Tiniest of Seeds
"He told me all that I ever did." - the Samaritan woman in John 4:39
Yes, life is messy and integration of Jesus and faith with life often doesn’t look like what we thought it was “supposed” to or think it "should" look like. Are we shocked? We are literally told by Jesus that this life is full of trials. Yet we as we show up we can heal and grow in ALL God promises. He has after all, overcome. We can too.
He saved me. I can’t say it more clearly than that. Yes, Jesus has proven to me to be the ultimate answer. Has it been easy? No. It’s been 25 years of a winding road that he has made straight. As I continue to walk it out, I can’t help but testify - and to talk with others in their own unique places on the discipleship road. How amazing.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Tiniest of Seeds
Surrender: Five Minutes of Scripture Spoken When Feeling Very Uncomfortable Today
Today was a battle. I used the tools I've learned and the armor of God and I stood in truth. And I reached out for prayer. I shot out a text to a few friends "Will you pause to pray for me? I'm very uncomfortable emotionally and I feel like I'm gonna crawl out of my skin." I am so grateful I've learned to reach out instead of close in! I'm getting a lot better at actually doing it.
I think we forget that in fact, Jesus Christ is a risen savior who has won the victory for us. Today I felt like it was impossible to not revert to old patterns of anxiety and spinning and distraction to "manage" my circumstances. So, I reached out for prayer, I bowed before the Lord, I threw off the weights that entangle, and then I sat down and recorded myself speaking the things I know to be true DESPITE. Sometimes, surrender seems out of reach, and victory certainly does as well. But, he has defined our victory! And when we show up, the Spirit within does in fact always deliver on the promises of God. Sometimes, I still stumble. Today, I remained in Him when it felt impossible and I am grateful. Tomorrow is a new day with new mercies to receive. Praise be to God.
Also, Google each of the phrases for the references!
Is your power made perfect in weakness? When I'm weak, are you strong? Am I a new creature? Am I dead to sin and alive to Christ? Can I walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desires of my flesh? Are you bigger than the storm? Can you calm my anxious mind? Can I truly be anxious for nothing? Can I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Will I be filled If I open wide my mouth? Will you fill it? Do I have everything that I need for life and godliness? Can I come to you and say give us this day our daily bread, deliver me from temptation. Am I set free from the law of sin and death?
Laurine:When I call, do you answer? Are you able to do exceedingly, more abundantly than all that I ask or think, according to the power that is at work within me, can I truly take captive every thought that sets itself up against knowledge of Christ? Do I truly not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers? Does the evil one seek to kill and rob and destroy? But have you come that I might have abundant life? Do you truly have streams of living water that can flow from within? Do you follow me all the days of my life with mercy and goodness. Do you anoint my head with oil? Does my cup overflow? Do you prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies? Are you my refuge and my strength? Are you my very present help in trouble? Is your arm not too short to save and your ear not too deaf to hear?
Laurine:When I call out to you, do you answer? Can I truly meditate upon you in the watches of the night? Can I come to you and be yoked? Will you give me rest when I am burdened and heavy laden? Do you know every thought that I have? Even if I go into the depths of the earth, if I descend into hell, even there you are with me. Is that true? Did you create me for your glory? Did you knit me together, knowing everything about me? Lord Jesus Christ, have you conquered sin and death? Have you overcome the grave? Is the same power at work within me that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead? Do I have the mind of Christ? Can the eyes of my heart be enlightened that I know the hope of my calling and the glorious inheritance that I have? Can I have not only godliness but power? Can I have the fear of the Lord, that is the beginning of knowledge. Do you give me all wisdom? Do you lead me into truth? Spirit, do you counsel me and guide me and instruct me? Are you given to be my helper and my comforter? If I resist the devil, will he flee? Do I have the authority, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to say to a mountain move? Do I have the faith of a mustard seed? Have you given me faith? Yes, lord, you have given me faith. Can I submit myself to you as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable?
Laurine:Jehovah Tzidkenu, you are my righteousness. Jehovah Nisi, you are my banner. Shalom, my peace. El Roy, god, you see me. Jehovah Jireh, you are my provider. Jehovah Rapha, you are my healer.
Laurine:Jehovah Ra, you are my shepherd. You lead me by streams of water. Can I receive that? You stand at the door and you knock and say yes, let me in. I'll come in and eat with you. Lord, I invite you in. I say yes. I want to hunger and thirst for righteousness. I want to seek after you with all of my heart, soul and strength.
Laurine:Holy Spirit, equip me. I do put on the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. I will lift up my voice to the Lord. I will not grumble or complain. I will stand clothed in those robes of righteousness, as a daughter of the king, joint heir with Christ, seated even now in the heavenly places.
Laurine:In Christ, this life, I live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. You healed my diseases. That you redeem my life from the pit. You hold all things together. Thank you, jesus and you, I live and move and have my being. That you redeemed my life from the pit. You hold all things together. Thank you, jesus. In you I live and move and have my being. I thank you for surrender, that I can choose to come and say I surrender, I surrender all. Holy Spirit fill me and equip me so that I can walk according to the good and perfect will of the Lord, god Most High. Thank you that no temptation has overtaken me, but such as is common to man, that you are faithful. You will not allow me to be tempted above that which I'm able, but will also provide a way of escape that I will be able to bear it. I thank you, lord. I can submit myself to you. I can resist the devil and he will flee. And so, listener, I don't know if you were struggling, that was born out of my desperation.
Laurine:This afternoon I'm going through some tough stuff and I have felt like I'm going to crawl out of my skin. But you know what? I do believe that those things are true. His power is perfected in my weakness, and so I surrender. I surrender afresh, I surrender anew Because I get to come just as I am and I get to look back to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and I get to say no to that spirit of fear and say yes to that power of love and a sound mind.
Laurine:I get to say, yes, I am perfect and blameless because of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I get to know again that his power is perfected in my weakness and that truly, I'm accepted just as I am, right here right now, defined by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's the case for you today too. So I pray that you will receive these truths and say yes and amen. Every one of his promises is yes and amen. Lord, we surrender and submit anew. Your mercies are new every morning. You are faithful and good. Restore into us the joy of our salvation. We receive it anew In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen.