We are called to be glory carriers.  We are created to be love diffusers.  We are designed to be hope influencers.  Yet all of us are a work in progress.  We are all in the process of learning day in and day out as He orders our every step.  But the beauty of our life’s journey lies on the thought that “it is NOT in our own strength for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in us [energizing and creating in us the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13 AMPC)

Every single morning His mercies are new and fresh for us to partake.  How wonderful it is to know that at the onset of each day, He has already readily armed us with His loving-kindness.  Truly He always goes before us, preparing the way for us, waiting in utmost expectation that we will yield to where He is taking us, for He knows that where He leads us is always the best place where we are supposed to be.

Go in confidence and grace—no rushing, no frantic escape.
    There’s no need to be anxious—the Eternal One goes before and behind you.
The God of Israel paves the way with assurance and strength.
    He watches your back.  (Isaiah 52:12-13 The Voice)

But what happens when somewhere along the way we miss the mark?  Hmmmm … well, be fully persuaded and undaunted that His mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).  Know that we have an Advocate, the One Who intercedes for us, Jesus Christ.  His blood still speaks that there is NOW NO CONDEMNATION to those Who are IN Christ.

“You are my dear children, and I write these things to you so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we continually have a forgiving Redeemer who is face-to-face with the Father: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice  for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2 TPT)

It is not that because of Jesus’ finished work, we now have the license to sin.  NO!  On the contrary, His Word says, “sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)  Moreover, when we come to experientially know how loved we are by our Heavenly Father that He sent His only begotten and beloved Son, Jesus Christ, just as so we can run into His loving embrace without guilt, shame and condemnation but BOLDLY approach  His presence knowing that we will always be accepted and approved, our hearts will melt to yield to His will.

There is this person that I somehow knew who is of another faith.  She shared her beliefs and what she practices.  She seemed to be joyful at first so I thought she must have been doing great.  But a week ago, I happened to see her again and this time she was so skinny and unhappy.  This time when she was sharing her experiences, I have I noticed that her words were mostly quoted by someone else.  Then, it dawned on me that she was just holding on to another person’s revelation of their belief and not her own.  How then can she be established on where she is putting her faith on?

My initial reaction was not pleasant at all.  Oh yes, I had a critical heart.  My other friend also noticed the same thing and now the two of us were saying the “should have’s” and the “shouldn’t have’s”.  Although it was just for a short while, but I knew in my heart that the Lord was not pleased with what we thought.

While I was heading home, I heard His still small voice within me that said, “Show no partiality.  You are called to love and make a difference.”  In an instant, I was repentant for what I have thought and spoken.  He continued to say, “Pray for those who have not seen the light yet and your words matter.  Never underestimate its power.”

“Words kill, words give life;
    they’re either poison or fruit—YOU CHOOSE.”  (Proverbs 18:21 MSG)

When the Holy Spirit convicts us, it is never to condemn us but to correct us and we as His sons and daughters should know the difference.  We are not to mistake one for the other.  Indeed God disciplines those He loves.  It is out of His love that His correction comes forth to draw us closer to Him, allowing our hearts to beat in rhythm as His. It is to purify our hearts and prepare us to carry what He is unveiling our eyes to see and gracing us to carry out what He is releasing in such a time as this.

It is so amazing to think that when His love and compassion for a specific person fills and floods our hearts, our whole perception towards the person changes.  He allows us to tap into what He sees beyond the obvious.  I saw how she is in dire need of our Savior, Jesus Christ, thus, instead of saying otherwise, my words are now continually wrapped into praying and interceding for her visitation and encounter with Jesus Christ.

Yes, repentance is a must, but it is not just acknowledging what we think and speak are wrong.  It’s effectiveness is in changing the way we think according to what the Lord is showing and speaking to us.  Our faith is to be anchored into what He is speaking and act on it, yet not in our own strength for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in us [energizing and creating in us the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13 AMPC)

Indeed, because our Heavenly Father is so merciful to us, out of what has been deposited into our hearts, we are to show mercy.  Only with what we have we can give and when we do, “as He is, so are we.”

I may not know the outcome of all these yet, but I so believe in the power of God’s Word decreed and declared over our lives.  They are incorruptible seeds that NEVER fail.  Once they are spoken by faith, they are expected to manifest and bear fruit.

Jesus said,  “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for your mercy and grace.  Thank You, Jesus, for opening my eyes to see what You are doing and ears to hear what You are speaking.  Truly, in full humility, in and of my own ability, a critical heart is all I have.  But with You, being seated in You in the heavenly realms, You have taught me to rise above the obvious and see through the eyes of Your love, moved with compassion and filled with Your love.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing to me the truth of Who You created me to be, and that is to be merciful.  Amen!