I have had
a couple really tough weeks! Not totally sure why??? Overwhelmed, thoughts of
inadequacy, just plain tired! This morning I came across this verse: Judges
6:12 – “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!’” In this chapter, Israel’s enemies are
pressing in & Gideon has been called by the Lord to lead a force against
this. Gideon felt defeated even before he started. When I read this story I thought,
wow… how could he not be ready to go? It all seems so miraculous when I read it
in black & white! As I read more of Judges & meditated on that, I
really felt God showing me those things can & are still happening in our
day! The God that led Gideon on his quest is the same God that has called me to
what He has. “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior princess!” With a Father
that says that to me, how can I doubt?
Wait, I need to take that statement back I made, “Not totally
sure why?” I do know why… because the more my enemy, the devil, can keep me
down, the less I can do for my God & His Kingdom! “The thief does not come
except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may
have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 Abundant
life, Baby! Don’t you want an abundant life? I do! I do! The abundant life God
has for us does not have anything to do with money or “stuff”, it has to do with
overflowing joy (1 John 1:4)!
I am really being challenged, & I don’t necessarily like
it! On the other hand, God is pushing me forward into areas I would have never
even dreamed of… I know His plan is best! I know that!!! It just makes for some
real battles from within… there are times I just want to crawl into bed &
pull the covers up over my head! Now, I know what I need to do when I am
feeling like that is remember the words of Judges 6:12 ~~ “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” Those words
are for you too! Princess warrior, some days you may have to fasten down your
crown, but remember, the Lord is with you!
I know my words will not make everything great, no matter how
much I believe them! Here is what I know to be true… God loves me more than I
can imagine, even when I am a “hot mess!” God wants to carry my burdens, if I
will just let Him! God has called me to what He has called me to, & that is
not about meeting others’ expectations! God has abundant life for me, but it is
by following His plan & vision for my life… and this may cause people to be
disappointed or angry with me & I have to be ok with that!
I pray you will realize these are true in your life as well!
Go ahead & read Isaiah 55… it is an invitation to abundant life! It was just what I
needed… a great reminder from Daddy!
“For you shall go out with
joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12
Rejoicing in Truth!
Carin
