(**Quiet the blog music first, scroll down midway on the left hand side, to "Farm Songs", then click pause)
Wow. I am so tired, but so blessed. God is so amazing. Yesterday I got back from Living Proof Live 2012. For those unfamiliar, its an amazing two day event featuring awesome worship and a great message. Beth Moore, a wonderful teacher of the Bible and Travis Cottrell, a worship leader, lead this amazing event.
I have to say I went expecting to hear something my heart needed....and I wasn't disappointed. I love when God does that!
The message presented was so very relevant: Running our Race Unhindered. Running without baggage that drag us down, fatigues us, making us stumble. It was about losing our shackles that make us ineffective. And that its only in this manner we'll have endurance to get to the finish line.
I did a lot of soul searching during the conference: God revealed my shackles. I've been toting unnecessary baggage all my life: I've been traveling with FEAR. I run my race with fear dragging not only from my ankles, but my waist, and my wrists....and my head. I give my fears to the Lord just to pick them up again. Why do I do that? Really, its so dumb. Who runs a marathon carrying an arm load of bar bells???
The odd thing: my fears are perceptions and possibilities (not even reality). I fear expectations. Perceived expectations.....(and I guess some real ones). I fear them, because it could be proof I don't measure up (another fear mine...lol). And my deepest fear: rejection for "not measuring up". Rejection...oh, I hate (and fear) the thought! Anyway, you get the picture....Fear is a huge hindrance for me. I've spent a good deal of my life shackled by FEAR. I hate fear! It's kept me from doing a good many things (that God's intended me to do). I've been ineffective because of FEAR!
I want to run freely. It's funny how when you live with something for awhile you cease to see it. Fear at times has dictated my life. It's like I have a big "F" on my forehead painted in red, however, when looking in the mirror, I don't see it. Yet, I sit on the side lines of life not participating because of it. Fear has held me back from being who God has made me to be. It has hindered me from reaching my God-ordained destiny. My shackles have held me captive. And....when I am shackled, I am right where the enemy wants me.
God showed me this weekend that to run the race marked out for me, FEAR must be eliminated. And...I know I can't do that without my Savior. He's my redeemer. I only need ask Him, and He'll adjust my focus (with a lens eliminating fear). He doesn't want me wearing shackles. My shackles hold me captive with lies.
It's terrible how long the "F" has been on my forehead and the shackles on my ankles. I pray He removes them from today....and tomorrow.....and the rest of my life.....
I can't live life without difficulty, but I want to live it unhindered! I don't need to be afraid.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12: 1&2.
A few notes from the conference:
- Disappointment - (without) Hindrance= Faith
- Devastation - Hindrance= Trust
- Injustice - Hindrance= God's Vengeance
- Handicap - Hindrance= Hero
- My Pain - Hindrance= My Passion
- My Life - Hindrance= My God Ordained Destiny
Running without hindrance....that's what I want.
*Notes and ideas are taken from Beth Moore's Living Proof Live 2012 Boise Conference.
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