IDENTITY
2013 ended with someone stealing my identity on facebook! It was slightly alarming but eventually I came to the realisation that the only identity that counts is in the One who made me and will always know me, nothing else is as important as that. I feel protected and safe in that knowledge.
It seemed the Lord was highlighting this fact for a good reason, and there is a strong sense that in 2014 it is going to be most important for us to find our strong place of being aligned and identified with Jesus Christ, it will be a strength that will carry us through many tests and trials.
CONFIDENCE
Just as with our identity, our confidence must be in the One who truly sees and knows everything that concerns us. All our trust and hope is safe in Him regardless of what this world throws at us. This confidence will enable us to walk and complete the race we are in.
I felt the Lord was encouraging us
"Don't give up now! Many have been sorely tested in the past year, but continue to press forward and do not drop out of the race, being CONFIDENT that He who began this work in you will bring it to completion."
Philippians 3:15 states that "all of us who are mature should take such a view of things." What view and what things?
Phil. 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of this so that we may indeed know the Lord as He knows us, in both our joys and suffering. He is forming and claiming a people after His own heart. He is building His church and each stone will be perfectly shaped and formed for its place.
Phil. 4:12-13 ...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
YOKED
The general understanding of being unequally yoked has been related to marriage partners, but it seems in this season the Lord would have us think more widely and understand the effect of this yoking.
Matthew 11:28-30 is Jesus' call to us:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
It is His presence and His Spirit that break the heaviness and burdens of connections that are not to Jesus Himself. When the weight becomes unbearably heavy He calls us to make a choice. He has already dealt with those heavy things and attachments at the cross, and now simply asks that we come and choose Him and His way. Connected to Him we can confidently run the race He has set for us. He asks that we know our identity in Him, that we be yoked and joined completely to Him, and move with confidence towards His goal and prize in His strength, rest and peace.
Join us Lord to Yourself. Let us be found in You and You in us in this season. Release to us again Your peace to guard our hearts and minds. Strengthen our weak knees and lift up our hands and heads. Build Your temple, live with us and walk among us. Be our God and we will be Your people. Amen.
