Truth:

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 John 3:16-23 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

It’s really difficult to say more about love than John does in his first letter. The man was passionate about love. I’m convinced it was because the church in Ephesus that he was an elder of was told by God to return to their first love or else they would cease to exist.

I’m sure I wrote more about that somewhere and I’m sure it’s really good stuff, but I can’t find it in all this information that’s been produced over these 40 days. In some ways, it has been a long journey so it’s good to reflect on the final day and say with Qoheleth:

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God
and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (New Living Translation)

What is God’s command? – To love God and love others. Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love is the antidote to negativity.

We could have called this “40 Days of Love” but I’m glad I didn’t since Saddleback came up with its own campaign for that.

“Love God, love others” sounds so simple, and it is.  But if it were easy to love, why wouldn’t more people do it?

The answer to that question is also simple. It means death to ourselves when we put other people’s interests ahead of our own.  It means death to ourselves when we change our negative thinking patterns. It means death to ourselves when we speak words of life and stop speaking words of death. It means death to ourselves when we reflect the goodness of God to the side of the world that’s away from the Son.

And that’s the kind of sacrifice Jesus is looking for. He said in Luke 14:26-27:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Christ is worthy of a greater love than the earliest love, a greater love than the dearest love, and a greater love than the nearest love.

Will you give it to Him today and always?

Will you show your love for Him by the way you love others?

You’ve been doing it for 40 days. When you’ve messed up, you’ve confessed and God’s forgiven you.  You know how to do it and you know it can be done. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

This is not the end of the journey. Stay on the path we’ve joined for this short time. If you need this encouragement for another 40 days, maybe daily emails will help. Go to LifeAbovetheNegativity.com anytime and sign up anytime to have these emails delivered to you daily.

So before we end this journey, I want to pray for you. I know I’ve prayed it over you often in my times with God. It’s Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that
you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart
may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the
saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:17-19 (New International Version)

You are loved by God, so love loving others… He does.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for all You taught me and have shown me on this 40-day journey. Specifically I want to thank You for (Fill in the Blank). You are good and You are great. I thank You. I thank You for Your love. I thank You for Your mercy. I thank You for Your grace. I thank You that You empower me to love others in Your name.

Challenge:

Celebrate God today. Take some time to go over Isaiah 58 and reflect on the fast you’ve just completed. Focus on the promises in that text. Know that great things are in store. Remember the things He’s spoken to you or provided for you or shown you these past 40 days. Talk about them to others. Rejoice a great deal today.

Declaration:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Truth:

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. Philippians 1:28 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When God places us as His salt and light in an environment that is extremely negative, our peace can change the weather around us.

Peace isn’t being self-assured; it’s being assured that God is good.

Francis Frangipane wrote in an email concerning spiritual warfare:

We will never know Christ’s victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. When you truly have authority over something, you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory.

The disciples were scared at the storm on the lake, while Jesus slept in peace (Matthew 8:23-27). When they woke Him up He didn’t fight against the storm or fear it. He used His authority in perfect peace.

When did Jesus ever argue with demons? Even satan was simply answered with truth.

Jesus was so calm as He stood before Pilate that in a matter of moments, it was no longer Jesus who was on trial, but satan, Pilate and the religious establishment in Israel.

Francis Frangipane continued:

Satan’s arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace–you have war. Conversely, wherever you have peace–you have victory. When satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ’s victory.

Paul told the Philippians:

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. Philippians 1:28 (New Living Translation)

He’s saying that our peace is a sign to others that God is in control and we’re on the winning side. You’ll remember a couple of days ago I confessed I need to be careful how I react to actions, attitudes and spirits that set themselves up against the knowledge of Christ. I tend to get aggressive and confrontational. At least I did, until God decided to teach me more about peace. He’s doing it by showing me Jesus.

Jesus was never in a hurry. He ignored ignorant arguments. He took time for people. He took time to laugh. Even the darkest moments He spent in prayer. He was overwhelmed with grief, but never crushed. He never used His circumstance as an excuse to step out of the will of God. It’s tough to understand His peace.

That’s the kind of peace I’m after and it’s the kind of peace I get when I live out Philippians 4:4-8.

We’ll conclude with Francis Frangipane’s conclusion:

Rest precedes rule. Peace precedes power. Do not seek to rule over the devil until you are submitting to God’s rule over you. The focal point of all victory comes from seeking God until you find Him, and having found Him, allowing His presence to fill your spirit with His peace. From full assurance at His right hand, as you rest in His victory, so will you rule in the midst of your enemies.

So seek peace and pursue it.

Prayer:

Lord, I know You are the God of peace and have peace that passes understanding available to me as I rejoice, am gentle, am thankful and take everything to You in prayer. Spirit, help me to always fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Help me to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise so that Christ’s authority in me can be seen.

Challenge:

Seek peace by seeking God. Allow His presence to fill you with His peace. Don’t be intimated by people and circumstance. Spend time with God to be reminded He is good and He is great.

Declaration:

I choose to change my negative environment by seeking God and pursuing His peace.

Truth:

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm 16:11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Thought:

Call it soaking, waiting, marinating, shut-up-and-listen time, or whatever… I’m convinced it is a key for keeping in step with the Spirit and carrying only the burdens Christ has for us. It changes us so we can change our environment.

Pursuing the palpable presence is where you quit striving, you focus on the love of God and you expect God to speak. Let the word of God guide you. Let the music encourage you. Tell God you’re waiting until you know He’s released you to move on and you wait knowing He’s going to speak and that you’ll need to respond.

I don’t know if Moses had the music, but he had the sentiment in Exodus 33:

Then Moses said to him [the Lord], “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16 (New International Version)

It’s not the power of God we seek; it’s the presence of God that distinguishes us from all the other people on the face of the earth. In His presence there is fullness of joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength. It’s in His presence that we can see things from His perspective. It’s in His presence that burdens are lifted.

If we don’t make time to experience the palpable presence of God we will not carry the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light.

Read how Eugene Peterson translates Matthew 11:28-30

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message)

That’s the benefit of pursuing the palpable presence of God. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Learn to live freely and lightly. It is so great to make use of our rights as children of the King. Go spend some time on your Daddy’s lap.

Prayer:

Lord, give me an expectant heart. I need to believe what Your word says is true – that I’ll seek You and find You when I seek You with all of my heart. I know that as I wait expectantly on You, I’ll renew my strength and rise up with wings as eagles. I’ll run and not grow weary, I’ll walk and not faint. Lord, teach me to wait expectantly.

