I Will Continue!

I hadn’t planned to go there today.  But You apparently had, Lord.  Because that’s where You took me… first thing this morning.

“I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”  (Philippians 1:18b-19)

This wasn’t to be a superficial glimpse.  You meant for me to “go deep”… so I did.

“I will continue…”  By my own choice.  It will not just “happen.”  I will choose — by Your Spirit — to press in and press on, no matter what the circumstances might be.  The attitude of my heart — and the life direction my attitude energizes — will not be dependent upon my circumstances.  I may not be able to change those circumstances, but I can choose how I respond.  How I think and feel about them.  What I say and do about them.

“… to rejoice…”  To be exceedingly glad, happy,  The kind of “jump-up-and-down” and “overflowing” Joy that envelops the whole me (body, soul and spirit).

“… for I know…”  I can know some things through experience, but I can know more because of Your Word, Lord.  What You say — Your great and precious promises — are true, even if I have not yet experienced their truth for myself.  And I must be careful about my “experiences.”  How I understand or interpret them could be shaped by either Your Truth (Your Word) or the “stinking thinking” fostered by a mind that is not renewed.  A mind that is, instead, steeped with lies.

“… that through your prayers…”  Clear evidence that our prayers are vital to the outcome in a given situation!  It is the combination of our prayers and Your Spirit, Lord, that changes things.  What we pray — whether we pray — matters.

“… God’s provision…”  You provide, Lord!  You are Jehovah-Jireh!  A generous God who wants to fill us with abundant life (John 10:10) and Your divine power so we will have everything we need for life and godliness!  (2 Peter 1:3)

“… the Spirit of Jesus…”  Your Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing or an “it.”  Your Spirit is personal and reflective of You, Lord.  Your Spirit can help us become more like You — in how we think and feel, and what we say and do.  But we must surrender and embrace Your Presence in us… not ignore or otherwise resist You.

“… Christ…”  The Anointed One.  Anointed to Create.  Save.  Redeem.  Restore.  Renew.  Release.  Deliver.  Reign.  Judge.  Serve.  Sacrifice.  Love.  Lead.  And so much more…

“… what has happened to me…”  Whatever it is — the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.  No matter who is responsible for its occurrence — my own efforts and/or evil; the efforts and/or evil of others; the efforts and/or evil of the Enemy.

“… will…”  Not “can” or “could” or “might”… but WILL.  A certainty I can count on… which fills me with HOPE!

“… turn out for my deliverance.”  True and total freedom from whatever bondage my circumstances might seek to impose on me — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.

So, yes, Lord.  I WILL CONTINUE… To Rejoice.  To Pray.  To Know.  To Believe.  To Trust.  To Receive.  To Surrender.  To Follow.  To LIVE — truly live — by Faith!

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”  (Matthew 17:20-21)

Gratefully…

Expectantly…

Abba’s Girl