The Same God

(For He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), Galatians 2:8 (New American Standard Bible)

Different ministries, different men, different gifts, different opportunities, different weaknesses, different strengths, SAME God. The very God who called, equipped, and worked through Peter, called, equipped, and worked through Paul. Each of us need to see that same truth applied to us.

Do you know someone who is being used of God in mighty ways? The same God is using you! Do you know someone with whom God has brought about changes in their life? The same God is changing you! Do you know someone who is being held and upheld by God in the midst of struggles, failures, and negative circumstances? The same God is holding and upholding you! Put in any person’s scenario that has the fingerprints of God and know that He is the same God for you.

While we aren’t to compare ourselves with others, we can find a great deal of assurance and comfort from seeing that God is involved, impartial, and interested in each one of us as individuals. He doesn’t play favorites with some while ignoring others. He is not watchful of some and blind to others. Pick any Christian today, any Biblical character from centuries ago, any kingdom child and know that you are just as loved, just as thought of, just as chosen, just as cared for, and just as guided by God as they have been.

It doesn’t mean God will allow you the same exact opportunities. It doesn’t mean life will work exactly the same for you as it has for them. It doesn’t even mean prayers will be answered in the same way. Why? Because we are individuals with individual needs. God knows what is best for each one of us. God chooses to work His plans and purposes out in our lives for our good and His glory. Uniqueness of situations, ministries, and growth does not mean loved less. It means God has unlimited ways of working in each of us.

For those of us who easily condemn ourselves, live with feelings of inferiority, believe ourselves to be invisible (a lost face in the crowd), and think others are a top priority of God’s while we sit at the bottom of the list, God wants the message of His love for us and involvement in our life to sink in and challenge the core beliefs we have come to embrace about ourselves and about Him. He wants His Word to make it from our head to our heart. He wants us to see the truth and allow it to impact our life for good!

Father, You treat me as if I were an only child even though You have many children. To know that I have Your ongoing attention, acceptance, and interaction in my life is beyond my ability to fully grasp but I hold on to it just the same. Amen.

I Offer My Life - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ar5EfvAcU&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Refusing to be Brought Back In

And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Galatians 2:4,5 (New King James Version)

At one time, the Apostle Paul had lived a legalistic life….keeping the law in hopes of earning salvation. He went to great lengths to impose that view on others even to the point of seeing them imprisoned or put to death. His life was marked with the keeping of the law as well as the traditions of his forefathers. Unbeknownst to him, he was in bondage to the religious system of his day and made it his goal in life to keep others in bondage as well. Is it any wonder that once he learned the truth about salvation and had a personal encounter with the God of that salvation that he detested the idea of ever being put into bondage again? Although he would face the physical imprisonment of jail, he refused to allow his soul to ever again be in bondage. Freedom was his through Christ and freedom would remain his.

But it wasn’t just his freedom that he held on to, it was also the freedom of fellow believers that remained his passion. For any who would come into their meetings with the agenda of taking people back into legalism Paul refused to yield to their thinking or pressure for even a moment. He knew the truth, lived the truth, held on to the truth, and made sure that truth remained untainted.

I have never been one to believe I could earn my way to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments or being good. Salvation by grace alone was readily accepted by me as a teenager. But I knew the bondage of letting outside standards and church traditions be the basis of my “spirituality”. I knew what it was like to live my Christian life thinking I had to earn God’s love and acceptance through rules instead of relationship. I knew what it was like to be guided by men’s opinions and preferences rather than God’s Word and Spirit. It is a bondage filled with the sense of condemnation, guilt, shame, and never being good enough. It was a way of life that left me feeling that God tolerated me more than loved me. Once I learned the truth about God’s love and living out of grace instead of law, it was a bondage I never wanted to return to again.

In the course of conversations, it does not take long for me to detect when someone desires to put me back into bondage by either their words, cold shoulders, or judgmental looks. Paul’s answer is my answer. I refuse to submit to their way of thinking. Knowing the truth about salvation and also about freedom in Christ is too precious to abandon for any chains of the soul.

Father, I have known bondage and I know freedom. It is now my passion to proclaim the truth and embrace You. Amen.

