Pictures

Many of us are coming out of a two-day intensive ladies retreat our church hosted over the weekend. It was a powerful event. Many lives have been changed forever. Personally, I was filled to overflowing. I don’t think I could get any higher in this earthly vessel! Words were prophesied over me. I was on cloud nine as they say! But before I realized it, the enemy had already swooped in and knocked me down. 

Sunday night I felt led by Holy Spirit to get out paper and pen to begin writing. I was about to start but decided to check my phone first. I began responding to a chat with some dear friends, one of whom posted a picture of herself from way back in the day. For kicks I thought I would scroll ‘real quick’ through my phone to find one of my big-hair-day pics from the 80’s to share with them. This led me down a rabbit hole and I’m embarrassed to say that over four hours later I was still going through pictures. 

Pictures can be wonderful! They can hold precious memories, but they can also hold painful memories! Pictures can conjure up memories of past hurts, trauma, failures, trials, tribulations and things you wish you could do over or forget!  If you’re not careful the enemy can take those thoughts and feelings and have a field day! When the lies start to be whispered in your ear, fight back! Take them captive unto the obedience of Christ. Speak the truth and think on things that are lovely and a good report! You are washed in His blood, forgiven, healed and made whole by the stripes of Jesus! 

God redeems and restores us, He heals us and remembers our sin no more, as far as the east is from the west. The blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus covers all past, present and future sin for all of eternity! Our God brings beauty from ashes and joy for mourning. He turns what the enemy meant for evil for our good and His glory. Our redeemer lives! Amen!

When God looks at us, He sees the end from the beginning. He is outside of our earthly time. God sees how far we have come from where we started. He sees how far we have come from when we got off track! God, along with all of heaven are cheering us on to conquer and prevail in this journey called life. God is for us and not against us! The enemy of your soul, however, would like nothing better than to torment or accuse you again and again, and drag you down to the pit with him. 

What if there are things that you have not confessed or acknowledged before God, or things you thought you were healed from but now think… maybe not? God says to run to the mercy seat with boldness! His grace is sufficient. His mercy endures forever! He wants to be our healer and deliverer, so give that thing to Him to heal! Next time the enemy shows up to remind you of wounds, scars, trauma, sin, sickness or things you regret and wish you could do over, you remind him who you are, you remind him of the truth!

You are a child of the most high God, you are chosen and not forsaken, you have a future and a hope, you are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, you are blessed coming in and you are blessed going out, the fruit of your womb is blessed, your store houses are blessed, the work of your hands are blessed, hallelujah, you are the healed of God, the redeemed of God and you can do all things through Jesus Christ, and one day you will even rule and rein with Him!

We wouldn’t be who we are today if it were not for our past. We learn, grow and become stronger because of our trials and tribulations, our life experiences. Just like our physical muscles, if we are not challenged spiritually or in our inner man, we do not grow. We live and learn… but hopefully it doesn’t take 40 years what should only take 11 days!

Those who have received breakthrough in an area, those going higher in the Lord, about to step into a new season, are on the enemy's radar and must be especially on guard against the snares of the enemy! He doesn't want us to keep our peace and joy! He doesn’t want us to advance the Kingdom, he doesn’t want us to go from faith to faith and glory to glory! He doesn’t want us to conquer our flesh! He doesn’t want us to fulfill our destinies and callings. All hell seems to break lose when you are about to advance. But how many know the victory is ours in Christ, the gates of hell will not prevail against the church! We have been given all power to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy! 



Remember who you are! Live victoriously as you keep your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, our life source, the one seated at the right hand of the Father! No compromise in this season. The battle is the Lords! Ask the Lord for your part and turn the rest over to Him… turn it over! Trust Him. He’s got you in the palm of His hand. He collects every tear! He fights for you. You need only be still...