This may seem like an obvious statement but I would challenge you to take an inventory of your thought life today and words to see if in fact your agreeing with God. It is a day where we are inundated with images, thoughts, and ideas that can persuade us to think a certain way. In fact what you allow in through eyes and ears, the gateway to your soul, will lead you to take action in some way throughout your day. The bible is Gods word and is here for us as Christians to show us how to live. First thing is, you have to believe the bible is inspired by God and should be the lamp unto our feet and light unto our path.” 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Therefore, we can see clearly by this scripture in Timothy what the purpose of all scripture is. First doctrine should be based entirely on scripture, not a mans opinion or interpretation of it. Men can be in error but God can’t. God is all powerful, all knowing, and is love. These are a few among many other attributes that we could list all day. The book of Titus even states it as sound doctrine so would be a great study on this topic. The next place we see scripture is used for is reproof. This is basically calling out blame where it is needed. We all are in need of reproof at times because we are all a work in progress until the day of Christ according to Philippians 1:6. No one likes to receive reproof, but I believe this comes from our pride. We don’t learn and grow until we see the error of our ways and repent. Remember when David was in sin with Bathsheeba and God sent Nathan to reprove David? In fact David was ready to punish the man who had committed such a crime then he realized the man was him. Nathan had to love David because is not easy to call out a persons sin. When we are reproving another we need to follow Jesus’ instructions and make sure we look at ourselves first. “Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Read the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 to be able to see the entirety of this passage and Jesus instructions.

The third thing listed in this passage of scripture states the bible is for our correction. Think about a student in school for a minute. They first study the material, then they are tested on the material they have studied. Then a teacher will show them the areas they missed on the test and that need to be corrected. This is how we learn and grow in all aspects of life. The bible clearly gives us instructions to live by as we study scripture.” 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So we see that we are in fact instructed to study the word. As a Christian we have the best teacher ever, Gods Holy Spirit. Biblically we are to ask and call on His Holy Spirit for our teaching. ” 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in HIm.” I believe in the importance of reading scripture in its entirety so you get the meaning and full context. I would highly recommend sitting down with your bible and reading this entire book. Its one long letter after all. 1 John only has 5 chapters so it shouldn’t take long. In order to agree with God we first have to know what He says in His word.

So the last part of this passage states its for instructions in righteousness. So we can look at the Bible as Father Gods instruction manual on how to live a life of righteousness. This is impossible to do without salvation through the name and blood of Jesus Christ and without His Holy Spirit to help us. Once we have decided to follow Jesus the how to follow Jesus comes through Gods word. If you want to have a changed life this sanctification process begins with following the word and applying it.” John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” This makes me smile so big. Jesus is the word, so to be a Christian, a Christ follower, it requires following the word. Simple but profound!

So we all must decide whos report are we going to believe? Its easy to listen to what is going on in the natural because it takes no faith for that. What or whom is framing your thinking? Take inventory of where your thoughts are most of the time. We all have days where the weight of the problems of this life weigh heavy on us if were honest. We can easily be discouraged when we look at this world or look within as we in our flesh are an empty well. When we keep our eyes on Jesus(the word) we recalibrate ourselves to agree with God. When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was able to rise above the natural circumstances and the fact that he couldn’t walk on water. Once Peter started to focus on the natural reasons and his lack of ability to do what he was doing he began to sink quickly. It was Jesus who held the truth and power to work in and through Peter’s lack thereof. Isn’t it amazing how what we think about can shift us out of the spirit and into our flesh within seconds. This is a battle my friends of epic proportions in our day. Suiting up in the armor is in fact a requirement to withstand in the evil day according to Ephesians 6. Renewing our minds is another instruction we are given in Romans 12:1-2. It is not about about how much scripture we memorize, the devil knows scripture, but about how much scripture we live. I would ask Father God for your very own battle plan laid out scripturally for the areas where you may struggle to agree with God.” Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.”

