument of death for sinners.

And this is where God destined his perfect son to go. He was perfect, spotless and blameless, yet he was to be identified with the sinners of the world and die the sinners death in our place. On a despised cross.

So, this is why God’s Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness. Because all God’s people find themselves in a wilderness at some point. And this is why Jesus would be personally tempted by the devil, because we are all targets of the powers of Hell. Jesus willingly went to the wilderness where he knew he would be tempted by the devil for 40 days because temptation is what we all go through and Jesus didn’t dismiss himself from it. No, he subjected himself to temptation for us.

Hebrews 5:15, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” And just in case you’re confused, that’s Jesus.

What are you being tempted with? Maybe you’ve fallen victim to that temptation and it now has it’s claws in you. Yes, claws that hold you back from living in the freedom and fullness of life Jesus came to offer you. Maybe that temptation is a constant battle for you. It’s always there. Some days you win and some days you lose. And on the days you lose, you really beat yourself up. You hate yourself when you do that, but you can’t seem to make yourself stop.

Jesus understands. He faced that too. He faced all of it. In his 40 days in the wilderness, the devil thew every temptation at him. He went through it all so that no matter what your battle is, he can personally say to you, “I understand. I faced it too and I can show you the way out.”

My sister, there’s a way out of this temptation. The thing that is constantly tripping you up, holding you back, making you question, creating guilt and shame in your life … Jesus has the way out of that for you. He endured it too so he could identify with you and help you.

Wow. Can we just take a moment to recognize how absolutely amazing our Jesus is. I’ve known for a long time now that he hung on that cross with me on his mind and that’s infinitely HUGE, but it’s even more than that. He willingly endured the temptation of the very things that trigger me and trip me up just so he could say, “My girl, I understand how hard that is. I understand why you do what you do. I don’t hate you for it. I love you so much, I want to show you the way out of that.” How can Jesus show you the way out? Because HE MADE THE WAY OUT!

That’s what he was doing there in the wilderness with the devil. He was making the way out of every single temptation that would ever come knocking on your door.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Yes, he can show you the way out because Jesus first endured that temptation for you and HE MADE THE WAY OUT ahead of you.

It’s easy to believe the temptations we face today in the 21st century are nothing like the temptations of over 2,000 years ago. You’re wrong. They’re all the same because sin hasn’t changed. Sexual immorality … still the same sin today. Jealousy … still the same. Deceit … still the same. Envy, pride, wickedness, foolishness … still the same. Yes, a whole lot of it is now done on a screen, but at the core, it’s still the same. Jesus faced all of that so he could make a way out of it for you.

And my friend, THERE IS A WAY OUT. When you are facing temptation, there’s a really powerful prayer to pray. Try this: “Lord, show me the way out and help me take it.” I absolutely guarantee you he will show you the off button. He will show you the trash can. He will show you the door. He will show you the exit. I pray you would feel his supernatural strength to TAKE IT.

The way out of that temptation is there for you because Jesus willingly followed the lead of the Holy Spirit to the wilderness to encounter every temptation of the devil so he could understand all you would really go through.

Now, I have a little challenge for you before we meet again and continue our study on the temptation of Jesus. I want you to personally read the story. For real, read it first for yourself. Luke 4: 1-13. It will take you less than 3 minutes to read.

Don’t rely on me to read God’s word for you … You put that in for yourself. His word is living. It is alive and it is sharp enough to cut through every single thing that has been holding you back.

Maybe you have a print Bible. Open it up.

If you don’t have an actual Bible, use your phone. You can use the Bible app, or just google Luke 4. I would recommend reading this in the New International Version or the New Living Translation.

As you read, remember, this is a real story of what happened to Jesus, what he went through for you, and what he came back and told his disciples so it would be recorded in God’s word for you to read now. It’s there for a purpose. That purpose is to help you right where you are with what you are facing, so you can move toward everything God has for you next.

Temptation. The way out. Take it.

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What is it in the future that has you afraid? You’re afraid of what may happen … or you’re afraid it may never happen.

Did you know God’s most often repeated instruction to us is “do not fear”. Wow. He knew we would struggle with this. So again and again, he reminds us, don’t be afraid of that, don’t worry about that, don’t stress over that, don’t paint painful pictures and sing sad songs about things that haven’t even happened yet. But, we do struggle, don’t we?

Research shows about 85% of the things we worry about never even happen. What a sad waste.

But my friend, our worry about the future is a failure in one major thing … we’ve forgotten God is already there. God is not limited by time and space. He is here, he is there, and he is everywhere … all the time. He holds the first day of your life and the final day of your life, both within complete view at the same time. There’s no where in time he hasn’t always been, or isn’t already in for the future.

He’s already there.

And because God is already there, he’s already made a way for you through it. He’s already accounted for every hardship, every struggle and every step. He is there, and he is here, right now.

Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Can’t God do that? Isn’t he capable of getting you through every single thing you will ever have to walk through? Isn’t he able to strengthen you to do impossible things with supernatural joy? Honey, he’s not only able to do it … he’s promised to do it for you. You can count on it. He will be right there with you, bringing you through to victory.

The problem is, human minds cannot conceive the full victory of God. We’re so consumed with here and now, while God sees well beyond the things we’ve even dared to imagine. He’s seen the end from the very beginning, and he knows that’s not really the end. The end for us IS the victory. One day this will all be over, and while that may be a scary thought right now, the truth is, that’s the greatest news ever. There’s an eternity in a perfect paradise awaiting each of us who have accepted Jesus as our savior.

We know that, don’t we? Yes – but honestly sometimes that doesn’t make our fears about this life seem any less. How does that solve the problems you’re facing now? How does that help with the things that kept you up last night?

Ahhhh, we constantly limit God and put him in our little box. God isn’t limited to just offering eternity to us, he deals in the here and now too. When he sent his son Jesus to die for us, it wasn’t just about our future destiny in Heaven, it was also about this life, today. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full.” My friend, that includes NOW. Jesus is for TODAY too.

