Our Potential

Have you ever really messed up? Maybe it was a mistake or a poor choice, but it was something so big you didn’t see a way to come back from it. I imagine we all have.

Jesus’ disciple, Peter, might have wondered the same thing. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied knowing Him, not once, not twice, but three times. That’s a big thing to come back from and Peter probably didn’t see a way for that to happen.

But although Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, He also knew something Peter probably didn’t know about himself. Jesus knew Peter’s potential and who Peter would become. And Jesus knows the same about us.

Jesus doesn’t just know who we are now, but who we can become through Him. {Tweet this}

Jesus knows we’re going to fail and make major mistakes, but He also knows these are opportunities for growth in our faith, and in who we are becoming. Jesus knows our potential.

Jesus knew Peter would mess up by denying Him, and yet, he told Peter,

So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. Matthew 16:18 CEV

Wow. Jesus knew Peter would be the foundation of His church, even while he knew the mistakes Peter would make.

Peter came back from his betrayal. Not because of something he did, but because of who God is.

The women went into the tomb, and on the right side they saw a young man in a white robe sitting there. They were alarmed. The man said, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross. God has raised him to life, and he isn’t here. You can see the place where they put his body. Now go and tell his disciples, and especially Peter, that he will go ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” Mark 16:5-7 CEV

Especially Peter. He wanted Peter to know that He had not turned away from him. Peter’s betrayal was not too much to come back from.

Perhaps God is whispering to you today, especially you.

What choices or mistakes are keeping you from Jesus?

God’s forgiveness covers anything we think is just too much. He knows our hearts and hears our confessions. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

God knows who we are and who we can become through Him.

He knows our potential long before we see it in ourselves. {Tweet this}

Think your mistakes disqualify you from work in God’s Kingdom? They didn’t for Peter and they don’t for you. Peter looked for Jesus and followed Him. Peter’s mistakes became his testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection. His story was part of God’s story.

And, whether we realize it yet or not, our stories are all part of God’s love story.

How do you feel when you think about your potential? Does that feeling change knowing that God already knows what your potential is with Him?

In Christ,

Laura 

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

Linking up with: Purposeful Faith, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements, #RechargeWednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, #DestinationInspiration, Worth Beyond Rubies, #porchstories, #HeartEncouragement, #TuneInThursday, #FaithonFire, Faith ‘n Friends, Grace & Truth, Spiritual Sundays

The Strength of God’s Armor

I don’t know what you might be dealing with this week, but I know several people who are feeling under attack from the enemy. I am too. So, I’m happy to be re-sharing these words which first appeared at LifeLetter Café several years ago.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

I like The Avengers super heroes—each one an individual, but together, a super force.

Captain America has his indestructible shield and super strength. Thor has his mighty hammer and super strength. Iron Man has his dynamic suit of armor, and through it, super strength.

Their powers and weapons, both offensive and defensive, vary, but they all have super strength…and it all comes from outside of themselves through chemistry, technology and power from other "worldly realms."

Here in the real world, we're not fighting against fictional villains, but we do have a very real enemy...Satan. We are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and to fight the battle, we must armor up. {Tweet this}

Fortunately, we also have a Source of super strength—God. He provides what we need when we need it.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul reminds us of this. Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Not by our own might, but through God’s. God’s strength. God’s power. For us.

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

               
We don't have to go to extreme measures and different sources to acquire the strength and weapons we need. God provides what we need to stand strong against the lies of the enemy. We just have to be willing to turn to Him, and ready to don the protection He offers. {Tweet this}

Scripture spells out each piece of the armor God provides.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 NLT

Stand your ground against the enemy with:

The belt of truth – the truth of God’s Word and who God is. Knowing the truth helps us identify and see through the enemy’s lies.

The body armor of God’s righteousness – through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are made right with God. Satan will try everything he can to make us believe nothing can make us right with God, and that is a lie. Nothing can undo what Jesus has already done for us.

Shoes of peace that comes from the Good News – reliable footwear is essential for all soldiers to advance and engage. For us to advance the Kingdom of God and engage in spiritual warfare, we wear the Good News of the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death for all time. The Good News of Jesus gives us life and enables us to share this Good News wherever we are.

The shield of faith – our faith in Jesus Christ is the shield that protects us from everything the devil throws at us. The flaming arrows of Satan’s lies cannot penetrate strong faith that rests solely in our Lord—in His truth and righteousness.

