The World is very skeptical and my naïve eyes have been opened … and this made me sad, but not depressed! This made me tempted to give up on people, but only more wise! Sad is a feeling; Depression is a condition that lasts; we have a choice to press on & seek the Truth, because in the morning, God brings us Renewal! Let me share with you the effects of Satan’s discouragement that I just experienced –but not without the conviction of God’s Voice that overpowers the effects of condemnation!
There are different kinds of freedom, but God’s Voice leads us by discernment to live IN Freedom by God’s Grace –in faith in the Name of Jesus Christ and in the Power of the Holy Spirit!
We were created to be for the praise of the glory of God’s grace -Kind of like the Eagle was created to be all it can be! Kind of like a butterfly was created to show us God’s Character in the hope in our new life that is Day by Day; and leading to eternity! Look in nature, by God’s Creation –the caterpillar goes through a process to become a beautiful butterfly that is equipped and prepared to fly; so does the proud Eagle and so do you and I!
I wish I had this chart on the cover of this post in front of me yesterday when I found myself a bit wondering and confused, but then again, I needed the good lesson to learn –and I had to endure the test to prove my loyalty to following Jesus when the going gets tough!
Yesterday, I “felt” like an Eagle out of my element from soaring high above that mountain by God’s grace to going through spiritual growth similar to an eagle’s molting process! Like the Eagle, I faced a challenge that left me feeling disappointed and tempted to become depressed, but only sad at the weirdness of the world. Like an eagle in the wilderness, I “felt” like I had begun to lose my feathers; and my other ‘spiritual’ capabilities “felt” like they began to alter as well –similar to when an Eagle’s beak and claws begin to alter to the point that they become like an ordinary turkey!
Never forget the value of what you can’t see! Faith in God! Trust in God and also in Jesus; Especially when we can’t understand! I am writing to encourage you to press on and don’t condemn yourself or your efforts as a failure! It is God who is working behind the scenes making His work manifest for His glory! We just plant seeds and water, but just as I plant, you water and so I share with you Today, because it is God who makes knowledge and encouragement grow!
An eagle has a choice in that seemingly aweful molting moment to give up and die –or press on! We each have that choice in life and in service to God to give up or press on! I was tempted to give up on service and just live my life happily ever after, but God has put too much knowledge in me to walk away from serving Him! I refuse to quit on God or loving people –in spite of ‘being tempted to “feel” like’ a failure yesterday, which I was not a failure and neither are you … I was learning; and so are we all. :)
It is a cold world out there and people have been abused by scandals to the point that one word “ministry” closes their mind! This is sad to me when I know the freedom in Christ.
It wasn’t the opposition or rejection – it was the self-condemnation I felt! I was being “somewhat” blindly tempted by Satan to give up and walk away from my purpose here on earth! I was tempted to want to feel like a failure, because it would be easier to walk away than to press on.
Shake the dust off your feet is shaking condemnation off your shoulders!
Education and Maturity is a process that we all must go through; and thank God that we can go through with Grace! We really do have a choice! We can never tire of praying, loving people with patience, kindness and understanding forgiveness -we can never tire of doing the right thing -trusting God with the faith seed that we sow for His glory to be seen!
“Be still and know that God is God”! Is a powerful Scripture that needs to be heard Today -I believe; as far as it depends on me anyway!
I found myself rushed, not stilled so much to do what God had called me to do –when rejection (and later even I noticed opposition) left me with a tempting feeling –Failure! Thoughts of failure “rushed and pushed” me, which grew discouragement and confusion in my emotions!
Instead of the calming peace of God, I silently and internally grew more obsessed to be successful at the task at hand, because of the passion I felt for what I know about God! Have you ever felt pushed or frightened of failure in serving God? Have you ever battled thoughts that you must do “something different, because you are doing something all wrong?”
We can’t allow reactions of people sway our motions with emotions … I believe that I learned the value of staying in step with the Spirit confident in God alone a little deeper yesterday!
If you have ever felt rushed, pushed or frightened of failure, perhaps you will understand that these thoughts that rush and confused; also discourage and worry a soul that is being prepared by the evil one to become obsessed that you have to do something / anything to be successful at something?