The fullness of life Jesus offers is for this place in your life right now, the next phase you’re unsure of, and the promised eternity afterwards. ALL of it. Jesus is for every day of your existence. You never have to live a single moment without him because there’s never a single moment of your life he hasn’t already worked through. While he’s here with you today, he’s already ahead of you knowing where this goes next. He’s already in your best day and your hardest day, just as he was in your first day and will certainly be in your last day.

He was there. He is here. And he will be there. Always. Forever. You will never, ever be alone.

Now what I love to do is take a scripture and read it in several different translations. I use the website biblehub.com to read dozens of translations all together. I also have several different translations downloaded on my Bible app, so I can easily switch back and forth on a specific scripture. Let’s read today’s scripture (Isaiah 41:10) in a few different translations.

MSG: Don’t panic, I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

You may think you don’t have the strength, but honey, God is giving you HIS strength. The strength that moves mountains. The strength that breaks chains. The strength that tears down prison walls. The strength that parts seas. That’s the kind of strength being given to you. That’s what is helping you. That’s what is holding you steady. It’s there for you. There’s no reason for you to panic. Not with strength like that.

This is how you get up and move forward with confidence. This is how you keep going. God has given you that strength. Now, he expects you to use it!

The funny thing about strength is, you use it or you lose it. Muscles atrophy quickly without use. If you don’t do what you can do, you will eventually lose that ability and no longer be able to do it for no other reason than you didn’t do it while you could. If you took perfectly good, healthy working legs, and you laid them in a bed and refused to get up for a several months, those healthy working legs would turn into useless limbs without the strength to do anything. Muscles literally atrophy within 2 to 3 weeks of not using them.

So here God is offering you his strength within you … but if you don’t use it, you begin to atrophy. You become less and less capable, less and less confident, and more and more stuck.

The strength is here for you, honey … use it! Stop panicking and start using the strength God has given you.

TPT: Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.

Oh, I love that … do not YIELD to fear. What does a yield sign mean? It means you wait and let whatever is coming pass first. It means look, then if absolutely nothing is in your way you proceed with caution. And God is saying, STOP LOOKING AT YOUR FEAR. Stop waiting for it to pass. Get in front of that fear with faith. Stop looking for what may go wrong. You’re creating the anxiety here.

With God, that fear has to get behind you. You don’t yield to it, it yields to you. You’re a mighty force of power with God as your focus, now move forward! Every single situation you will ever face is already guaranteed to come with the personal help of God. Did you hear that? Let me say it again.

EVERY SINGLE SITUATION YOU WILL EVER FACE IS ALREADY GUARANTEED TO COME WITH THE PERSONAL HELP OF GOD.

Imagine you don’t personally have a ton of money, but I do. Now imagine I’m your very generous sister. Imagine that I have not only promised, but I have proven I will always help you when you need it. Wouldn’t that take away your worry about money? Yes! Why? Because the one you know has money has promised and proven they will help you.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN GOD. But not just with resources, with every thing. He has wisdom, answers and guidance. He has solutions and healing. He has restoration and next right steps. He has provision and he has protection. He has everything. And he’s already proven he is a generous God. Seriously, he gave his son for you, what more wouldn’t he do?

And this is the promise and the proof you live with every single day. There’s absolutely no reason to yield to fear and be stuck waiting for it to pass. No, you move forward and tell fear to get behind you. You have been infused with the supernatural strength to overcome. You are being held steady by a hand that never shakes.

Your worries and fears paint a picture of a future without that hand. But God’s hand will never leave you. Ever.

The one who has all the healing, all the answers, all the next steps, all the provision, all the strength, all the blessings … this is the one who has said, “I AM WITH YOU. I WILL HELP YOU.”

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There’s an 8 year old video that recently went viral with millions of views online. A little boy named Jordan stands with his pastor at the front of the church to get baptized. The pastor is doing his baptism speech, and you can see little Jordan growing with anticipation of his big moment. And just as the pastor lifts his hand and says, “In the name of the Father …”, little Jordan shouts, “I’ll do it”, and dunks himself under water. He comes up and says, “I did it!”

He was waiting and waiting and waiting, and finally he just decides he will do it himself. I have to giggle and wonder where Jordan is today, 8 years later.

It’s really the perfect picture of us. We wait and wait, then we just decide to do it ourselves. Sometimes God can just take entirely too long. And what happens when we can’t wait for God … well, we typically make a mess.

Where are my control-freak sisters at? Control freaks manifest themselves in several ways, one being anxiety and another being impatience. You worry about the details and how it’s all going to work out, and in your need to have it all work out according to your plan, you start rushing it. Is that you?

This morning I did a google search for control freaks in the Bible. Interestingly enough, AI came back with 2 examples … and they were both women! We have Martha and we have Sarah.

Martha was a woman who wanted everything to be perfect, but in her pursuit of a super clean house and an impressive meal on the table, she completely missed the point. Jesus was at her house for dinner, so she was busy and filled with anxiety. I mean let’s cut her a break, if Jesus were at your house, wouldn’t you be a little anxious too? What in the world would you cook him? (Jesus, at my house you’re getting pumpkin bread because that’s the one thing I can do super well every time.)

Martha is flying around the house like a mad woman, cooking and cleaning, while her sister Mary sits with Jesus and listens to everything he is saying. I imagine Martha has been giving Mary the look … you know the one that says, “girl, you better get in this kitchen and help me.” But, Mary just sat there with Jesus. I bet Martha got extra loud with the pots and pans, maybe even a little groan or sigh to signal her need for help … still Mary just sat there.

So finally, out of absolute frustration, Martha goes to Jesus and says in Luke 10: 40, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha was an anxious control-freak, choosing to spend the one evening she has Jesus in her house foolishly stressed about cooking and cleaning. She missed the whole point. Jesus was there to spend time with her, not be impressed by an immaculate house and 4 course meal.

Looking back at a whole decade of my life, I realize I was a whole lot more like Martha than Mary. I got caught up in how everything looked and missed what was really happening. What was really happening is my children were growing up and they would never be that little again. What was really happening is time was passing that I would never get back. But dang it, my house was spotless and I had 7 perfectly decorated Christmas trees.