Father God, I ask you to shine your light and bring truth to the areas where we may not be seeing clearly. Areas where we may be allowing others things to frame our thinking bring it to our attention so we can pull the weeds. If there is bad fruit we know the roots have to be dealt with. Would you Father uproot anything that was not planted by You. Holy Spirit we acknowledge that You’re a wonderful teacher and that you always reveal Jesus and keep our focus on Him. Help us to see in Your word the areas where we need to agree with You Lord and repent for agreement with other things that choke out the fruit of Your word. I love You Lord and ask You to take our hearts to be fully in alignment and agreement with Your will on earth as it is in heaven in Jesus name amen.

Share a scripture that has really helped to renew your mind and has sharpened your sword. I am asking for a revelation to penetrate my heart on” 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear has torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Be encouraged to keep your eyes on Jesus!

Isaiah 30:15″ For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel in returning and rest shall ye be saved: in quietness and confidence shall be your strength: and you would not.” Lets unpack this for a minute and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us as we look at the word of God. I believe whole-heartedly this is a message that Father God has been trying to help me understand and fully obey for many years now. Honestly, I have have never been very good at rest nor do I believe that I even understood what biblical rest was. I thought rest was sleeping. I know that sleep is important to our mental and physical well being but sleeping and rest biblically are two different things.

Rest equals trust in Father God. Being in rest is a state of mind where we are being still to learn of Him. After all if we really believe that God is the creator of all things then we should be intentional about being quiet to listen and learn in HIs word. The bible is chocked full of wonderful treasures that when obeyed can have a significant impact on our lives and the lives of those around you. If you take the time to really study scriptures for yourself all the commandments are there for our benefit as well as for the ones we love. Gods commandments are given out of His love and protection for us. Following Gods commandments will enrich our lives as well as the lives of others. It is about loving our neighbor as ourselves second to loving God. Relationship is what Father God desires with us. According to scripture, He sent His son to ransom us to Himself that we could be His children when we repent of our sins and make Jesus Christ Lord. Once we begin to follow Jesus then we receive Father Gods Holy Spirit to give us conviction, and the power to overcome sin. This is an act of child like faith to be born again. I found the book of Romans a great study for a better understanding of our faith in Jesus and how to walk it out. I would highly recommend reading Romans.

Now, lets get back to rest. There is no restoration without rest. Matthew 11:28-30 ” Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This indicates that the rest is for our souls which is our mind, will, and emotions. This is the rest that I believe we are in desperate need of today. Think about the agenda of our enemy satan. According to John 10:10 the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The battlefield for his destruction is our minds. We are being bombarded with thoughts to bring everything the opposite of rest. It only takes a few minutes of listening to the report of the world to get stirred with fear and anxiety. We have to choose what we are going to allow to influence our thinking, the world or the word(Jesus). I would venture to guess that if its the world there is no rest for our souls in that. After all Philippians 4 instructs us to meditate on things that are true, honest, praise worthy, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. If we are not obedient to God in this area we can’t be shocked when our souls are restless.

When Mary sat at Jesus feet while Martha was busy working and serving, Jesus said, that Mary had chosen the better thing. Help each of us Lord to understand this context of scripture and teach us how to apply it in our own lives today. Psalm 23 speaks of soul restoration. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. Go and read this entire passage to get the full context but for time sake I’m focusing on a particular aspect of it today. What does the green pastures make you think of? For me, I see Gods beauty but also a very quiet place where you only hear the sounds of nature. Then think about still waters for just a moment. I am at peace when I gaze upon water. I love rivers, lakes, oceans, etc… but I believe in the case of still waters it indicates a very tranquil ,quiet and peaceful state. I have come to greatly appreciate quiet time! When your a kid this is punishment, but when your a busy mom its a slice of heaven. Can I get an amen from my sisters that are in this season of life! This is a time set aside where you would have no music, fellowship, or any other noise. I believe this is one of the reasons why Jesus separated Himself from everything and everyone to be alone with His Father. He understood that in order to be effective in His ministry He had to be alone with God to recharge Himself. If Jesus knew it was a priority then we should learn from His example to make it a priority in our own lives to be quiet and rest with the Lord. I realize first hand how difficult this is in the world that is so contrary. It really requires Gods grace to be able to be still and quiet. I would challenge you as well as myself to make being still at the feet of Jesus an intentional time we set aside each day. A time to expect fresh manna from heaven to come from Gods word. To feed our hungry souls the spiritual nourishment required to receive soul restoration. Father God, we ask for Your help today to experience soul rest and to be still and know Your God as the word in Psalm 46 instructs us. I pray for my friends to experience Your love and fresh manna from heaven in Your word as they come to sit at Your feet and learn. I ask and pray in Jesus mighty and holy name, amen!

