messy heart.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This is not about winning football games.

But it is about:

-loving people we don’t feel like loving.

-overcoming addictions, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

-resisting sin.

-growing to a point where we are ever less and Christ in us is ever more.

-not letting our sinful nature dictate our actions or reactions.

-staying committed to reading the Word especially when we don’t feel like it.

-believing Jesus especially when the world tries to convince us we are wrong. (Spoiler Alert: the world doesn’t win. Jesus wins. and anyone who chooses to trust in Him overcomes the world.)

-staying faithful and prayerfully expectant of the fulfillment of His promises. His promises and His character are all we have.

-not getting fed up with people. or with life.

-obeying what He says especially when we don’t feel like it.

-being joyful when we feel like there’s nothing to be joyful about. If you are in Christ, you have been given the victory, and sin has no more control over you. You are free to be joyful. There is no more condemnation for you, because Jesus has paid it all. “All of my life, in every season, You are still God. I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship.”

Lately I’ve been in more serious pain than I can ever remember, and my pretty little attempts at religion aren’t gonna get me anywhere. This is where I die and let the all-encompassing love of Christ and the power of His cross take control. This is where I live out what I believe and say with all my heart, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”