whenever

“Not if, but When”  This was one of my Pop’s favorite quotes. Psalms 23 was one of his favorite chapters of the Bible.  In it God tells us WHENEVER we walk THROUGH the valley’s, notice not if, but when.  HE IS WITH YOU ALWAYS, this is where you need to set your anchor. 

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 

Satan wants us to believe we shouldn't have to go through the hard difficult stuff.  The world nudges us to focus on ourselves, our comfort, our desires and ultimately distract us from God’s eternal purpose.  Whenever we face the trials of life we have a choice…our way or God’s way?  Whenever we choose to set our eye’s on HIM, as you well know, things don’t magically get better, our marriages still struggle, the womb remains empty, our children still rebel, the anxiety still grabs hold, BUT GOD can do in us and through us more than we can even imagine. We can choose to walk with HIM through the whatever’s.  This doesn’t mean it will feel good or even right at the time.  Trust me, my walls have heard more crying out over the past few years!  However choosing to honor God during the trials and focusing on His Character and His Promises helps us not to fall into the paralyzed fearful state, the mad at the world state, the selfish “I’ll show you” state…all of which Satan wins when we get stuck there. We lose not just the battle but the opportunity to show others there is a better way that doesn’t lead to bitterness.  Whenever we are facing a choice while in the whatever, ask yourself does this honor God or me? People will say “you deserve to be happy”.  If we allow that deserving mentality to control our thoughts we will find temporary happiness.  Yeah if it didn’t feel good, sin wouldn't be such a problem.  There are so many temptations that pull us from our God designed purpose.  We ALL ARE sinners, we just don’t like the word or to be called one.  Let me encourage you there is freedom in the admittance because you can’t let go of something you don’t even know you are holding on to. Unforgiveness is a sin and leads to bitterness.  It is like a virus eating our souls and some of us don’t even know it.  It can effect all aspects of our lives.  It separates us from being in a right relationship with God.  Whenever we focus on Him through the whatever’s it helps us deal with forgiveness His way and keep bitter roots from infecting the rest of our life and the lives of those around us. Today’s sermon was the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount titled, “WHEN You Pray”.  Did you catch the WHEN I’m posting a picture of my bible as a reminder, GOD is in the little details.  I had written this last night but was reluctant to post as it went a different direction than I had originally thought.  God is always faithful to reveal Himself when we are looking for HIM.  Matthew 6:5 tells us to pray, not if you pray, but “…when you pray…” remember it’s not about us.  It’s about GOD revealing Himself to us in all our whatever’s. We need to make Him our priority and trust Him. When we surrender and give him permission to do WHATEVER in our life then his purposes will be our priority. Bro John asked if we knew the one thing God can’t be?  Ummmhhh, not sure, SECOND, he said,

“GOD CAN’T BE SECOND!” 

You know I said AMEN, but how many times have I put Him there or even further down the list of my priorities?  I can try to make myself feel better by saying yes we all do, it’s ok, however I’m not living for the approval of man so I shouldn’t find comfort there. I should be prompted to be intentional with every aspect of my life.  A friend of ours asked way back when, “WHO ARE YOU LIVING FOR GOD OR MAN?”  I’ve questioned myself a lot to help me focus on the eternal, not the right now.

Unimaginable joy exist even in the depth of our whatever, whenever we know God is up to something bigger than what we are experiencing in the moment. Those whatever’s will often lead us to the forgiveness choice. We forgive because we know we have been forgiven much. 

Matthew 6:12 “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us form the evil one.”  

Whenever we choose forgiveness and put Him first people take note. Don’t be afraid to be different. 

Matthew 6:14-15  “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” 

When we repent and ask for forgiveness, Micah 7:19 says, “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”  Get a hold of that sister the ocean like the picture on my cover.  He hurls our sins into the depth of it, repent ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself. We have a choice to forgive or hold on to unforgivness.  We live in a broken world and we know hurt people, hurt people. 

Whenever you are going through your whatever you will be called to forgive.  

Ephesians 4: 31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  

Accept it and give it… there is real FREEDOM IN FORGIVENESS.  He is with you and it’s only through HIM we can experience true forgiveness. We need the insight, the love, the encouragement and the honesty from a salty sister that has been there to help anchor us to TRUTH. We can so easily get pulled into the temporary selfishness that leads to separation from God and bitterness. 

I know this was a lot and I know first hand forgiveness is a choice and a process. Lysa TerKeurst’s said sometimes we have to choose to continue to forgive the impact after we’ve forgiven the act.  I’m thankful she has shared her story and wise counsel.  God has used her to help me see truth more than once.   If you need more insight on forgiveness I highly recommend her book “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” and ‘It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way”. I encourage you to read your BIBLE, be intentional with your time.  We need our anchor set IN HIM.  Whenever you are facing the whatever’s remember…

Salt always preserves and bitterness destroys…Go be Salty!