Monday Morning Memo: That Gut Feeling

Guilt.  The dictionary says that this word means, “the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously; feelings of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy.”  It’s a word which can conjure up so many different feelings.  There are times when it is good that we feel guilt…when we realize we have done something wrong and we need to make things right.  But, unfortunately, there are times when, even though we have confessed our wrongdoing…guilt continues to plague our thoughts and actions.

 

The fourth truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

4. The cross has the final word.

 

The work Jesus did on the cross defines your life.  It gives you victory over death.  You are identified with Christ.  You are a brand-new creation.  You are not unwanted, unlovely, or worthless.  You are wanted by God, made in the image of God, and worthy of Christ’s love because He has chosen to place worth upon you.  Your identity was born in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

 

Don’t let anyone try to convince you of anything that wasn’t demonstrated to you when Christ gave His life for you.  You are forgiven.  Made right.  You are holy in Christ.  You are born into a new family.  Woven into divine plans and purposes.  Your guilt is gone.  You are free.

 

So plant this thought by memorizing this verse, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away.  Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

It is so easy to be consumed with guilt.   All of us have things in our past which we wish we could do over.  Misspoken, hurtful words.  Actions which we knew at the time were not what we should be doing…but we did them anyway.  Decisions which we knew would have negative effects on others and wouldn’t be pleasing to God…but we made the choice to go ahead, regardless of the consequences.   As a result, in the quiet of the night, guilt is the underlying feeling in our gut.

 

Fortunately, there is an answer to our guilt.  There is someone who took that guilt upon Him and died on a cross for you and for me.  As a result, when we ask Christ to forgive us of our past transgressions…we can be free from that guilt.  Believe it or not…He forgives and forgets!  Our slate is washed clean.  We can be freed from that guilt that eats away at our gut.  On our own it isn’t possible…but God!  HE makes all the difference.

 

Satan wants you to dwell on your guilt.  He wants you to lie awake at night…playing your past over and over in your mind.  He wants to wreck your sleep.  He wants to wreck your health.  He wants to wreck your relationships.  And above all, he wants to destroy your relationship with your Heavenly Father because he knows if he can keep you dwelling on your past transgressions…you won’t have freedom and victory. 

 

Is guilt overtaking your thoughts today?  If so, I want to urge you to picture your Savior…allowing himself to be nailed to a cross…so that you can be freed from that guilt.  Do you think He would have done that and then thought you weren’t worthy to be forgiven?  I don’t think so.  Give it all to Him today…asking Him to forgive you of any past transgressions…and then live in the freedom for which He gave His all.  Remember, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away.  Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

AMEN!

Monday Morning Memo: Living for What Matters

Last week we looked at the truth that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made.  We were reminded that we are not a mistake and that God loves us and deems that we are precious and valued. 

 

I think once we can believe that…it makes the third truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, easier to accept.  He wrote:

3. My life has purpose.

 

You were born for a noble reason.  God has good things for you to do.  He has called you to live for what matters.

 

So plant this thought by memorizing this verse. “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

 

Random things are random.  Evolved things are void of specific meaning.  But created things have purpose.  There is just one you.  You have a unique calling, a reason for being.  Something to do in God’s great story that is important and needed.

 

Don’t buy into the lie that you are expendable.  You’re not.  God put you on earth for a purpose. Your life matters, to Him and to those He is positioning you to serve.          

 

If God created us to be unique…doesn’t it make sense then that He has a purpose for each of us to live out?  Why would He have gone to all the trouble to make sure we were created in His image…to then just “roll the dice” as to what we should be doing and who we should serve?  What a waste that would be.

 

No, He made you and me with exactly what we need to fulfill His plan.  What He has called you to do is more than likely, entirely different from what He has called me to do and that is all part of His design.  How boring it would be if we were all created to do the same thing.  

 

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Variety is the spice of life”.  This phrase was first recorded in 1785 in William Cowper’s poem, “The Task,” where he expressed that having diverse experiences adds flavor to life.  It emphasizes the importance of encouraging individuals to explore new interests and interactions.  This reminds us that because of our differences, we each play an integral part in God’s plan and purpose and life is much more fun when we are all doing our part.  As Mr. Giglio said, “There is just one you.  You have a unique calling, a reason for being.  Something to do in God’s great story that is important and needed.”

