I Am, Chapter One of Get Through, Going through Life book was written to reinforce God's love for us; and belief that God--Himself--orchestrated Paul's writings on warfare to help everyone get through life challenges.
Get Through, Going through Life Excerpts
"In warfare we need a guarantee, an assurance, something or someone we can count on---One that is all powerful and unchanging. The divine power of God is immeasurable to our mere human nature. We need God's intervention. Thus, we must activate the power of God that lives inside each of us to overcome Satan's wickedness, schemes, plots, hurts, pains, sicknesses, diseases and lack."
God is also known as Elohim the One whom is All-Powerful and Sovereign. Ultimately, He is the source of all power and authority over everything that exists. Yet the All-Powerful and Sovereign God yearns that we accept His love for us. God's love includes: His grace and mercy; unmerited favor; and the forgiveness of our sins through Christ's death and resurrection. God's love for us is beyond measure.
Many times it is difficult to imagine or internalize God's love due to our deep rooted unhealthy emotions. Emotions are not always deep rooted, but frustrations from day-to-day living. Emotions of sadness, anger and/or living life as a "By-stander" are influenced by daily living and past experiences. Living life as a "By-stander" is like "Faith without works is dead!" A short list of our personal experiences is: failures in goal attainments; bad family relationships; rejection; abandonment; and the lack of ________ (you fill in the blank)!
Often times our emotions are impacted by the choices we made and living life to please ourselves, not God. At some point we feel the residues or consequences of our past life events and situations. Resulting to feelings like "God does not love me." Or difficulties in believing the Father (God), Son (Jesus) and/or Comforter/Helper (Holy Spirit) exists.
Get Through, Going through Life Excerpts
Seemingly, we view our challenges or situations as stumbling blocks creating doubts, fears and/or difficulties to believe we will overcome or obtain favor at the end. It's like walking up a hill or mountain. We know the forces of gravity works against us. What's the weather condition? We probably should not climb during a rain, wind, or snow storm. Do we have the proper tools such as a rope, spike shoes or boots, knife, compass, mode of communication, water, and/or food? What about our clothing?
The hills and/or mountains represents our obstacles in life. How well are we prepared? Do we travel with our tools? Our tools are the whole armor of God, in addition to praise, worship and prayer. These are the most valuable tools or weapons needed to combat our forces of gravity which could be doubt, fear, lack, sin, wickedness and temptation. Utilizing the proper tools will provide us with revelation from God, specific scriptures to denounce fear, doubt, temptation, and wickedness; increase our faith; give us hope and patience to endure; direct our pathway or route and plan of action; and to build our character of godliness and righteousness.
Never-the-less, Matthew 5:45 says, " He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends the rain on the just and on the unjust. In other words, we will experience life's ups (i.e. good/happy times) and downs (i.e. sadness/anger). Despite confessions as a believer or unbeliever, most of us have gone through or are going through some rain, including other inclement weather conditions like fog, clouds, storms and winds. The impact could have been directly (personally) or indirectly (through others).
Get Through, Going through Life Excerpts
Our lives are often times filled with never ending battles of challenges and decision makings to best benefit ourselves and families. Therefore, we all have made mistakes and sinned against God; just like David. God tells us not to get stuck in our sin or shame. We must be like David and humbly present ourselves before God. Sometimes we use the word humble loosely, but it means when we go before God our attitudes should be without you Lord, I'm nothing! What do you want me to do? Our behaviors should be similar to a sinful child going before their parents repenting, asking for forgiveness and desiring to please them. These were all the attributes of David. "A man after God's own heart."
The rain in our lives falls in tempestuous to light degrees. Depending upon the hardness of the rain, we are soaked up in life disappointments. During or after the rain the fog can be presence that causes us not to see our way clearly. Clouds of darkness are the pressures of life that continues hanging over our heads. Clouds of darkness are present before, during and/or after the rain. The storms of life, "If it ain't one thang, it's another." Finally, the winds of life issues-like the wind, we are tossed from here to there! Like a "Ship without a sail."
According to Psychology Today (2014) "We all know from life experiences that negative emotions like stress, anxiety, fear, depression, and anger each have tell-tale bodily warning signs attached to them. " Researchers have discovered that "there is a strong link between negative emotional states, brain circuitry, inflammation, and an increased risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States."
