The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Thursday
July 24, 2008
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed
me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He
has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come,
and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in
Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead
of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his
own glory."
Isaiah 61:1-3
This is one of the life verses God planted within me. It is the scripture Jesus used when He stepped into His ministry and it is the scripture that should propel us into God's plan for our lives.
When we first accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior the Holy Spirit came to indwell us; to recreate us, conforming us to the image of His Son. As we grow in the Christian walk and we begin to walk in His plan for our life we need a fresh touch from Him. Through what is called "the baptism of the Spirit" the Holy Spirit flows out of us anointing us with the power to carry out that will God's way. Without His anointing we operate in the flesh. We make decisions made with worldly views. We go after things that satisfy our emotions.
If God anointed Jesus Christ to bring Good News to the poor, He anoints us for the same purpose. All ministry flows from this scripture.
Getting still before the Lord is difficult for most of us, but it is necessary. Reflecting on our lives is a part of being still in His presence. As I have gotten still before the Lord in preparation for the children's school year and all of our future, I have asked the Lord to reveal His plans for the next year. I laugh thinking about the way He answered me, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34) Well, I think I got that!
He then gave me gentle reminders of where He brought me from and the importance of encouraging the brokenhearted. That is the thrust of our ministry – to encourage the brokenhearted. In doing this one thing I have discovered that prisoners are set free, mourners are encouraged to hope again, and people who have felt ugly have experienced beauty is His Presence. God is good!
Trees are still. They don't move from place to place in a yard, they simply stand and grow. When we stand firm through life's storms, our root system in Him becomes secure. We are mighty oaks. Hallelujah! I am not a blooming idiot anymore – I am a mighty oak! To God be the glory!
Father, I am amazed at Your sense of humor sometimes. I haven't thought about that blooming idiot thing in years. Thank Your for uprooting one of those old lies from the enemy and replacing it with Your thoughts toward me. I receive Your encouragement and pass it along to my brothers and sisters. I pray that You are pleased!
