God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C.S. Lewis
When I was a kid, my grandmother watched her “stories.” What were her stories? Well, the usual suspects: Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light and of course, As the World Turns. The theme songs are ingrained in my brain like a core musical memory. When I saw the hourglass come on I thought, “Nana is going to sit on the sofa with her cigarette and watch her stories, she’s going to tell me to be quiet so that she can immerse herself in the world of soapy smut.” Funny aside, my mom told her I was not allowed to see them but my Nana’s stories were more important than my Mom’s directions.
It’s a mad world
This morning when I opened the news I thought about the swirling hour glass with sand barreling through to the bottom. Only this glass was full of chards, wind, worry, anger and an urge to scream loudly. In Luke 21 Jesus shared that as world events begin to swirl at a faster pace, some people will faint from terror because they are overwhelmed with the events in the world. I must admit dear ones, I have felt that way many times. However in that same set of scripture Jesus offers us hope. The faint of heart need not be a default mode in our lives because we choose to put our trust in Jesus. I’d like to share some scriptures of hope for you dear ones, so that when you do feel overwhelmed, you can be comforted because after all, Jesus has overcome the world!
Don’t just read God’s Word- Confess it
What place does confession have in the life of a Christian? Is confession controlling the lives of others- where does their free choice come in? Is it manipulating God? Why do we “confess” the Word of God as our prayer? Why not pray the way we always have or never at all?
What does confession mean?
Webster defines confession as “a statement of something that is believed.” We know we believe God’s Word and that God’s Word is true. We know what Father says about anything or anyone is true and if we want to pray a spotless, pure prayer we will pray what Father says. When we pray, we desire results. We know we can expect results because God so loved the World that He gave His only Son and that love will answer prayers. But do we truly know this in our heart of hearts? Or has the world crept in and filled us with fear?
Confession fills up your spirit
Confession is love in action. Jesus showed the depth of that love when He hung on that cross- giving us legal the legal right as believers to confess His Word and expect it to work for us. Our result for His agony on that cross is to have prayers answered. He suffered and died to secure for us the freedom from sin, sickness, and poverty. So we are to confess what we have as a result of His work on the cross.
God watches over His Word
Jeremiah 1:12 says God watches over His Word to perform it and Isaiah 55:11 says His Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what it is sent to do. Knowing this, we can pray what the Word says about a situation- seeing things and calling things the way Father sees them – and expect the God kind of results. We are then looking at people, problems, and situations the way He sees them- already solved by His Word when that Word hung on the cross as our substitute.
Hold fast your confession of faith
Confession- far from controlling or manipulating- is an act of supreme love and allows God the privilege of working in someone’s life to do them good. The person we pray for has a free choice, to accept what God has for them and by praying The Word on their behalf we give them the benefit of choosing either life or death, blessing or cursing, going God’s way or their own (Deut. 30:19). Since our confidence is in Father’s Word and His action on that Word, and not in the people or their actions- we are able to stand strong as we confess and not be moved by any circumstance. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised.” (Heb 10:23)
God’s Word is alive and active
As we confess His Word, believe it, read it, and act on it, we begin to merge with it and it becomes our way of life. As we live in the Word, His strength, His ability, His peace, His love, His joy, His confidence, and His faith become ours. Our love for Him and for others causes us to pray and stand in faith for them. As we pray His Word, the weary ones, the weak ones, the deceived ones, the sick ones will be ministered to, protected by and brought gently to our Good Shepherd. His love is our confession and love never fails.
Confession of My Position in Christ Jesus
Since God so loved the Word that He gave His only Son Jesus, and I have believed in Him and made Him my Lord (John 3:16; Romans 10:8-10), I am a new creature, old things have passed away, all things are new and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17-21). I have been delivered from the authority and power of darkness (sickness, disease, worry, sadness, doubt, fear, loneliness, despair, rejection) and translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son (Col. 1:13).
- I am blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:13).
- There is no condemnation and I am free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:1-2).
- I am more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37)
- I am healed and whole (I Pet. 2:24).
- I reign in life by Christ Jesus (Rom. 5:17).
- I am complete in Him (Col. 2:9-10).
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Dear ones, as the world swirls, shakes, sputters, screams and turns. Let us hold fast our confession of faith in Him. Let us cling to Him as the world becomes a darker place, we can be a light to those who need God’s perfect peace. I leave you with the last few words of the old hymn: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus-Look full in His Wonderful Face- and the things of earth will grow strangely dim- in the light of His Glory and Grace.” Selah
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