Heavy Wet Blanket

It's our human nature to default into a mindset of hopelessness when we are in a time of waiting. When everything around us seems to be falling apart, and dark clouds are looming we can succumb to that easily. Especially when the time of waiting is long. Our only hope is in Christ. To read his word that speaks so lovingly over us. As his children we are set apart in him completely forgiven and completely loved. There is no condemnation in Christ. (Romans 8:1)

Like a caterpillar that is bound by a cocoon we must push and exercise and be relentless in our transformation. In Christ we have the hope of becoming a butterfly. However, we sometimes feel that that freedom will not happen until he comes for us. But it is available to us in the waiting. We don't wait passively but through him we confidently and strenuously push through our feelings and circumstances. Our freedom is in our believing. It is in our hope in Christ. 

Feelings are a powerful force but our mindset, that we choose to have and the power of Christ in US is much more powerful. The key to our prison cell is the words of hope that Christ spoke in the New testament. It's in the words that the prophets spoke of in the Old testament. We have the key, the word of God. We just need to make sure to leave the cell and to walk in his power, going forward relentlessly in his strength, love and Hope. Throwing off that heavy wet blanket of emotions that are deceitful and putting on the robe of Glory and light is what gives us the courage to walk into freedom.

Train your mind to choose our hope in Christ over any lies that our mind or the enemy tells us. It's a moment by moment choice to rewire our thought patterns. We have several acres of property and every spring the grapevine starts taking over every plant and tree. If we don't cut it down at the root it will destroy everything beautiful. That's how we must think when it comes to our thoughts. Destroying lies at the root and creating new thoughts filled with hope and beauty. It's a choice but if we stay faithful in fighting this battle with the Holy Spirit we will see the fruit of that work which is Hope. Never give up and never stop pushing through. As hard as it is to get out from under a big, heavy wet blanket, Romans 5:3-5 says, "Suffering produces perseverance, which in turn creates character and Hope."

John 16:7 says, "It is better that I leave you now because I will send you the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter." Jesus was physically present with the disciples but the Holy Spirit  indwells us. We are not alone and he has given us everything we need to survive this earthly terrain. And not just this earthly terrain but to battle the powers and principalities that are constantly at war to derail us.

I encourage all of us to daily put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) and draw our sword of the spirit which is the Word of God to slay any lies or emotions that get in our way. Is it exhausting? Yes, but Christ empowers us not only by making us soldiers who battle in His strength as he goes before us. But, also by the blessings of rest and the joy of our salvation. Walk with him 24/7, 365, keep your lamps full (Matthew 25:1-13) and your eyes gazing upward. For he is coming soon. (Thessalonians 4:16)