Ease, Peace, and Fearlessness

TRUTH

The crooked paths made straight

God first. First, God!

"... First, seek the counsel of the Lord."

1 Kings 22:5

First, seek God; not last, not as a last resort, not if it sounds good, not if all your friends give you the wrong answer... NO - FIRST seek God! FIRST! 
Not only will God save you a ton of time and unnecessary mistakes, but he will also be your ease and grace as you move forward with your life in confidence and strength.

When God is the center, the possibilities are endless.

"Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you."

Jeremiah 32:17

For you and I, the scene before us may seem impossible.  However, when we change to the scene in front of us to the face of Christ within our hearts, then the challenge turns into a piece of cake, for nothing is too hard for our God.  So, don't give up, do what you can do, and then let God take care of the rest.

Inquire of God - he will answer

"... he inquired of the Lord... The Lord answered..."

1 Samuel 23:2

This is simple: ask God - he will answer.  

Hence, make life easy on yourself  - Ask God!

The shadows of the mountains

"Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men."

Judges 9:35

Are your fears real?  Are your fears something from reality that you've let grow stronger and stronger in your mind by feeding them with, "what if's?"; are your fears tormenting you because of what has happened to you in the past or because of what the world says is going to happen?  My friends, God does not rule you with fear and torment, the devil does.  Therefore, if fear has you handicapped, tormented, and afraid to move forward, then you've gotten in the wrong line of who you are worshipping - it's time to step out of that line for good and get in the right line - the line of Christ.  His line gives ease and victory with no torment allowed whatsoever.  

So, step in the Good Line - step in the God-line. 

It is time for you to kick fear in the face and move past it, and having God as your leader is the only way it will happen.

Go! Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?

“... Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.  Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?”

Judges 4:14

Go already!  Today is your day.  God has already done the work for you; he’s already gone where you’ve been wanting to go and given you the victory - yes, he’s already cleared the path for you.  So what are you waiting for?  Why do you fear?  Yes, it will take some deep faith, some deep determination, and it may not be as easy as you want, but it’s yours... now go and take it.

Self-confidence vs. God-confidence

“Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless.  Cultivate God-confidence.”

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 MSG

Self-confidence caused the Israelites to be on a 40-year journey to their destination, instead of a journey that should only have taken them 11 days.  Whereas, God-confidence caused David to kill a world-renowned giant in one shot!  Therefore, whatever you think you can do in your own might, is nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to what can do in His might.  So place all of your confidence in him, take it all out of yourself; rely on his strength, not your own, and the heavy world in which you live will become a world in which living becomes easy and light, free and filling, full of peace.

Consider Jesus

"He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasure of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense)." Hebrews 11:26 AMPC

When you are tempted to sin; when you are tempted to fall into the world for what you think is a certain ease (although it is only a moment of ease, eventually leading to a long term heartache), remember the determination of Moses, and, like him, consider Jesus.  Jesus prevails over all worldly ease and quick satisfactions.  So, if you can focus on Him, not on the moment, then your decisions will be God-blessed, God-beneficial, and will bear God-bearing fruit of which you will never be ale to receive from the world.

Considering Jesus equals actions, thoughts, and decisions that reach into your eternal destiny, which is being seated in Heaven at the right hand of Jesus Christ himself.

Get away with Jesus and you'll recover your life

Jesus resumed talking to the people... "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real test.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:27-30 MSG

Enough is enough!  It is time to learn to live like Jesus and stop fretting over the world.  Life is too short and too precious to waste.  So, undress your current life, throw it in the trash, and put on the spirit of Jesus.  Not only will you shine with beauty, grace, confidence, love and joy, but you will be a living example of real living, real life, real love, real joy; you will be the living example of Jesus Christ himself.

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Want to live in victory?

Want to live in victory: light, peace, prosperity, joy, contentment, ease...; love??  Yes??

Then, stop paying attention to the world and start paying attention to God.

It is that simple!

Jen Caudle 4/23/17

https://stacylmontgomery.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/ford-god.jpg?w=225&h=225

Everything you need is found in God

"Everything you need is to be found in me, your God, the one and only God!  My paths get you to where you want to go:  Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling." Adapted from Hosea 14

Anything and everything you need can be found in God.  Seek him in every moment of your life.  And, when you do, you'll find a life with a lot less stumbles and hurdles; you'll find a life with a lot more blessings and eases. 

Yes, my friend, seek God, not man!  Seek God's way's, not your own!  Seek God's ways and find life - true, true LIFE!!

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Coming to terms

“…The king finally gave up trying to get back at Absalom.  He had come to terms with Amnon’s death.” 2 Samuel 13:37-39, MSG

Revenge does nothing to rectify a situation or to put your mind at ease.  However, giving it to God does.

What is iniquity?

“Behold, this was the iniquity…: pride, overabundance of food, prosperous ease, and idleness…neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49 AMP

Take a few moments and make sure that you don’t fall into one of these categories, either physically or mentally: conceit/pride; overabundance/overindulgence in food – hence, stinginess; ease and idleness – hence, laziness; or ignorant and selfish of others who are hurting, in need, or less fortunate.  If you do fall into one or more of the above, then it’s time for some change, and now is a great time to start. Begin by stepping down from your pedestal and stepping into the character God has created you to be; be a help to others (emotionally and/or physically), share your abundances, and lend a helping hand when you can.  Start now, before your selfish works come back to haunt you.

Remember, you are personally called by God, so answer His call - be giving, be loving, be helpful, and be a honorable and integral child of our Most High God.  Once you do, your life will change, your eyes will open, and you will personally experience the glory of His smile shining brightly over your life.