Picture your spiritual life like a house that is being remodeled.

See the wall that you erected? That needs to be torn down. It may be a wall of pride or unforgiveness or an addiction. Do you hear the power saw of God as He begins to cut that wall down? It may come down a little at a time or it may come down with a crash, but once He has begun the process, He will continue. It may depend on your receptiveness to His process on how quickly that wall will fall.

Perhaps there needs to be some rewiring done. You may be holding onto something whether it’s an incorrect belief or a misconception that you have held onto. He is working in your life to rewire that belief to His truth. Wires are behind walls, and this shows your hidden beliefs that haven’t been exposed. Or perhaps there are exposed wires showing and they have shocked those around you. Know that your Father is working in you to fix what is wrong so that you won’t push others away from you.

There is the plumber who has come to clear the sink of water that will not flush down the drain. This resembles the old – something you are holding onto that won’t allow the new water to come in. Perhaps you are holding onto grief and won’t let it go. Until you let this move through your mind, heart and spirit, your Father has no room to bring the new into your life. Do you hear that whoosh of water as it flows away from you? You are now open to the cleansing water of God as He pours into you once again.

Before you began your remodel, you need to go into your closet to clear it out. How many things are there that you are not using yet they are taking space in your life? This resembles the baggage that you are carrying in your emotional and spiritual life. Turn to the Father and ask for His guidance on the items that are cluttering your life and need to be removed. Perhaps it is a hurt that you have carried for years. It may sit at the back of the closet for long periods of time, but every so often it gets pulled out and looked at, the dust shaken off it as that past hurt is relived once again.

Just as a house remodel takes time, a spiritual “remodel” will take time as well.

The Lord is our Master remodeler, and He can make us new once again. But He will only come in when we open the door of our heart and soul to Him. When we trust in Him to rebuild us into His image. Won’t you trust Him today?

Copyright 2023

“Are you tired of carrying that cross yet?” said a woman playing Mary, mother of Jesus.

Our team was presenting a drama during a church service and this was the last service of the day and we were waiting for our cue. The man playing Jesus had carried the cross up the aisle several times already and though it wasn’t particularly heavy, the weight of it was beginning to wear on him.

Pondering these words it occurred to me that each of us is carrying a cross, or burden, of one kind or another. A cross that we’re not willing to set down at the feet of Jesus. Some of us carry a smaller cross so we either believe that we can carry it on our own, or that it’s too small to “bother” the Father. But this type of cross can become heavy.  Others will carry a large cross and will continue to buckle under its weight until being crushed completely.

Why do we do this? Do we think it’s too small to take to the Father? Or is it so large that we think that there is no way out so we continue to carry the weight ourselves?

Psalm 145:14 tells us – The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

And in Matthew 12:28-30 – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Whatever burden you may be carrying, take it to the Father today.

Father,

Thank You for your unfailing love and that You love us so deeply that You want us to bring everything to You. As I go through my day today, may You remind me of those burdens that I may be carrying so that I may bring them to You. You are the almighty, everlasting One and nothing is impossible for You. May I give you glory and praise today. Thank You for the many blessings that You have poured over me already. May Your love be reflected through me to those with whom I come into contact.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen!

³Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. ⁴ They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. ⁸ Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— ⁹ for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then they went home. – John 20:3-10 (NLT)

This portion of the scripture begins when Mary Magdalen went to Jesus’ tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away. She ran and found Peter and John, who then ran for the tomb. As you read the passage, you see that John arrived at the tomb first, but rather than going in he stops and looks into the tomb. Peter – the impetuous disciple – arrives and promptly enters the tomb. He didn’t stop first to see what, if anything, was inside but rushes right into the tomb.

Who are you like – Peter or John? Do you rush into your time with the Father headfirst? Or are you more like John, more deliberate and cautious? There are advantages to both and I would probably classify myself as being more like John. But oh to be like Peter sometimes! To rush in and anticipate what the Lord is going to do. To have that fire burning to spend time with the Father and then to rush without hesitating to do as He asks me to do.

Now that I’m more aware of my tendencies, may I sometimes act like Peter rushing in to do what the Lord asks me to do.

Father,

Thank You for the lessons that You provide to us in Your word. May Your Holy Spirit be with me as I read Your word and apply it to my life. May I be obedient to You in doing what You ask me to do, and going where You ask me to go. May You continue to work through me in whatever way You choose.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Every day I read devotionals from various sources and this past week I read two on having big dreams. Most of the time I can read my devotionals and walk away and forget them, but for some reason these have stuck with me.

Our God can do much, much more than we can think or imagine, so why do we tend to shy away from asking Him for our big dreams? Could it be that we’re afraid that He won’t answer us – or maybe we’re afraid that He will. For if He does answer us, what might He ask of me?

What’s your big dream? What is it that you have longed for, but haven’t asked Him?

In John 16:24 Jesus tells us, “You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” Did you see that? He says abundant joy. I believe that this will happen for us when we pray what His will is for us.

My big dream has been with me for some time now, but the timing hasn’t been His timing. That’s not to say that I don’t think of it and plan for it, but I’m waiting on His timing otherwise it’s not going to happen. Several years ago I attended a Beth Moore event and something that she said took root in me and the Holy Spirit gave me inspiration for a book or series of books. It will take time for research and then the writing, but it’s something that I anticipate with great joy.

This morning I woke and had the undeniable urge to write. In my quiet time with the Father, I believe that He’s told me to write these blog posts for now and that this will lead to something else.

As I’m beginning to pursue my big dream, I hope that not only will you travel with me in this new adventure, but that you will begin to pursue your own big dream as well. Each journey begins with the first step. Step out with me in faith as we follow the Father’s lead.