Challenge:

Make time today to cease striving. Be still and know that He is God. Play some worshipful music. Meditate on a passage of scripture. Focus on the love of God. Expect Him to speak.

Declaration:

I choose to change my negative environment by seeking God and pursuing His peace.

Truth:

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” Numbers 20:12 (New International Version)

Thought:

God almost always punished the children of Israel when they grumbled against Him as they spent the 40 years wondering in the desert. There was one time He didn’t. Instead He punished Moses – the one who interceded for the people time and time and time again.

It was the time Moses’ reaction to the sin of the people was in direct disobedience to what God told him to do. Look at Numbers chapter 20. The people once again complained to Moses. He went before God and was told to lift up his rod over the rock. Instead he struck it twice and was told he wouldn’t bring the people into the land of promise.

Seems a bit harsh, doesn’t it?

Maybe we should see how seriously God takes our response to negative situations. Moses’ reaction to the complaints of the people made him sin against God.

Do we ever allow our negative circumstances to let us choose to sin against God?

One of the lessons God is teaching me through these 40 Days for Life Above the Negativity is I need to be careful how I react to actions, attitudes and spirits that set themselves up against the knowledge of Christ.  When people who should know better seem to act under the spirit of stupor I want to confront them and challenge them and get them to see it right… I need to digress; I’m fasting from negativity and as you can see, I may have a way to go to make it a lifestyle.

I know how God wants me to react. I’ll share more of that in about two days. But for now it’s enough for you to know that how we react to those around us is important to God.

Moses couldn’t enter the promise land because of how he reacted to the grumbling of the people of Israel.

So how are we to act positively in extremely negative situations?

The key is to practice the presence of God.

Brother Lawrence was a 16th century Carmelite monk and was the first to popularize this discipline. He saw God in everything. All his work was “as unto the Lord.”  He wrote in what in what would become “The Practice of the Presence of God”:

“As often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before Him, fixing my mind upon His holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering from Him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I persisted through all difficulties.”

Practicing the presence of God is focusing on His holy presence wherever we are, whatever we do.  When you live within a negative environment, you need to live with the understanding given to us by JB Philips’ translation of Romans 12:1-3:

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity” (Romans 12:1-3; Phillips)

Don’t use your negative environment as an excuse to remain negative. As a child of the one who created the weather, you bring your own weather wherever you go. As you allow God to renew your mind from within, you will begin to change the world around you.

You are the salt of the world and light of the earth. You preserve and illuminate the area where you are. The gates of hell cannot prevail against you so live the promise of Isaiah 26:3:

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT)

Prayer:

Lord, I know it matters to You how I respond to other people’s negativity. Forgive me for responding negatively myself. Help me, Holy Spirit, to recognize the holiness of God wherever I go. Enable me loving God to bring Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control wherever I go.

Challenge:

Take up the 16th century challenge of Brother Lawrence and as often as you can today, place yourself before God as a worshiper and fix your thoughts on His goodness and holiness. Bring Him into your thoughts and conversation today.

Declaration:

I choose to change my negative environment by seeking God and pursuing His peace.

Truth:

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20 (New International Version)

Thought:

Did you ever notice Paul wished everyone would speak in tongues? Read 1 Corinthians 14:5 a little slower, and stop at the first comma. If you jump up to the verse 4 you’ll see why… because the ones who speak in tongues build themselves up.

The context of 1 Corinthians 11 – 14 is that Paul is addressing problems that happen when the church is gathered. When you speak in tongues it’s for God and yourself. It’s not for other people (14:2) so it doesn’t need to be done in a public gathering.

However, much of our public gathering today is focused on a personal intimate time with God. Since speaking in tongues builds yourself up, if it’s appropriate in your church context, why not pray to God in an unknown language much like you would in a language that you’ve learned?

That’s a side bar… let’s get back to how to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Paul taught the church in Rome:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

Allowing the Spirit to pray through us allows us to pray confidently knowing we intercede for others according to the will of God. It allows us to pray beyond words, because we don’t know what to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.

But is the gift of tongues for everyone?

In 1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1 and 14:39, we are told to “eagerly desire greater” spiritual gifts. In the context of the passage, the greater gifts are the gifts that fit the moment. For example, prophecy is more desirable for a group setting, so seek to prophesy when you’re together. Since speaking in tongues builds up the individual, we can assume when we’re alone the greater gift is the gift of tongues.

Why would Paul want everyone to speak in tongues if it was not available to everyone? Why would he say to not forbid the speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39) if we all couldn’t do it? Why are we told to build ourselves up as we pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20) if it’s only available for some?

When you eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, it only takes a moment before you begin to operate in those gifts. The key is expectancy.

Luke 11:9-13 says:

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will
find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who
asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him
a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a
scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
(New International Version)

God is good and He gives good gifts to His children. Eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit and the Spirit will give them.

So to strengthen yourself in the Lord pray in tongues if you’ve got them, seek them if you don’t.

Prayer:

Lord, You are the giver of good gifts. I’m asking You for your best. I know in this life I need to build myself up in You and since the gift of tongues is the gift You’ve provided Your body to do just that, I ask You for this gift and I will eagerly pursue all gifts You give for the good of Your body and bride.

Challenge:

Most people’s problem with speaking in tongues is psychological, not spiritual. We expect the Holy Spirit to possess us and move our lips. It rarely happens that way. God is a gentleman and won’t impose His will on us. You’re going to need to open your mouth. You’re going to need to form words you don’t understand with your lips. Since without faith it’s impossible to please God, when you do this by faith, you know you’re pleasing Him.

If you can already speak in tongues, pray using them for 20 minutes a day and see how strengthened you become over the next week.

Declaration:

I choose not to be discouraged. I choose to look to God instead of my circumstance. I choose to strengthen myself in the Lord.

Truth:

But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. Jeremiah 23:22 (New International Version)

Thought:

There is one sermon I often hear preached that I just can’t agree with. It is divisive to evangelistic outreach, ignores the context of Scripture and it’s ignorant of the plans and purposes of God.

Yet the main point it makes is true… it’s just based on the wrong text.

Now, don’t lambaste your pastor if he ever preaches, “Don’t have an Ishmael” because in this fast from negativity you should be in the habit of only speaking words that build up.  It’s not my intention to cause divisions with this illustration. Most preachers just don’t read the text, God will hold them to account – you don’t have to.

The basic premise of the sermon is, “don’t get ahead of God.” Great, I agree.

