Embrace the Within no. 24

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 3:1-2 AMP

“So now I’ll lie down and sleep like a baby—

then I’ll awake in safety, for you surround me with your glory.

Even though ten thousand dark powers prowl around me,

I won’t be afraid.”

Psalms 3:5-6 TPT

Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith]. In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns]. And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 AMP

I am not alone. Change is a difficult process. It is never easy for any of us to take our first steps out into the world without our net of safety and security. And if we go without the wraparound presence of God, we can feel overwhelmed very easily by the many obstacles and opportunities that abound in the world. BUT the wraparound presence of God is there to keep us safe, keep us secure, and to let us feel the presence. The wraparound presence is assurance that we are never alone. This is why I need to be secure in my faith in God’s presence at all times. Even when I do not feel that God is there, I know through the experience of my walk with God that the wraparound presence of God does not leave.

I am not alone. When I lay down to sleep, the wraparound presence of God is there to protect me against the forces and spirits of darkness and evil that abound in this broken world. I can rest without guilt. I can rest without worry. I can rest peacefully in the faith and truth of that wraparound presence guiding and protecting me.

I am not alone. The grace of God is reliable, trustworthy, and true to us at all times. I do not need to worry that God will not be there. Through the grace of God I have an assurance that God is always there. I can always trust that God is the same today as yesterday and will be tomorrow. The unchanging presence of God speaks the truth to my nephesh. I can be confirmed in my belief that God will always be there not by a feeling BUT by the experience that even when I don’t feel God’s presence I can still see the works of God in my life. I have examples of the Lord working in mysterious ways for the benefit of myself and others to reinforce my faith in God’s grace and presence.

I am not alone. Some days I might feel like everyone in the world is against me. I might feel like every situation is stacked against my progress. I might feel like I am abandoned by my friends, my family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. That may be fact and that may be opinion BUT the fact is that I am never alone whether that is true or not. Whether I face the challenges with friends or without friends, I have all the support I will ever need in God. With God, I am never alone. With God, I have all the support, all the power, and all the wisdom I need to move forward.

Life can get confusing if we let our thoughts run the show. We are not our thoughts. Our thoughts get to remain in our presence when we choose to entertain those thoughts. Not every thought that comes into my mind needs to be given the same attention. Some thoughts are there for goodness and some thoughts are there to work evil. I do not get to choose the thoughts BUT I do get to choose which thoughts I act upon. And that action is purified through the wisdom to know which thoughts to entertain and which thoughts to cast aside. God’s wraparound presence grants us that wisdom.

I am not alone because the wraparound presence of God is there to keep me supported and safe. That presence is all I ever need to conquer all that comes my way. I pray that you find that wraparound presence in your life. You can have that presence to grant you peace as well. You only need to ask God to enter your life. Trust in the assurance and victory that resides in Christ.

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #MakeYourselfGreatAgain #EmbracetheWithin

Embrace the Within no. 23

“What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!

He won’t walk in step with the wicked,

nor share the sinner’s way,

nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.

His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,”

meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.

He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree

planted by God’s design,

deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,

bearing fruit in every season of life.

He is never dry, never fainting,

ever blessed, ever prosperous.

But how different are the wicked.

They are like chaff blown away by the wind.

The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,

for God will not defend them.

Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,

for they have no part with those who walk in truth.

But how different it is for the righteous!

The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward

while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.”

Psalms 1 TPT

I am not alone. This week has been something else. Taking my eldest daughter to college, having a swollen knee, having her get homesick, and walking on crutches for the first time have all been experiences that I don’t really want to go through right now BUT they are what I am going through right now. I am quite humbled by everything.

The swelling is going down and I have learned a lesson in both my limitations and in trusting others. I am not a fan of either lesson. And that is the way life goes. I don’t get to choose the lessons I learn. I don’t get to choose the obstacles I face. I don’t get to choose how this journey goes and how it ends. I just get to choose while it happens.

And I can choose righteously or wickedly. We all get to choose. And choosing righteousness does not mean I am always right. Choosing righteousness does not mean I will have it easy. Choosing righteousness does not mean I have it all figured out. Choosing righteousness means that I am not alone in my choice. I have the Word to guide my choices. I have the Spirit to grant me wisdom. I have the Son to grant me forgiveness. I have the Father to give me law. When you have God, you not only have one ally BUT all the allies you will ever need. You get a treasury of ancient wisdom laid out for you in the pages of those that came before us. You get a presence in your life, a redeemer of your sins, and a guide for your life. You get all you will ever need.

There are more than enough choices for me to make for my life that occupy my time. And rather than worrying about the wicked, I am going to concern myself with doing right. I can only do so much. Just as this injury has limited me physically, I need to embrace that my actions are limited as well. My sphere of control is not so much further than my own skin. And working on my nephesh is a great place to start.

I can be in the best shape of my life and still find myself struggling. It’s literally happening to me this week. BUT, I am not alone. I have more than enough resources when I put my faith, my trust, and my belief in the only true God. I can no longer rely on my own strength to get me through. I must rely on God.

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #MakeYourselfGreatAgain #EmbracetheWithin