Looking back, I make my own self gag. I was the control-freak missing the whole point. I’m so grateful Jesus didn’t give up on me during those years, and I’m really grateful he didn’t just leave me like I was. Now, I can sit with you and have the most beautiful conversation while the pumpkin bread is burning in the oven, and we’ll just add extra butter to soften it back up. It will be okay.

Maybe you need to say that with me today. It will be okay.

It will be okay if it doesn’t all get done. It will be okay if it’s not all perfect. There are more important things here.

Now, the second example of a control-freak in our Bible … Sarah. Sarah was a woman with a promise, but that promise felt long since expired in her wait. She was a whole lot like little Jordan standing in that pool of water waiting, waiting, waiting, then finally saying, “I’ll do it!”

You see, Sarah and her husband Abraham had been promised by God to have all these descendants. Now descendants come one way … babies. But they had no babies. At the time of God’s promise, they were both already old. In fact, Sarah was in her late 60’s and couldn’t have children. So the promise seemed really far-fetched, but they received it anyway. Lord, bring on the babies as you have promised.

So they wait, and they wait, and they wait, and nothing happens. And Sarah’s standing there feeling like little Jordan in the pool, wondering how long this is going to take. And finally, Sarah says, “I’ll do it!”

How? She will have her young, fertile assistant sleep with her husband, and she can have the baby for them. Yes, that’s how God will fulfill his purpose and give us children!

Wow, sometimes us control-freaks really like to give God a helping hand, don’t we? Like God needs us to get involved with his divine design and human it all up. But we are impatient, and waiting can really bring out the crazy in us.

Sure enough, Sarah acts crazy and creates absolute chaos for her family. Her assistant has a baby, Sarah’s jealous of her, and poor old Abraham is caught in the middle of it all. And all this time, God had promised to do it the right way. All this time, God had the way already made and the time would be perfect.

At just the right time, Sarah did become pregnant herself with their promised child. Sarah was 90! It was 23 years from the time of the promise until the fulfillment of that promise. It took from chapter 12 of Genesis all the way to chapter 21 of Genesis. That’s 9 chapters of life.

I don’t know what chapter of life you’re in right now, but I bet there’s something you’ve been waiting on and it feels like it’s taking entirely too long. But here’s what all us control freaks need to remember today … Genesis 21:1-2, “The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.”

You don’t need to do it yourself. God will do it, and he will do it perfectly. What’s causing us such issues is our very unnecessary timeline.

A few years ago, I was impatiently petitioning God for a continued request for our family. Lord, when will you bring our daughter back? When will you make her whole? By Christmas, okay God. Christmas would come and go, so I would extend the deadline. Okay, God, I’ll give you more time … how about by next Summer. And finally, I heard God say, “Take me off your timeline.” Then he asked me for 30.

30? 30 days, God? I could be good with 30 more days. No, he said, 30 years. Would you trust me with this if it takes 30 years? Would you still have faith that I am working if you’re waiting for 30 years? Would you still choose joy every day in 30 years of waiting for me to bring her back.

And I said yes. Yes, I will wait for 30 years. And something truly incredible happened the moment I agreed to that 30 … I let go of control, all anxiety and impatience was dropped, and I’ve been filled with nothing but absolute peace since.

Maybe it’s happening in the next chapter … or maybe it’s 9 chapters like Sarah. Or maybe it’s the full 30 years God prepared me for. No matter what, I will not be the control-freak who gets mad and huffy and starts throwing stuff around so someone feels sorry for me and comes to help. Nor will I be the control-freak who twists and turns things in my own attempt to fix things my way. I will not baptize my own self here!

One last funny story. A few weeks ago at our BIG Life Outer Banks Retreat, we had gotten up on Friday morning for a sunrise plunge in the ocean. The waves were absolutely wild and swept half of us out on our first steps in the water. Linda had asked to be baptized that morning, so I stood with Linda in the water and everyone gathered around. At this time, the water was up to about our knees, but just as I lifted my hand to say, “In the name of the Father, the Son …..”, all the water was swept out and we were standing on nothing but wet sand.

So we waited and waited and waited. I said, “Linda, we’re going to wait for the next wave to come in. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

Just then, a wave came in and absolutely slammed us both. Linda went completely under and barrel rolled to the shore. I didn’t baptize Linda … God did that himself!

His timing, his way. It is literally my favorite baptism ever.

So, my sister, are you going to do this yourself, or are you going to really let God do this? Release control … you never really had it anyway.

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To the one who feels left out, to the one who feels not good enough, to the one who feels their failure must have outweighed God’s grace by now, you have to know Jesus is specifically looking for you!

While studying the details of Jesus’ resurrection, I noticed the sweetest reassurance tucked away in a familiar story. This is what God has asked me to share with you today.

On Friday, Jesus has been crucified on the cross, then buried in a tomb that was carved out of a rock. On Saturday, 3 women went to the market and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, they went to the tomb of Jesus. But when they got there, the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was gone. Now, this is what happened when the women got to the empty tomb.

Mark 16: 5-8, When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.

Did you notice a very specific detail spoken by this angel? He said, go tell Jesus’ disciples, INCLUDING PETER, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. The angel made sure to include Peter.

Why? Because it would have been easy to exclude him. And it certainly would have been easy for Peter to exclude himself.

Peter’s last interaction with Jesus before he was taken away and nailed to that cross was Jesus telling him that he would fail and deny him. Peter couldn’t believe he would ever do that … but indeed, he did. Three times that very night, Peter denied he knew Jesus. And that was it … then Jesus died.

So, imagine being Peter, knowing you failed and now Jesus is dead and you have no way to go back and fix that final conversation. Maybe there are final words you never got to say to someone you loved before they died. Maybe you’ve replayed that final conversation a hundred times and you wish with every ounce of you that you could change it. That must have been the way Peter felt.

Peter had promised he would stick right by Jesus no matter what, and instead he denied Jesus, then hid in shame and wasn’t even there when Jesus hung on the cross. But he knew … he knew what had happened. He knew his friend, the one who had professed as the Savior of the world had died … and he had denied him. Peter was filled with shame. He was overwhelmed with guilt. He was so sorry for what he had done.

