Banned Things

Consecrate yourselves.

Remove banned things from your midst.

Be victorious.

-Joshua 7:13

My forgiveness confession recently has included, “I don't hold on to things that don't belong to me.” It's a purposeful statement of obedience and faith that I don't hold on to

...grudges

...unforgiveness

...past hurts

...my own past mistakes.

Anytime these things come to mind I choose forgiveness and release of the hurt (even when I FEEL like doing something else.)

In the first chapters of Joshua the Israelite army had just experienced a huge, supernatural victory over Jericho. Everything in that city was under a ban. The Israelites were not to keep anything from that city but to destroy it. Achan saw a few things he desired and secretly kept them buried under his tent. One seemingly small act caused the death of 36 of his fellow soldiers during their next battle.

We all want victory in our life, but we can hinder our own progress by keeping things we've been commanded to destroy – things under the ban. As Christians we are banned from unforgiveness. (Mark 11:25) We are banned from worry. (1 Peter 5:7) We are banned from getting back at others when they hurt us. (Romans 12:17)

Today's haiku is not just poetic but instructional. First, dedicate yourself to the Lord and to something from His heart that is bigger than you and your own needs. Second, get rid of the banned things as soon as they are presented to you. Refuse to hold on to worry or unforgiveness. Those are two steps to victory. 1 John 3:21-23 says:

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

Victory! Galatians 5:6, 1 John 5:4

Ephesians 3:20

He's able to do

Abundantly more than asked.

God working in us.

-Ephesians 3:20

God encouraged me yesterday. How do I know it was God? The two people He used don't know each other, and one of them doesn't even know me.

The first person was someone I've never met. I called her as a part of a volunteer phone bank at our church. During the course of our scripted conversation she said, "Can I share something with you that God taught me recently?"

I said, "Sure! I love that stuff!" After a couple of hours on the phone bank you appreciate an off-script conversation.

She proceeds to encourage me with this: Jesus interceeds for us, and He prays perfectly. I don't have to just rely on my own prayers which can be at times short-sighted or one-sided. He's in heaven always interceding for me! That's good news. On top of that, God does exceedingly, abundantly above all I can ask or imagine. Mix that with faith and you've got powerful stuff working for you! That's the encouragement I received from someone I called to encourage.

I recognized immediately the message she shared was for me. I wrote it down and tucked it in my school bag. Waiting for me in the mail that evening were two things - a bank statement and a handwritten note from a friend in St. Louis that says:

Eph 3:20 - Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Are you kidding me? I don't believe that is a coincidence. I believe God knows my zip code and He knows how to get His message through to me.

My Abba is so good to me. He loves me and cares dearly for me. I rest in that knowledge, especially when the storms and the stretching seem to approach unbearable. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Love endures all things without weakening and love never fails.

Pushback

Step by step You lead.

I keep pressing. Never quit.

I rejoice always.

My God is faithful.

Testimonies to follow.

It's not optional.

Today I choose to

encourage myself in Him.

Show up and show off!

Anytime we go to another level we encounter pushback. It happens in every arena - work, fitness, relationships, ministry. When you feel pushback, keep pressing in. It means you are not satisfied with the status quo. It means you have a desire to be more and do more. It means your comfort zone living is a thing of the past.

I used to live a well-insulated life. I didn't realize it at the time, but I lived in a well-padded comfort zone, all the while thinking I didn't have quite enough. Now I have no insulation. It's not as comfortable to the parts of me that like cushion, but I feel energized and useful and activated. I'm so certain that I'm doing what God has called me to do. I can never go back. I will not. I will press in. God is my all. Praise you, Lord! You, You, You! Only You.

Not that I have already obtained or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 3:12-14

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be know to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing , but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:4-7

Thanks. I needed that!

Victory Shout!

From the mouth of babes

You have established strength and

Prepared yourself praise.

-Matthew 21:16, Psalm 8:2

Praise makes us strong! It makes the enemy and the revengeful cease. That’s scripture. Praise God! God taught Israel to praise their way to victory. At Jericho they had to shout before the walls fell down. We know the end of the story so we think it’s obvious. They walked it out one day at a time. What God said, they obeyed. We may feel like, “I’ve been walking and walking and walking. I probably look foolish already to my enemy. Now you want me to shout? Okay.” They did it and look at the result! Overwhelming victory!

Gideon and 300 men overcame impossible odds. The attacking army was 135,000 strong. God purposely pared down Gideons number from 32,000 to 300. Winning a battle where you are outnumbered 4 to 1 is pretty amazing. When it is 450 to 1 - that’s supernatural! They obeyed the Lord and gave a victory shout while they were still overwhelmingly outnumbered. Israel’s shout of victory confused the enemy who ran and started killing one another. 120,000 of the enemy’s swordsmen fell that day. All of Gideon’s men survived. That’s God!

Overwhelming odds don’t scare God. That’s when He gets to show His best work. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by circumstances, especially if you overdose on news. Things looks like they’re going down, down, down…and they may be. But God. The same Holy Spirit that lives in each born again person will lead and guide you no matter how desparate the times become. Lean on Him. Start now. Practice your listening skills. And give a victory shout -out loud!! Doesn’t matter if you look foolish. Find a place where you can shout and dance like it’s done, because it is! You can’t win this fight. God has to do it. When you feel weak or discouraged start praising. Praise makes us strong! You can trust God. He is our victory.

Exodus 17:15, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Psalm 9:1-10, Judges 7

Strength is found in Him.

Victories seized or released

in the secret place.

Inexpressible

Joy overflowing in hearts.

Glory. Revival.

-1 Peter 1:6-8

 The joy of the Lord is our strength! It's connected with the glory of God. Peter tells believers to "rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8) Paul tells us rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:2) It's natural to rejoice when things are going well, but we need to rejoice even when things don't naturally stimulate us to do so. We rejoice in expectation!!

God wants His people to take a joy break. He gave the Israelites yearly festivals for that very reason. Paul says time after time when writing to the early church: rejoice!

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

Rejoice in sufferings... (Romans 5:3)

Rejoice always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Start with a smile. Smile on purpose and make it as genuine as you can. Our facial expressions don't just reflect our emotions, they can trigger emotions. Try laughing on purpose. Just say, "ha. ha. ha." It doesn't have to start as a belly laugh. I have an instructor at school who laughs like this occasionally during class. I can hear him saying something like, "The devil thinks he can win, but he can't. He's already defeated. Ha Ha Ha!" It's great! I smile every time he does that. See? It's contagious, this smiling and laughing. Don't wait to catch it. You be the instigator. Be a glory carrier and start laughing your victory into your life!

ha. ha. ha! Romans 5:2-5, Luke 10:18-20, John 4:34-38