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

You have been set free…for many it may sound good, but the reality of their current situation is far removed from it. They may even feel completely barred from freely possessing and enjoying life at all. But Jesus came into this world to set us free, and if you’ve accepted Him into your life, you will know the truth, and that redemptive revelation of who you are in Him will liberate you. The situation may not change…but you will change within it.

Hosea 10:12 ” Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.”

Before you can plant, you must till the fallow soil. The ground may be hardened and full of weeds and rocks, but if the soil is well turned, the seed will grow and the rains will be able to soak in. As it is with our hearts…now is the Season to seek Him and to plow up the fallow areas of our hearts. Allow the showers of righteousness to soften your heart so that the fruit of the Spirit may flourish there.

Hebrews 10:24 ” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

We all can use encouragement from others as we contend in this battle called life. God has put a unique group of people within your sphere of influence in order that you may inspire them towards unconditional love and doing the right thing. No one else can touch these people’s lives in a positive way like you. You can be that Barnabas -Son of Encouragement- to many around you today by simply speaking reassurance and hope.

Isaiah 44:22 “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

Just as Boaz was the Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth, Jesus has redeemed us by giving His life as a ransom for many. He only asks that we turn from where we are going, back to Him, and in doing so He will completely blot out our willful disobedience and rebelliousness. They will be gone like a vapor and we will be fully restored to Him.

John 5: 8-9 ” Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured, he picked up his mat and walked.”

If you read through the Gospels, Jesus did a lot of healing on the Sabbath which in turn upset the Pharisees, the Jewish Leaders of the Law. On one hand, they could not deny the healed person standing in front of them, but they also believed Jesus was guilty of not “keeping the Sabbath” by healing the person in the first place. I rather think that Jesus enjoyed healing people on the Sabbath to show the Pharisees that He alone was “Lord of the Sabbath” and thus totally unencumbered by their strict rules and regulations.

Psalm 3:3 ” But you are a shield around me, O Lord…”

A while back I was driving home from work on a busy Highway, when suddenly a car cut in front of me, causing me to stomp on the brakes. I was complaining about the driver out loud, when the Holy Spirit reminded me to be kind to one another. begrudging I agreed and continued on only to be cut off again by a car. Now I was really upset and complaining about the incompetent drivers on the road. But again the Holy Spirit reminded me to be kind. As I started down the off ramp, I saw the lights change at the intersection below to green, but as I approached there suddenly came out of no where a car running the red light at 50-60 miles an hour. At that moment the Holy Spirit spoke quite distinctly telling me that if He had not slowed me down by those two cars cutting in front of me I’d been hit directly by that speeding car and would be dead. I thanked Him for my life and asked forgiveness for my pettiness.

II Coronicles 20:15 “…this is what the Lord says to you:’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ “

We look at the insurmountable struggle in front of us with a sense of dread and hopelessness, knowing we’re not up to the battle. But the Lord is not asking us to do the fighting at all. He wants us to simply watch while He contends on our behalf. So, take your eyes off the battle, and put them on Him.

Psalm 40:6 ” Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.”

When a slave had fulfilled his servitude, but wanted to remain in the household, they would pierce his ear with an awl against the doorpost. This was a sign that he was now a permanent slave, staying by his free will. The Lord doesn’t desire animal sacrifices and offerings from you, what He wants is the total surrender of your heart and life to Him. The pierced ear of the permanent slave was an outward sign of an inner commitment to his master… have you made that same commitment to your Master?

I Peter 5:7 ” Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

My son is back in the USA from a trip overseas. I can’t say much, but I can tell you that the underground Church in China have 9,000 new Bibles thanks to a group of very brave men. As he was leaving, the Lord reminded me of when he and his brother were young. My ex-husband had decided to move 500 miles away to go back to college, and the boys thought it would be a great adventure to go with him. For 6 months I had no communication and no idea where they were. I finally did track them down through the school district, but it was of little comfort. That Sunday I went up to the altar at church and literally turned both my hands palm side down and gave my boys to the Lord. I knew He loved them much more than I ever could, and that He would watch over and care for them if I couldn’t. So as he flew off for this uncertain trip, I once again gave him to the Lord for safe keeping.

Philippians 4:9 ” And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

We look at this verse and suddenly we’re a little kid looking through the Sears Christmas catalog exclaiming…” I want this, and this, and this, OH, and this!!” It says that God will fully supply all your needs, but what we think are needs and what He thinks may differ greatly. Our needs could be just selfish wants, therefore, if we allow the Lord to supply all our needs we will lack nothing in accordance to His kindness and patience towards us. These magnificent riches of His glory will be made known to us, and we shall not want.