That’s not what Abraham did though:

In Genesis 13 God told Abram his offspring would be like the dust of the earth – no one could count them. In Chapter 15 God confirmed the offspring would come from Abram’s own body. In Chapter 16 Abram’s wife Sarai offered her maidservant to fulfill a culturally legitimate function that God honored in the creation of the twelve patriarchs, two generations later. In Chapter 17 God finally told the newly named Abraham, Sarah would have a son AND that God would bless Ishmael (v.20).

That’s really not the topic of today’s thought, simply something we need to change in the church if we’re ever going to see Islam go the way of Communism before Christ returns. God loves the children of Ishmael, and is waiting for their full number to come in.

“Don’t get ahead of God” is a true message. Jesus only said what He heard the Father say and only did what He heard the Father do (John 5:19-20). Do you think Christ’s times of getting away to pray had anything to do with it?

“Don’t get ahead of God” isn’t a license to stay stagnant. It’s a challenge to listen and obey. When you stand in the council of God, He tells you the words to say, He gives you the love to show, He provides the strategies you need. (Jeremiah 23:22)

When we listen with expectancy, we hear the voice of God.  When we hear God, we are encouraged. When we hear God, we are blessed. When we hear God, we know who we are. Waiting to hear the voice of God is another way to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.

So make the time to expectantly listen… then go until God says, “no.”

Prayer:

Father, I come in the name of Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and praise. As I wait upon You now, I do my best to listen to Your voice. I stand before the almighty God and seek Your counsel. Please reveal any information that I need for today. Reveal any strategies that I need to employ right now. I need to be knowing and doing what You want.

Challenge:

Spend time in the presence of God. Expect Him to speak. Wait for Him to speak. Do what He says… it will always be in line with His will expressed in Scripture.

Declaration:

I choose not to be discouraged. I choose to look to God instead of my circumstance. I choose to strengthen myself in the Lord.

Truth:

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 20:18 (NIV)

Thought:

When we face discouragement, many times the discouragement comes in the form of worry.  So here are some quick steps to help you worry less and strengthen yourself in the Lord:

1.  Isolate the worries that are on your mind the most. These are often the worries that we think about as we are falling asleep or as we wake in the morning.

2.  Ask yourself specifically what you are afraid of. This will be the lie you are choosing to believe.

3.  Ask yourself what the outcome would be of this specific fear coming true.

4.  Ask God to show you the truth about the situation.

5.  Ask God what He would have you do.

6.  Expect God to answer you.

7.  Replace the lie with the truth God revealed.

8.  Obey what God tells you to do.

These eight-steps fit well with 2 Chronicles 20. Judah was facing three armies coming against them.

1.  It was easy for them to isolate the worries. (v.2-4)

2.  Jehoshaphat called out to God on behalf of the people and specifically voiced what they were concerned about. (v.10)

3.  He looked at the outcome of the specific fear coming true (v.11).

4.  He reminded everyone about the truth of God (v.6)

5.  He ended his prayer with a cry we can all use: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” (v.12).

6. A prophetic word came out as God’s answer to the impending doom (v.15-17). This answer is also often ours – “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you.” (v.17).

7.  They worshipped God in response to His revelation, and then Jehoshaphat replaced the lies of the enemy with the truth of God by declaring, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” (v.20)

8.  Then they sent singers ahead of the army to praise God for who He is as they went out to obey what He told them to do (v.21).

The result for Judah was that there was no need to worry. God was in control. He set ambushes for the enemy and they destroyed themselves.

When we can get to the place of praising God for who He is before the things we worry about come to reality, they won’t materialize.

Now I can hear the skeptic smirk, “most things people worry about never come about.” True. So stop worrying completely by praising God continually. That’s the 1-step program I intended to tell you about until God led me to 2 Chronicles 20.

Praise is our natural response to the goodness of God. When we see God as good, how can we worry about anything bad?

We can’t. Strengthen yourself in the Lord by choosing praise.

Prayer:

Lord, I praise You now, even though I may not feel like it. Telling You the truth about Yourself reminds me how truly good You are. As I focus more on Your goodness my praise becomes more natural. You are good and Your love endures forever. You are good and Your mercies are renewed every morning. You are good and altogether trustworthy. You are good. You are good. You are good. You are good. You are good. You are good. You are good. Thanks for being so good.

Challenge:

Read 2 Chronicles 20 and look for more of the treasures in this passage. Pray Psalm 86 and take extra time to praise God for who He is.

Declaration:

I choose not to be discouraged. I choose to look to God instead of my circumstance. I choose to strengthen myself in the Lord.

Truth:

“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:16 (New International Version)

Thought:

In ancient times, a sign of a covenant was the one making the promise would turn the bow around so an arrow would face him, if it was “loaded.” He’d pull the string and declare the oath. This was a way to say, “If I break this covenant, my life is forfeit.”

God did exactly the same thing when He gave Noah and all creation the rainbow in the sky. It’s as if He’s holding the bow against himself every time the rainbow appears.

I love rainbows. They remind me to remember that God is really, really good.

When in this world we have trouble, or even when we choose busy-ness to rule in our lives, remembering to remember is the first thing we forget.

Let’s never forget the power of testimony.

Marketing mavens know the value of a “social proof.” You need to have testimonials of your products or services on your website. But for the follower of Christ, testimony is even more powerful.

Testimony literally means the “story, or report, of one.” Testimony is powerful because it is immediate, direct and personal. It isn’t a story about something or a report about what somebody else said or did. It’s not a theory or hypothesis or hope. It is a personal description of your own direct experience.

So how often do you remember the good things God has done for you?

This is one area I need to improve on. God can bring to my memory incredible things He’s done for me… and He often does when I wait on Him and listen to what He says. But most of the things I journal are in the dark days of my life. I write when I finally realize I can’t do anything but cry out to God. And too often I forget to write down His answer. I know He answers because I know He’s good and I know I’m facing new challenges today than the ones He helped me overcome… as some people say “new level, new devil.”

Testimony is a powerful tool for us to use to remember. So keep a spiritual journal. What is God telling you today? What is He revealing to you? What verses came alive to you? If you keep track of your prayer requests, keep track of their answers as well. If you write out your laments like the Psalms, remember to praise Him for answers that have come. I often put updates in my personal journals but to do so; I need to remember to read the journal regularly. That may help you as well. Take time to remember by reading your journal.

Now testimony is great for us as individuals, but its true power comes in community. If you have an accountability partner, hold each other accountable to talk about the good things God is doing. Be accountable for destiny. When there’s opportunity to share in your church or on the street – make the most of it, remembering to do it with gentleness and respect. That’s why you have a story to remember.

Your story influences others to trust God and praise God and turn to God in their own circumstance. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a follower of Christ for decades or have just begun the journey today, your story is important.