If you have any testimonials to share of applying Gods word to your own life in this area of rest and seeing benefits please take a minute to share by commenting. Its always encouraging to hear your testimony’s. Love to you all and remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and always study the word for yourself. My ultimate goal is to help point you to the word, where the answers we all need are found.

One thing that has been very difficult for me in every season of life is simplifying. I am wired to have a to do list and to get it done! I have been trained to have the mentality, that the more work you do the more successful you are. This is not a very healthy mindset for a believer.

What we have to remember is our best efforts are never enough. Our faith in Jesus is what makes us right with our Father. It is Jesus who did what we could never do: fulfill the law. I went through years of striving and surviving, always feeling that I could never measure up. This feeling was right as far as my ability, but the truth is I had been made right. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

In family Bible study we have been in the New Testament reading of Paul’s missionary journeys and his letters to the churches. One of the themes that we see is a religious group that is trying to add to the road to salvation by works. This is a hard mindset to get out of in that salvation could really be a FREE gift. This is contrary to how we live in this life. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

I know faith without works is dead according to James 3:17, but works should be a fruit of your faith in Jesus, not a way to earn right standing with Father God. God meets people right where they are, sin stained and without hope for lasting change. Once people decide to repent and put their faith in Jesus, then the blood of Jesus cleanses us of our unrighteousness. This is the simple gospel. As we follow Jesus then the journey of sanctification begins. This is a process that continues throughout our life as a Christian. Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

As long as you are looking at Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, you are a work in progress. So you may wonder how to follow or look at Jesus in every day life? Jesus is the Word (Bible) made flesh and dwelt among us according to John 1:1-3. So stay in the word and out of the influence of the world. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and bring revelation on the scriptures and how to be a doer of the word? Father wants our fellowship through prayer, which is our communication with our heavenly Father. As we grow in prayer and intimacy with our father, then the Holy Spirit will begin to bear fruit in us.

This is not something we can force or work hard enough to make happen. The fruit is produced is through a personal relationship with our father through faith in Jesus. Abiding in Jesus, the vine is our job. Take a look at John 15 and it gives a beautiful picture of how this works. In fact in Hebrews 4 :11 He tells us to labor to enter into His rest. It’s in rest that we are restored, something only Father God can do for us. This is an invitation for all believers in Jesus. This is a magnificent thing that those who have put their faith in Jesus are loved perfectly with an everlasting love that we did not earn or deserve! When we do start to see fruit come forth, we can’t think more highly of ourselves, but point back to Jesus. Even our gifts and callings come from God. In this hour it is important to get back to the basics and simplicity of our faith.

This is truly the greatest gift we can ever receive personally and the greatest gift we can share with another. Father wants to extend His heart and Holy Spirit through His children to bring as many as possible to faith in Jesus. As you look to Jesus and abide in Him, His light will draw others to himself. Thank you Father for the simple gospel and help us to get out of the way and let you have your way. To allow Jesus’ ministry to be spread through the earth. We ask for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name we ask, amen.

In a family bible study the other night my husband read to us a biblical definition of what repentance means. I have often wondered why there is not more spoken about true repentance in the church today, since it was the message of John the baptist, Jesus, and the apostles of the first church.

Based on scripture, repentance would be the starting point of salvation in Jesus. Matthew 4;17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John also spoke the same words in Matthew 3, so the message was simple and clear.

According to Nelson’s bible dictionary repentance is a much deeper action than a confession of sin. Its exact definition reads, “a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God. A change of mind, a feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct. True repentance is a godly sorrow for sin, an ACT of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person’s relationship to God.

