Pressing On...

Living a life of freedom and Joy.

It’s a gift I'll never stop thanking Jesus for.

It took more years than I am willing to admit to finally come to a place where I truly surrendered fears, anxiety, and all that I was hiding behind to finally live.

Finally realizing that my true life was hidden in Christ the entire time (Colossians 3:1-4)

But the work isn't finished. So far from finished.

I am reminded of my humanity when I react in anger, speak unkindly or put my needs first. And that's just today's list.

I have so much to learn.

Today’s sermon to myself:

//“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 ESV

But--

I press on (Philippians 3:12-16).

I keep running.

Because one bad moment doesn't eliminate all that Jesus has done.

I have felt the Lord asking me to let go and surrender.

To rid myself of the identities.

The chains are gone. But now it is time to let go of the name tags. These identities, labels, roles or names no longer have power to identify or to tell me who I am.

I am not anxious. The Father cares for me.

I am not a failure. The Lord claimed victory over me.

I am not too much. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Jesus loves me this I know.

Even in the moments where I have fear or anxiety. I am not them. These emotions do not define me.

He keeps pulling back the layers.

Freedom keeps erupting.

The only true validation I have ever received is from the Lord alone.

Fearless isn’t something you become. It’s something you are, when you have Christ dwelling inside.

People, let us not be so comfortable being slaves--of our past--that we miss the Red Sea Road He has placed in front of us.

As children of God, the radically beautiful gift is: Mercy always triumphs.

What's the Lord asking you to let go of?

Maybe you’ve been looking at the promises of God, but not living them. Is fear or discouragement keeping you from grabbing hold of what the Lord has freely given?

There is a difference between talking about living in victory over things like selfishness, addictions, fears, temptation--and actually living it.

I lived the first way for most of my life. I can talk words until I'm blue in the face, yet, the seasons of truly living have come when I shut up and put the words into action.

(I still really need to work on the shutting up part.)

I know some things are easier said than done.

But I could diminish every excuse with this simple truth: Jesus is worth it.

Are you putting freedom over feelings?

Do not let feelings dictate what's next.

You'll end up living a reactive life instead of being productive.

"We can work a study until the desert turns to ice and still be stuck in the same bondage." Beth Moore

The doing causes the changing.

Faith is an action.

Love is a verb.

At the beginning of the journey, I found myself worrying when the Joy would end. When was I going to slip back into the chains? When would I fail again?

No. Don't go there.

Don’t talk yourself out of what the Lord is trying to bring you into.

Friends, when you experience the breakthrough, be fearless and brave enough to claim and celebrate the freedom. Step into strength and courage.

Do not let the chains of your past steal the Joy to come.

Maybe you are in a moment where all seems still. Maybe all around is silent. Empty.

When there's a wait, there's a chance for grace.

"Just because God is silent, does not mean God is absent." -Dad

Sometimes we need to forget about everything going on around and hold onto the one thing to be true--the love of Jesus.

“Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then, wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have." John Piper

When the culture around wants to steal truth from you. When they want to erase the word sin and pretend like everything is allowed because it's "safer" than offending--remember whose you are.

Live in bold freedom.

Jesus is your life.

And the life is abundant and free.

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)