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKq4tJte0lQ

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Living Informed

I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here. John 14:30, 31 (New American Standard Bible)

Growth and victory in the Christian life is built on truth. Truth about God, truth about myself, and truth about the enemy of my soul, Satan. For too long I either forgot about him, ignored him, underestimated him, or limited his effectiveness on me. God is bringing me from that state to one of awareness and offensiveness. The list of what I should speak to him is growing and as it does I am being empowered to live life as God meant for me to live it all along.

Jesus’ phrase, “he has nothing in Me” was made clearer in the Amplified Bible. Having nothing in Me means he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.] No claim, no common ground, no possession, and no power! And what he doesn’t have in regards to Christ, he doesn’t have in regards to me. My first thought was that I could not wait to inform him of my newly found facts. Why is that necessary? Because as long as I believe he is less or more powerful than he is, he will have the upper hand in my life. But when I face him with the truth it clears the way for me walk in obedience to God and move forward.

Jesus does not want us to live obsessed with the enemy but neither does He want us to live in ignorance of him and for many of us that has been the problem. Ignorant of his methods, schemes, and nature. All of that is brought to the forefront each time I insist that he back off! When that happens, my mind is freed up to focus on God and His working in my life. My energy is directed toward the tasks at hand. Something as simple as listening to a sermon without distractions of needs being met and wondering what the people around me are thinking becomes possible. It also, strengthens me in areas that have been weak and helps me to be better able to fight off attacks in the future. It is a new lease on life and I am taking it!

At the beginning of this week I had come to the end of myself and my heart’s cry was for God to show me what was wrong and what to do about it. I was certain that there were too many quirks and places of brokenness in me to ever walk in victory. It seemed I could not win over the onslaughts of emotions, perceptions, and knee-jerk reactions. What I brought to God was a plea for help and fighting the enemy with wisdom and the Word has been God’s answer and gift to me. It is working and I am beyond excited!

Father, You are faithfully bringing me out of the darkness and into the light. I joy in what You are doing and how You are doing it! Amen.

Worship Song - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMpbm2p-1mo

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Learning to Fight

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23 (New King James Version)

Although Christ’s words were spoken to Peter, Satan was the intended recipient of those words. We would do well to be as bold in our tone and terminology when addressing the enemy of our soul. Jesus had no trouble knowing who was really behind the rebuke Peter gave him, and we need to be just as wise to his workings in our lives as well.

It has taken me years to realize just how active the enemy and his minions are in my waking hours. Too often I failed to notice his finger prints and would simply attribute my troubles to living in a broken world and possessing a sinful nature. Little did I realize the things I was blaming my problems on were also his tools and he was proficient at using them. While certain words, thoughts, and actions may start with me, he is delighted to run with them once I let my guard down. I failed to see each one as darts in his hands.

What are the “darts” he uses in my life? Wrong perceptions, feelings of jealousy, condemning thoughts toward others or myself, fear of rejection, hopelessness, a sense of being unfulfilled and unsatisfied, longings for things I can’t have, idolatry, self-pity, insecurities, and emotions that take me down wrong trails. Today was the first day I began to see how much the enemy is involved in using them. How skilled he is at using them.

Once I saw what was happening (what has been happening) I got angry. Really angry, because I saw the damage he was doing with little resistance from me. That is when I began to call him on the carpet. I voiced the fact that he was a liar and that I no longer wanted to choose to believe his lies. I proclaimed the truth of Who I belonged to and who I was in Christ. Throughout the day, the least negative thought that came to mind was enough to bring the “Get behind me, Satan” phrase out of my mouth. He heard it a lot and he heard it often.

The results have been astounding! I have begun to live as a victor instead of a victim. I am learning I can be bold in Christ and I like that! It is the difference between taking control and being controlled. Will it continue to work as well tomorrow and the next day and the next? Definitely! I can’t wait to use the rest of the verse on him!

Father, I am learning to fight the enemy on Your terms and it is working. Keep me bold and keep me in tune with You. Amen.