The most fun I have in life is to talk to new believers who bring newness to truths that I have taken for granted. Visiting with seniors who share their stories of God’s goodness is also great… come to think of it – I like being around people who talk about the good things of God.

I need to be one of those people so people around me will be more like those kinds of people as well.

Will you be one?

Sharing with others your personal interactions with God enables you to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to remember the good things You’ve done. Spirit, empower me to tell others about how good You are.  I know it helps me to strengthen myself in You and I know it releases something in the heavens, because even angels long to look into the mysteries of God.

Challenge:

Start a journal today, or write in your journal today. Make it a journal to remember the goodness of God. Record what you can remember from your past, or write down what God is revealing to you today. Write in it regularly and read it often… and if you ever imagine publishing for the glory of God, check out askandimagine.com I’d better use full disclosure here Ask and Imagine is is our story-telling company with integrity. I’m called to a unique mixture of ministry and business.

Declaration:

I choose not to be discouraged. I choose to look to God instead of my circumstance. I choose to strengthen myself in the Lord.

Truth:

I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:48-50 (New International Version)

Thought:

Jesus’ words in John 16:33 were not meant to discourage us or say God is ever against those who obey Him. When He told us we’d have trouble in this world, it was a heads up to living in a fallen world.

Since we’ve all experienced trouble, and since we all know there is more seasons of trouble ahead of us, the question becomes “How can we go through trouble and abstain from negativity?”

The answer is to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

This is what David did when his men returned to Ziklag to find their wives and children captured and houses destroyed and the ones who would become David’s “mighty men” spoke openly about stoning him. (1 Samuel 30:6).

Over the next several days we’ll look at various tools you can use to strengthen yourself in the Lord. Today we take a quick look at something most followers of Christ know they must use and very few know how to use effectively or appropriately – the living word of God.

There are three tools to remind you of, that relate to wielding the sword of the Spirit.

1. Let the Bible Read You

There are two big problems when it comes to our use of the Bible. First, we don’t use it. It sits on the shelf and gathers dust.  We are either intimidated to pick it up or bored with it because we think we’ve heard all the stories. In either case, it’s an attitude of the heart we need to repent of. The Bible is our bread. It is the word that gives us life. We can’t afford to not consume it regularly. Once you’ve repented, and in order to help you change your ways, make Bible reading a regular part of your day. We’ve included some Bible reading plans on LifeAbovetheNegativity.com to help you.

But simply reading the Bible is not enough. We can gain knowledge of the Bible, but the Bible tells us “knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). So how do you read the Bible so it has its intended effect on your life?

You let the Bible read you.

This is how you let the Bible read you.

a. Approach with reverence

b. Approach without intention

c. Approach with expectation

Maybe I should explain… please forgive a longer than usual daily encouragement… we’re running out of 40 Days.

Approach with reverence -

I fell in love with history by reading the Bible as a child. I fell more in love with the Bible, the more I studied history. This is an ancient text we amazingly have at our disposal. And it’s more than that – Jesus is called the word made flesh. There was nothing in his appearance that we should be drawn to him (Isaiah 53:2-5) and though He was very God, everyone knew Him as a man. The Bible reflects Christ in this way.  Although 40 different human writers wrote it over 3000 years, it is the very Word of God. So don’t allow your familiarity with the Bible to breed contempt for it. It is a living and active sword.

Approach without intention -

If you read the Bible to prove a point, you’re missing the point. If you read the Bible to say you’ve read it, that’s the only benefit you’ll receive. If you read the Bible to find your next sermon, you’ll miss the treasure God has hidden for you. When you read the Bible, it is a wonderful conversation between you and the Holy Spirit.

Approach with expectation -

Your only intention when you read the Bible should be to hear from God. Expect Him to speak to you from His word and He will. Ask yourself questions about the passage your reading: What did it mean for the first ones who read it? What does it mean for me? How can I apply it in my life? God will interact at your level of expectation.

When you let the Bible read you, you realize you don’t consume it the Bible consumes you.

2. Meditate on the Word

Christian meditation is dramatically different from eastern meditation. The goal of eastern meditation is to empty oneself. The purpose of Christian meditation is to fill you up.

If you don’t know what that means, but you do know how to worry, then you already know how to meditate on Scripture. When we worry we think over and over and over about fears.  When we meditate we think over and over and over about faith. Think about what the Scripture meant at the moment. Think about what it meant in the immediate context. Think about what it meant in the context of history. Think about what it meant in the context of church history. Think about what it meant for you in the past. Think about what it could mean for you in the future. Think about a picture you saw or can imagine that depicts its truth. Think about what it means for others. Think about how you could sing it. Think about how you could pray it. Commit the passage to memory.  Meditation is like a cow chewing its cud. I hope you can see why.

3.Praying the Bible

In the course of these 40 Days, we’ve gone over how to pray the Psalms. It’s a great prayer book for us to pour out our laments to God and remember to praise Him in the middle of all kinds of trouble. To strengthen yourself in the Lord, I definitely recommend the Psalms.

But the Bible gives us vocabulary for every situation we face. Don’t limit yourself to the Psalms. When you pray the Bible, you pray with authority because you know you’re praying the will of God. When you pray according to His will, you know He hears you and you know you’ll have what you’ve asked of Him.

My only warning here is to remind you to pray not only the words of the Bible, but the context of those words. And you’ll only know the context as you spend the time reading the word.

When you need to strengthen yourself in the Lord, or if you need to keep your strength in the Lord, read, meditate and pray the Bible.

Prayer:

Lord, You’ve given me Your word so I can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Thank You it is able to teach, rebuke, correct and train me. Holy Spirit empowers me to ensure that happens. I know that the Word of God renews my mind so that I’m able to test and approve what the good, pleasing and perfect will of God is. Forgive my lack of discipline. Help me to be consumed by Your word.

Challenge:

It’s not bad to have good habits but don’t let habits create familiarity and familiarity breed contempt for the word of God. As you read the Bible today expect it to become alive to you.

Declaration:

I choose not to be discouraged. I choose to look to God instead of my circumstance. I choose to strengthen myself in the Lord.

I’m Trevor Lund, a Christian Writer Christian Speaker and Lead Dreamer for Expectancy Ministries. My passion is imparting hope and empowering destiny in others. Get resources for fasting for negativity from www.LifeAbovetheNegativity.com
Connect with me online.

Truth:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. John 12:24-25 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

The seed needs to die before it has any potential. Many times when we stand before God with a broken dream, unfulfilled vision or loss of a promise it feels just like the plant we tended so carefully has just gone dry and withered.

