Devotion for the day: "From the inside out"

The King's daughter in the inner part is all glorious (All glorious is the princess within her chamber); her gown is interwoven with gold. Psalm 45:13

This verse is talking to us about being beautiful, glorious and full of truth on the inside; within ourselves. It is not what lies on the outside...physical beauty, riches and popularity are not of importance to God. He cares about our values, our inner being. During the Christmas season we walk by many store windows and beautifully wrapped presents with perfect bows. On the outside these presents look desirable, but really they are just for "show." These beautifully wrapped presents are really just empty boxes. Our lives can smybolize this same picture. We are seem as beautifully wrapped presents in God's eyes, but are you empty? Are you filled with values and morals and good judgment? Or are you just for "show"....

Many of your lives may look attractive on the outside, and others may even be envious of the things you have or the way you live. But really, deep within yourself you are nothing but an empty tomb. With nothing valuable or of worth to offer to others. This may sound harsh, but for many of us in this world it is truth. Today's devotional asks us to stop worrying so much about outer beauty, out appearance, out worth and start focusing on what lies within. This world's approval is not needed. It doesn't matter how popular you are, how expensive your belongings, how beautiful or handsome you are. If your inner Spirit is dry and empty then what good is that?

God wants each of to focus on our inner life. We must look at our motivations, our values, our priorities and our attitudes. If we submit to God and ask Him to guide our lives HE WILL. If we ask Him to give us clean hearts and new souls HE WILL. If we ask Him to change our desires from outer to inner HE WILL. We will never experience true joy and satisfaction if we live for the world and whether or not we are accepted by others.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of human beings and has the power to fill us with Himself. He can fill us with God's character! In this way we can share something valuable with others... something that is deep at the core of our being. It is not something fake or superficial. It is real.

Focus on your inner life more than your outer life.

Verses i'm focusing on during this tough season in my life:

Brother and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. -Philippians 3:13

Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not see it? -Isaiah 43:18-19

Songs on my heart:
God is able- Hillsong
He has overcome- Hillsong

                      As the old identity dies, the new identity is born.

                          I will claim my identity back again. slowly. i'm not giving up.

Isaiah 43:1-4

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  ---> Fear not, God is with you. He knows you by name. He loves you. No matter what you are facing, no matter how bad it hurts. When you pass through the waters and through the rivers He will be with you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned and the flames will not consume you. The Lord is telling us that He will be with us always, no matter what the circumstance. Take comfort in that truth.

Acts 1:7-8

Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ---> Jesus tells us that it is not for us to know God's timing or the seasons He has for us. He has put us in this moment in time by His authority and He sees our entire future in one blink. And remember, God has our best interest in mind. The Holy Spirit will give us the power and the strength we need to endure. We will be God's witnesses, shining His character and His truth in our daily lives.

Psalm 147:3
God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on God for He cares for you.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.

Matthew 6:8
God knows what you need before you even ask Him.


The end of our self is our beginning place in God..
"When we have come to the end of ourselves, we have come to the beginning place with God."

There always comes a time of elimination. The earth sheds
each year. The trees and flowers let go of their identity.
As the old identity dies, a new identity is born. The body
sheds constantly. Some of it happens invisibly; so naturally
and silently that we do not realize it is happening. The
heart and the spirit also shed. They shed the emotions and
experiences that we no longer need. They shed the things
that stunt our growth. This, too, is an invisible process.
Yet because of the energy involved, the emotional energy,
we often feel the emotional and spiritual shedding; it feels
as if we are dying. We are. Just like the flowers and the
trees, we are dying to an old identity. This shedding, or
death, is not the end of us, it is the beginning.


Artists i'm listening to...
Jillian Edwards
Jenny and Tyler
JJ Heller

If you had a rough day today, just read these quotes. I hope they strengthen your broken heart..

Thankful for my beautiful new friend Kenna for making me this photo..

