Start Again Today...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

Several months ago, someone paid me a compliment that actually surprised me. A high profile woman said to me, "You are a really good writer." Her words jolted me in a way they shouldn't have. I realized I had given up some ground in my thought life with regards to my writing life.

Let me explain. My last book came out a year ago. I set book-writing aside for a few seasons to launch the radio show. Most of my author friends are primarily writers who speak once in a while. They daily practice their craft. They've honed their skill. And they are excellent at what they do. I was a speaker before I was a writer. And then I got into radio. Only a fraction of my time goes to writing. When I write a book, I spend a few months grinding it out and then I go back out on the road again. Most of my author friends can write circles around me because they spend consistent time applying themselves to it.

This past year my focus has largely been on radio and speaking. So when harassing thoughts swirled around my head like, "You can't write" "You don't know what you're doing when it comes to writing" "You have nothing to say" - instead of stopping those thoughts in their tracks, taking them captive, and putting them in prison, I simply waved them away like an irritating gnat. I didn't take care of them and as a result, they multiplied in my midst. 

When that wonderful, sincere compliment came my way, it actually sounded untrue because for too long, I had tolerated a lie. I had given up ground that God had entrusted to me. I'm certainly not the best writer I know, but I'm not the worst either. No matter. God has given me something to say and I'll never hear Him clearly as long as I give any air time to that lying enemy of our souls. 

Just because I wasn't in book-writing mode doesn't mean I didn't need to guard my yard. 

How about you?

Have you given up some ground by not defending it against the lies of the enemy? Has the enemy crept onto your territory and tried to re-claim certain places that belong to you? Maybe related to your identity? Your future? Your calling? Your value? 

Don't beat yourself up. Just rise up, raise your shield, and take back your land! It doesn't matter if God's truth doesn't feel true for you. It's still true. You are valuable. You are gifted. You are called. You are loved. You are treasured.

You have certain gifts entrusted to you and God absolutely LOVES to see you in your sweet spot - using those gifts in the very ways He planned for you. Here again is the call to be more God-aware than self-aware! 

It doesn't matter if or how the lie overshadowed the truth, what matters is that you and I start again today, affirming what's true about us because we belong to God. 

Lead me by your truth and teach me,for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5). 

~Until next week

Preparing For A Breakthrough...

Hey, Friends! Susie Larson here... Happy Wednesday! And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog; so leave a post, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.

Now on to my topic...

Has God put a desire in your heart that you've yet to see come to pass? Where are you in that process? Is the wait getting old? Are you starting to wonder if you heard God right? Have you given up altogether? I hope today's post encourages you.

Maybe you're waiting for a promised blessing to come your way, or holding on for a difficult season to pass, or hoping for a loved one to come to Christ. Maybe it's healing you need. God is in the business of keeping His promises, saving the lost, engaging the saved, and healing our wounds! It is His will that we seek Him, find Him, serve Him, and find our restoration in Him.

He is always good and He puts certain desires in our hearts that we might pray them into fruition. Of course I'm not talking about 'name it claim it' theology, but I am saying that God sets eternity into the heart of man. He drops desires into our hearts because He intends to fulfill them. We must pay attention to the longings of our hearts. Sure, at first they may be unrefined or misdirected, but as we dare to place our hearts' desires before the Living God, He shapes, fills, and brings clarity to His desires for us.

Recently while reading in 2 Samuel chapter 7, I noticed something very interesting. The prophet Nathan spoke God's promise to David and David's first response was to humbly bow and thank the Lord. Let's look a little closer at David's response to God's promise (my basic paraphrase of 2 Samuel 7:20-22, 27):

What more can I say to You? You know what Your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. Because of Your promise and according to Your will You have done all these great things and made them known to Your servant. How great You are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You! And now, O, Lord, do as You have promised concerning me and my family...I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because You have revealed Your promises to me...

This is what I have learned about standing in faith while waiting for a breakthrough:

1.) Humble yourself before the Living God. Then make time and space to hear from Him. He will speak to you about His desires for you.

2.) Pray and believe that His Word is true and that His promises are backed by the honor of His name. How often do we pray without engaging any of our faith muscles? You know the difference between rote prayers and faith-powered prayers! Once God has revealed His promise to you, be bold like David and lay hold of it through prayer!

3.) Give thanks and embrace contentment for your current lot and your daily blessings. There's much to thank Him for today! He has blessed you today! Stay in the moment while believing Him for the future.

4.) Stay in the Word and trust Him to confirm His way for you through His Word. His Word is truth; it keeps us on track and keeps His will in focus. If we hold tighter to our desires than we do to God's Word, we'll lose our way.

5.) Refuse an unbelieving heart or a striving spirit. When you catch yourself living in reaction to these things, get back to that place of peace. Be still and know that HE is God! (Ps. 46:10).

