Complete and Lacking Nothing

Yesterday, as I was running errands, I unexpectedly found myself under attack. I didn't know it when I left the house that morning but my enemy was laying in wait for me along my path. Being caught off guard I allowed him to get in a few heavy hits but then my training kicked in and with one move I knocked him out. But not without learning a valuable lesson in the process.

You see in the past I have struggled with self worth and confidence but over the last year or so the Lord has been building me up. Showing me who I am in him, who he has created me to be and the strength that I can find in him through his word, his Son and his Holy Spirit. So when I found myself being tested in this area my flesh thought it knew all the answers. It cried out, "Validate me, Give me worth, Satisfy me!" Although it's voice was weak, hearing it filled me with fear and anxiety and I thought, this is not right, this is not the correct answer. That's when I hear another voice, louder than the first saying, "There is nothing that this world can offer that is better than what I already have. I am priceless gem in the hands of my Father. His word gives me satisfaction and joy and through it I have many blessings." It was the voice of  my spirit echoing the voice of my Father.

After hearing the truth of who I am I was encouraged and reminded that there was a reason this sudden attack came to me. While driving in my car I began to speak out loud to myself and to the spirits in the air, "I am a threat to the kingdom of darkness. I am a threat to the kingdom of darkness. I am a great threat to the kingdom of darkness. I am a GREAT threat to the kingdom of darkness." And that's where I really found my confidence because I knew that the attack itself was not important, what was important was the reason for the attack which was to debilitate me because I am a great threat to the kingdom of darkness. God is preparing me - training me - to be a valiant warrior for His kingdom. To bring hope and deliverance to those who are captive through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

So what started as a attack on my weaknesses ended as a display of His strength. And I'm ok with that because at the end of the day I am purified and He is glorified.

My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete and lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4

Being Confident

As I look around my home I feel overwhelmed by all my shortcomings. Projects that were started with vigor and excitement lay abandoned. Many chores remain undone. Worst of all, things that should have been priority were once again pushed to the back burner, left to be attended to another day. Today is Thursday but my thoughts have already taken me well into the weekend without a moments rest. I'm frustrated with myself for falling into this pitfall once again. I should be disciplined. I should be organized. I should be focused. I should be diligent. I should be better. I have too much responsibility to be living so irresponsibly. 

Wow. Being hard on yourself much?

A voice has broken through my disappointment.

No. I'm not being hard on myself. I'm just speaking the truth. It's time for me to get my stuff together. I've been down this road too many times. 

Yes, you can be a bit flighty and you often get caught up in distractions but don't forget the good you've done. Don't forget the battles you've won. Don't forget the progress you've made. The most beautiful things in life take time reach perfection. It's through my might that you have done all these things and it is by my will that you will do much more.

 

These words are like a soothing balm to my heart. All my anxieties, my stresses, my doubt's and my fears are melted away. I still have areas where I need to grow but I also still have the God who brought me through my past struggles and who will lead me through my future sufferings. And He is all I need. 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6