But now, on Sunday morning, the tomb is empty and an angel instructs these 3 women to go tell his disciples, INCLUDING PETER, to meet Jesus in Galilee. Peter was specifically named because he would have been excluded. He would have dismissed himself. The shame of his failure would have kept him in hiding. But Jesus specifically wanted him to be included.

Peter, don’t hide in shame. Don’t miss this! Jesus still wants you.

And you know what’s really beautiful about this? You can insert your own name there.

Kristen, don’t hide in shame. Don’t miss this. Jesus still wants you.

Leslie, don’t hide in shame. Don’t miss this. Jesus still wants you.

Tracie, Monica, Lisa, YOU, yes you, don’t hide in shame. Don’t miss this. Jesus still wants you.

Jesus had plenty of other disciples to still choose from, it would have been easy to drop Peter because of his failure, but he didn’t. Why? Because those of us who have messed up know the priceless gift of forgiveness. We personally understand the grace of God, so we can tell everyone how he saved us so he can surely save them too. We’re the less than perfect ones, and we’re the ones Jesus still wants!

In John 21, we read of the disciples being in Galilee on a fishing trip. Galilee … that’s where the angel said Jesus would be waiting to meet the disciples, including Peter. This fishing trip had been unsuccessful. They had fished all night and caught nothing. At dawn, the disciples hear a man yelling from shore, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right side of the boat and you’ll get some!” So they did and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

And that’s when they realized it was their Jesus! It was Jesus standing on the shore helping them catch fish. It was really him! He was back from the dead, alive again!

Now this is my favorite part of the story. John 21: 7-9, “When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from the shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them – fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.”

Jesus still wanted Peter after his failure. Peter was the only one who literally jumped out of the boat and swam to Jesus. With reckless abandon, the one who had been wrong swam to Jesus because he was still wanted.

That’s me … that’s you. We should we swimming toward Jesus instead of dismissing ourselves thinking we’re not good enough.

Stop playing little, my sister. God knows every detail of your shortcomings and is absolutely adamant that he still wants you. He can use everything you’ve been through, every lie you believed, every wrong turn you made, every sin you committed, every day you wasted.

Who better than Peter to show us how God can still use the one who has been wrong.

Now, who better than the one who has been through Hell to help others get out of Hell?

Who better to tell others the truth than the one who believed a lie, lived a lie, and then realized it was a lie that led them to the truth.

Who better to guide someone in the right way than the one who has personally known the wrong way.

Who could be better? This is why Jesus wants you!

2 Corinthians 12:9, “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 weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

This is what Peter learned. He learned where he had failed Jesus, Jesus filled him and sent him on a mission. He was the one who denied Christ, so he would be the one to bring countless others to confess Christ.

Matthew 16: 18, Jesus says, “Peter (which means rock), upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

Jesus said that before Peter’s failure. Jesus fulfilled it through Peter after Peter’s failure. His purpose was not cancelled because of his imperfection. No, it was furthered because of it. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Covered in God’s grace, Peter went on to teach the gospel of Jesus and impact our lives today.

That’s just what Jesus does. He uses everything, and he still wants YOU. He can use you. He can use what you have been through.

Jump out of the boat and swim to him … he’s waiting to give you your mission!

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When you are dealing with situations, you have 2 categories in your mind: This is good, or this is bad. Everything you encounter is subconsciously placed in one of those two categories. Either this is good, I like it, this feels good, I’m happy about it … or …. this is bad, I don’t like it, I’m worried about it or stressed about it.

And for my sisters who tend to be a bit of a control freak, I bet anything you don’t fully know, see, understand, or have complete control of tends to promptly be put in the “this is bad” category as well.

We go through our whole lives sorting our experiences in this way.

As we’re coming to the end of this month of life, we typically compile the experience into a packaged deal and label it good or bad. Was this month a good month or a bad month?

For most of us using this natural sorting system, the month gets labeled as bad. Why? Because negative memories are stronger than positive memories. Bad days are remembered in bold with tremendous detail and emotion. We can replay a conversation that hurt us word for word, but the conversation that encouraged us is quickly forgotten. Sadly, when we pile up enough of these labeled bad months, we end up with a bad year. And with an accumulation of bad years, we’re left feeling like we have a bad life.

But goodness gracious, don’t we really have a good life? I mean really, isn’t it even far better than good? There’s so much more that it right, that is good, and that is working than that which is wrong, bad and not working. The problem is, the things that are not working for you are so darn magnified. Your entire body can be working perfectly and you never notice what doesn’t hurt. But if you have a tiny tooth that is hurting, it’s absolutely all you can feel. You could be surrounded by a hundred excellent drivers, but that one idiot on the road is the one you’re talking about.

So, it really has me thinking … our categories for life aren’t really working for us. If everything is either good or bad, and bad gets so much more weight than the good, we’re truly in danger of a depressing, overwhelming, sad and disappointing existence.

I love studies on how our thoughts work. I’m absolutely amazed by the complexity of all that is happening inside our brains that make us either feel happy or sad, excited or fearful. One study was done on mice tracking two distinct circuits of neurons involving positive and negative memory association. Scientist found that electrical signals among one group of neurons actually strengthened as the mice learned to associate a certain sound with sweet sips of sugary water. A different circuit responded when the mice were taught that another sound preceded a little electrical zap. Eventually, the mice were responding to the different sounds with either excitement or fear, all based on their previous experience. It was either good or it was bad. Two categories.

But here’s the really cool part that reaches beyond the mind of a mouse and affects our entire life experience: Neurotensin.

Neurotensin is a signaling molecule found in brain cells. Less neurotensin means more fear and stress based responses. More neurotnesin means more the opposite with more excitement, joy and happiness. Neturotensin is WHY the mice responded the way they did.

Why is this important? Because FAITH can change the way we process current events and store memories. Faith can actually change the unseen things happening within our brain and totally change our experience!

Faith leads us to a new way of categorizing the things that happen in our lives. We grow beyond just good and bad, to recognize when God is involved then there’s a supernatural power at work that supersedes everything we see.

Our God is not limited by good and bad, our God has the divine power to take bad and use it for good. Our God has the power to shine light in the darkness and radically change everything.