It has.

But don’t let the seed go to waste.

If you bury it and water it you’ll get fruit. If you sit with it and stare at it and complain about it, you’ll never get the divine justice that’s due because of that loss. Divine justice repays a loss seven times (Genesis 4:15). That’s what you’re entitled to as a child of the king.

It doesn’t do any good to hold a seed in your hand. Plant it, water it and look for divine justice.

What if I don’t care about divine justice? What if I just hurt and don’t want to choose to live un-offended at God? Does it really matter?

Look at what happened to Jesus at Nazareth in Mark 6:2-5

The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”  And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Offense at God brings unbelief.

You may go through a season of pain, but don’t let that season define your life. Don’t let it rob you of your future. Plant the seed, turn the pain over to God, and trust Him to do what’s right.

Water the seed – remind yourself of the truth of God’s word. Insist on divine justice to repay you seven times for your loss. Know who you are in Christ and live out of the love God has for you.

Prayer:

Lord, release divine justice for every area the enemy has stolen, killed and destroyed. I put my trust in You to repay and to avenge. Lord, I want this seed to spring up and produce a harvest. I want victory in the areas I’ve seen defeat. I want You to be recognized as true to Your word. I know that is what You are. I know You give good gifts to Your children. I rest in Your peace knowing You’ll make all things right.

Challenge:

Have you given way to unbelief in your life by choosing to take offense at God? Ask God to reveal any area where you have and agree with Him that what He reveals is sin. Ask for forgiveness and know you have been forgiven. Press in for divine retribution to be fully repaid.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.

I’m Trevor Lund, a Christian Writer Christian Speaker and Lead Dreamer for Expectancy Ministries. My passion is imparting hope and empowering destiny in others. Get resources for fasting for negativity from www.LifeAbovetheNegativity.com
Connect with me online.

Peace or Understanding?

Truth:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When you are going through a situation that doesn’t line up with the will of God expressed in Scripture, it’s natural for anyone to want to make sense of it. We need to find purpose in the problem. We want to know a reason why. It’s in our nature – our fallen nature – to want to make reasonable sense out of life. If we make sense of everything, where’s our life of faith?

God has promised us a peace that passes understanding but how can we expect that if we worry about trying to understand everything about what we’re going through?

God’s peace passes understanding. Why would we want to settle for understanding?

Asking “Why?” usually gets our focus onto what God hasn’t done. We point the finger at God and others.  It’s counter-intuitive for living un-offended at God.

So how do we get the peace that passes understanding?

1.    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Choose joy despite the circumstance.

2.    Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5)

Don’t use your hurt as an excuse to hurt others. Too often we do that to those who are closest to us first and most. God is gentle with us, be gentle in your words and actions.

3.   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:7)

Take all your concerns and leave them with God. Pray the Psalms if you need a good lament, but be sure to turn it back to the good things about God.

Wow, that sure seems like a good lesson to fast from negativity.

It does appear strange to give up the right to understand, but the secret is we can only make sense of some situations when we have the peace that passes understanding. We don’t get that peace by trying to understand.

True, at times we will make sense of some very negative events this side of heaven.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2)

But it’s also true when we choose to live un-offended at God, sometimes understanding it all just won’t matter once we have the peace that passes it.

Prayer:

Lord, I need the peace that passes understanding. I call on my Lord who spoke “Peace” to the storm and it obeyed. In my life there is a storm and I need You to change me or change my situation, or change both. Lord, I will rejoice in You always, my gentleness will be evident to all, and I will present all my requests to You with thanksgiving. You are good and You are great. Thank You, Lord.

Challenge:

Rejoice, be gentle, and take everything to God with thanksgiving. Live life with the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.

Truth:

“But forget all that–
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

As we choose to live un-offended at God, we need to make a choice as to what we will focus on. Will our focus be on what He is doing or will it be on what hasn’t been done?

This isn’t simply a case of being an optimist, a pessimist or a realist. It’s a spiritual choice we make to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. And to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

We can’t do that when all we see is what God hasn’t done.

A tool to help us focus on the positive is testimony. Testimony is telling the truth about God to others. It is talking about His goodness and sharing about His greatness. It is reminding ourselves of the good things He’s given us and done for us.

Look how powerful testimony is. In Revelation 12:11 it talks about the saints overcoming satan:

They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11 (New International Version)

Testimony is supernatural. Further on in Revelations chapter 19 verse ten it says:

..the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10

Remind yourself about the good things of God. Tell others about the good things of God. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. And to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Focus on what God is doing and what He has done. Don’t be fixated on what He hasn’t done.

Did you know someone else’s testimony could open the door for us to be offended at God? It easily can if our hearts aren’t right.

Bill Johnson gives an example of a group of Christians who were taken away, lined up and shot. The firing squad left and the ones on the ground got up and found holes in the shirts where the bullets entered and exited, but they had no wounds.

Incredible, right? Praise God. Amen. Send around the offering plate.

How about if your loved one was in another group of Christians who were shot and they didn’t avoid being killed? How easy would it be to ask God – why them and not my loved one? How easy would it be for a testimony to be twisted by the enemy into a weapon that opens a fresh wound?

The condition of our heart is so critical. The focus of our eyes is so essential.

Focus on what God has done and what He is doing. Take what He hasn’t done to Him in prayer. He’s there to comfort, but I’ve learned He really doesn’t seem to respond well to whining.

Prayer:

Lord forgive me for focusing on things You haven’t done for me, instead of remembering every good and perfect gift that has come from You. Holy Spirit, help me to testify the God things of God. I agree with the word that says, “I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I’ll be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Challenge:

Once again, instead of waiting for your situation to change, why not wait on God? Wait with expectation, knowing He is the giver of good gifts. Wait being ready to respond to the love He shows you.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.

Truth:

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze
and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies
and cause the nations to quake before you!
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right,
who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them,
you were angry.
How then can we be saved?
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
No one calls on your name
or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and made us waste away because of our sins.
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:1-8 (New International Version)

Thought:

I’ve often been asked if anyone ever needs to forgive God. That language makes me uncomfortable.

Forgiveness is giving up our right for revenge. It’s putting the other into the hands of God. It’s His to avenge. He’s the one to repay. How can we put God in His own hands? How could we ever take revenge against God?

However, forgiveness is also agreeing to live with the consequences of another’s action or inaction. That could mean we may need to forgive God… but the language and sentiment isn’t right.

I’m in debt to Bill Johnson for giving me biblical words to express how we need to relate to God when things happen that just don’t make sense in light of His nature or character.

