#Mistaken #Identity

“Fear not, I have redeemed you, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Feelings of unworthiness and condemnation used to plague me constantly, I must be honest I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered “who are you?”

It took me some time to come around and get myself sorted out I didn’t know who I was in Christ. You know I got side tracked and moved away from where I was and before long I was floundering around in a sea of despair and pain. This gave the devil ample opportunity to come along and remind me of my past sins. My mind was plagued with feelings of insecurity, feelings of uselessness and I believed that I was unworthy.

Last year I took a stand and fasted for many days, I came humbly to the Lord and repented of my sins. I confessed my thoughts and actions.  Asking for forgiveness and also forgiving myself for the sins I felt so condemned for.

I started a new journey with the Lord my God, I asked Him to help me realize who I was in Christ. Not this “mistaken identity” I assumed for myself. I have come to realize that I have been called by name and that I belong to God. I also realized that God loves me and that I am precious. I cloth myself with the Lord Jesus Christ every day and I take my thoughts captive to the Lord. I do not allow negative thoughts to come and plague my mind any more. I take up my cross each morning and I know that the Holy Spirit is with me.

I don’t need the approval of other people to live my own life, I make the decisions concerning me and God is on my side. No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

Prayer

Lord we back slide and turn away from You on many occasions. We don’t always realize the pain we inflict upon our own lives. We take a wrong turn and before long we don’t know who we are in You. Assuming “mistaken identity” without realizing what we are getting into. Smoke and mirrors and then we allow the devil a foothold in our lives. Please forgive us for our wrong turns in our lives as we repent asking for forgiveness of sins. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we pray, amen.

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#Forget!

“If you have anything against anyone, forgive him.” Mark 11: 25 (John C Maxwell, Thinking for a change.)

I love my husband and it is true we have been married for 7 years and believe me that we have conflict in our marriage.  Our conflict is due to a disagreement with how to raise his kids.  I have a different view point to him and I feel he gives them too much slack when he feels I am too rid get. 

We can go on for months and live will be perfect and one day things change and we are both upset and angry because we cannot agree about how to deal with the kids.  I read John C Maxwell’s “Thinking for a change” and it struck me that we need to learn how to deal with conflict and manage our differences.  The fact is I am learning to deal with “self-control” especially when I feel disregarded or made the scapegoat.  

John C Maxwell suggests that we need to try to forget.  To act like God when people hurt you and make you mad.  Isaiah 43 verse 25 says “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Using this verse to help me go forward is part of my study.

Believe me it isn’t easy to deal with hurt and pain and to top it off I probably am still holding onto past hurts which makes matters worse. 

Prayer

O Lord, You know my circumstances and understand where I am coming from. Today I want to pray about the person that grinds my teeth and makes me so angry, I forgive them.  Lord I set them free and ask that YOU will forgive them too.  Lord help me move forward and help me to forget what they did to offend me. I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Prayer for an Intervention in our lives.

Genesis 25: 21 “Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD answered him and his wife conceived.”

Do you need a breakthrough in your life today? As we focus on the Word for today we see that Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren.  I read this and saw the answer immediately after “and the LORD answered him and his wife conceived.”

Come and stand in agreement with me for people we love and care for. I am thinking of my own Son Jacques who needs a good job, and I am thinking of my stepdaughter Alezandra who needs a good job, I am thinking of my stepson Pieter who needs a good job. I am thinking of my Mom and her husband who need a cheaper safer place to stay. I am thinking of myself who also needs a good pay permanent job.

Humbly heavenly Father I come into Your presence today, Lord You know my heart and understand my trials and circumstances. Lord as I focus on today I want to pray asking that You will hear my prayers. Lord I bring my family to You in humble prayer asking that You will bless each person I mentioned with what they need. Lord I also pray for my friends and other family. I ask that whatever the need is that You will address it and help them. Your word shows me that Isaac receive an answer immediately. When I stand before Your Throne of Grace I am praying in humble prayer help each one of us. We need Your hand of supernatural favor in our lives today. A shift for each one of us in the Holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare the precious blood of Jesus Christ over each and every one I prayed for asking that You seal us with Your blood today. Amen

#Pray for #Peace

LORD God today I humbly come into YOUR presence and I want to declare Your Word in my life and ask for Your peace. I declare Isaiah 26 verse 3 over my life “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Psalm 29 verse 11 “The LORD give strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

LORD God please help me to understand YOUR perfect peace in my own mind so that I also may become steadfast and only trust in YOU.  LORD strengthen me and LORD bless me with YOUR peace.  LORD help me not to worry about useless things or thoughts.  I bring my heart to YOU so that it will not be troubled and help me guard my mind and heart in Christ Jesus.

Please show me what I need to confess in my own life and help me settle my nerves and calm my mind. Help me to focus on YOUR goodness and Your faithfulness and Your healing power and Your overflowing resources and Your forgiving.  Come back into my life and help me I feel I am drowning right now. ABBA Father, I truly want to know You better and I know what I need to confess in my life so that I am able to change. Today I am opening my heart, soul and mind come into my life just as I am.

LORD I am giving all my worries and concerns to You asking that You will deal with them, give me the peace of mind I need. Bless my hands today so that I am able to do my work to honor You. In the name of Christ Jesus Amen.

Take control of your thoughts

Proverbs 23: 7 “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Taking control of my thoughts has been a daily thing lately in my own life. In the past I have been so reactive and allowed people to upset me. The best part is that when I realize someone is taking up my thoughts I push them out immediately. I don’t see the use of constantly worrying about what they think of me, or whether I offended them or not. These thoughts are useless and not necessary they don’t help me grow in any way.

I want to improve my thought life and am constantly reading and focusing on God’s word. I want to grow spiritually and the word (the Bible) is my focus point.

Something that struck me was a German proverb which says: “Better an empty purse than an empty head.” Now more than ever I am constantly thinking about things, looking at how I can improve myself and become a better thinker.

I am constantly thinking ahead and I believe with foresight I might be able to change things. I don’t want to be left in the lurch. It has always been my policy to look for the best in people and not the worst.

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, I AM WHO I AM, today I want to humbly pray help me to focus on this principle in my own life. LORD I want to learn to think on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – I want to think about such things.” Please help me LORD in renewing my thought life, because I want to become more like YOU. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen