We know God works…
I think it is wise to start here. Right here at the beginning of Romans 8:28. We know God works. Or maybe it is better by asking, "Do you believe that God is always working?" Some of you may be shaking your head in agreement while others may be challenged by the notion that God is always working.
I am not sure about you but there has been times in my life where I thought He had left the building. I pictured Him busy caring for others, tending to their needs which seemed far greater than mine. So I would sit in silence, feeling like the girl standing outside of school waiting for that parent who forgot to pick them up. Have you ever felt that way? Finding yourself looking into the sky, wondering where this silent God went and question if He would ever come back?
Too often in our waiting we forget that God is working. Everyone goes through seasons where God seems silent. Where His presence doesn’t seem to surround us and in that space it often breeds questions of doubt. As humans we tend to approach God logically and think about Him rationally. We start to think He is more like us, rather than the God that He really is. We forget that God is omnipresent, which means He is present in all places at the same time. We are seeing through a human lens instead of a lens of a God that created the universe!
For me, I can easily forget that God is working because I tend to rely on my main center of intelligence. In other words, I live in my feelings. If I don’t feel something, I can easily discredit it. I recently read something from Graham Cook in which he said, “God develops our faith to rule over our feelings. Faith is cold-blooded and has no emotion attached to it. We can believe something even if we don’t feel it. Many of use have become prisoners to our emotions, allowing them to run the show. God wants to put that back into the proper order. Feelings are like the tail end of a dog, they just go along with whatever is in control. Emotions, in God’s order, serve us and aid us in being with Him, people, and ourselves.”
Jesus tell us in John 5:17 “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So in seasons of waiting, we need to remind our body, mind and souls that God is working and we must have faith and trust in that promise.
The Truth is…
Now that we have established that our God is always working and His main objective is to conforms us into the likeness of Christ; let’s take a moment to look at the essential truth’s listed on page 15.
As God works in us, He is always teaching us about who we are in Christ. As you read the scriptures on page 15, you see that you are God’s child, loved, valuable, created good, able with him, beautiful, strong in him, chosen, secure/safe with Him, and have purpose. Wow… if we were women that believed, received and walked in these truths, could you see how the world would be a better place? Truly, take a moment to reread that list and ask yourself, which ones don’t you believe? The three that you circled… take those scriptures and keep them at the top of your mind/heart. Write them on notecards and begin to meditate on those truths. It is essential that we are women who preach truth to ourselves. So instead of letting our feelings and thoughts dictate who we are, we need the word of God to tell us who we are in Christ. In other words, we need the mind of Christ!
Every believer has the Holy Spirit in them and He will help you get these truths from your head to your heart. All you need to do is ask Him for help and partner with Him in learning and trusting what God says about YOU. We certainly have a role to play. As Graham Cooke stated, “God wants to put things back into proper order.” He uses scripture to do so, as it is THE tool to inform us of our identity in Christ.
So next time… Let us be women who will CHOOSE to believe and trust God at His word…
Instead of living like an orphan, preach I am God’s daughter. (I AM GOD’s CHILD) (John 1:12)
Instead of fear, preach I will lie down and sleep, He alone will keep me safe. (I AM SAFE WITH HIM) (Psalm 4:8)
Instead of feeling unloved, preach Jesus died on the cross because of His great love for me. (I AM LOVED) (Romans 5:8)
Instead of feeling weak, preach I am strong and courageous because He is with me where ever I go. (I AM STRONG IN HIM)
Instead of feeling unworthy, preach before He made the world, God loved me and chose me. (I AM CHOSEN) (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Instead of I can't, preach God will help me. (I AM ABLE WITH HIM) (Psalm 46:5)
Instead of “I am ugly", preach I am wonderfully fearfully made, how wonderful is His work. (I AM BEAUTIFUL) (Psalm 139:14)
Instead of thinking I am worthless, preach I am chosen and God’s very own possession. (I AM VALUABLE) (1 Peter 2:9)
Instead of I have no purpose, preach He has created me anew so I can do good things He has planned for me long ago (I HAVE A PURPOSE)
Instead of insecurity, preach the Lord is always with me, I will not be shaken for He is right beside me (I AM SECURE WITH HIM) (Psalm 16:8)
God is working, He is always working. Praise God that He doesn’t leave us where we are, for He has great plans for each of us….plans to prosper us, to help and give us hope and a future. Won’t you choose to relish in what God says about you? Toss out the lies that you have believed for far way too long.
Take a moment to quiet yourself and listen to this amazing song by Lauren Daigle, "You Say"… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZvKJl1kK8g.
Let us believe what God says about us. There is certainly more to come….
So many great takeaways from this, thank you Kim!