It comes from what John the Baptist had his disciples ask Jesus, while John sat in prison awaiting his fate.

John the Baptist declared the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, knowing the Anointed One would release the prisoners.

But then he sat in prison and doubt started to set in. He sent his disciples to ask his cousin if he had gotten it wrong and Jesus responded:

“Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Luke 7:22-23 (NKJV)

John was sitting where he did not expect, facing something he did not want. We could almost say he had the right to be offended at Jesus.

And Jesus said “happy is the one who is not offended because of Me.”

We don’t need to forgive God. We need to live un-offended with Him. Part of living un-offended at God is agreeing to live without what He withholds.

Are you in the place where your situation, through no fault of your own, is not in agreement with how the Bible says it should be?

For example, the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:24, “By His wounds we were healed.” What happens when you’re not?

Agreeing to live without what God withholds means we don’t create theology from our experience. We can’t say, “It’s not God’s will for me to be healed.” Because we know His will is done perfectly in heaven and we know in heaven there is no sickness so we know it’s not His will for anyone to be sick. We cannot create theology from our experience.

Agreeing to live without what God withholds means we don’t make excuses for God not to be true to His word. ‘Oh, in heaven I’ll be healed.” So does that mean in heaven you’ll finally be forgiven? David said in Psalm 103, “[the Lord] forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” Why can we believe for one and not the other in this life? Don’t make excuses for God.

Agreeing to live without what God withholds does not mean we can’t change God’s mind. “God will heal me in His time.” I know this is controversial. But look at Abraham, and Moses, and Ezekiel and Mary and how they changed God’s mind. The timing of God is real, but just as real is the fact that friends of God can change His mind. The timing of God is a convenient excuse we have made a theology out of.

Agreeing to live without what God withholds means letting the potter be the potter and recognize you are the clay. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He thinks generationally and eternally. We are short sighted and linear. It’s best for us to simply be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)

So be still, and know that He is God.

Prayer:

Lord, that You would rend the heavens and come down to make Your name known and set all things right. I know You are Good and I know You are Great. And I trust You, God, to turn all things for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose. I choose to live without what You choose to withhold, knowing You are good and You are great.

Challenge:

Instead of waiting for your situation to change, wait expectantly on God. Choose to still yourself by focusing on His love and goodness.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.

Truth:

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-33 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

There are many who, after being forgiven by God and after seeking the forgiveness of those they have offended, find it extremely difficult to live in the freedom that forgiveness brings.

Sometimes they don’t feel they were worthy to be forgiven. This is true; all of us stand before God by His grace. But this is a liberating truth of scripture, not something that condemns us.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1 NIV)

The best thing you can do to accept that you have been forgiven is to build your faith in this area by knowing what the Bible says regarding the forgiveness of confessed sins. Because:

…faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

The following verses assure us that we are forgiven when we confess our sins. Remember – believe what the Bible says about you… not what your feelings say!

Read them.

Memorize them.

Meditate on them.

Let them become alive to you. It’s the living word of God that makes faith come alive. Pray them whenever you feel the condemning attack of Satan saying you’re not forgiven.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9 NIV)

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:7 NIV)

…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, (Psalms 103:3-4 NIV)

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NIV)

Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:13-16 NLT)

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense– Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2 NIV)

People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy. (Proverbs 28:13 NLT)

You are forgiven from sin that you confess. Work these verses into your thinking if you need to, and pass the truth along to others you can encourage.

Prayer:

Lord, show me Your love for me. Reveal Your passion once more. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for Your strength. Release Your people to walk in the knowledge that they are forgiven and they are Yours.

Challenge:

Memorize these verses and meditate on them. If they aren’t for you right now, they will be for someone God brings along your path. Share the truth of God’s love for them.

Declaration:

I choose to forgive everyone who has wronged me. I choose to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. I choose to accept I have been forgiven of my confessed sin. I choose to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings.

Truth:

…leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matthew 5:24 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

We are fallen people living in a fallen world. That’s not an excuse. We need to become more and more and more like Jesus. But there may be times when we have sinned against someone else and we need to make it right.

The rabbis taught that the sin against someone else was heavier than the sin against God, because God would always forgive, but someone else may not.

They didn’t have the book of Romans, so Rabbi Paul had a different point of view we follow, but more about that in a bit.  Jesus gave us a pattern to follow in Matthew 5:23-26:

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny. (New Living Translation)

There are a couple of things I’ll point out right away. It’s the one bringing the sacrifice that remembers someone has something against him or her. It’s the Holy Spirit that brings it to their mind. It’s the Spirit’s job to convict sin, not any of ours. Jesus Christ didn’t come into the world to condemn it, so how can we condemn a fellow believer (or the world for that matter)?

Neil T. Anderson gives the following advice in “Steps to Freedom in Christ“:

Only the actions, which have hurt another person, need to be confessed to them. If you have had jealous, lustful or angry thoughts toward another, and they don’t know about it, these are to be confessed to God alone. An exception to this principle occurs when restitution needs to be made. If you stole or broke something, damaged someone’s reputation, and so on, you need to go to that person and make it right, even if he or she is unaware of what you did.

The Process of Seeking Forgiveness

1. Write out what you did wrong and why you did it.

2. Make sure you have already forgiven the person for whatever he or she may have done to you.

3. Think through exactly how you will ask him or her to forgive you. Be sure to
a.  Label your action as wrong.
b.  Be specific and admit what you did.
c.  Make no defenses or excuses.
d.  Do not blame the other person, and do not expect or demand that he or she ask for your forgiveness.
e.  Your confession should lead to the direct question: “Will you forgive me?”

4. Seek the right place and the right time to approach the offended person.

5. Ask for forgiveness in person from anyone with whom you can talk face-to-face with the following exception: Do not go alone when your safety might be in danger.

6. Except where no other means of communication is possible, do not write a letter because a letter can be very easily misread or misunderstood; a letter can be read by the wrong people (those having nothing to do with the offense or the confession); a letter can be kept when it should have been destroyed.

Now remember what I said about Rabbi Paul? Here’s where his teaching comes in. Once you sincerely seek forgiveness, you are free-whether the other person forgives you or not.  Paul wrote in Romans 12:18:

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.(New Living Translation)

So once you’ve sincerely sought forgiveness, you are free. So be sure to do what Jesus said in Matthew 5:24:

…leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. (New Living Translation)

Asking forgiveness from someone we’ve wronged can be a very difficult thing to do. But now that you know the truth, remember the whole truth – God has not only told you to do it, He’ll empower you to do it. It may be good to discuss these thoughts with your pastor if you need some support in doing what the Bible instructs you.

