[The following is an article that I wrote for the church newsletter. Since only one of you would have seen/read it, I thought I’d share and expand it. Part of the reason for providing this is that I think the ‘subject matter’ is relevant for all of us to consider, to resolve (?). ]
Do you have ANY conception of exactly how strong you are? Are you also aware that you are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses cheering you on? You are, both, you know. But are you tapping into the source of your strength? Do you sense those witnesses behind you urging you to believe in you and in who you are becoming? All this is true. No fairy tale. Truth.
And the greatest gift to realize is that you have the enabling Source, The Holy Spirit, residing in you. I sometimes wonder if any of us truly appreciates the work of The Holy Spirit and that, at the precise moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord, He came to live in you. Again, truth. Evidence? It all is scriptural: John 14:16,26 and John 16:7 are two of the most dramatic statements by our Lord about the Holy Spirit – who He is and what He does. The Lord’s words reinforce the reality that we aren’t alone and that the power residing in us is mighty and lasting… and real.
When Jesus spoke those words to His disciples, it wasn’t only for the 11 – if was to all His disciples. Let me say that again – to ALL, which includes you and me from the moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord. You don’t ‘feel’ it? That doesn’t negate that this happened. I believe that part of the problem is that we don’t understand what the Holy Spirit does? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? He is our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby (AMP). What is your need? As part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is working in the world today in each of us. Whether you call Him that still small voice or use Him as your check about what you are doing… His work is now. So what, exactly, is stopping you from being God’s Ambassador? What, precisely, is stopping you from being all that you are capable of becoming and doing? You can. You are able. Your decision???
What if you make a ‘mistake’? Don’t worry – you will. Mistakes happen. Fear of making them should never rule. Remember: 1. the Lord has it covered and 2. He will always make a way of escape (1Corinthians 10:13). The fear should never stop us because fear is not of the Lord (2Timothy 1:7 and if this scripture isn’t enough for you – Google ‘fear is not of the Lord’ and you’ll discover 33 other verses about fear and anxiety to remind us that God is in control).
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him,
and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with
my song I will praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7)
Your task is to trust in the Lord, go to Him with your situation, and praise Him for His hand on your life. You really do have the strength.
What if you make a ‘mistake’? Don’t worry – you will. Mistakes happen. Fear of making them should never rule. Remember: 1. the Lord has it covered and 2. He will always make a way of escape (1Corinthians 10:13). The fear should never stop us because fear is not of the Lord (2Timothy 1:7 and if this scripture isn’t enough for you – Google ‘fear is not of the Lord’ and you’ll discover 33 other verses about fear and anxiety to remind us that God is in control).
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him,
and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with
my song I will praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7)
Your task is to trust in the Lord, go to Him with your situation, and praise Him for His hand on your life. You really do have the strength.
