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Battle Mode

Revelations 4:11 (AMP) “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”

Worship the Creator not the created. Focus on the Creator not the created. Easier said than done right! Especially when it comes to maintaining what He has placed in our midst. How can we not help but think on His created. One thing I do know is that when I focus on people too much, my mind goes into dark places. I bring harm on myself. Even thinking of me too much will do that.

In my prayer time I pray for those who are battling depression. Depression does not show itself in staying in bed all the time. It can show itself with mood swings. We can be full of energy and make everyone feel welcomed, yet battle depression. We can be snappy and push people away, yet battle depression. There is no one way to define it, yet many people are being diagnosed with it.

When it hit me I had to go into battle mode. My flesh wanted me to focus on the problem. Our minds will tell us that it is the people we are associated with or the environment we are in. If I focus on the created and pray against the created it does not take me out of the dark place. It is when I change my perspective to the Creator.

1 Chronicles 16:27 (AMP) Splendor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His place (sanctuary).

Psalms 16:11 (AMP) You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 1:1-3 (AMP) Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

These are the three verses He gave me when I was praying a couple of weeks ago and the word to focus on was joy. The opposite of depression is joy. It is the one of the attributions of the fruit of the spirit rooted in love. In Psalms 1:1-3, we see the contrast on our focus. When we focus on the created as a problem in our lives we will start to slander. We will talk unhealthy about people and even give into gossip or criticism. This does not bring relief as we hope, but it brings us deeper into depression.

Isaiah 26:3 (AMP) You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Romans 7:25 (AMP) Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.

Romans 12:16 (AMP) Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.

This week He gave me three more verse with the focus being on the mind. When we are in depression, we are not at peace in our minds. When we focus on ourselves as the most important thing to take care of, we cannot live in harmony with each other. Then we battle in our minds again. It is a battle we cannot win without Christ. Who is our deliverer? Jesus! Why do we try to go at life without Him. I have been guilty of doing this myself. Thinking it would make my life better. Self-care is not bad, but taking care of ourselves so much that we forget about hospitality is not. There is a balance to it. What is the litmus? The thought…how have I estimated myself? Do I think of myself as better than, greater than, more important? I am wrong. Do I think of myself as lowly? I am still wrong. I need to think of myself from a place of loved, not by people, but rooted and grounded in the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-19). Joy and peace will become what I am clothed by. Do I still have battles and depression will stand at the doorway? Yes. This is what I have learned from going deeper and desiring more, I now know how to fight those battles. How? Because of Jesus!

John 1:1 (AMP) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

Elohim Kadem (God of the Beginning), our Creator, our King of Kings, we worship you with praise and thanksgiving. Thank You for sending Your Son to live a life of hospitality, bringing deliverance and restorations through His death. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that now dwells within us. Thank You, that when we read Your Word, that Holy Spirit and us commune ; fresh revelation about Your character and nature comes forth. You desire for us to know You more. We desire to know You more. We desire Your Presence. We repent for the things we have made about our lives. We repent for focusing on the created more than You. We repent for pointing at Your created as the source of our problems. We are turning our worship back to You. Search our hearts Lord. Lead us to the way our thoughts should go. We surrender to You. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose peace today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Shrinking Feeling

Psalms 34:5 (AMP) They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.

Rooted and grounded in love. I have been having to speak that and renew my mind in that these past couple of days. Something I said was not interpreted how I intended to present it. Presenting a message to a group is a very difficult thing. If something can be misinterpreted in a small group, just think about how much it happens on a larger scale. That was my thought. Did I make a mistake? Is it a mistake for me to even be speaking? I wanted to shrink back and hide again. The voice in my head was saying, “see, this is why you do not need to be up there.” I really don’t want to be up there anyways so that is good enough, right? Nope. My hiding place is not to withdraw, but to sink my very self into Him. He is my hiding place.

Matthew 5:14 (AMP) You are the light of (Christ to) the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Hiding in Him does not mean I am hidden from my calling. The Light was never meant to be hidden. Radiance is what you will continue to see. I will continue to work in the ministry of reconciliation. Whatever capacity He wants me to do it.

Did it shrink my confidence? Yes. I have a holy fear of leading others away from His heart. That was my question to myself? Did I draw anyone away from Him? Or did I get them to draw deeper to know Him more? Since it was the later, He calmed me. He put me into His rest. That is what hiding in His Presence will do. I have to continue to be Christ minded, not me minded.

This is a pretty short blog, but I felt like that I needed to share some vulnerable moments. In the moments that you are rocked and feel pushed down, keep your focus on Him. He is your hiding place, so that you can continue to let His Light shine through you.

Father, You are more than we can imagine. You are the creator of the universe. You hold everything in the palm of Your hand. Thank You for sending the Redeemer, Jesus.Thank You for the gift of infilling me with Your Presence with the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for doubting myself like it was all up to me. Forgive me for making it about me and wanting to shrink back. All I want to do is be close to You and bring others closer to You. Continue to knock off the rough edges. Continue to renew my mind and my tongue. I choose Your glory today. I choose to hope in You today. In Jesus Name, Amen.