Protector of My Soul - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj3mCYB5iqg

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Unleashing the Truth

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (New American Standard Bible)

Scripture is meant to touch all areas of our life, but often we can limit its impact by limiting its interpretation. Many times I have read today’s verse and seen it as merely a reference to Christ versus Satan. Earlier today, however, God brought this verse to mind when I began battling some mindsets. He helped me see that if Christ (in me) is greater than Satan and his entire host of demon helpers, then He is also greater than any personal weaknesses and propensities I have in me. The very things that continue to trip me up and break me down are inferior to Him and His strength. I need that assurance lest I draw the conclusion that I will never see victory in certain areas of my life.

I want this to be more than truth making its way into my head. I want it to be truth that shapes my life and brings about change. Tonight I am very aware of an area in my life that needs to change and the uncomfortable part is that others are aware of it as well. A part of me wants to run, hide, and avoid any situation which will bring my weaknesses to the surface. The temptation is strong to be around others only on days when I am able to be strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. After all, how can I be an encouragement to others if I walk in failure? Wouldn’t it be better to not be seen than to set a poor example?

As I pondered those ideas it didn’t take long for me to see that God wasn’t in them. His desire is for my freedom and growth not my disappearance and withdrawal. He knows that each failure simply stands as a reminder that there is still work to be done in me. He knows that my ability to fight will not be accomplished away from the battle. He also knows that stepping away is not the answer…stepping up to the plate is!

Tonight I choose to allow this verse to come alive in new ways to me. Yes, greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. But also, greater is He that is in me than all the other things that are in me. Greater is He that is in me than anything in me that leads to mistakes, failure, and wrong choices. Greater is He that is in me than every thing that attempts (and sometimes succeeds) to pull me in the wrong direction. Tonight I choose to let my failure serve as a reminder of the greatness of the One who lives in me.

Father, I marvel that You never seek to rid Yourself of me. You keep working. You keep molding. You keep cultivating. You keep staying. Forgive me and take me farther. Amen.

Greater Is He - Sparky Marco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqww8NgYpzI&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Stepping Away

I want to let each of you know that I will be stepping away from writing devotionals this next week. I am trusting God to refresh my spirit in Himself. To redirect my focus back on to Him. I covet your prayers as I take this week and allow God to teach me, love me, speak to me, and hold me.

In His hands,
Pam Shattuck

Be Still and Know That He Is God - Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZZBZrpSd-w&feature=related

That Which He Promises

The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11 (New American Standard Bible)

I came to Scripture this morning in need of assurances and promises. God knew that! Even when I cannot put into words what I am feeling, He knows. Even when I cannot trace the starting points of internal pain, turmoil, or sadness, He knows. He knows me so intimately that His answers are available even before I know what questions to ask.

In the quietness of these early hours, He promises me strength in the midst of my own weaknesses and failures. How desperately I need that reminder. So often my failures and mistakes stare me in the face and God wants me to know they can serve as reminders that His strength is there. Strength to get me on my feet again. Strength to resist temptation. Strength to face the conditions of my heart. Strength to come before Him with boldness and honesty. Strength to admit the truth to Him and to know it will not change His view of me or His love for me. Strength to turn my gaze off others and on to Him. Strength to rise after a fall. Strength to look at today with hope, passion, and anticipation. Strength to reject the perceptions of yesterday.

He promises to bless me with peace. His peace. The peace that Jesus said was unlike anything I would derive from this world or from people in this world. Peace in the midst of strife. Peace in the midst of uncertainty. Peace in the midst of turmoil. Peace in the midst of unmet needs, unrealized dreams, and unfulfilled desires. Peace in the midst of struggles and faltering steps.

Taking in His words this morning and embracing His promises to me help me to receive what He has pledged. His offer is always present if I would but reach out and accept what He graciously extends to me. How sad when I live as if neither His strength or His peace are upon me! When I take the mentality that I am on my own I forfeit the ability to live out of His strength and peace.

Today is a day whereby I need to bask in the light and warmth of what He is saying to me…what He is promising me. As I do, the effects will be felt. The results will be noticeable. The necessary shifts in me will begin.

Father, I choose once again to walk in the light of Your Word and Your presence. You have not left me or forsaken me. You have not thrown up Your hands in exasperation or disgust. You have not set me aside in disappointment. I take my first steps into a new day with my hand in Yours, knowing that all is well. Amen.

Your Are My Hiding Place - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zej__yFPeK0&feature=PlayList&p=C0C5F92CF1DA2486&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.