The helmet of salvation – the knowledge of our salvation through Jesus Christ protects us from believing the lies of the devil.

And finally…

The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God – our only offensive weapon against the evil of this world. The Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer, works for us and through us, enabling us to share the Word of God with others. One by one, building a strong offense against the enemy.

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com / This post first appeared as a Find It Only Here on Friday feature at LifeLetter Café.]

Linking up with: Purposeful Faith, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, Let's Have Coffee, InstaEncouragements, #RechargeWednesday, #DestinationInspiration, Worth Beyond Rubies, #TuneInThursday, #FaithonFire, Faith 'n Friends, Grace & Truth, Spiritual Sundays, #HeartEncouragement

When You Long for Change

Some seasons in life feel longer than others, don't they? Hard days run together and weeks become months. 

Although we can find positive moments in each day, the years are still trying. We grow weary and change looks difficult. Maybe even impossible.

I don't know where today finds you. Maybe you're trying not to lose yourself in the long days of motherhood. Or perhaps it's financial or relationship trials. Or health issues, loneliness, grief, disappointment, trying to move forward from poor choices, or recover from a trauma you experienced at the hands of another. 

It seems everyone has something they wish could be different. Everybody is dealing with something.

If change or improvement looks like it will never happen for you, hang in there. Nothing is impossible for God. {Tweet this}

What He has planned for our lives may not look like what we're hoping for—and that can be hard to accept. But it's often not until we can look back, sometimes years later, that we are able to see how the pieces fit together. And that what we walked through was part of His grand plan.

Encouraging Verses for When You Long for Change

Luke 18:27 NIV

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 94:19 VOICE

When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many, Your comfort lightens my soul.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Habakkuk 2:3 NLT

This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

Psalm 32:8 NLT

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

What Scripture verse(s) do you find encouraging when you're longing for change?

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

Linking up with: Purposeful Faith, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, Trekking Thru, GraceFull Tuesday, #RechargeWednesday, InstaEncouragements, #WriterWednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, #HeartEncouragement, #DestinationInspiration, #TuneInThursday, Moments of Hope, Worth Beyond Rubies, #FreshMarketFriday, #FaithonFire, Faith ‘n Friends, Grace & Truth, Spiritual Sundays

Putting Words into Action

Last week I wrote about negative moments and how they can often overshadow everything else in our day. This week, I came face to face with this truth. (Which is a nice way to say that what I wrote hit me over the head. Hard.)

On Monday I received information about a situation that required all hands on deck. It was news that made me uneasy and kind of sad, but I was ready to jump in and help in any way I could.

And then I found out it was an April Fool's joke. One I didn't find funny. I suppose I should have been suspicious, but I hadn't even thought about the day or that it might be a prank. The situation was not only possible, it was very plausible, and I was beyond irritated. 

Thirty minutes later I was still stewing about it. And then I remembered the words I shared last week.

"But once a short-lived situation is over, the choice of whether or not to dwell on it for the rest of the day is ours to make. And sometimes we have to make that conscious decision to let. it. go." (Negative Moments)

Sigh.

Honestly, I didn't really want to let it go, but it felt really wrong to refuse to take the same suggestion I offered to others less than a week ago. So, I made the conscious decision to let it go. I gave myself 30 minutes to stop dwelling on it and to turn my mood around.

I was at work, but it was quiet, so I listened to a few minutes of music to distract me. Then I focused on the tasks at hand further pulling myself away from my thoughts.

I talked to co-workers, but I purposely didn't mention it because I knew talking about it would only stir my emotions, making it harder to stop thinking about it.

The next time I looked at the clock, it was after the 30-minute period. I realized I was no longer grumbling and I had gone on with my day. I hadn't forgotten about it, but it no longer had control over me.

And…as a bonus, I now had something to write about this week.

What do you think? Do you struggle to let go of something that’s turning your mood sour? {Tweet this}

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

Linking up with: PurposefulFaith, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, Trekking Thru, GraceFull Tuesday, #RechargeWednesday, InstaEncouragements, #WriterWednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, #HeartEncouragement, #DestinationInspiration, #TuneInThursday, Moments of Hope, Worth Beyond Rubies, #FreshMarketFriday, #FaithonFire, Faith ‘n Friends, Grace & Truth, Spiritual Sundays