Jesus is Our Anchor

Scriptural Foundation:

2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 12:2 King James Version (KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Matthew 9:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Reflection:

It is that time of year again…it is like a bomb went off in my bedroom…sigh. The dreaded season shifting process.  Honestly, I don’t know why sometimes I take the time to save things for the kiddos when half the time the kids, apart from our youngest (hand-me-downs are great!), outgrown half their stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I am prepared with some items like shirts, but shorts…I don’t know why I don’t think to buy larger sets at the end of the season in preparation for the next warm season and avoid the mad scramble at the first hot stretch of warm weather.  Thankfully this attempted preparation is not futile because I am able to sow some clothes in season to others which is a big blessing because apparently, I am not the only one that really dreads shopping

In the Spirit, season changing can be just as frustrating. The Bible says to renew our minds daily, if we do this diligently more often than not our spiritual “shorts” may give us a wedgie when things get hot and we approach situations with old tactics.  It is not until we apply new tactics that our “shorts” fit and we can move through that season with ease and comfort in the Lord.

There are things and situations that are meant to carryover between season changes in your life. While others must be purged as testimonies to make room for the new things/people that the Lord wants to bring in.  It is hard letting go of some things or some people that we have out grown spiritually, but to keep them in your spiritual “wardrobe” would only limit your momentum forward.  Trust me, short-shorts are not a one size fits all item.  Do yourself a favor and get yourself some new shorts (deeper things of God) and give away your old shorts (testimonies).

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. – Hebrews 5:12-134

• In your current season of life, are you pouring new wine into old wine skins?
• Are there certain situations in your life that are stuck? Certain unproductive cycles?
• Ask the Holy Spirit if it is time you changed something to fit your new season.

 

Scriptural Foundation:

1 Samuel 17:25-27 New Living Translation (NLT)

Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”

David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”

Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Reflection:

Now I am the farthest thing from “thug life” as they come. However, the more heart-breaking stories I hear from women, but their husbands, children’s father, and/or boyfriends I am reminded of a main stream song that came out years ago by a rapper called DMX – Where my dawgs at?  I have no idea what was said in the song, but I remember the hook to this day from when my brother used to play it.  The whole premises I think was calling out the real men among the masses.  Either way the song created an energy that really got parties jumping.  In 1 Samuel 17, David, a mere boy on a battle field of men, questioned why wasn’t anyone silencing the bully Goliath. How could they have faith in God yet shrink back from a natural threat?

I am sure you can agree the whole planet is upside down. There are so many labels when it comes to sexuality I can’t keep up any more.  All I can speak on is my observations. Growing up my father was my hero, he still is to this day.  The sacrifices that he and my mom made for our family made me the person I am today.  I had only two male role models in my life the Lord and my father.  When I met my first and only boyfriend, I naively thought all men were built like my father….not.  This was prior to me becoming saved, but looking back I can pinpoint the certain times and situations that the Lord was warning me not to become involved with him.  Needless to say, I wasted three and half years of my life and was emotionally void.  During that time, I was saved.  I didn’t dump him the day after I got saved, but the Lord navigated me out of that pit and back on solid ground.  I did end up dumping him, praise the Lord!  In his place, the Lord sent my husband. Now granted when I considered his resume in the natural – two baby mamas, blue collar, and backslidden state, which were all things that didn’t bother me, but I didn’t know how my parents would react.  I distinctly remember introducing my ex-boyfriend (in the natural he had a good “resume”) to my parents and my father saying almost immediately when was I going to get rid of him!  The Lord told me very early on that Gary was the man I was going to marry.  So it was only confirmation when the time came to meet my parents, there was not a negative word spoken to me about him, which was huge!  Almost fourteen years later, it is still the best thing that ever happened to me.

Looking around at my friends, co-workers and family members, I feel like I got one of the last of the “good ones.” Not that my husband is perfect…..nor am I, but we are certainly one.  With the Lord at the center of our relationship, we have had one argument on record.  You might say that I must be exaggerating, but literally we have had one verbal disagreement.  Don’t get me wrong we don’t see eye to eye on everything, but we agree to disagree in love.  The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26-27 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you. ”Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Saints, the Lord loves you too much for your relationship with your spouse to be anything but battle tested and strong. Your home is your Eden on earth.  It should remain in peace at all times and the inhabitants should be honest, respectful and be full of love towards one another.  Your home should be the first cultivating ground for the fruits of the Spirit.  If the fruits can’t grow and thrive in your Eden then you all have allowed the serpent in.  Selah….

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

• Start with listing out your negative behaviors. If you need help, ask your significant other with the promise that you will not throw it back in their face. Siblings or long-time friends are also good at letting you know when you are wrong.
• Ask the Holy Spirt to take away any offense that may try to pop up and objectively look at your list. Apply where needed the fruits of the Spirit to each item. When the next opportunity presents itself pick from your fruit basket rather than having a knee jerk reaction.
• Please note I didn’t start with what you think is wrong about your significant other. If you can take care of the serpent behavior in your actions that may produce a change in your partner, the Lord will take care of his/her behavior without you having to say or do anything.