Scripture to meditate on-

Psalm 29:11

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength
to his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Exodus 14:13-14

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today...The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 

Psalm 107:9

For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

2 Corinthians 7:10-13

Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

Inspiration for you all... Just know that all of your trials and all of your struggles bring you that much closer to God. It makes you more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more human, more passionate, more humble, more pure, more responsible.. the list could go on and on.You can come out of your adversity with a purity of heart. Newfound strength that only couldve been attained from accepting that struggle and pursuing through it. We don't know God's ultimate plans for our lives, that is the mystery of the Lord. We will never know why certain things happen, but we do know one thing, GOD IS GOOD. He is so good, so perfect and He is Love. He only wants the best for us, and cares more then anyone else on this earth cares for us. It's hard to look at adversity and pain and think "this is good" but in the end when you conquer that trial I guarantee you will be a better person. You will build inner strength and you will comfort others who go through trials similar to yours. Everything has a purpose. God doesn't make mistakes and He can't do evil. Just know that.

He is carrying you through this.

Songs on my heart...

Audrey Assad- Carry Me

 

Thanking God for your trials turns burdens into blessings..

 Substance Church Sermon- Understanding the Supernatural Part 2

If you follow Christ you will experience miracles. John 14:12 says, "very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things then these." Many of us ask the question, "why do we not experience miracles all of the time if we are following the Lord?" There are many reasons we are not experiencing miracles all of the time, the first being spiritual warfare. There is a war here on earth caused by the evil spirits of Satan. There is a constant battle between the truth and a lie. We fail to experience God's miracles because of a lack of faith. Mark 6:5-6 tells us that Jesus went to his hometown but could not do any miracles there because of the people's lack of faith. It's not that Jesus chose not to do miracles there, rather, he could not do any miracles because they had such little faith in Him. Other reasons for the absence of miracles in our lives in our lack of persistence and lack of purity. Maybe God is working a bigger plan then what we can see? Maybe we aren't praying insync with God's will? These are questions we can meditate on and ask ourselves.

How can we hear the supernatural, prophetic voice of God? How do we know if God is telling us something or if it is merely our own thoughts? It's so important that we discern the difference between God's voice and our own.. We must use our faith to discern whether it is God's voice or simply our own thoughts. What do you mean use my faith? I mean, use what you know about God, what you know about the Scriptures. When you have a certain dream or you get a certain vibe, go to God and ask Him, "Is this from you?" Then listen. We must examine our thoughts. Pastor Peter's question to "How can we hear God's voice" is this... 1. Pray. Say, God what do you want me to know? Then Listen. 2. Learn the Scriptures. Read your Bible and understand what it means. 3. Don't use phophesy to fight against Godly counsel or Godly mentors in your life. So many people are guided by God to do something through the wisdom and guidance of mentors, counselors, pastors, etc., but they are quick to reject it. They don't want to follow God's prophesy for whatever the reason may be. They are quick to play the "God card" and say, "Well God told me to do this... and it conflicts with what you are telling me." Try not to do this. 4. Immediately obey the voice of your conscience. Follow your gut instincts. If God is telling you don't rent that movie, then don't rent it. If God is saying don't go out tonight, then stay in. Listen to the immediate instinct you have in your heart. If we do these things, or try our best to, we are able to hear God's prophetic, supernatural voice leading us...

Songs on my heart...
Jon Foreman- Your love is strong
Hillsong- Saviour King


I encourage you all to let God have His way with your heart. Simply talk to Him. Pray. Say, "God I want to follow Your purposes and your plans, for without them I will never be satisfied." The truth is this: without God's plans being lived out in our lives we will never feel content, never be satisfied. We will be restless, tiresome, meaningless souls... searching for satisfaction in all the wrong things.

                                                                All things new

All I want is to live a life of peace and joy, following God's specific plans for my life. I want what He wants for me, not what I want for myself. I've grown, i've changed. Life doesn't get any easier, but YOU get stronger. Adversity makes your faith stronger. Want to get married and have my own family.. while teaching my high school health class and living in a cute, cozy house with just enough money to get by. Nothing fancy. Simple & beautiful.

Scriptures on my heart this week...

Isaiah 30:19-22
You will weep no more. How gracious will He be when you cry out for help. As soon as He hears He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden more. Your own eyes will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way to go; walk in it." Then you will desecrate your idols and you will throw them away and say to them, "away with you."

Psalm 147:3
God heals the brokenhearted, He binds up their wounds.

2 Corinthians 1:5
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again...

Psalm 119:45-50
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings and I will not be put to shame.
For I delight in your commands because I love them.
I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Songs on my heart...
Steady my heart (acoustic)- Kari Jobe
Mighty Wave- Sarah Reeves

                                          Let God In