It was also explained that repentance and faith are a two sided coin. That when one repents, they turn away from sin and then by faith they turn to God. After all what we really believe or have faith in will result in some action on our part. James states that faith without works is dead, because true faith will motivate us to action. We also have to remember the importance of calling on the Holy Spirit once we have repented and put our faith In Jesus Christ.

I was reading in Matthew 4 this morning where Jesus had just been baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. Matthew 3:17 ” And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. So Father God has declared who Jesus is by His spoken word. We see from this passage that the Power of God through His Holy Spirit is with Jesus and His identity is made clear by Gods word.

In chapter 4 of Matthew, Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. He had fasted 40 days and nights so His flesh was weak and hungry. Satan comes to us in our weak moments to tempt us to sin, as he did with Jesus. Jesus declares in Matthew 4:4 ” It is written, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We need to learn from Jesus here how to respond to temptation. First of all, saying it is written is the beginning of our part. We can’t fight the battle in our head. We must speak the word of God out loud.

The word is the truth and always trumps what the enemy has to say! This is a weapon of warfare that is not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds as stated in 2 Corinthians 10:4. In Ephesians 6 where it describes the armor of God , the sword of the spirit is the word of God. You are only using your sword, when you are speaking the word.

The next temptation is interesting because the enemy actually uses the word this time, but out of context. Jesus responds in Matthew 4:7 It is written again, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.” Jesus is teaching us here how well the enemy knows the word and how he will use it out of context to try and get us to sin. This is where satan says ,”If your really the son of God”?

Think about this scenario for a moment. The enemy always wants us to question our identity and be tempted to have to prove it to someone or even to ourselves. It is vital for you to know your identity “In Jesus Christ”. This is solely based on what Gods word says about who you are in Jesus, not the way you think or feel. This is faith! If we live by our feelings and emotions we will be like a wave tossed to and fro, refer to this entire passage in James 1. It states here that the wavering man can’t expect to receive anything from God. Start speaking, praying, and declaring who you are in Jesus according to the word.

Once we have repented of sin, believed on Jesus and received the Holy Spirit then we are equipped to have victory over the enemy. I would highly recommend spending time in the word and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and help you to focus on Jesus strength through you rather than your human frailties. We have faith in something every day. we must make sure our faith is focused on Jesus and the truth of what God says about us rather than the enemies temptations to always be focused on self.

This is a trap friends. We all have weaknesses and we all need Jesus every day. It is a choice what we meditate on. the bible tells us to meditate on the word day and night, then we will be prosperous according to Psalm 1. Every day we have a decision to make, what we will set our minds on. Will it be self, because if it is, how depressing. Human strength and wisdom can only go so far, but Gods truth is eternal. Nothing is impossible for God! With true repentance and faith in Jesus, we have been reconciled with God! 2 Corinthians 5:18 ” And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us of Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Thank you Jesus for doing what we could not and thank you God for sending Jesus to reconcile us back to you! I challenge you to Pray Psalm 139:23&24. Lord show us how to be doers of your word and keep our eyes on Jesus. In Jesus name I ask, Amen!

This may seem like a foreign concept in the world we live in, but it is biblical. In James 1:2-4 we are given an instruction to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

I don’t know about you but I have had a hard time with this. Of course I want patience, a fruit of the Spirit, but I may have chosen a different way to get it. I have had a lot of trials in this season of life. It is always a temptation to be upset and want to run from trials. I have found personally through some of the most challenging circumstances that I have grown the closest in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. So there can be purpose in pain when we trust Father God.

The word tells us if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. The way we hear our Fathers instructions 1st and foremost is to spend time in His word. John 1:1 ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 ” And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Whatever challenge and hardship you may be facing today, the Word(Jesus) is the answer.

