Browsing Tag

romans 8:28

Calling

My good plans, or God’s?

Posted on July 13, 2021

Jeremiah 29:11 is a very famous verse. It says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” There is so much reassurance in this verse, there is so much hope we can hold onto – God, the God who created the universe, has GOOD plans for ME! It is right to feel peace and hope in the good plans God has for each of our lives. But what does it require of us?

I am reminded of my 6-year old son, Luke, who has great plans for his life to be a firefighter. And my 3-year old daughter Grace has plans to be a doctor. Those are good plans for their lives, plans that could lead to hope and a future, but whether they are part of God’s plans or not – we will have to wait and see. The reality is, in America, we have so many choices and so many opportunities. We are asking our children what they want to do and what they want to be from the time they are 2-years old. But are our own good plans for our lives God’s good plans?

In my own life, I have been a planner, goal oriented, and an achiever. Since I was young I had no issue running after things in my life or reaching goals. This eventually caught up with me though. You see, if we want God’s good plans for our lives, we have to lay down our good plans for our lives. We live in a culture filled with opportunities to make ourselves happy or take matters into our own hands. But God can’t use a controlling achiever, or a controlling person who is addicted to finding things to make them happy (success, TV, alcohol, material possessions – whatever it may be). God can only use someone who is submitted, heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:37).

Our definition of “good” and God’s definition of “good” are not the same. Why? Because God is the one who defines “good”. He is the true source of GOOD (Ps. 100:5, Ps. 107:1, James 1:17, Rom. 8:28)! So we can only know good in our lives by drawing closer to Him and allowing HIM to move and orchestrate HIS goodness in us.

I personally reached a point in my life where God got a hold of me and revealed to me that I had been controlling the plans in my life. They weren’t all bad, in fact – some of the things I wanted to control was the timing of certain callings God had on my life. But the problem was I didn’t have a completely yielded heart to what HE wanted and WHEN HE wanted it. If I didn’t relinquish control of HIS plans – many of HIS good plans would not come to pass. It doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us and won’t care for us, but it does mean that he can’t use us in the way He would like to. And it means that we are stubborn and controlling people. Ouch.

You may not consider yourself in that category, but if you haven’t relinquished control to God, then there is some element of stubborn control in your heart. Not good. We saw what happened to the Israelites trying to get to the promised land when they became a stubborn and controlling people, it ended up taking them much longer to see the promised land! The same goes for us. The longer we hold on to our own ideas, expectations, wants and desires and try to control our lives – the longer it takes for us to see God’s goodness and the promised land He has for you.

My husband John and I went through a season of God teaching us this very lesson. We had to submit, we had to yield. Truthfully, it’s not always easy. We had to stop trying to control everything or “make things happen” – which had been a pattern we had lived for a season. But, it was actually during that time of brokenness and submission before the Lord, yielding to His plans, that He began to reveal to us the pastoral call on our lives in a significant way. We knew that He was leading us to completely lay it down before Him, not work at making it happen in any way, but completely trust Him and His timing.

From that place of submission, God did bring about His plans – in a way that we could never have imagined. As we recently stepped into the lead pastor position at our local church, it was unexpected and not how we had anticipated or would have planned, but that made a way for us to see that it was so clearly HIM orchestrating, His hand on it. And it was WAY BETTER than we could ever have planned for our lives. You see, God loves to surprise and delight us with His goodness in our lives – when we are submitted. And it’s in the season of waiting that we learn true trust in Him – that’s all He’s asking for. SUBMIT your heart and TRUST me for my goodness.

Sweet sister, I want to encourage you that this is a process. But He is with you in it! And once you see the fruit of God’s goodness spring up in your life after you have laid down your own personal ambitions and plans – you won’t look back. I will testify, His plans are SO much better than ours.

Have you been waiting to see God’s good plans unfold in your life? All it starts is with an honest prayer. God I lay down my expectations, my plans, and I ask for yours. Then it takes action on your part. Not the kind of action you may be used to, but an active action of submission. Not to try and move mountains on your own, but to keep actively laying down and trusting Him. It’s the opposite of what we normally think the word action means, but in order to keep allowing His goodness, we have to actively be submitting.

I promise that you will begin to see Him move in your life! Stay in His Word, come before Him with thanksgiving and praise, and spend time with Him. The God that holds the universe in your hand loves you and controls it all – release to Him the control over your life – he truly does have GOOD plans.

Pray with me…Jesus, I release control over my life. I don’t want my good plans, I want YOUR good plans. Lead me and help me to continuously submit and yield to you. Amen.

Identity

I Am Good

Posted on December 23, 2020

We’ve all had those moments. The moment we look at someone else and see that they are better at or gifted in an area that we are not, and those old feelings of inadequacy rise. This happened to me recently. As I took my feelings of inadequacy to the Lord, somewhat baffled that I was having these feelings in the first place, I felt the Lord say, “Jami, I have declared you GOOD!” It stopped me in my tracks, as a flood of assurance poured through my mind and heart. A reminder, that God has declared me GOOD (Genesis 1:31).

