My enemy’s been poking a finger into a healing wound of mine lately. And it’s been cool to experience God’s Word fight him off.
I had a dream last night about someone taking my measurement by placing my back against a wall and then drawing a line where the top of my head reached. You’ve probably had this done as a kid or did it with your kids. This person then proceeded to tell me that I didn’t measure up and was lacking whatever was needed to succeed. Poke. I wasn’t good enough and didn’t have the right stuff to accomplish anything of value. Poke.
Dreams as well as every day experiences must be filtered through God’s Word. I just smiled when I woke up this morning. I know who and whose I am – a secure child of God. And I used specific lie fighting truths from where I just “happened” to be in my BIG reading this week – Isaiah.
The LORD said to Israel, “I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13-14)
God calls Israel a worm and little! Can’t get much lower than a worm! And, talk about not measuring up? Yet, it isn’t about the measurement of the person, but the size of God inside the person! I don’t have to measure up to what others think of me. Jesus takes me by the hand and will accomplish His will for my life (Ps. 57:2; Eph. 2:10). Armed with that truth, what did I have to be stressed over? My adversary’s poke simply hit my shield of faith and fell harmlessly to the ground leaving me smiling.
Want a smile? Be in the Word listening to Jesus give you the specific lie fighting, joy enhancing truths you’ll need to fight off your enemy’s pokes. Let me tell you something. Victory based smiling feels a whole lot better than defeated sadness.
“S”et Free Nowww

While I’m sure this has made the Internet rounds, I sense from the Lord it needs to make another pass.
“Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. Had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.”
God isn’t looking for titles, just surrendered people. He doesn’t need our abilities, He simply wants to work through us. He is more than able to change your life, He only wants you to want it changed first.
It’s not about you, but the power of the One in you. Choose today to let this Leader love on you by changing your life.
Set Free Now“W”w

I subscribe to a wonderful newsletter edited by a self described former rabbinic student, who is still very active in his orthodox Jewish faith. I say that only because it has bearing on today’s entry. It takes financial resources to keep newsletters like his operational. He rarely asks for money, but this is a season for both Christians (Christmas) and Jews (Chanukah) to think about giving financially.
He received the following email from one reader. “Why would I donate to something with the name ‘Jewish’ in it?” Now here is the damning part, “You are not of my faith. I’m a Christian and Jesus is my savior.”
I about threw up all over on my screen! What a great Jesus story presented to someone who more than likely has a right to have a hard time with the name Jesus. I wrote an apology to the editor. Apparently I wasn’t the only one.
He writes, “A number of readers wrote in the last few days. They wanted to assure me that the letter I quoted from a rather obnoxious individual describing himself as a Christian didn’t in any way reflect them personally or normative Christianity. As a member of a religious minority I, for one, am particularly sensitive about not judging groups based on individuals. But even more than that, over the last 17 years I’ve learned much about Christians. Among the most crucial: There are those who identify as Christians and then there are those who live as Christians. And there’s a huge difference.”
People are watching your life! I encourage you to talk and walk your walk with Jesus. How? Live each day with your biblical filter in the “on” position to screen out all the voices vying for your attention in order to listen to and follow Jesus in your daily life. There is tremendous power in a changed life. Please, let the Spirit change your life. You won’t be the only one to benefit from it.
Set Free Now“W”w

The Bible clearly instructs us to walk with other believers. We are to be transparent with each other, right? I thought you might get a kick out of another possible one another.
“A joyful heart (brought on by laughter) is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). Hopefully this picture was a spoonful of medicine for you this fine Friday!
Set Free Noww“W”

It’s time to exercise. Count how many times you use the word “I” and “me” or any combination of these pronouns and time yourself while doing it to see how fast it takes you to get to 100.
When you’ve reached 100, filter the time it took you through Jesus’ statement that we are to listen to Him and follow Him (Jn. 10:27): how much time do you spend thinking about and listening to yourself rather thinking about and listening to Jesus?
2 Corinthians 10:5 states we are to “demolish arguments and every pretension (the “I” problem) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” We are to tear down anything and everything that stands up to Christ, including ourselves. This exercise will help you to be honest with yourself. You, like me, probably think about yourself way too often, which if you are honest with yourself, is your major problem.
After exercising use the FREEdom process to start counting to Jesus faster than you do yourself as He is the solution to all our challenges.
Set “FREE” Nowww