Don’t Be Content With Your Blindspots

As hard as we try, there are still errors in our thinking that escape our attention. We certainly can pray to our Father In Heaven and ask for His acquittal.

We can also surround ourselves with quality brothers or sisters in Christ that can help us see our blind spots.

For this to be effective, we must be willing to give permission for them to speak truth into our lives. We also need to be willing to receive that truth and take action for any lasting change to result.

We need God above all else and we need friends who continually point us to Him.

Are you taking time with God in His word and in prayer daily?

Do you have friends, who you trust, that speak hard truth into your life?

#MPWarrior

#closetogod

#speakandreceivetruth

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He also calls at all hours of the day and night; hoping to distract you from your purpose. He carries with him many a temptation to stir feelings of guilt and shame.

There is no neighborhood you can move to that he will not follow. His joy comes from your lack and stumbling. He rejoices in your hurt and anger.

We cannot stay trapped indoors and accomplish our purpose. We must reach others if we are to carry out our mission.

How do we deal with these meddlesome attacks form this ill-seeking neighbor? We submit to the One who desires our well-being. Yes, we submit to His authority, His teaching, and His purpose for our life.

We also resist this enemy. For by submission to God and through resistance against our adversary, we will see satan flee.

This neighborhood is in your mind and is a battleground like no other. Give your mind what it needs to win this battle. Feast on God’s word daily, commune often with Him through prayer and live what He teaches.

#MPWarrior

#SubmitAndResist

#GodWillGiveTheVictory

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In the midst of all of this, we must remember that Jesus has overcome all the tribulations of this life including death, disease, and sin once and for all. Certainly, that is joy. We can take heart for He has overcome them all! What can we do but praise Him with unending joy?  When our eyes are fixed on Him we see what the ending will be, we have strength to press on, and we are filled with a deep deep joy.  

Reflection

Where are your eyes fixed today? On your situation or on Him?

If you want joy, where do they need to be fixed?

Take 15 min to thank God out loud for sending a His Son to overcome all the tribulations of this life. 

Prayer

Thank you Father, for having a perfect plan to overcome the trials of this life and to bring a joy that never ends.  Those trials were never worthy to be compared to the joy being revealed to us in Christ Jesus. Amen!

As I digested this beautiful meal of heavenly bread, I landed on verse 30 and was reminded of my feeble efforts and energy wasted battling my enemies.  Three things are mentioned here about God’s plan to overcome our enemy:

     His way is blameless

     His word is tried

     He is a shield 

These three not only give hope but are a solid and logical strategy against our enemy. 

The older I’ve gotten, the less I waste time trying to figure things out on my own.  I’m less concerned about being smart and capable and more concerned about completing things right the first time and spending less time.  When I Google or YouTube to find a resolution for everyday needs, I look at the number of views and the comments to see if this method is tried and others have found success.  I listen closely to determine if the person is looking for me to succeed and warning me of anything that might go wrong. 

Better than Google or YouTube, is God’s provision for us to solve everything that ails us. 

His way is blameless. We need not worry that He will every lead us to a place of dishonor or destruction.  He forever desires us to walk blamelessly in Him. The same cannot be said about our plans.  

His word is tried. The Bible was written over the span of about 1500 years by around forty authors inspired by God.  It has outlasted trends and fads of every generation and remains solid in its instruction and power. 

He is a shield.  The victory Christ won at the cross is our shield from every arrow the devil can fire.  For we can surely take refuge behind this mighty shield that defends us 

Reflection

Can you say your plan to succeed in the face of your enemies has these three components?

Perhaps it’s time to lay down your plans and pride in exchange for our Father’s perfect way through salvation and start living in joy as you were designed to.  Get in His word daily and meditate on it as you go about your day. It will prove itself tried and true. 

Prayer

Gracious God, you have given us all that we need in Christ.  For His way is blameless. He became sin on our behalf that we might become Your righteousness.  Your word is tried and true and has blessed us beyond measure.  Teach us to delight in it and apply it diligently to every area of our lives.    Let us run to You, our great shield of protection, and take refuge.  You are the one true Living God and You alone have overcome death and sin forever.  We sing praises to you in the name of Jesus, Amen!

 God’s plan for you is victory; however, It must be accomplished His way and He requires your surrender. It begins with your motivation. Is your motivation born out of a love for Him and for His glory? Or perhaps is it for you to not have to feel the guilt and shame any longer? 

Reflection

Read Galatians 5:1-14 and take an honest look at yourself today. Adjust your motivation.. Spend time in His word today. Let Him reveal to you the depths of what He has done….Love Him for His glory and you will be on the path to victory…
Prayer

Father, teach us to long for and love you. Help us to see your love for us and let that stir our desire to glorify you.  We know that victory follows surrender.  Remove any pride in us and let us live in Your victory, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

But God, being rich in mercy, had other plans to redeem us and call us by name into a relationship with Him.  By His perfect plan He reconciled humanity to a state better even than the original unfallen one.  For we now are adopted as sons and daughters and know new depths of His loves daily. 

While this is life changing for us personally, God’s plan doesn’t stop there.  His plan includes you embracing the sin of your past, depending on Him in the present to overcome it, and apply it for others in the future.  Every gift, skill, ability, role, activity, and attribute is to be used for His good work in the lives of others.  Your story of God’s salvation and His faithful walking with you needs to be heard by someone in your life. 

The blessing of His reconciliation and redemption are designed to be multiplied to those in your path today.  There are good works to be done.  Your Father in heaven has comforted you that you may comfort others. He has loved you that you may love others and  He has forgiven you that you may forgive others.   Be about this work that He has prepared in advance for you to walk in. 

