Prepare me to Walk with God

Day 30

I have been studying what it means to walk with God. Sounds like a nice stroll doesn't it?

Let's look at Psalm 116:8-9

For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.

David declares that because of what God had done for him, that walking with God meant that he must act and live under God's favor and guidance.

I particularly love the phrase "before" the Lord.  The picture that David paints for us is that we will live our lives in the presence of God. Not at a distance but in front of Him. It is interesting that the word "before" can also be translated as "Face". This changes the meaning slightly to  "I shall walk in front of the face of the Lord." It changes how I think about what I choose to do, when I know that everything is done before Him.

Prepare me Lord to walk before your face

How do we act and live under God's favor and Guidance?

Get to know Jesus by reading His word.

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3;10

When we seek to know Him, then we start to become like Him.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the 

Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

We are called His children and He is our Father, because of this we can walk before Him knowing that we have favor in His sight.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit is a part of our lives to guide, direct and counsel us. He intercedes on our behalf even when we do not have the words to say. 

How is your walk going? How would it change if you had the thought that you were living your life in front of Jesus?

Prayer

Prepare us Lord to Walk with you. Trusting that as we do so before your face, you will guide us, strengthen us, counsel us and protect us. 

I am Free

Many of us understand what bondage feels like. We feel like chains may be wrapped around multiple times constricting us with each action we make. I, personally, want to break free from the chains, and to live a life filled with God’s grace.

Our battlegrounds may be different but the thing we have in common is the weighty feeling of being held hostage within our own chains.Do you think about how you will ever get away from these chains? from your past, from the things that have held you back?

My story

In previous posts I shared about my own struggle to be healed from sexual abuse. Read the story here. Throughout this journey,  I felt as if my past were suffocating me.   It kept me from moving forward.

Even after I had faced my past, looked at the areas that needed to be healed, gave it to God and forgiven the man who had hurt me, every once in a while, the chain would wrap itself around my thoughts once again. My need to be in control at all times is a direct result of this chain! If I am in control then no one can hurt me, take advantage of me ever again. This is a biggy in my life and it was effecting my relationship with my husband, my children and with God. "Would this ever be gone?", I often thought.

The thing about getting past your past is realizing that it will keep resurfacing until you are able to finally put it to death!

Your past may be 

disappointment, 

divorce, 

abuse, 

deep hurts, 

regrets of sin,

 death, 

abandonment 

pain. 

We all have something that just keeps holding on. It is a chain that drags us down. The chains of the past! It makes me think of Scrooge. Ghosts of Christmas past! They all played a role in keeping him stuck. A prisoner.

Praise God that there is freedom!

Before we can talk about moving forward it is important to look at what has chained us down.  

Take a moment and answer this question.

I feel chained down by ___________________________________________

To move forward it is important to do two things. Identify the chain and examine what God's word says.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

His desire for us is that we would live in freedom. Today you can be free of whatever has enslaved you. You do not have to live in your past any longer!

    1. I am Free!

I will walk about in Freedom,                                      Psalm 119:45

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom.         II Corinthians 3:17

You have Freed me from my chains.                                 Psalm 116:16

God promises us freedom and more in Isaiah 61:1  Take some time and look at His many promises!

You are free even if you don’t feel it! You are free! 

Father, thank you for declaring us free! Show us what your freedom looks and feels like. We are grateful children.

Part 2 will be coming soon