I am grateful for where I came from, what I have experienced for without them, I would not be me – and finally after many years, I like me – the me that God has guided and is perfecting. What I am more grateful for is the perfect God who loves me.
What old fears are swallowing you up? It’s time to let go of the past, and step into today. Make it a day that is new, renewed and the best you can have. Can’t do it on your own? That’s okay. You have the Holy Spirit to guide you through and keep you “on task”. Know this, God will wrap you in all that you need.
I heard my pastor say, “Stop the fear, start to live”. In the moments when I become overwhelmed, I need to remember that with God in me, I can live greatly and in confidence because God has always been with me. If we are to be like Christ, than we must live to know that we were designed to live confidently no matter what our circumstances are. We are to realize the power and strength we have within us at every moment.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” ~James 1:2-6 (New International Version)
Now onto the lesson that has been swelling in my heart and thoughts for two days. As we read Hebrews 2:5-18, it is clear that Jesus, who is God became what we are so we can become what He is (PERFECTED). We needed restoration and redemption, and a savior was our only way. God sends His Son, who is wholly God, but on earth, wholly human. We have to grasp this, so we can understand what He has accomplished. In verses 5-12, the stage is set to who were are – we are to rule the earth, above the angels, joint heir with Jesus. Unbelievable, right? Believe it… it was foretold, (see Gen. 1:26-28 and Psalm 8:4-6)
“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.”
“In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[Psalm 22:22]
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of Him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like them, [Or like his brothers] fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” ~Hebrews 2:14-18 (New International Version)
What can you do to know that He’s got this? Whatever “this” is in your life, God’s already prepared and done what is necessary.
Other references:
Genesis 1:26-28
"Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Psalm 8:4-6
"what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:"
Psalm 22:22
"I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you."
© 2012 Giving Thanks Daily and Equip His People, Ephesians 4:11-13, Shawn Boreta
Web: http://shawnsgivingthanksdaily.blogspot.com/
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We are Wonderfully Made (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wonderfully-Made/130178720330362), living to encourage and Equip His People (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Equip-His-People-Ephesians-411-13/170487976325407) and completely committed to believing greatly Psalm 139 with purpose (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Psalm-139-with-purpose/183264461708034).
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