For most of my life, I was really scared. I didn’t know the power of God’s love that could heal me deep inside.
Let not your heart be troubled:
John 14:1
Seriously? Are you kidding?
How could we not let our hearts be troubled with all of the overwhelming and confusing circumstances we faced? How could my hypersensitivity, awful migraines, CCPTSD (didn’t know I was even dealing with this until decades later), job and family situation not cause us to be troubled?
Along with everyone else in that tiny Mexican church in the San Fernando Valley, Ann and I had just been filled with the Holy Spirit. Following that experience, soon after moving from California to Oregon for school, it seemed like all hell broke loose.
But, God had a plan He was working in our lives…Your’s, too.
Annie and I were so broken (We had each had nervous or emotional breakdowns) I didn’t think we could ever be fixed. We were troubled and afraid most of the time.
Years ago, I didn’t realize or understand how conformed I was to this world. I was a Christian living without a renewed mind. Until Jesus began to transform me by beginning to show me how to renew my mind to the wonderful life He knew I could have in Him, I just got offended by other Christians who were free in Jesus and who wanted to encourage me to seek more of Him like they had. I have to admit, they had something I didn’t have, I wanted what they had, and Annie and I finally discovered how to begin the long healing process we needed to be able to live in the freedom being a disciple of Christ affords all who seek Him.
Even though I couldn’t “get it” at the time, God was saying to us, “I want to enable you to live in Eden in the midst of this present world.” Maybe you’re like us. Like Jesus’ mother, Mary, Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah, and all the others throughout time God had spoken seemingly impossible yet wonderful promises to, we thought, “Lord, how can that be?”
So many today are angry and they let anger oppress and torment them. Many are angry because they’re too conformed to this world like Annie and I were. They don’t know there is another way, God’s way. Jesus wants to transform them and set them free from anger. He wants to replace anger with His wonderful peace.
for the anger (or jealousy, fear, bitterness, shame, greed, depression – the flesh – you name it) of man does not produce the righteousness (the right living God knows will give us His kind of life that makes us free indeed) of God.
James 1:20
Years ago (and God still has to remind me still of this from time to time), God said, “Mark, stop getting angry about how your life – or anything in this world – is going and trust Me. You must learn to trust Me. I have a plan for your life but it will not and cannot come about until you place your trust in Me and stop getting upset. This is why it was so absolutely critical for you to learn to depend on Romans 8:28 and other pertinent parts of My Word I brought to your attention.”
While I get tripped up every now and then, I can tell you that what God told me has made a huge difference in my life – Ann’s life, too. And, the more I practice living trusting Him in all things, the better life gets all the way around. Really.
God really is life in its most wonderful and blessed form.
The shield and buckler (a smaller shield that was easier to use in close combat) mentioned in Psalm 91 were used to to shield and protect. Whether an enemy attacked from a distance or from close range, you were shielded and protected.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
The words of this verse are true for those who believe them.
For Ann and me, the “truth” of Romans 8:28 has shielded and protected our faith and trust in God and it has enabled us to rise above seemingly overwhelming and defeating circumstances so many times and given us God’s supernatural peace, rest and joy. He’s shown us that He is in control of our lives and knows what’s best for us – Namely Himself, and all that He is.
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy (the devil) shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard (in our lives, Romans 8:28 has been one of the most powerful standards the Lord lifts up against the fearful fiery darts of the devil) against him.
Isaiah 59:19
His (God’s) “truth” (Romans 8:28, for one) shall be thy shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4b). Let His “truth” reign in your heart and enjoy life in His Ever-Uplifting Shielded and Protected Presence.
Yes, He’s working even “this” time for your good. Through His Word, God shows us His faithfulness by performing His Word in our lives. Believe it and see the salvation of the Lord.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him “and show him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:15-16
Lord, I’ve come to know the weaknesses I see in me will be stripped away by the power of Your love.*
Shielded and protected in Jesus – In The Word.
God bless,
Mark
Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.
*Lyric taken from The Power of Your Love by Matthew Ward