I heard a pastor say this week that God is not limited to our two categories of good and bad. I think that pastor is right. So, what do I think God’s categories might be? I think you could sum it up like this:

1. That’s in the process of being worked out for good.
2. That’s already been made good.

It’s either being done, or he done did it. If it’s not good, it’s just not good yet.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Faith allows us to trade our categories of good and bad, and reassess our whole lives through a broader lens of what God is doing. With this broader lens, our brains are literally affected.

Faith changes the molecules within our brain cells. Faith says this isn’t what I wanted right now, but with God working, it will be greater than I wanted for the future. Faith says I don’t like this right now, but with God working, one day I’ll be grateful for the details of his grace and mercy absolutely saturating this. Faith says this doesn’t have to look good right now for me to believe it will become good with God.

And that faith releases that neurotensin within our brain cells and changes the way we respond. We are no longer freaking out, we are filled with peace. We aren’t fearful of what terrible thing will happen next, we are hopeful the good things of the past will show up and be repeated again now. Neurotensin literally has us remembering God’s faithfulness and counting on it again.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What does the pattern of this world say? It says good and it says bad. Two categories. And bad always outweighs the good in our ability to remember. But, God wants to renew our minds. He wants to change our categories into his categories.

This is either in the process of being worked out for good, or it’s already been made good.

My family has some really dark, painful experiences we’re currently walking through. It’s the kind of stuff that makes a mama want to pull the covers up over her head and just not get out of bed. The kind of stuff that tears families apart. The kind of stuff that would promptly be put in the really, really, really bad category.

BUT FAITH ….

But faith shines the light of Jesus on that darkness, and with his light, I see completely different categories. I see the things God has already so faithfully made good. Things that have already been taken care of. Details that have already come together so perfectly. The right friends, help, and experience perfectly aligned as only God could do. And the rest I see so clearly is in the process of being worked out for good.

Now, it may not look good today, and faith says it doesn’t have to. But when it’s been placed in the mighty and capable hands of God, we can fully trust it will be. And when our minds are set on God’s way of categorizing things, our brains function in joy, in happiness, in peace.

Faith is our answer. Faith renews our minds and makes them different than the pattern of this world. Faith gets us out of the “good” and “bad” and brings us to a deeper understanding of how God sees everything.

Again, Romans 8:28, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ALL THINGS includes THIS THING and God will work it out for good! Notice how different you feel with that?

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When my kids were little, they could count on receiving a handmade card and a little money in the mail every holiday. Their Great-Grandma was world class in investing into their lives even with a long distance relationship. It’s now part of her legacy that has outlived her. One particular holiday, instead of the typical dollar or two, they each received a 20 dollar bill in their card. The kids were so excited and couldn’t wait to go shopping.

But one of my kids would never make it to the store to spend their money … there was trickery going on.

My son is the oldest of my 3 kids who are each born 1 year apart. Logan was born to be a business man. He sees opportunity and he capitalizes. The boy has always been slick. He saw his naive youngest sister with $20 and nowhere to spend it at the moment, so he moves in for the sale.

Logan gathers a collection of his broken, useless, unwanted old toys and says to Paola, “Pao, you can have all these toys, all of this right now, for your $20.” It looked like so much to her, and even more importantly it looked like something she could have right now instead of waiting for our next shopping trip, so she happily bought the trash with her new money.

Later that day, we overheard Logan bragging about his $40 of spending money, and discovered the bad deal that had been made.

My friend, have you made a bad deal? Have you unknowingly bought a plate of complete trash? Have you been tricked?

Tricked into settling for far less than you were created for. Tricked into believing lies that simply are not true about you, but adopting them as your identity. Tricked into doing things you never wanted to do, but now here you are ashamed that you’re doing them.

That’s the work of the devil. Satan is the deceiver. He’s the slimy snake who slithers his way in with complete trash for your life and convinces you to trade what you have for what he’s offering.

That’s what he did to Eve in the garden. Genesis 3 tells how Satan showed up in the Garden of Eden and tricks Eve into eating the apple, and so sin entered the world. Eve didn’t intentionally sin. She didn’t wake up that day deciding she was going to rebel. She was tricked. Tricked by the deceiver. Tricked into trading her perfect life in the garden for the offer of knowing what she didn’t know by eating the one fruit God told her she couldn’t eat.

And maybe this is what has happened to you. You too have been tricked. Tricked into some stupid choices that have created chaos in your life. Tricked into going down a path you never intended. You didn’t wake up one day thinking, “today is the day I’m going to really screw some things up”. You were tricked. Tricked into buying the trash offered by the enemy of your soul.

And sweet girl, that’s how you end up with a trashy life. You buy the trash from the deceiver, the devil. You weren’t created for a trashy life. When God designed you, he had unbelievably good plans for you. He looked at you and called you his masterpiece. But, you have been deceived into believing there’s something wrong with you, you don’t belong, you’re broken, you’re too far gone, and this is all there is for you. But honey, that’s not the truth. The stories you’ve believed were crafted in the pits of hell.

We also see how the enemy deceived one of Jesus’ closest friends. Judas has a bad name now, but before his big screw up, he was hand selected by Jesus to be one of his 12 disciples to personally learn from him. Jesus was training him. Judas knew who Jesus was. He had a personal relationship with him. Yet, Satan slipped in and tricked him.

Mark 14 has a paragraph in my Bible titled, “Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus.” Who did Judas agree with? Satan! And with this agreement with the deceiver, Judas betrays Jesus for the offering of 30 silver coins. In today’s money, that’s about $250.

If this personal friend of Jesus’, this man who had been living with Jesus for 3 years being personally trained by him, this man who had seen firsthand the miraculous power of Jesus… He was there when Jesus was baptized by John and he heard a loud voice from heaven say, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Judas had literally heard the voice of God! Yet, even he was tricked by Satan into betraying Jesus and handing him over for crucifixion.

What does this tell me … this tells me I’m not above being tricked either. I’m not immune from this offering of trash. I’m not too good, too spiritual, or too strong to be tricked by the deceiver.

