We are who we are because...

"...I will not rule over you...; The Lord will rule over you." Judges 8:23

"...you are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God..."1 Cor 6:19-20
 

"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live...I live by faith in Jesus, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

In essence: 

We are not our own! We are who we are because God grants us to be --

Period!!

Arise, your battle is won for you!

"...Arise for the Lord has given into your hand the host of Midian [your stronghold}." Judges 7:15

Plagued by the strongholds in your life? Then, it is time to stand up - ARISE, and hand them over to God; let him lead you into all victory. We are not to try to win our circumstances over, we are to give them to God, having complete faith in Him, knowing that He will glorify this circumstance currently plaguing you, turning it into one of your most grandest blessings.

Start thanking God for the victory before you become victorious! Thank Him for His glory and for giving you another mountain that will soon be conquered by His MIGHT.  He's got you, which means there is no more need for you to worry. Hold on, believe, and soon your time of triumph will soon come to pass!!

Build an alter

“And build an alter to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold…”

(Judges 6:26)

If any of your thoughts, attitudes, or mindsets; strongholds, are less than anything what God’s Word says, then it’s time to destroy them – burn them down!

In the same way, follow what was spoken to Gideon and build an altar – dedicated solely to God – on top of your strongholds and let God’s power take on over!! Start proclaiming what God says about you and soon those wrong thoughts, attitudes, and mindsets will be gone – blasted to infinity.

Throughout the Word there are hundreds, if not thousands, of verses to lift you up and get you thinking on what God says is true for you.  You are a fearless man, or woman, of God¹ and now is your time to shine my friend.

¹ Refer to Judges, 6:12 +Joyce Meyer's Everyday Life Bible

UP!

“…UP! For this is the day when the Lord has given Sisera [your enemy] into your hands.” Judges 4:14

Until we get UP every day, bold, determined, hope-filled, faith-filled, and full of Christ-confidence, then our days will continue to remain hopeless, dark, and lonely.

We are, we always have been, and we always will be, children of God’s! WOW – HALLELUJAH!  Therefore, GET UP, in the name of our Victor, Jesus Christ. It is time to take what is our in Him and to live the life that He died so horrendously to give us. Fear has no power over us unless we allow it.  Let’s not allow it! No, instead let’s take the advice of +Joyce Meyer’s and,

“Do it afraid.”.

The Judge of all judges

“But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer” (Book of Judges)

Like the Israelites, all we have to do is cry out to God and we are freely given the Judge of all judges, Jesus Christ.  When we cry out to Him, He comes running to deliver us from our enemies.  Praise Jesus, our Strong Deliverer.

So, cry out with all your strength to Jesus, and let Him redeem you.  He is right here, right there, right everywhere! He is ready to abound you with strength, power, and victory, transforming your life into a new realm of pure wonder.

You are blessed!!

Conquer it for good!

“When Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out.” (Judges 1:28)

When God is prompting you to go in and conquer the enemy, (addiction, stronghold, situation, or ailment), then He wants you to go in and destroy it completely.  He isn’t saying, go in, get nervous, tired of fighting, complacent, etc., and then resolve to live with it.  No, He wants you to get this enemy behind you – for good!! He has something so amazing for you, but if you aren’t willing fight, fight hard, and keep fighting, then your God given blessing will always remain untouchable for you. 

Fight with all your might; do what you can do, and God will see to it that the rest is taken care of for you.  God loves us! He wants us to be bold, faithful, courageous, and determined when it comes to following Him. You are His child! So, be courageous and bold, and then you will see His shining glory shining right through you for all the world to see.

For it is the Lord your God who…

“For it is the Lord your God who… “

(Joshua 23:3)

…‘fights for you; drives out your enemies before you; and who brought, and will bring, you out from the house of bondage…!!’

(Joshua 23:5,9,10; 24:17 – my rephrasing)

Now, who is it? You: your family; money; friends; job; good looks; personality; possessions; your talent; your…? HA! No, not even a little bit! It is God. The One who loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to bear our sins, be crucified, and die on the cross, so that we could have all the great blessing in life.

If you still don’t believe that all great things come from God, then you better start making a list of all great things obtained by you… then, kiss it all goodbye, because anyone who thinks they are the reason for their own greatness will soon watch it crumble away, like dust in the wind.

It IS all God’s and He gives it to those that believe in Him – Him alone!

He knows.

“...He Knows…”  

(Joshua 22:22)

Sin, no matter how itty-bitty, or how overwhelmingly huge, are all equal in the sight of God.  No particular sin is bigger, or smaller, than any other sin – period! Sin is sin!!

Are you in the midst of something you shouldn’t be? Do you have ‘teeny’ sins that you discount when you commit them? Is there anything you feel guilty about from the past or present?  We all fall short, so more than likely, we all have something. There is only one course of action to take once we decide to come clean:

First, STOP it! Then, repent to God Almighty through our Savior, Jesus Christ; make amends if possible; and finally, start fresh, making yourself 100% accountable from here on out. 

Sin leads only one way – backwards. Itty-bitty or extra huge, sin is sin, and they are all stumbling blocks for us, especially those of us determined to grasp, and hold on, to the life that Christ died to give us.

Do you have limits?

BOUNDARIES

There is one subject that stands out throughout Joshua, chapters 15-19: Setting boundaries (barriers, borders and borderlines, margins, walls, limits and limitations, etc.). Do you have them? Honestly, have you set yourself some boundaries within your life, your family, and your beliefs?  If not, GET SOME! Where do you start? That’s the easy part - prayer.  

If boundaries and borders were commanded by God to the Israelites, God’s children, and we, too, are God’s children, then you can bet we are to make them as well. Yes, we are now free to make our own choices, thanks be to Jesus, but it is unquestionably in our best interest to follow what was commanded from day one. Why? Because, without a doubt, there is one thing that hasn’t ever changed: GOD IS, WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE!

How long it takes is up to you.

“How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord… has given you?” (Joshua 18:3)

Do you know that God has a special plan for you?  If not, well my friend, He does, and boy is it an amazing one; take hold of this fact and don’t let it out of your mind – ever!

Then, when you get that fact deeply embedded into the deepest, most inner parts of your soul, you have to decide if you want it bad enough. So, do you?  If you do, you truly do want that life, then get up ~ go get it!

Unless you step up, and step out in faith, God will let you remain where you are; but boy oh boy, if you take that first true step of faith then He’s going to grab hold of you and life will never be the same again.

Be amazed!!

God will clear the path before you

…if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out…” (Joshua 14:12)

Want to be victorious in every step of your life? Then, obediently, confidently, graciously, and humbly let God go before you – you follow His lead.

Want to be defeated in every step of your life? Then, obediently, confidently, graciously, and humbly lead yourself – follow your own lead.

Two choices, you pick. 

Oh, and one more thing to remember: Life and death are continuously before you and choosing God equals choosing Life!!

Cower NOT!

Fear not…

“Fear not” means:

Cower NOT! Chicken out NOT! Doubt NOT! Worry NOT! Anxious NOT! Shrink back NOT! Hide NOT! Run NOT! 

WHY?

       Because God has already won the battle for you, and He wants you living ONLY for all the good things He has for you!!