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"Even the 'have to’s' a victor faces turn to 'get to’s' as they live out their God given identity as His Child. Crazy thing is that the bad circumstances can even take on a 'get to' attitude for the victor when they dwell in that place of Love that comes with being God’s Child."
I'm beginning to realize the power of God's love in my life. It is changing the way I view things. Even the challenging things that come my way are starting to take on an entirely different view as I let the fact that God's Love is for me take a greater hold in my life. It is as I live a life built on "get to" living that I think God's Love can be seen by others through the circumstances that come my way.
It is as I let the fact that God is for me irregardless of what my circumstances look like that makes His power be more of what people see as I deal with what this life tosses at me. I'm not preaching a message on positive thinking with this notion. I am sick of trying to talk myself into better days when the stuff hits the fan in my life. I'm just as sick of letting bad times define who I am. I have gone down that well worn victim thinking path way too many times now. I want something different than what has resulted when victim thinking was so strongly in control.
I believe that difference is possible as I start to change my thinking when challenging times hit. Telling myself that I "have to..." do this or do that when obstacles seem to be blocking me to the good life I want to have and protect in my life, hasn't done a single thing to help me see God in those obstacles. There is a power that comes when we just surrender to who we are in the middle of what life tosses at us that can't be explained in any logical or empirical way.
All I know is that when bad times come, my thoughts play a critical role in how I might see God in the middle of those times that threaten my good life. The more I lean into the fact that God is for me the better I'm able to weather the storms of life. If God is as big as we think He is and if His plans are for the benefit of this world like the Bible teaches, then even the bad times we have have a meaning that I want to get behind. Purpose goes a long way in helping God's power come through us in ways that really do change the world.
That's what "get to" living does for our soul. It makes our will, intellect and emotions come alive in powerful and unmistakable ways. When we combine that power with the heavenly direction that comes with faith in who God is and who God says we are, I believe that God-sized things happen in and through our lives.
Listen to our Bible reading today. This is the kind of power that we have available as our soul and spirit combine to live out God's love in this world.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)
Now, that is one hope filled and power packed set of verses. This the essence of who we are. When bad times hit, what God is saying about us doesn't change. We are in the middle of a living hope. What God promises doesn't perish. It cannot be defiled. It doesn't shine any brighter when our times are good and it doesn't shine any less when times are challenging.
If there is any "have to" thinking that needs to be part of our lives, it is the fact that we "have to" get this kind of God-sized thinking into our lives. The challenges that come our way aren't there as punishment for us falling short. They aren't a sign that we have fallen short of God's love in our lives. If those statements were true, what God promises would have to be considered as fading, defiled and perishing right before our eyes. That's the danger of letting circumstances be the foundation for who we think we are. Victim thinking can't help but be the result when this world is so good at making victims of us all.
Whatever comes at you today, remember who you are. Your status as a victor is built on the fact that God thinks enough of you to have died for you. That kind of value... that kind of identity... that kind of love... is something that makes a difference when life comes at you in ways we never expected. Let today be filled with "get to" opportunities as you step more fully into the inheritance God has for your life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)
Now, that is one hope filled and power packed set of verses. This the essence of who we are. When bad times hit, what God is saying about us doesn't change. We are in the middle of a living hope. What God promises doesn't perish. It cannot be defiled. It doesn't shine any brighter when our times are good and it doesn't shine any less when times are challenging.
If there is any "have to" thinking that needs to be part of our lives, it is the fact that we "have to" get this kind of God-sized thinking into our lives. The challenges that come our way aren't there as punishment for us falling short. They aren't a sign that we have fallen short of God's love in our lives. If those statements were true, what God promises would have to be considered as fading, defiled and perishing right before our eyes. That's the danger of letting circumstances be the foundation for who we think we are. Victim thinking can't help but be the result when this world is so good at making victims of us all.
Whatever comes at you today, remember who you are. Your status as a victor is built on the fact that God thinks enough of you to have died for you. That kind of value... that kind of identity... that kind of love... is something that makes a difference when life comes at you in ways we never expected. Let today be filled with "get to" opportunities as you step more fully into the inheritance God has for your life.
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