Satan is constantly trying to offer us a plate of trash in exchange for what Jesus has given us. Jesus has given us freedom, Satan tries to tick us into trading that freedom for a life of bondage. Jesus has offered us grace, Satan tries to trick us into trading that grace for guilt. Jesus offers us a life of purpose, Satan tries to trick us into trading that purpose for pleasure.

And absolutely no different than my son tricking his little sister into buying that plate of trash for her brand new 20 dollar bill, we’re tricked into buying the trash our enemy offers, and we fall for it because we underestimate the value of what we have. We don’t want to wait, we want something right now. And we settle for less just because it’s now. We settle for trash just because it’s in front of us.

And once we’ve been tricked into settling for trash once, it’s what we believe we deserve. It’s who we become. It’s the story we tell.

Tricked. Tricked into believing we could never have anything better. Tricked into believing we could never be good enough.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Eve was deceived by the serpent. That serpent was the great deceiver, Satan. Now, that’s what he’s trying to do to you. He’s trying to lead your mind astray. He’s trying to trick you into thinking the wrong thoughts, believing the wrong stories, and seeing yourself in a way God never created you to be.

Revelation 12:9 calls him out like this, “This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world …”

It’s time for God’s girls to stop and ask, where have I been deceived? What am I believing about myself that is not God’s truth? What offering of trash have I been tricked into buying that’s brought trash into my life?

When I found out my son had tricked his little sister into buying his trash, I stepped in to teach the lesson. I made him give Paola back her $20, plus the $20 he had received in the mail as well.

That’s what God does to the deceiver. He makes him give it all back, plus more! Satan has been defeated. He is a fallen foe who’s fate is the pits of hell forever with all his demons. He’s been put in his place. Now, God wants his girl to realize her place.

Your place is not this trash you’ve bought. Let God turn you back to the truth and back to the full potential for your life now! It’s time to take back what the enemy has tricked you out of!

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Have you been asking God to bless something you’re not willing to even begin? Have you been waiting for him to confirm something you were never told to do? Have you been expecting him to increase the very thing you haven’t been faithful with?

God isn’t here to do magic. He’s here to continue the good works he began in you. (Philippians 1:6 “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.)

The continuation of his work requires your participation at all times. Not just when you feel like it, not just when you’re getting the proper recognition, not just when it’s fun or easily fits into your schedule … all the time. God is waiting on your continual participation in this one life he has given you, to live up to the potential he created you for.

But here’s what we do … we watch everyone else live their lives, then grow a wild hair up our butt thinking we want to be just like someone else and do what they do, then start asking God to bless that. You know why we sometimes identify with that imposter syndrome… Maybe it’s because sometimes we’re totally trying to be somebody we’re not. Maybe it’s because we’re so freaking fake we make our own selves sick. Maybe it’s because we know what our life really looks like without the filter. We know behind the scenes. But we’re pouring all our time and energy into this facade of being someone else, asking God to bless our fake image of who we’re trying to be.

Girl, God cannot bless who you were never created to be. He can’t bless who you’re pretending to be. He can’t bless all you’re trying to become that’s out of alignment with his vision for your life. Maybe, just maybe, your obsession with being someone else with all the things and all the show is blocking God’s intended blessings on your life.

I was never created to be a singer or dancer. Like ever. How do I know? I don’t have the talent. It’s not within my gifting. I could hire the best coaches and train for years and still never be a superstar. I could pray every day and beg for God to give me a voice and moves like Beyonce, but girl, that ain’t happening. I could grow angry at God for not answering my prayers and giving me what I want, but the reality is my life has a purpose, and not all purposes are meant for me. God doesn’t need me to be another Beyonce, so he can’t bless my desire to be one.

But he can bless my desire to discover who I am created to be. He can bless my work to perfect my own skills and talents. He can bless me to become the best version of who he envisioned me to be.

Have you asked God to help you discover who you were created to be? Have you asked him for a glimpse of the vision he has for your life? Have you asked him to help you get better at becoming the best version of the hand-crafted original you are?

Now God can get behind that and bless it! His power is fully unleashed when you decide you simply want to be all he designed you to be. When you get in alignment with his desire for your life and put your best effort behind it …. oh girl watch out … that’s where the good stuff is!

God cannot bless who you pretend to be, he can only bless who you are. The real you can receive supernatural strength and heavenly provision … but this pretend you is ineligible for the blessing. This pretend you is totally getting in the way of the greatness God is trying to do in your life. Won’t you just drop her now?

God doesn’t need your filter, he needs your faith.
God doesn’t need your fake facade, he needs your for real.
God doesn’t need your pretend, he needs your potential.

Psalm 37:4 says “He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Well, I’m still not Beyonce over here, so what’s the problem Lord? The problem is, I’m treating God like a genie in a bottle here to grant my wishes. God will give you the desires of your heart, meaning the true desires within your heart will originate from God. They are God ordained. They are part of his great plan for your life. We’re not talking about some wish or whim or superficial chasing of shiny objects. We’re talking about desires planted as seeds in your heart by your creator that grow to become your purpose. God gave you those desires, now he will enable you to walk in them.

We’ve gotten spoiled with our surface level desires, asking God to bless our pursuit of temporary things he never created us for. Dig deeper sister. Who are you REALLY? Who is the real you? That’s who God wants to bless. That’s who he wants to prosper. This fake you is getting in the way and delaying the process.

God cannot bless what you say you will do. He will only bless what you actually do.

Your intentions may be freaking awesome, but girl how’s your follow through? God may have been there when you wrote those goals and started making a way to reach them, but when you give up along the way he’s not going to step in and teleport you to the finish line. When you asked, His answer may have been yes and amen, but when you don’t back your talk with the walk he’s not going to carry your butt to get you there.

God is unlimited in his ability to bless. Nothing is out of his reach or beyond his power. Nothing. Ever. However, we limit our ability to receive his blessing with our disobedience. Our wandering and wavering hinders our connected line with His continual flow of blessings. We’re twisting the line, cutting off the flow. When we’re out of alignment, asking for things we’re not willing to follow through on, pretending to be who we were never created to be, wishing for what someone else has and missing what we have already been given, we are limiting God’s ability to bless us.

I never want God to be unable to bless me. I want every moment of every day of my life to be in alignment with his flow. But the truth is I get twisted up in the mess of things that don’t matter. We all do. Let’s come back now.