We’re praying for you.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You once again for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank You for cleansing me and making me a minister of reconciliation. If I have sinned against someone I need to ask forgiveness from, bring him or her to my memory and make it possible for me to seek reconciliation. Holy Spirit, help me do what pleases the Father.

Challenge:

Is there someone you need to ask forgiveness from? Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of anyone you may not be in right relationship with. Wait in His presence and expect Him to speak. When images or thoughts go through your mind, confess them to God if you need to, and seek the forgiveness of others if you must.

Declaration:

I choose to forgive everyone who has wronged me. I choose to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. I choose to accept I have been forgiven of my confessed sin. I choose to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings.

Truth:

I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. Ecclesiastes 8:9-12 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

Another lie we believe about forgiveness is that “If I can’t forget, than I haven’t forgiven.” Don’t you love it when people quote adages like they’re Scripture?

“Forgive and forget” has done so much damage to people’s understanding of God and their relationship with others.

Do you realize God does not forget the sins He forgives us of?  How could He and still be an all-knowing God? Instead He chooses to not remember and hold them against us.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34 NIV)

Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17 NIV)

This is more than just an exercise in semantics. We also can’t easily forget. God has created us with minds to remember. Thoughts will pop back into our minds and we have no power over the past…but we do have control over how we let our past control our present and our future.

When memories come, of hurts and pains you have chosen to forgive,  don’t try to ignore them. Remember the whole event – including the FACT you have chosen to forgive them with the strength God provides.

Dr. Chuck Lynch in his book “I Should Forgive, But..” gives this advice regarding the obsessive thinking that often surrounds forgiven hurts:

1. Address God - Stating God’s name in a firm way forcibly stops the obsessive thinking, but usually only momentarily. It is the starting point at dealing with dangerous thoughts.
2. Thank God - Express appreciation to God for allowing you to remember the past offense you had to forgive. This allows you to review this biblical tool which Christ illustrated at the time of His own hurt and rejection “Father, forgive them…” It will also bring to mind that you have left them with God. You can thank Him that you were able to give the same gift of forgiveness you received and thus reflect God’s character to others.
3. Praise God - Sincerely praise God for the tool of forgiveness. Praise Him for forgiving you as you forgive others and for what He’s going to do through this experience for His glory.

Over time, we can forget many of the worse things done to us. But we don’t get to that place by trying to forget.

The secret is to remember the whole truth, including the fact you’ve chosen to forgive. This is how you release yourself from the lie of the enemy that says you need to forget if you truly forgive.

Choose to remember the whole truth today.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for creating me with a mind to remember. The enemy has wanted to use that for evil, but I choose to remember the good things of You, including the fact You empowered me to forgive.

Challenge:

If this truth was for you today, then apply it to your life. If remembering pain isn’t your problem right now, be a light in a dark world and share this truth with someone who needs it. Walk with them as they journey through the pain.

Declaration:

I choose to forgive everyone who has wronged me. I choose to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. I choose to accept I have been forgiven of my confessed sin. I choose to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings.

Truth:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)

Thought:

Too many followers of Christ are confused about forgiveness. They live out of lies they hold to as truth. We’ll be looking at some of those lies today.

We don’t forgive because we believe the violator needs to pay. We feel the one who did us wrong needs to understand what we were put through. We want the one who sinned to acknowledge what they did and make amends.

But we must awaken to the fact that un-forgiveness leads to bitterness and separation from God. He has forgiven us and wants to enable us to make the choice to forgive those who have sinned against us.

Here are some questions I’ve come across over the years. If someone else has asked them, I know other people are thinking them. Let’s use Scripture to clear up the confusion.

Q. Does the offender pay if I don’t forgive?

A. No. But you pay. You only harm yourself when you refuse to forgive wrongs done to you.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15 NRSV)

If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37 NLT)

Un-forgiveness is a sin God cannot look upon. It separates us from our loving Creator. If you want to see how serious it is, check out Jesus’ parable of the unrepentant servant in Matthew 18:21-35.

Q. Does forgiving someone let him or her “off the hook”?

A. No. It puts them into God’s hands.

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19 NIV)

Q. Shouldn’t I wait until they change before I forgive?

A. No.
Forgive as Christ forgave you (Col 3:13).

How is that?

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).

Before we deserved it… He showed us grace. You must choose to forgive whoever has wronged you.  We forgive for the sake of our relationship with God, not for the sake of the other person.

Q. But Christ doesn’t forgive me until I ask for it, so shouldn’t I wait to forgive someone until they ask for it?

A. No. First, you aren’t God. You don’t have His capacity for grace.  Second, understand that you forgive for your sake, not theirs. Christ said in Matthew 18 that if we don’t forgive another from our hearts, tormentors will be assigned to us. If you don’t forgive someone until they ask for forgiveness, you’re actually letting them keep you imprisoned.

Q. Shouldn’t I wait until I feel like forgiving?

A. Don’t wait until you feel like forgiving… you never will. Forgiveness is a choice, a decision of your will.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (New Living Translation)

Q. Do I need to trust someone I forgive?

A. No. Forgiveness and trust are two separate issues.

Forgiveness is given while trust is earned. Forgiving someone does not mean they don’t face the consequences of their actions. It does not mean you put yourself into harm’s way. You are not a doormat for those who would hurt you.

Now you may have other misconceptions about forgiveness, and we may cover some in the next couple of days. But many followers of Christ stumble on these points. So even if you’re not struggling with forgiving someone, you are probably close to someone who is. Help them to find the freedom of forgiveness.

Prayer:

In the name of Jesus, I purpose and choose to forgive (the person) from my heart for (what they did). I acknowledge the hurt and the hate it has led to in my life and I agree to live with the consequences of their sin.

In the name of Jesus I cancel all the debts and obligations to me. I release (the person) to You, as well as my right to avenge.

Dear Lord, I ask You to forgive me for my bitterness toward (the person) in this situation. In the name of Jesus and in the power of His blood, I cancel satan’s power over me in this memory because I have forgiven and have been forgiven by God.

In the name of Jesus, I command that all the tormentors that have been assigned to me because of my un-forgiveness leave me now.

Holy Spirit, I invite You into my heart and to heal me from this pain. Please speak Your words of truth to me about this situation.

This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen

Challenge:

Ask God to reveal to you anyone you may need to forgive. As you wait on Him, you may be surprised at who He brings to your mind. Choose to forgive them and release them into God’s hands.

Declaration:

I choose to forgive everyone who has wronged me. I choose to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. I choose to accept I have been forgiven of my confessed sin. I choose to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings.