6.) Trust His timing and process in this matter. He knows best and works all things together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

7.) Remember that every promise He makes has eternity written all over it. In other words, His blessings to us are for more than just us. His promises to us are meant to spill over onto others and to create a ripple effect that we will carry with into eternity. No matter how we choose to view our hearts' desires, there will always be a broader perspective to gain and a bigger picture to see, because when we fully lay hold of His promises for us, our breakthrough will deeply impact and bless others. That's why things take time. And it's always worth it to wait for God's best.

Wait on the Lord. Listen for His voice. Take Him at His Word. Stand on His promises. Refuse unbelief.

Choose humble gratitude and tenacious faith, all at the same time. And finally, step back and see your life from God's point of view. He's up to something so much bigger than you can imagine.

Isaiah 64:4 ~ For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for Him!

~Until next week.

They Don't Know...

Happy Wednesday, Friends! Susie Larson here…

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you’ll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.

Now on to my topic…

Recently a friend shared with me about a painful betrayal he’d endured at the hands of someone close to him. This person repeatedly hurt him, crossed lines with him, and disregarded his feelings. When I asked him why he didn’t impose some kind of boundary or limit to this treatment, he said, “My friend has too much information on me. Even though his offense against me is much worse than anything I’ve done in my lifetime, he knows too much about me and I don’t want to be exposed.”

That conversation left me thinking about the countless things I’ve said and done that I so wish I could take back. Where would any of us be without the cleansing, forgiveness of our Lord? His mercies are new every morning! His compassions they fail not! Great is His faithfulness (See Lamentations 3:21-24). Thank you, Lord.

During my prayer time one morning, I apologized again to the Lord for every stupid thing I’ve ever done. “I’m really so sorry, Lord. If I’d known You for who You really are, if I’d known Your love, acceptance, and provision the way I do now, I don’t think I would have lived in such an earthbound way.”

Just then I pictured the scene of Jesus on the cross, interceding for those of us who put Him there. And do you remember how He prayed? “Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do.”

My guess is that all of our sin, if not most of it, comes out of a misunderstanding of who God is and who He promised to be to us.

When the woman at the well (a woman looking for love in all the wrong places) came face to face with Jesus, He passionately said to her, “If only you knew who God is and the gift He has for you, and who I am, you’d ask Me for the gift of living water” (John 4:10.)

When we forget who God is and what He has for us, we dig our own wells, we drink muddy water, and we wonder why we have a gut ache afterwards.

Because of Christ, we lack no good thing. Remember Psalm 23? The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

Scripture talks about how during our time on earth, we see as in a glass dimly. Think about that for a moment. We don’t see clearly. There’s so much we don’t know. And so often we act out of our own ignorance, fear, and selfishness.

Read this passage from 1 Corinthians 13:12 ~ Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Jesus went to the cross knowing that our fallen nature would cloud the lens through which we view life. He knew we’d live in reaction to our frailties and fears. He went to the cross with the full knowledge of our need, and knowing us completely, He interceded for us right in the midst of our ignorance. He killed death’s power over us so that our souls might be healed, and our vision, restored.

This helps me to intercede for those who’ve hurt me in the past and for those who step on my toes now. Forgive them, Lord. They just don’t know…

Even the most wicked, intending-to-do-evil types of people, really don’t know what they’re doing. But one day, when Jesus returns, they’ll see with perfect clarity. They’ll realize how wrong they were; how much they didn’t know; but for them, it’ll be too late.

Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 2 that if the religious rulers had understood what they were about to do, they never would have crucified our glorious Lord. They thought they knew more than most, but their pride blinded them.

When we choose to love God and accept Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, it’s a very big deal to God. When we choose to walk in faith because our circumstances scream a different message, all of heaven notices. When we choose to forgive someone for hurting us, and we entrust our wounded soul to the Lord, He stands up and draws us to Himself.

May our first and foremost passion be to better know the love of Christ. Ephesians tells us that when we know this love, then we’ll be filled to the fullness of God. Proverbs 9:10 says this: Knowing the Holy One results in understanding.

As we grow in the knowledge of God, our choices will—more and more—reflect our love for and trust in Christ Jesus.

And when others hurt or offend us, we can entrust them to the One who knows everything. We can pray with Jesus, Lord, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.

Lord, God Almighty, help me to know You more. Help me to walk in a manner worthy of Your Name. Forgive me for the countless sins I commit in ignorance. Cleanse me from hidden faults. Keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be innocent and blameless before You. I live in eager expectation and hope that my whole life will reflect Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, and for His glory, I pray. Amen. 

But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9)

Silent Worship...

Hello, Everyone! Happy Wednesday! Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.

Now on to my topic... 

I don't know about you but I'm a bit over-saturated with the noise of the news these days. Not that we shouldn't be on top of current affairs, but the back and forth bickering is enough to give you an earache. Now is definitely the time to be prayerful. Now is the time to hold fast to your convictions. 

But now is also the time for something even more important, more fragrant to God. Now is the time to slow down, to pause, to look up, and to worship God. Now is the time to thank Him for the beautiful sunrise or sunset. Now is the time to drop to our knees and praise Him for the smiles on our children's faces. Now is the time to place our hand on our full stomachs and thank Him for His provision. God is so good.