God, untangle us.

Help us get back to the desires you have given us within our heart. Seeds you planted that will grow to our BIG Life. If we’re tangled in being fake, bring us back to who you created us to be. If we’re wrapped up in worldly pursuits keeping us from fulfilling our greater purpose, please help us surrender willingly without the need for life altering chaos to get us there. We now drop to our knees before we are brought to our knees.

May your greatest desire be to become who God desires you to be. May you be in alignment with his greater purposes for your life so his unlimited blessings can flow continually. May you see who you were created to be and get in agreement with God that it’s better than any of this fake stuff you’ve ever chased.

Now you’re untangled. And the untangled you is in position for blessing and breakthrough.

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Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Are you continually needing a sign from God to keep your faith? Do you quickly start to doubt when there doesn’t seem to be anything mystical and magical happening for you?

Jesus’ disciples were that way. They would have a front row seat to a divine miracle, then walk into the next problem forgetting what they had already witnessed. Jesus had proven his power among them, yet the next moment they were still freaking out. With great patience, Jesus teaches them to trust him between the miracles.

Isn’t that where you are? You’re just between the miracles.

Girl, you have seen God work in your life before. He’s gotten you through impossible things. He’s supernaturally guided your steps on a path you couldn’t see and it’s the only possible explanation for how you got here today. Without him, you would have never made it, and you know it.

But now you’re waiting on that next miracle. You’re here where things have gotten quiet and nothing seems to be happening. You don’t see God working. You don’t feel him moving. You haven’t heard him speaking. So now, you’re kind of wondering … God, are you going to do something here? Do you see what’s happening? Have you heard my prayers? Do you care about me still?

When you face the next problem, do you forget what God did for you with the last problem? Do you suddenly get spiritual amnesia, discounting the personal experience you’ve already had with the miraculous ways of God? When you forget, you freak out. And when you freak out, you leave no room for faith.

You see, faith and ‘freak out ‘require the same space. When your faith grows, your ‘freak out’ has no where left within you and it must leave. However, when your ‘freak out’ increases, your faith is left without a place to reside. Seriously, have you noticed how your faith journey has you so much calmer? Have you noticed you are responding so much better than you used to? Girl, those thoughts of yours are getting so much better! That’s what faith does!

And sometimes we go through our ‘freak out’ phase where we stress and worry and make everything worse in our head. Yes, where we miss all we already have and all we could do, because we’re hype focused on what we don’t have and what we can’t do.

But, Jesus is so patient with us, knowing it takes time and experience for faith to grow. So, he keeps letting us see his power at work so we learn to trust him. Then, just like when you were learning to ride a bike as a little girl, at some point the training wheels are taken off and you’re practicing balancing on your own.

This space between the proof of God’s power at work in our lives is where we’re learning to balance our faith. With practice, one day you won’t have to continually SEE God working to just know that he is. You won’t have to ask for proof of miracles to know you’re surrounded by the miraculous. You won’t freak out, you’ll naturally respond in faith. And that’s how God is growing each of us.

Jesus’ disciples were on this same journey, and we see them fail. In Mark 6, we read about a crowd of thousands of people gathering to hear Jesus teach, and Jesus decides he wants to feed the crowd. The only problem is, there’s not enough food for all these people. In fact, the only food in this crowd of thousands was the lunch of one boy, 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. We’re talking crackers and sardines here, my friends.

And Jesus takes inventory, then says to his disciples, “You feed them.”

Then, something miraculous happens. Jesus begins breaking what little there is, handing it to the disciples to distribute among the crowd of thousands. And every time the disciples return to gather more to take out to the crowd, Jesus still has more food to give from the 5 loaves & 2 small fish. When everyone had eaten all they could, Jesus instructs the disciples to gather the leftovers, and they returned with 12 baskets full. What was left over was far greater than what they began with.

There was no denying this miracle. It was huge, it was unbelievable, and the disciples were personally involved in it. WOW! Imagine being there. Imagine seeing that. Imaging experiencing this supernatural supply.

Then, 2 chapters later, something truly crazy happens. Mark 8, another large crowd gathers to hear Jesus teach. After 3 days, the crowd runs out of food. Jesus looks at his disciples once again and says in verse 2, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for 3 days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”

Now, check out the disciples response! Verse 4, “His disciples replied, ‘How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

This is essentially a freak out. Jesus, how? This is impossible! This is ridiculous! We can’t do this!

Y’all, it’s literally just 2 chapters after they have been in this exact situation and seen Jesus EASILY provide, but they’ve already forgotten.

And isn’t this us? How quickly do we forget what God has already done for us and relapse into our freak out over the next problem heading our way? Here, in between miracles, God wants our faith to grow so we learn balance.

God’s girls cannot continue this wobbly, freak-out nature where we constantly lose our crap over things not going our way. Hasn’t God already been faithful enough to prove we can trust him? Haven’t we already seen his hand at work in the details enough to prompt our faith in his hand with these details now?

You’re in between miracles because the training wheels are being taken off. Not because God isn’t working, but because God is working to watch your faith grow. Faith that no longer demands the next miracle as proof, but faith that wakes up knowing God already has it taken care of.

I have to believe Jesus allowed the second crowd and the complete lack of food all over again to check the balance of his disciples. Were they ready for the training wheels to be taken off? Would they respond to the problem with faith, or would they freak out. I think Jesus was wanting them to see the hungry crowd and say, “Jesus, here’s what little bread we have, we know you’ll do something unbelievable with it!”

But they didn’t. They failed. They freaked out.

But, what did Jesus do? He took what little there was, and he once again made it more than enough. Jesus didn’t just leave them to fail, he nurtured their faith again.

Now, you have to read what happens next. After Jesus feeds the second crowd miraculously, he and his disciples get in a boat and go to their next destination. As soon as they arrive, the Pharisees come out and start arguing with Jesus. They were testing him, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. Verse 12, “When Jesus heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign?'”

It literally grieves Jesus when we demand the next sign. We’ve already seen enough to prompt our faith.