If you have ever experienced caving in to these unwise thoughts, they will grow and be fed by Satan to the point of finally feeling condemned in a confusing guilt for what you don’t even understand!
Or perhaps you know the “whys” of your guilt that are justified in the natural, but do you understand Grace that sets you free?
I am here Today to share with you the “how’s” of casting your guilt away; and understanding the pressures that will come to you to keep you feeling condemned!
Satan’s process worked on me to the point that at the end of the day, I “felt” like that had finally failed God, because I thought that I must have “followed” the wrong Wisdom …to feel so confused …
And when my own efforts failed from following the wrong wisdom, my thoughts grew to thoughts of no ability to do what I know God can enable me to do! That is the biggest ‘white lie’ Satan will every tell you! Satan usually can not get me by a bold faced lie -he is “slick” to slip in with a little “white lie” to get me and even you to believe / doubt; and then the rollercoaster can begin …
What is a ‘white lie’? –To me, a ‘white lie’ is hiding from the face of Truth; or bending the truth to a ‘believable distortion” with some sort of selfish motivation & manipulated justification –whether it is from our own nature or from Satan.
A white lie is to convince our mind … it is okay to doubt God’s Truth! Stand strong and believing friend -There is power in the Truth of God!
The Truth is the Truth and a lie is a lie –There are no exceptions to the Truth of God! There are no exceptions to a lie! However, it matters what you will believe!
Perhaps you are “feeling” like a failure in something that you know you are destined for? Use the chart above and line up the FACTS from the “white lies” and learn what God wants you to know about who you are to Him!
You are Created to be like and Eagle! The Eagle is the most majestic bird in the sky, but don’t forget that at least once in their lifetime, they molt!
We are not loners –We are created and made NOT to be alone! And yet too we also have a measure of faith that is perfected just for us in our purpose in this life flight! God said it is not good for man to be alone and He made woman from the rib of the man and then enabled them to multiply, because we need each other and God loves us all! We are each other’s helpers!
We are co-labors with God! I am here to encourage you to Renew your mind with God in the power of His Love!
Based on the below “Eagle” Is there mountain range available to you where the sun can shine directly on you? Go there seeking God’s grace and be amazed! Perhaps a good dose of Created Nature to bask in the presence of God -but perhaps the natural sun is not shining? For me, my mountaintop is in the presence of God -a change of mind with Prayer at the feet of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit & in reading the Word of God to get my food “the inspiring Truth of God” that I need to press on! Perhaps it is time to go to a good place of worship with fellow believers …
“Now listen to this, when the proud Eagle is depressed, they will choose some area of a mountain range where the sun can shine directly on them, and they will lie on a rock and bathe in the sun. During this time some have observed other eagles coming and dropping food to the ones going through this “molting” stage. Yet it’s never the younger eagles that are dropping the food, it is always the older eagles that have survived this experience and know what the “molting” eagle is going through.”
“One writer, with knowledge of these things states… “It is a most pathetic sight to see. Four or five eagles molting in the valley, where they once would only soar over to look for fresh kill. But, if they don’t renew, they will die.”
They grow weaker and weaker. Suddenly there comes a sound from the sky over the valley. Screaming loudly, another group of eagles fly overhead and drop fresh meat over the dying birds. The screaming is encouragement. That’s what they reckon; the screaming is encouragement from other Eagles who have already gone through this. Some eat and recover but others roll over and die. Don’t you think all of this speaks of something in our Christian lives as well?” Learn more …
Press on my friends and look up at Whom God Is! Know the God of the Bible and Know His Word!
Love is a Promise … more than just a reminder!
Philippians 3:13-14
New International Version (NIV)
13 Brothers and sisters, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I hope this was a blessing to you!
Love in Christ,
Karen Rowe
To God is the glory, Founder of Hope in Today Ministries, Inc.
To God be the glory, Author of The Train Whistle, Sounding the call of God’s Love!
Nice reminder, Karen. I needed that encouraging word this morning! I was reminded as I read your article this morning of something else I recently had about the “feeling of failure”……failure is an event where goals are not reached, or a planned objective is not obtained. Failure is an event. Failure is not a person!
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