He reminded me that it is in the image of God that I am made (Gen. 1:26). It was after the completion of creation, after the final piece was created, woman, when God said over creation, it is “very good”. As daughters of God, we need to understand this. God has declared us, “very good.” As I contemplated the fact that God has declared me good, and let it sink in, God brought forth a flood of reminders of all the things within me that truly are good. My giftings, talents, personality – all things that are meant to reflect part of Him and point people to Him. After all, I am created in His image, so the things within me that he has specifically designed for me, reflect Him. Things, that are necessary for me to complete the purposes God has for me on this earth.

God has designed each of us uniquely and specifically for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says, “I am God’s workmanship, created for good works.” You see, the deeper our revelation of our identity in Christ and of who God created us to be, and His “good works” He has for us, the more confident we can be in the “goodness” of His design! I don’t need to feel inadequate because I understand that every part of who God created me to be, His workmanship – my personality, my giftings, my strengths, they all are for a reason. And it is GOOD! Are we all a work in process? Yes! But we can be confident that He who began a good work in us will complete it (Philippians 1:6)!

Once we understand this, we have freedom to walk it out and be who He designed me to be, without allowing those feelings of inadequacy to linger, we can truly take them captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and counter them with the TRUTH. I am good. I am very good. My Father, my creator says so. The more I do this, the less those feelings and voices even consider popping into my head, and the sooner I can combat them with truth.

Because, as a daughter of God, I know what my Father says, and I can declare the truth. I do not fear because He has not given me a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2). I know that He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). He wove me together in my mother’s womb. Bit by bit. Piece by piece. (Psalm 139:13) He has good works for me, and has made me a masterpiece, a beautiful workmanship that He has designed, perfectly to fit His good works He has for me (Ephesians 2:10).

So you see, I am good. My personality is good. My voice is good. My talents and giftings are good. Because He says so. Because the master designer, the Alpha and Omega, the one who holds the world in His palm. He says so, and it is HIS VOICE alone that I will hear. The voice of my Father.

I pray that YOU also will hear his voice and know that YOU, daughter of God, you are good. Your Father says so.

Identity

A letter to my 18 year old self (20 YEARS LATER)

Posted on October 22, 2020

Dear 18-year-old Self,

20 years have gone by. At 18 I thought 38 seemed painfully old, but now my perspective on that has changed drastically (and thankfully)! So much has happened. I’ve gone through some very painful experiences and some extraordinarily beautiful experiences.

For many years I had regrets and shame over some of my decisions and choices in my past, but I don’t any more because Jesus has truly shown me what it means to be white as snow. His blood is enough. I also know God’s love is greater than any hurt or pain, and His love is now the only and one true thing that defines me. The only thing I look back on now is a longing of how amazingly free and confident I could have been if I would have understood these things much sooner.

So it is with nostalgia that I write to you, my-18-year-old self. I want you to know what’s coming in the years ahead, as God continues to be faithful in pouring out His love and setting you free to become His true daughter.

And I pray that these words will bring freedom to many other women (young and old alike), who are trapped in a place of insecurity and hurts. It’s to you also I share this list. Know these things are possible! May God’s love pour through these words to your innermost being, and no matter what age you are, I want you to know – it’s not too late for freedom.

You are extraordinarily beautiful. Those feelings when you look in the mirror and dislike what you see. Those feelings that you aren’t beautiful enough. Those thoughts that come and pick apart what you see in the mirror. Your nose is always wrong. You can never measure up to those around you. You are too tall. There’s something wrong with you. Those thoughts are LIES. They are from the enemy. Oh sweet girl, if only you knew you are SO extraordinarily beautiful. Know it’s possible! That someday you will look in the mirror and you will start to see yourself how God sees you! You will even learn to like yourself and celebrate yourself. You will learn how he hand crafted your nose, your body, everything about you, and you will be so thankful he made you to look exactly as you do. The things you dislike now, you will learn to love, because God loves those features about you. You will learn it’s a celebration of worship before God to be able to stand before him and say, God, you have made me fearfully and wonderfully, and I truly believe it (Psalm 139)! And you will be free! No more comparison or feelings of inferiority. It’s possible, sweet girl.

God loves you UNIQUELY. Understanding God’s love is a lifelong journey, but know that his love for you is UNIQUE. This is important! You are his unique and treasured masterpiece. His love for his treasures knows no end, but for you precious girl, his love is unique. He loves you uniquely different than he loves anyone else. How could he possibly love all his unique pieces of creation exactly the same? Not more or less, but uniquely. He loves your voice. He loves to hear you talk. He loves your beautiful features. He loves the uniqueness of your personality. He loves to see the choices you make and the things you like. You make him smile and laugh, and He sings His song of delight over you (Zephaniah 3:17). Learn to rest in the unique love He has for you. Just for you. As you continue to understand this love, it will continue to bring you freedom. Layer by layer.