Think about it for a minute. God almighty, creator of all things, Father of lights, has given us an instruction manual for this life. Father God knows all things. He designed us and knows exactly what each of us need and He can meet us individually where we are in life. So if you have ever thought, “I want to hear from God”, then read the bible. What a privilege and honor to have the written word and be able to ask the Holy Spirit to be our teacher as children of God! Let that sink in for a minute. I believe that the word of God and prayer is our lifeline to access grace for each day. We need to be rooted, grounded, and anchored in the word. Then we pray the word as our agreement, standing in faith!

When we realize this and dig in to fellowship with the Lord, through His word and prayer our perspective on trials can change. Everyone God used mightily had enormous trials they faced. David with Goliath as well as running from Saul for his life were not small feats. Joseph was betrayed and sold by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned. These were men that had the same feelings, temptations, and emotions as each of us. They had to make a decision to trust God in uncertain times that were not always easy or fair! Have you ever stopped to place yourself in any of these situations for a minute? As they had faith in God, even when they did not always understand why, it worked out for their good(Romans 8:28).

We can learn a valuable lesson from the biblical examples, if we take heed and remain in faith during trials. We don’t always know the why, but we always know God is good! Like a parent that makes a decision for a child that the child does not like or understand. They can’t see what we can. They don’t have the perspective we have. We make decisions based on what is best for them, not what they like or understand.

God knows and sees everything and remember, everything is not always about us personally. If we are living a life in Christ, dying to self, picking up our cross and following Him then it may be for someone else. Read Matthew 16:24 as a good description of salvation. As long as you are asking Father God to search your heart and you have repented for any sin, then I believe you are in a position to receive the grace you need to get on the other side of any trial.

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” I would recommend staying in the word and praying for understanding of scriptures and grace to have patience in trials. There is a lot of deception and when people get desperate they start searching and can be led to other things that are not biblical. All we need is found In Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Life is full of challenges, but each one is really an opportunity to draw close to our heavenly Father and grow our faith and patience. Help us Father to have a right perspective of trials and have joy in them. To look past the test, and realize there can be a testimony produced through us to bring glory to God. Give us grace Holy Spirit to remain in faith and patience to not turn back but to run to you, where our help comes from. Help us Father to not look to worthless things that only prolong the process. To remember how much you love us and how everything you do is because you love us. Help us to trust when we don’t understand and to be quick to forgive others and ourselves. To trust you Father to make wrong things right! I love you Father and ask and pray in Jesus mighty name, Amen!

As I was watering a neighbor’s grass the other day the hose kept getting a kink and stopping the flow of water. I would lay the hose down and back track my steps to discover where the problem was.

It kept happening and I was getting a little irritated because it was so hot outside that particular day so I wanted to get this job done quickly. Then I felt like I heard the still inner voice of the Holy Spirit speak.

You know the water is on full strength from the spigot, but when there is a kink in the hose, it doesn’t  matter how much water pressure is on the other end, the flow of water is still prohibited. Then I heard this is the same way in your life.

 The Holy Spirit will flow in you once your life is hidden in Christ, but when we allow things on our end to put a kink in the flow, it inhibits His power from getting to us and through us. John 7:38 “He that belives on Me(Jesus), as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.”

We know once we have made Jesus Lord and decided to follow Him the Holy Spirit will flow as we surrender to His process and power in our lives.

  Sometimes we stop that flow through our own fears, unbelief, doubts, unconefessed sin, unforgiveness, etc.. If you feel like there is a distance or breach between you and the Heavenly Fathers love then stop and ask Him to show if you have knowingly or unknowingly placed a kink in your line.

 Father God”s love is more powerful than any force on earth. It is more powerful than any of our shortcomings, but God does not force Himself upon us.

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman that waits to be invited. Put more faith in Gods ability than in any weakness you or I may have. Jesus is enough! His sacrifice, blood, death, and resurrection paid it all!

 Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the measure of faith to believe in all Jesus paid for.To expose and release any kinks in your walk with the Lord so you can enjoy the fruit of His fellowship. To be a recipient of the covenant Jesus paid for with His blood.

When we begin our walk with the God by repenting of sin and making Jesus Lord of our life the process of transformation begins. Not many of us understood what becoming like Jesus in a world that has taught us the opposite since childhood would entail. The process is sanctification.

