Here’s another perspective on challenges that you might want to put into your filter. You control how long your challenges will last.
Snuggled away in the midst of the hills just a short distance from my house is a water tower. Right now the water company is in the midst of sandblasting the entire metal cake pan shaped building. The purpose for doing it is to chip away any or all of the old paint so that new paint sticks to the building. They don’t want the old paint to chip off taking the new paint with it.
Jesus didn’t come to add Himself or new behaviors to us; He came to replace us with Himself. In order for the Spirit to do this, He has to remove our old character. For most of us, this usually takes challenges (Heb. 12:5-11); and, it’s these challenges that expose our need for new paint and the removal of the old one. Believe when I say that sandblasting hurts. I’ve accidentally been hit by it!
Guess what though? We determine how long the challenges will last, not the Lord. The sooner we recognize the challenge, the sooner we can surrender that area of our lives to the Spirit’s hand of change. The sooner we do this, the sandblasting stops and the new paint begins to be applied.
You can fight or surrender to your challenges. But I speak from experience; it’s a whole lot better to say, “Sandblast away!” The sooner it begins, the sooner it can end.
S“E”t Free Nowww

“You idiots!” Is what the Apostle Paul told the believers in Galatia. Pretty strong stuff, huh? You bet it was. He was trying to shock them into coming back to their senses. They had gone brain dead.
Paul wrote that we are saved by grace through faith, and faith alone. He went on to strongly emphasize this point when he said that we can’t earn one second of eternity without Jesus and what He did for us on the cross and by rising from the grave. Period. End of story.
You might be thinking, “Okay, so what’s your point? I get it. I’m saved through faith. We all understand that.” But do you understand that just as there was nothing you could to become a child of God there is nothing you can do to become more like Jesus on your own either? Your walk with Jesus is still about grace and faith.
Paul would be calling many believers today (I know you’re not one of them, but this is still a good reminder) idiots as they’ve bought into the lie they have to do something to become like Jesus. They have to work a list of do’s and don’ts to follow Jesus. That is idiot thinking according to Paul. “Are you so foolish (aka idiot)? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3)
We came to Jesus by faith and we walk with Jesus by faith. By faith in Him (i.e. trust Him not ourselves) we put the truths He gives us into our shields of faith. And we exercise those truths by faith in Him (not our abilities). Guess what happens when we do? We’ll be set free from all the negative side affects of trusting ourselves (i.e. living our way).
If it’s not already, please put this truth into your brain and shield of faith today: Faith alone leads to freedom. Secure children of God live each and everyday by faith in Jesus. It’s by trusting Him that what He says is not only worth listening to, but following as well.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

I saw a fence just like the one pictured here. The owner of the home started out with a beautiful white fence in front of their home where its cross beams were inserted into the posts. Yet, I saw four white beams with one end inserted into a post while the other end was on the ground.
I’ll bet the owners were totally jazzed when they first put of this fence. They beamed with pride as their fence looked so good. But over time, without proper maintenance, the law of physics did their work. One by one the beams ended up on the ground due to weather conditions.
The law of physics comes into play with our walks with Christ as well. If we fail to stay focused on Jesus by using the process to become like Him each and every day no matter what time it is, our walks will also begin to fall apart.
Jesus said to be on the alert. We have an enemy that wants us to destroy our lives. And without proper vigilance to the process of life change, our lives will slowly fall apart. Bible Impact Groups are a tool to prevent such deterioration. They are not an accountability group to stop sinning. They are people holding each other accountable to the process of life change. BIGs promote vigilance to using your biblical tools. For without it, your life will fall apart just like that fence.
Set Free Noww“W”

“Now we who have believed enter that rest.” (Heb. 4:2) As I researched the word “rest” throughout both sides of the book, this is what I came to discover. One, the word means to stop working or to quit. Two, it means to trust in the promises of God. In Israel’s case, could He bring them into the Promised Land? Could He get them home? Some didn’t and rebelled by doing their own thing (wouldn’t stop working or quit their agenda) and ended up dying outside the land (Ps. 95; Heb. 4). Three, it is where Jesus will ultimately establish His throne (Ps. 132:14).
Rest for the believer today is the promise of life change. Do you believe that only Jesus, not your efforts, will make you closer to and more like Him, the One who holds all the good stuff you’re looking for in life? It’s as you focus on the truths, not your efforts or the lies in your head, the Spirit gives you that will bring you the life Jesus came to give. When you do, you will worship at the throne of Jesus.
If you want to live in freedom, it’s time for more faith, not more effort. Today ask the Spirit to increase your faith.
S“E”t Free Nowww

One fighting formation the Roman army used to defeat their enemies was their human tank called the “Tortoise” formation. This formation provided protection from arrows finding their targets as they knew their fellow soldier’s square shaped shields would protect them as they moved forward in battle.
Our archenemy, Satan, shoots deadly arrows at us. Who has you covered? The moment you became a believer in Jesus you were placed into a family of fellow soldiers. Just as it meant extra work and possible death for the Roman soldier to go into battle alone, the same result awaits the believer who thinks they can be victorious in the battle without their fellow soldiers.
“If we confess our sins one to another and pray for each other so you will be healed (victorious).” (James 5:16) Right now pray for your BIG partner’s victory. While you’re at it, please pray for mine as well. The battle’s raging right now.
And if you don’t have a BIG partner or someone who is praying for specific victory in your life, more power to you. You’re going to need it.
Set Free Noww“W”