 

I realize that you may not have a clue as to what God’s purpose is for your life.  You may feel like you are floundering and believe it really isn’t important whether you are a part of His plan or not.  You couldn’t be more wrong!  Because you are uniquely designed…if you aren’t fulfilling your purpose…something will be lacking.  Can God accomplish His plan without you?  Yep, He sure can.  But because He loves you so much…He would much rather fulfill His plan with you by His side. 

 

If you aren’t sure of your purpose, I want to urge you to begin praying for God to show you the next step to take.  He will gladly direct you and give you what you need…exactly when you need it.  In doing that, you will begin to feel fulfilled as He unfolds His perfect plan for your life.  Remember, YOU were born for a noble reason.  God has good things for YOU to do, and He has called YOU to live for what matters!

Monday Morning Memo: But God

As I shared at the end of my blog post last week, the 2nd truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, was, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.  UGH.  To a person whose body is wired backwards, this is a very hard truth to accept.

 

From a person who has fought with serious health issues for many years, it is very hard for me to think of my body as being wonderfully made.  I’ve always said that God must have used leftover parts to assemble my body…because it sure doesn’t act or react like a “normal” body.  

 

This is what Mr. Giglio wrote concerning this truth:

 

You weren’t born by a random act of the cosmos.  God made you with intention, and God made you wonderfully.  God has redeemed you and knows your name (Isaiah 43:1)

 

So plant this thought by memorizing these verses: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.  I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

 

You are not the maker.  You are made.  God is not created in your image, how you might think He should be.  You are created in His.  He decided that He wanted you in His universe.  He imagined and fashioned you.  You are not accidental.  Nor incidental.  You are divinely crafted.  

 

Plant this seed every day.  In time, you’ll have an oak providing shade for you and those around you.  You’ll begin to believe that you are who God says you are.  Unique.  Special. Valuable.

 

As I read this truth over and over again…God began to speak.  I was reminded that my body is not an accident.  God didn’t create me and then say, “Oops…I sure messed that one up!”  No, I was created perfectly, but if God has allowed things to develop in my body that are far from perfect, He must have a reason and a purpose.

 

The phrase “fearfully and wonderfully made” kept going through my mind, so I googled it and a YouTube cartoon came up with Jesus talking to a child (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jVgdnq-5fKE)  Their conversation went like this:

 

CHILD:  Jesus, what does Psalm 139:14 mean?

 

JESUS:  It is my reminder to you that you are not a mistake.  I formed you with intention, with care and with a plan only you can fulfill.  Fearfully and wonderfully made means every part of you…your heart, mind and spirit reflects my creativity and love.

 

CHILD:  But Jesus, sometimes I feel weak, small or not enough.   How do I believe this is true and how do I think I am fearfully and wonderfully made when I feel insecure?

 

JESUS:  Step by Step:

1.     See yourself through my eyes.  I know every thought, every struggle, every fear.  To me you are precious and valued.

 

2.     Remember, I made you intentionally…your strengths, your challenges, your unique design…all show my wisdom.

 

3.    Trust my purpose for you.  You are created to reflect glory in ways no one else can. Your life matters even when you feel invisible.

 

4.    Speak truth over yourself – declare my Word over your life…I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  God’s love is in me and I am enough in Him.  When you live from this truth insecurity loses power and my spirit fills your heart with courage and joy.

 

As I watched this video, I heard that I am not a mistake.  I am precious and valued.  I was created to reflect glory in ways no one else can…which means God has a plan for me, even with all my health issues.  His plan is for me to reflect Him in ways that are impossible for anyone else to do…because they have not been given what I have been given.  

 

I’m sure some of you are probably thinking, “Well duh, LuAnn.  You should have already known that”.  Knowing it and accepting it…are two different things.  Yes, I’ve heard this before, but when a person is in the trenches…it is so easy to forget the truth.  It’s easy to become consumed with just putting one foot in front of another…just getting through one health issue after another.  As a result, God periodically must remind us of our worth.  Remind us of our purpose.  Remind us that His plan and timing are perfect.

 

I don’t know where you are today.  You, like me, may feel like you were a mistake.  You may feel like you are a burden to others.  You may feel that there is no way God can use you…with all your health issues, faults and failures.  I’m here to tell you today, that I understand.  I know how hard and intense life can be sometimes and it is so easy to feel like we have no purpose.  

 

All that would be true…BUT GOD.  God makes all the difference.  God loves you so much and He says you are precious and valued.  He has a plan for your life that no one else on this earth can live out…but He knows that you can do it, because He will give you what you need, when you need it.  He believes in you.  Your life matters even when you feel invisible, because you my friend, were fearfully and wonderfully made!