It begins with dying to self and picking up our cross daily to follow Jesus. The flesh(our sinful nature) does not enjoy this dying process which is necessary for Jesus to live through us. The flesh wants to be Lord not be told what to do. You must first understand the love of the Father and anything He tells us is for our benefit not His!

This process begins when we repent and begin to line our thinking up with Gods through his word. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove, what is that good,acceptable and perfect will of God

I saw a beautiful picture in my mind as God was helping me to understand that this painful process is vital to become like Jesus. I saw the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It begins in egg form. Then they become the larva better known as a caterpillar.

In this stage they eat constantly. This is the stage where we would feast on Gods word and get to know Him in a personal relationship. This time may feel like we can’t get enough of Gods word. Luke 4:4 “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. To be spiritually healthy we must feast on Gods word. Just like in the natural you would be weak without the nutrients you get from natural food.

Yes, being healthy physically is important, but the condition of your souls health is even more important, because its eternal. I believe the length of this process is partially dependent on how much time we dedicate to the Lord. If we say we love the Lord more than anything or anyone else then that should reflect in our actions.

This is also the stage where the caterpillar sheds old skin. I liken this to the scripture that says you can’t put new wine in old wine skin. Its time to get rid of the old and make room for the new! This may not be fun, but it is the only way to fully make room for the Holy Spirit to work. As John the baptist said, “I must decrease, He(Jesus) must increase.

This may be a time you have to put some things down. It may require putting down good things that may not be Gods best in this growing process. This can be painful sometimes to let go of things. Things or individuals that may comfort the flesh. We can’t have it both ways so letting go is pertinent to be able to receive the new.

Think of it this way. If you are already carrying a bunch of stuff you won’t be able to carry what God has. Putting it all down and allowing the Lord to lead is always in our best interest.

Then you have the Pupa or the chrysalis stage which is the stage where the most remarkable transformation is taking place. From the outside this could be deceiving. If you are seeing what only the natural eye can see. It may look from the outside like nothing is happening at all.

I had to imagine for the caterpillar this may seem like a very lonely and perhaps scary dark place? I don’t know, but it may seem to the caterpillar like the most unproductive stage since it can’t move or do anything itself.

If you are in this stage of your walk with God you may feel like, what are you doing Lord? You may feel lonely and unproductive because you are not doing, only being with the Lord.

If the Lord has invited you to the secret place where it is just you and him then rejoice, because this is the place God does His best work. This is the John 15 place, the abiding in Him.

This is where you do nothing but sit with the Lord and fruit will start to come. Don’t get impatient in this process. No matter what it may look like from the outside world this transformation may be painful, but beautiful on the other side.

The last stage is the butterfly. This is where you see the beauty that was being formed behind the scenes. Each butterfly is a beautiful design of our creator God in the same way we are, when we submit to this process of transformation.

When we come out of this stage where God has hid us behind the scenes we are a beautiful display of the Fathers heart, the character of Jesus formed and seen in us!

This is where we are flying above all the issues and problems in this world. Our God is bigger and above them all. This is when our perspective has changed to align with Father Gods(an eternal mindset). You will see clearer and feel freer than ever before.

We are able to have the peace of Jesus in this perspective because we are trusting that God sees all and has already provided the solution through Jesus Christ before the problem arises. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that His divine power has given us ALL things that pertain to life and godliness.

This is the place where we are guided by the wind of the Holy Spirit, trusting in Gods goodness to lead you. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all His ways and He shall direct your path.”

Don’t resist the process of transformation. Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Keep it simple. Seek God first and take time to build a relationship and fall in love with the Father.The more we know Him, the more we grow in Him..

I pray Lord that you would give each of us great grace to submit to the process of abiding in you and your word. Create in us Christ likeness that we may draw others to you Father by the love you give. Thank you Father for seeing us so valuable that you were willing to send your son to rescue us by shedding His blood and redeeming us back to you Father. Help us to desire you Lord more than we desire anything else. That we would be intentional about building a relationship with you Lord and that we start to see ourselves the way you do. In Jesus name we pray Amen