Girl, you are ready to lose the training wheels on your faith and ride in freedom! Jesus has steadied your faith time and time again. You don’t have to have the next miraculous sign to keep going … that’s for an absence of faith.

You’ve already seen God at work. You already know he’s gotten you through some impossible things. You’ve already seen his hand of provision. And you can have complete faith that his hand is still with you now, he’s still getting you through, and he’s still working all things together for good.

That’s faith … God, I don’t have to see miraculous proof of it here again today because you’ve already proven your faithfulness. I already know you’ll take what isn’t enough and make it more than enough, because I’ve seen you do it before.

There’s no reason to freak out, my friend. This growing faith within you is crowding out the freak out.

If you’re in between miracles, just know it’s because God is trusting you to find balance here in faith.

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Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

When Jesus says your prayers can move mountains, does he mean any
mountain? When he says your lack of faith causes your prayers to be
ineffective, is that why some of your prayers have gone unanswered?

Let’s dig deeper into Mark 11:22-25 and really consider the context of
what Jesus is saying so we don’t treat God like a vending machine. This
is not a ‘Name It and Claim It’ authority.

Enjoy this unscripted Bible study together.

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Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

How successful have you been at making things happen in your life? You worked hard, you sacrificed, and you built something. Something to be proud of. You started with so little and with all your hard work, it grew to become so much more.

That’s a great thing. I’m so happy for your success. You’ve climbed the ladder, earned the position, accumulated much. You’ve set the goals and achieved the goals. Your life today resembles the 5 year plan you had. You worked … it worked.

Hot dang, you are a success. If you wrote a book, I would probably read it!

But all that success creates a problem … successful doers have a really hard time being humble recipients.

If we are used to always “doing” in our life, building it, earning it, creating it, growing it and working for it, then that becomes our only perspective in life. If I want it, I have to do whatever it takes to get it. Then we meet Jesus and his offer of eternal life.

Okay, Jesus, I want what you are offering, so I’m going to work to earn it. Us successful doers in life are horrible recipients of a gift that cannot be earned. We don’t know how to just receive, we keep trying to earn.

Where are my fellow doers? If there’s work to be done, you just do it. Letting someone help you just creates more work, so you always do it yourself. You have trouble receiving anything from anyone because deep down you feel you have to earn everything. (Yes, I’m talking to you.)

It’s easy to get puffed up with a secret pride knowing we are successful doers, all while that pride is blocking the offering of Jesus. We’re over here trying to clean ourselves up enough to be chosen by Jesus, all while Jesus chose us at our very worst. We’re constantly trying to check all the boxes to make us good enough, when the truth is, we will always fall short and need God’s grace. Always.

Here’s what Jesus is asking of you today … STOP TRYING TO EARN HIS LOVE AND JUST RECEIVE IT.

Here’s the problem with you thinking you have to do something for Jesus … there will always be more you could have done … there will always be some way you could have done it better, and Jesus’ perfection shines a harsh light on your imperfection.

There’s nothing you need to do for Jesus. He doesn’t need your success. Honey, I assure you he doesn’t need your talent or expertise. That’s a pressure and expectation you’ve put on yourself. Jesus already has everything and can do everything, your works are not necessary. He’s asking you to be a humble recipient of his love, grace and mercy with absolutely NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

But, for the successful doers, that’s a big ask. Receiving something so great with no ability to give it back… There’s no string of attachment that allows you to send your good works back to the one who first gave to you… Quite honestly, the successful doers don’t know what to do with that.

Within your Bible is the story of a successful doer who encounters Jesus. Jesus asks him to receive the gift of salvation with no strings attached, but all this successful man wanted was to know what HE COULD DO.

If you can do something to earn salvation, this means you could save yourself through your works. There’s no need for a savior if you can do enough to earn it. You become your own savior. And that’s what this successful doer in the Bible is trying to do … be his own savior, because it was too hard for him to accept there was nothing he could DO.

Girl, listen … this isn’t about WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR JESUS, THIS IS ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU.

Mark 10:17-27:
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

To Jesus, it wasn’t about the rich man’s money, but to the rich man, it was all about his money. He had been a successful doer to build his fortune, and what he knew how to do was earn. So, all he wanted to know was how to EARN his way into the Kingdom of God. And Jesus says, YOU CAN’T.

You have to give all that up. Whatever it is you think you have to do for Jesus, that’s now getting in the way of his offer of grace.

Notice it says, “Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.” What Jesus saw was a good man who was totally empty. He had it all, but he was still empty. He was willing to do anything and everything except for this one thing … humbly receive what cannot be earned. So, this man walked away sad because he didn’t know how to humbly receive something he couldn’t earn.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

I must admit, there’s a little bit of pride that occasionally slips in when I consider myself one of God’s girls. If he has chosen me, then that must mean I was somehow good enough. I must have done something right. And deep down, I start taking credit for something I have absolutely no business taking credit for. God calling me his own is a GIFT and I did absolutely NOTHING to deserve it or earn it. He saved me because I could never save myself.

If we can’t humbly accept that, then we are no different than the rich man who walks away from Jesus sad because he didn’t want to give up all he had worked so hard to earn. If I can’t give up my grip on being a successful doer, then I too walk away sad. To receive this gift, I must be a humble recipient.

You must be a humble recipient.

I’ve always read the story of this rich man and disassociated with him. I’m not that rich, that couldn’t be me. But really, let’s put this into perspective here. Did you know if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. Girl, that’s you … you are wildly rich and ridiculously blessed.

So really, you are that rich man. You are here with an abundance when you look at the rest of the world. And to you, Jesus says, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN ANY HUMAN EFFORT. ONLY WITH GOD CAN YOU GET IN.

All your past successes may have made it really hard for you to humbly receive. You may be spending your days trying to earn God’s grace instead of living in God’s grace. The gift is here for you and all you have to do is accept it.

You have already been chosen. Your gift is here. There are no strings attached to this. There’s nothing you need to do other than receive the impossible.

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Have you ever wanted to help, but didn’t know how to help. You didn’t know what to say. You didn’t know what to do. Everything you had to offer seemed so totally inadequate. I bet there’s someone you really wish you could help right now. Someone is hurting, but you don’t know how to heal […]