Our Past Does Not Define Us

“Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.” – Ezekiel 33:13-16 (ESV)

Life is a journey.  Our Heavenly Father knows that we’ll make incorrect choices, and stray from His path from time to time.  And yet, while we need to remain diligent in our pursuit of righteousness and fulfilling God’s desires for our lives, when we do err it’s important to remember that those moments don’t have to define us; when in humility and repentance we ask for forgiveness and learn from those mistakes that we’ve made, God joyfully refreshes our spirits and draws us to Him.

Combatting the Onslaught

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” – Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV)

Each and every day, our hearts and minds are tempted and assaulted by the broken nature of the world we live in.  To combat this onslaught, it’s vital that we “armor up” in the resources that God has Blessed us with; firmly defending that which we’ve given over to Christ.

A Very Special Gift

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Today Lord, I simply want to say thank You.

As You know Father, the last couple weeks have been particularly stressful for me, and I’m afraid in several situations I allowed myself to weaken and give audience to Satan’s voices of dissent within my heart…

You’re not worthy of God’s attention…

You’re weak…        

You’re alone…

I can still get to you…

And yet, through all these attacks on my spirit Lord, You were right there.  You’ve quietly reminded me of my true identity, sent me fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to bolster my reserve, and through Your Word have helped keep my eyes focused on Your Kingdom.

And then this morning, You gave me a very special gift…

As I’ve mentioned before Father, I quite enjoy the path I take to work each morning.  I consciously avoid the highway, and instead travel a series of smaller back roads that run through much more rural settings.

My route also holds one further benefit.

For a short portion of the drive, my truck heads due East; affording me a wonderful front-row seat as the sun lifts above the horizon behind the farmlands ahead.  Most mornings it’s a lovely scene, but today it was particularly breathtaking.  The air was vividly clear, save for a thin line of clouds that dotted the horizon.  Lying behind that smoky veil, the morning sun’s radiance streamed upwards, seeming to burn rays of light into the heavens.  It was truly a marvelous sight, and as I smiled in recognition of Your handiwork, You let me know why…

“It’s for you…” You said.

For me??  I momentarily struggled with my disbelief, but it was just too powerful; the wall came crashing down and I clearly understood Your message:

You love me Father, and You’d move heaven and earth that I should know it.

What an amazing gift Lord… I am truly humbled, and forever changed.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Our True Identity

“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” – Galatians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Too often, we see our own worth and identity in terms of this world; what job we hold, what social status we’ve attained, or how much wealth we’ve amassed.  It’s important to remember however, that all of those things are temporary, and in the end don’t truly define who we are.  Through Christ Jesus, we’ve been “adopted” into God’s family and infused with His divine Spirit; we are His Beloved Children, we are loved, and in that permanent relationship we find our true identity.

A Transformational Promise

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

Our fears, doubts and anxieties can weigh heavily on our hearts, and keep us from the abundant lives God desires us to have.  In this transformational promise, Jesus reminds us that when we place our faith in Him and release our burdens to His care, our souls can truly find peace.