The Huffington Post (2014) cited one study conducted by psychologists from Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Rochester "Found that suppressing emotions may increase the risk of dying from heart disease and certain forms of cancer. This confirms earlier studies that have linked negative emotions like anger, anxiety, and depression to the development of heart disease. The health risks increase, it seems, when people have no way of expressing or acting on their feelings. Stress can build up and become chronic when our "natural" fight-or-flight responses meant to help us survive in conflict situations are frustrated. Similarly, detrimental effects may occur when negative emotions remain unexpressed." Thus, it is my opinion that many of us are almost taken out of "The game of life."
In my social work profession of working in the homes, schools and communities serving children, youth and families impacted by drive-by shootings, fighting and bullying behaviors; and the juvenile justice/child welfare systems have displayed emotions of hopelessness, anger, anxiety, fear and life as a "By-stander." Various interventions included best practice strategies based on needs and risk levels such as support and referrals for victims; therapy, advocacy, and day/after-school programming.
Chaplin Captain Jose Rondon article titled, Tired? Re-energized Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually (2013) indicates, "Failure to address unhealthy emotions festers increasing poor attitudes towards others and life. However, you can recuperate from physical, mental, emotional and spiritual fatigue by paying attention to the way one feels." For those who can, "Working-out through activities such as: exercising, dancing, biking, swimming or a brisk walk for about thirty minutes during five days a week produces a better you. A better you include flattening of the belly, and toned muscles; combats heart attacks, diabetes and cancer; improved mood, memory and learning." Chaplin Rondon also said, "Emotional wounds can be cleansed through confession and forgiveness."
Yet these emotional wounds continue to fester, because we frequently fail to confess, forgive and/or feel unworthy. These wounds are severe and deeply-rooted lending to the importance of understanding we are the I am.-- I am beloved by God. I am wonderfully made, created in the image and likeness of God.
In describing the content of the I am in Get Through, Going through Life book with a friend, she reminded me that God is the I AM. The I AM (God), lives in the I am (us). Evidence that God is the I AM can be found in Exodus 3:13-14 (NKJV). Moses asked God "When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, "What is His name? What shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. He said tell them, the I AM has sent me to you."
More truths about the I AM who lives in you and I are found in 1 John 4:12-16 (NKJV) which says, " No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
John 14:10-11 (NKJV) Jesus speaking, "Do you not believe that I AM in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I AM in the Father and the Father in Me." More benefits of the Godhead after Jesus returned to our Father in heaven is the Holy Spirit. John 16:13-15 (NKJV) indicates, "The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will take of what is Mine (Jesus) and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine (Jesus). Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine (Jesus) and declare it to you."
The evidence has been documented. In the acceptance of God's truth that He, the I AM lives in us; and we, the I am lives in Him. Without a doubt the All-Powerful and Sovereign living God within you and I has equipped us with His ability and power to maintain our course, in the Get Through, Going through Life.
Get Through, Going through Life Excerpts
More in reference to I am. Isaiah 40:31 indicates, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." We spoke about the eagle earlier. However, God says, "If we wait on Him, we are like eagles." An eagle symbolizes strength. They are swift, fly high, nest in inaccessible rocks, see their enemies from afar, are tender toward its young, and are still great when they are old. God has so much love for us that He equates our strength to an eagle, if we wait on Him. To wait on God includes confidence and active hope in Him. We will mount up with His ability and power living within us.
We are God's chosen people, part of His royal priesthood inducted into His covenant promises; because of Jesus' shed blood. Think about God's ultimate care for the Israelites in the wilderness. They were rebellious, complained and sinned against God. Yet, in spite of the consequences for their sinful behaviors and disbelief they were recipients of God's promises and love. Today we serve the All-Mighty, Holy and Sovereign God of Israel and mankind. Never-the-less people of today demonstrating similar sinful behaviors of the ancient Israelites; benefits from the greater covenant/promises.
In the consideration, now the internalization that the I AM is the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that abides in I am, the believers; and the believers in Him, affects our ability to Get Through, Going through Life. Not because of our power and might, but the power and might of the God living within us. Therefore, we refuse to remain stuck or live life as a "By-stander" when the "Rain falls on the just and the unjust." Resulting to our capabilities to cope and utilize the I AM and other healthy interventions while "Knee-deep" in the inclement weather conditions of rain, fog, clouds, storms and winds.
Get Through, Going through Life Excerpts
"The intentions of this chapter I am are to encourage us and erase any doubts in our minds and hearts of God's love and patience towards us. His love for us is not based on man's standards, but on our inheritance through the finish work of Christ."
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http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/03/prweb15364891.htm