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

@brianfriedl

I’m not against work or giving it everything I have. In fact I have believed for a long time that I could accomplish anything I put my mind and hands to.  This was my coping mechanism for  the rest of my life’s problems and my solution to all of them.  I was in fact a workaholic.  My answer to everything was to work harder.  I would watch Rocky intentionally so I could press on with what I was facing.  After that shot in the arm, I could go back in the trenches and hit it again.  But it always wore off. 

This method seemed to work most days, but not all.  When I was made aware that I had sinned against God, it’s no surprise that my first reaction was to try harder, but Even Rocky couldn’t solve this one. When it happened again, I turned my focus up another notch, and another and yet had the same result.  I had to figure out how to up my game in this battle.  

Eventually, after wearing myself, my mind, and my ego to the point of surrender, I was able to comprehend God’s provision for me through Jesus.  It was His finished work at the cross that rescued me.  My work was not enough. It was not possible in my own strength to fix my sin problem.  When I came to terms with that truth, not only was there an answer to my sin problem, there was a new relationship in my life that brought freedom.  

It’s amazing to me how much time I wasted because I had no understanding the first 3 words of this verse.  

“For with God, nothing shall be impossible” ~ Luke 1:37. 

 I had the second half down but it’s no longer truth when you drop the first part.   Don’t waste your time as I did.  Let go of the “I am the solution” mindset for a moment and see what God has done for you.  Invite Him to be your Lord today and you too will have the victory and freedom you desire.  Those three words change everything!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

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@brianfriedl

No weapon formed against us shall prosper for we are His children; joint heirs with Christ.  His Spirit testifies with ours that this is so.  He has apportioned His victory to us.  For He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.  His love is never failing!

Holy is the name of the LORD, perfect and true.  It is above every name and at it every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD.  He is worthy of our praise.  May our lips be filled with that praise and thanksgiving to His precious name.  For 2017 is His, along with the victory over our enemies!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬

Have you ever wondered why God would not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able and why He would provide a way of escape ?  The last part of the verse is clear, “…so you will be able to endure it”. God wants you to succeed! He gives you an option to make the right choice just as Joseph did with Potiphar’s wife.  David had an option to stop looking at Bathsheeba, but chose to ignore that option and continued to gaze.  

This brings me to a couple of quick observations:

1) If we are not allowed to be tempted beyond what we are able, it means we have everything we need to be an overcomes at the time we are tempted.  Did you catch that? I believe this is because what we have in Christ is more satisfying that anything temptation can offer. God is patiently walking with us as this knowledge becomes wisdom.  When we truly believe this we are able to endure in Christ. 

2)  The process of temptation and enduring/falling proves to be a training ground showing us that We already have the Perfect Gift…Jesus Christ who is all we need. We know this to be true, now we must live it as truth for it to equip us to speak it as truth to others. 

3) We must not become distracted by our performance or lack thereof or we will miss the lesson. We must continue to focus on learning that we are completed and fulfilled in Christ; fully satisfied. 

Personal Reflection

What’s your first reaction when you are tempted? Fear of failing?  Trying to entertain the temptation while trying to “stay strong”? Over confidence?

What if you truly believed that all your needs are satisfied in Christ so much so that the minute temptation hit, you remembered that truth and began looking for the way of escape?  You would endure!

Take some time right now, grab a pen and paper and list out all the ways you have learned in scripture that Jesus satisfies your needs.   Keep this list in your Bible, review it daily and add to it every time you learn of another one.  When temptation comes you will see whatever it is as the counterfeit it is and fully relying on the truth. U

Prayer Focus

Father of lights You have given us every good thing and perfect gift. You have given us your Son Christ!  For Him and all He has done we praise you!  Solidify Your truth in our minds. Let us be fully content in Jesus and His finished work at the Cross. Thank you for not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we are able and for the way of escape.  May we learn swiftly and glorify You in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

So if God’s will for you is to constantly rejoice, be in communication with Him, and to do it all with a heart of thanksgiving, then why are we so sad, quiet, and full of complaints?

It’s possible we missed one little word in the text that changes everything.  It’s the word, “in”.   God will for us  in what? In Christ Jesus. You see scripture is clear apart from Christ you can do nothing.  If we are in Christ, we are a new creation, the old has gone the new has come.  The old sad, quiet, and complaining you is gone and the new rejoicing, praying, and thanksgiving you had come. 

So when we walk in the flesh we will see our old self. When we walk in Christ, deeply reflecting on the love He has shown us by ransoming our lives with His very own blood,how can we not rejoice?  How can we not be communication with our Father to praise Him? How can we not have a heart of gratefulness?

Personal Reflection

So who are you in today…self or Christ?  Do a quick assessment are you rejoicing, praying and giving thanks or are you sad, quiet and complaining.  Close your eyes and call to mind the moment you first understood and believed the gospel.  Remember the location, time of day, circumstances, the feeling of being freed from sin and death for all eternity.  Don’t you want to rejoice and talk to your Heavely Father, praising Hima be telling Him thank you?

If you have never given your life over to Christ, know that you have broken God’s law and instead of His wrath being poured out on you, His son willingly went to the cross and took the wrath that was yours, poured out His blood to pay for all of your wrong-doing, past,present, and future.  Surrender and  receive this gift today.  Rejoice, be in constant communication with your Him, praise and thank Him for the wonderful gift you have in Jesus!

Prayer Focus

Gracious Father, thank you for opening our eyes to see the difference of one little word.  Help us to be all in.  All in Jesus.  Let our minds never forget the price that was paid, the power of this gift, and the depth of the love you have given us.  May our hearts rejoice, our souls commune with you, and may our hearts be filled with praise forevermore, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!