Certain days call for loud praises and lots of hoopla. But other days call for a quiet reverence and a fresh understanding that regardless of the circumstances that surround us, God is on His holy throne. He is the Maker of the Universe and no one can withstand His power. No scheme. No enemy. No plan can succeed against the Lord. 

He is mighty to save and He is infinitely good. 

Try this throughout the day, in the silence of your heart, worship Him like you never have before. Thank Him profoundly and passionately for the blessings you enjoy. From the bottom of your gut, or even the tips of your toes tell Him how MUCH you appreciate His involvement in your life. Worship Him for all your worth, because all of your worth comes from Him. 

Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe.

Here's a fabulous piece from Gerald K. Hibbert:

"Silent worship is healing; it is uniting; it cleanses; challenges; stimulates. It helps us to get down to those deeper currents of the soul that are so often neglected in life's hurry and bustle; it enables us to center down into fellowship with the Eternal and to hear the still small voice of God."  (Quote taken from: The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer)

Amidst this noisy season in life, quiet your heart and worship the Maker of Heaven and earth. Call to mind the wonders He has done. Wrap yourself up in the comfort and warmth of His great love. Set your mind on things above. It'll do wonders for your soul.

Read this powerful passage from Psalm 95:5-7

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

Let every other voice take a back seat to the One who knows you best and loves you most.

Have a blessed, peace-filled, worship-full week!

Not Seeing Results?

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Susie Larson here!

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend! 

Now on to my topic...

Do you ever get weary praying, planting seeds, and waiting for the harvest? Ever wonder when you'll see the fruit of your labor? Or maybe you’re thinking that your efforts, your prayers and your faith have made no difference at all.

I've had a number of conversations recently with people who are weary in the waiting. I’ve been there myself, many times.

I eventually learned that if we don't release our whiteknuckle grip on our need to have things our way in our time, we'll find ourselves tangled up in our thoughts and tripped up by a wrong perspective.

Scripture calls us to pray and keep praying, to believe and keep believing, to speak life, and keep speaking life. But eventually we want to see the results of our efforts, right? There's a little something in all of us that after we've exerted a certain amount of effort, we start to believe that God owes us something.

Maybe we don't dare say that out loud, but if we're honest, there's a little card in our back pocket that we pull out when we've had enough. We hold it up to God and in so many words say, "But what about all I've done? What about all I've tried to do? Would it hurt You to come through for me? Can you give me something?" 

Even Job got there eventually. He was an amazing, righteous, godly man. But when he was pushed far enough, he pulled out the card. He listed his acts of righteousness. Who can blame him? He was a righteous man. But then the Lord spoke and Job covered his mouth. He declared, "Surely I spoke of things too wonderful for me."

Here's the thing. Saving faith in Jesus alone makes us righteous. Every good thing comes from Him. Apart from Him, we can do no good thing. Without Him, we don't have a leg to stand on. Even as we grow in Him, we must find our secure footing on Him alone. How easy it is to shift our weight to our efforts, our recent righteousness, or our consistent faithfulness. But we must not. We live faithfully, because He is faithful in us.

In due time we will reap a harvest of righteousness, a breakthrough to our prayers, and blessings for our obedience if we do not give up. His promises are true and so those principles are true. But those breakthroughs are determined by God's wisdom and timing. If we shift our weight onto our efforts and begin to expect something before its time, or feel entitled to something that God hasn't given us yet, we'll step onto a rug that the enemy can pull out from under us.

We are bondservants of the Most High God. He is overwhelmingly good to us. Still, we serve Him on His terms, His timing, and according to His highest and best will for us.

I've learned not to 'do the math' so to speak when I find myself in a weary place. When I consider all I've invested in a certain person or situation, and see no fruit from my faithfulness, I can so easily despair; and when I let myself go there, I get weak. At such times it's especially important to step back, to put a flag in the ground, and to declare the faithfulness of Almighty God no matter how barren the field might appear. 

The results belong to God. Diving timing belongs to God. Breakthroughs, increase, and seasons belong to God. Mine is to obey, His is to do everything else. 

If you're not seeing results, it's because you're not ready for them. Obedience in this place is first to submit to God. Then, resist the enemy's taunts to engage in despair, discouragement, self-pity, or entitlement. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (See James 4:7).

God gave us everything when He gave us His Son. He owes us nothing. He deserves our highest praise and our absolute trust. The faithful soul will put a flag in the ground and declare, "Though I can't see Him, I know He's with me. Though the barns are empty, I will praise Him. I know He'll one day fill them. Though my loved one's heart seems far away, I trust God will one day draw her near. I'm not moving from this place of faith. God will bring the breakthrough when He'll get the most glory and when I'm most ready for it."

Psalm 126:5-6 says this ~ Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Galatians 6:9 says this ~ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 says this ~ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

May we press on, in His Name!

~Until next week...