You will be hurt. It’s going to happen. It’s a part of life. Some of life’s circumstances will be extremely painful and hard. Some hurts you receive from others will be extremely painful and hard to navigate. And the pain will be real. But you will learn that God’s love is bigger than your pains. Always. You will learn to rely on His love. It will overflow more and more in your life until all your pains and hurts have been so overcome with the power of His love that He truly will bring good from the pain. The Bible says that God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and it’s truly possible because of His love seeping into your life and overflowing in every part of your being. Beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). The past doesn’t disappear, but His love goes above and beyond. His love will make you a victor. His love will make you stand in confidence. His love gives you the power to forgive.

You are not what people think of you or what people have done to you. Being concerned about what people think of you seems like the norm now. But it won’t be. You will learn what it is like to live before an audience of one. His love makes it possible. The words of others will start to fall away. It’s possible through Jesus, he is your shield. He absorbs all sin, all wrongdoings towards you. Also, what people have done to you does not define you. Precious daughter, hear this! It’s not who you are. That is a tactic the enemy loves to use to blind you. The enemy clothes you with the shame of other people’s mistakes. No my sweet girl. That’s not the clothing of a daughter of the most high God. You, you are clothed in strength and dignity (Proverbs 31). You will understand this and you will start to walk upright in His clothing for you, not what someone else puts on you.

Your value doesn’t rely on a boy’s interest in you. I know it can seem really important to have a boy like you or show interest in you right now. I know it can make you feel pretty or valued. I know it feels like it has the power to make you feel on cloud 9 or to feel heartbroken. But I want you to know that your value and worth is not dependent on any boy liking you or disliking you. Whether that is now as a teenager, in 10 years, or 10 years into your future marriage. You will learn that you are valued by your heavenly father no matter how you are treated by a man or even if you are noticed by a man. You will learn that it is an extraordinary gift to have a good husband and it’s part of God’s beautiful design, but the true beauty of your relationship with your husband will only come forth when you understand your true worth in the eyes of your Heavenly Father. You want a man who treasures you because you are a treasure to God. Don’t ever settle for less. And if that man has not walked into your life, God will be enough (Isaiah 54:5).

You don’t have to change who you are to be liked. It can be so easy to feel like an outsider. I know right now you feel that way often. You are wondering and trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in. It’s normal to want to be liked. But don’t change who you are to achieve this. Don’t change who you are to try and fit in. Don’t change what you believe to fit in. Don’t compromise your faith. If you have to change who you are to be liked, it’s not worth it. As you age, you will understand it’s better to be true to who God made you to be – all the time. There is a reason he made you the way he did. He has chosen you to be set apart. You are not to walk in the ways of the world. He has called you forth for his good purposes. That means you are NOT like everyone else! That means there is a reason you feel like you don’t fit in. He has not made a mistake on who he made you to be, and you will start to understand this someday soon. As his purpose unfolds before you, your understanding of how he designed you will be confirmed.

There is a lie that tells you girls have to be sweet to be liked. You’ve started walking in a world of passivity because you have believed that you have to be sweet. All the time. This has created a mindset in you of passivity. Of fear. It’s very confusing. You feel if you stand up or show confidence as the leader God designed you to be, you won’t be liked. You’ll offend someone. This is a lie. You can be kind and gentle and nurturing as a woman, yet have full confidence and authority in who God made you to be. You can speak in confidence and authority in the voice he gave you! The voice of a daughter of a king. A princess with access to the Kingdom of God. You will know who you are, and you will not walk or talk in passivity.

Don’t buy into the world’s agenda for women. The world has many things to say about what a woman should look like, dress like, do with her body, and what your “women’s rights” should be. You will be attacked if you don’t go along with this ideology, but remain strong. I want you to know you don’t have to be masculine to be heard in this world. You also don’t have to gain attention in this world by dressing your body sexually. I want you to know Jesus is your redeemer. He is the true advocate for women. What the world offers is a counterfeit to what Jesus came to bring women. Jesus is the one who spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and spoke true identity and freedom to her. Jesus is the one who commended Mary of Bethany who sat at his feet, a position in that culture that was exclusively saved for a man. Jesus was the one who saw every woman that came to him and truly saw her and set her free. Jesus broke the curse. You are a beloved daughter of the King and it’s His power through you that will bring forth your confidence and your voice to do all he has called you to, as a woman. You don’t have to change your femininity and you do not have to be ashamed of being a woman. You are not a lesser being than men. The reflection of God is in you. You are created in His image.

Hold tight to these things, allow Him to breath them into your heart and your innermost being. Stay strong in Him and declare His goodness and faithfulness daily. Let it be your heart’s cry. Because He is so good and He is so faithful.