Truth:

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. 1 John 1:8-10 (Amplified Bible)

Thought:

Are you a follower of Christ who struggles with having a victorious daily walk with the Lord?

If so, it may be because of the sin of un-forgiveness.

God cannot violate his perfect nature and overlook our sin. Un-forgiveness is a common stronghold the devil has in the lives of many of God’s children. We believe lies about forgiveness and live according to those lies.

You do not need to be perfect before Christ forgives you and welcomes you into His kingdom. He loves you the way you are… and wants to empower you to forgive others, to be forgiven by others, and to accept the forgiveness He freely offers you.

You can arrive at this by first admitting you’ve fallen short of the impossible standard of a Perfect God… you’re not perfect.

We’re all ready to admit that, but most of us use it as an excuse not to do better and don’t understand what that means to the reality of life.

When we say, “I’m only human,” it’s only true in the sense that we’re only fallen humans. We are not what we were created to be.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12 NLT

We were created to be in close relationship with our Creator. We were created to not be separated from God, His creation, our partners, and ourselves and yet this is our reality.

Since sin came into the world, we have been separated from our true identities. We are separated from others and separated from creation.

Perhaps most importantly, we are separated from the one who created us and saw every one of our days before one of them came to be.

But that changes when you admit you’ve fallen short… admit that you’ve sinned. The Bible says when we confess our sins; God will forgive us and cleanse us.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)

This is what happens when you tell God you’re sorry and decide to live your life with the knowledge that Jesus is in the driver’s seat of your life.

When your life doesn’t line up with Scripture, you change your life so that it does. You don’t ignore what the Bible says or complain, “It’s too difficult.” If God wants you to do something, He’ll empower you to do it.

Now some of you are saying “I already knew all that.” Great. Maybe you need to share it with someone else today?

But I do want you to ask yourself, “Have I worked out its implication into every area of my life?”

If you have started, then God can empower you to do the difficult things we are going to discuss over the next few days. They are part of His will, so He’ll help you to do them.

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you for Your forgiveness. Thank You that as I confess my sins to You, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You empower me to do the will of God. Thank You for preparing me for a deeper walk with You.

Challenge:

Thank God for forgiving you of your confessed sins. Thank Him for forgiving the ones you remember. Thank Him for forgiving the ones that you’ve since forgot. Ask God if you need to forgive someone else.

Declaration:

I choose to forgive everyone who has wronged me. I choose to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. I choose to accept I have been forgiven of my confessed sin. I choose to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings.

Truth:

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

“I am not my own. I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. I have been set apart and called holy. I am His.” These are words I often find coming from my lips to remind myself and satan whose I am. They just bubble up to encourage me.

I have had the experience of hearing the audible voice of God set me apart and it absolutely wrecked my life. I can only explain it as feeling so insignificant and yet so highly valued that the only response left to me was unadulterated awe.

Sixteen years later, I know it wasn’t just for a moment in time. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken so we need to worship Him acceptably with all reverence and awe, because our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28-29).

So why do we relate to Him only as a friend?

Being chosen by a friend, really isn’t that significant. Being chosen by the one who spoke the 400 million stars in this galaxy and the 400 million galaxies in this universe and potentially unlimited universes into being is highly significant.

It is for me… and it needs to be for you.

You are chosen, set apart, taught, loved and empowered by the Great I AM, the ever-living Father, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last – GOD.

How life-wrecking is that?

Oh, that you may have the spirit of wisdom and revelation that you may know the hope to which you have been called, the glorious inheritance in the saints and the incomparably great power for all who believe.

A friend sent this to me in an email. I usually don’t pass them along, but this one caught my eye. Why do you think it’s shaped like a bell? I think it’s because we all need a wake up call to our true identity in Christ.

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ  (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit  (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil.  4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2:10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified(Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship(Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected  (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are!?

You’re chosen. The accuser can’t touch you. Know who you are in Christ and live out of that revelation today.

Prayer:

Eternal Father, grant me the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I will know the hope to which I have been called, the glorious inheritance in the saints and the incomparably great power for all who believe. I am Yours. I have been bought with a price. I belong to You. I have been chosen before the foundation of the world.

Challenge:

Go over all the truths in the personalized Identity in Christ you printed off from LifeAbovetheNegativity.com. We didn’t have time to cover them all directly, but other the next few days we’ll be covering some of them from another angle. They are truth and truth is life so read them, pray them, declare them, pronounce them, know them, and live out of them.

Declaration:

I choose to believe what God says about me. I choose to live out of what I choose to believe. I choose to replace the lies that have attached themselves to wounds from my past with the truth of how God sees my situation and me.

Truth:

O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, Nehemiah 1:5 (New International Version)

Thought:

Most people never see this in me because I’m socially bold, but I am really rather shy. I get my energy when I’m alone. I don’t “need” people to be around. I tend to think of myself as an introvert.

If you’re anything like that, you may find all the “one another” commands a little overwhelming… here are just a few:

Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:16 (NIV)
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Romans 14:13 (NIV)
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s or sister’s way.

Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)
I appeal to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

I could be intimidated by that list too, but I’ve learned a secret so that it’s not difficult for me to fulfill these commands. I’ve found that when I’m a friend with someone, I naturally do all of these things.

I have patience for them, I rejoice with them, I cry with them, I encourage them, I forgive them, I give way to them, I honor them and I look out for their interests. My secret is to make friends.

And I make friends knowing I can show them love, because God has shown love to me.

1 John 4:11 (NIV)
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another.

Because God loves us, we can show love that’s sincere to others.

Aren’t you convinced that you’re loved? If you’ve printed off your personalized Identity in Christ then read it to yourself and study the verses until you’re convinced. If you haven’t printed it off, go to LifeAbovetheNegativity.com and do it right now.

Paul prayed for you when he prayed for the church in Ephesus:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 (New International Version)

If you don’t believe it, make sure to print off the personalized book of Ephesians when you’re at the site.

You are loved! Be filled with God’s love!

Prayer:

Oh Lord, that I would know the width and height and depth of Your love for me, so that I may experience this love that surpasses understanding. Lord, let Your love surround and encompass me so that it overflows from me to all You’ve placed in my web of relationships.

Challenge:

Do you feel like a really big challenge today? Memorize your personalized Identity in Christ. Repeat the “I am Loved” portion out loud until you can say it in your sleep.

Declaration:

I choose to believe what God says about me. I choose to live out of what I choose to believe. I choose to replace the lies that have attached themselves to wounds from my past with the truth of how God sees my situation and me.