My Latest Column for the AJC: "Spread God's Love One Box At A Time"

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God's Promises Are Forever!

 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Romans 4:18-22 

I was on my way to lunch and as I approached my car, I read my brand-new license plate frame: “No worries – God’s got it covered!”. I started laughing at myself, thinking of the irony of the statement as I searched my heart that day. I was having one of those days - the devil was on to me, attacking from every front, trying to destroy my testimony, trying to limit my vision to only what I could see at the moment.

Then I read about Abraham and his faith. He did not regard his old body and Sarah’s dead womb. He knew that “God had got it covered”. My license plate frame should be his! Looking at the obstacles ahead of him and his limited resources, he chose to trust God, obey Him and wait on Him. He lived his faith and because of that, he made it possible for each of us who confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior to receive God’s righteousness as our inheritance:

Romans 4:11: “He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them”.

I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it is to read that today! Mainly because I know Abraham’s story - his life was marked by mistakes, sins and failures, as much as with wisdom and goodness. But because of his faith ALONE, he inherited his promise and was found righteous before God. Not because of his works, his good days or bad days, but because of his solemn trust in God and His Word. That completely changes the paradigm of righteousness - my righteousness is not based on how I behave, on the bad days I have, but based on the faith that I placed in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, wherefore I inherited God’s righteousness and His promises.

On days like this, I cling to the thought that my not-so-perfect heart attitude can never move God’s love and acceptance. I cling to the promise Abraham received and that I inherited in Christ Jesus: the promise that, no matter what happens, God’s plan will be fulfilled in my life. All I have to do is trust and obey. One step at a time. In the meantime, I’m being conformed to His image, as He works on the rough edges, teaches me to love unconditionally, forgive always.

On days like this, I remember that worry and fret are simply a waste of time, because God’s plan for me has not changed. Sometimes I cannot see where He is leading me, but I know His plan is perfect and will unfold in His perfect time. Abraham saw his body get older, Sarah’s menopause come, and kept on believing. He kept his eyes on his (unseen) promise.  

 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1

What is the prize that lies before you? Where is your Promise Land?

I challenge you to cling to His promise, asking God to teach you how to accept the trials that test your faith and learn to praise God in spite of your circumstances, all the way to your Promised Land!

 As for me, I'm going back to my car and face my cool license plate frame. When I look at it this time, it's not going to be a joke anymore. It's my heart's song: "No worries, God's got it covered!".    

Lord, thank you for the awesome inheritance of righteousness and the promises that I received by faith when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Help me to look past my current circumstances, into the promises that You give me in Your Word. Help me to see that the tests and trials I am going through are tools that you use to strengthen my faith. Help me remember that “You are not a man, that You should lie, nor a son of man, that you should feel repentance for what You have promised (Numbers 23:19 – Amplified). I choose to trust you today that you will fulfill each one of your promises to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Guest Blog by Hester Christensen - Dying to Live!

Visit Hester's Blog: Hester's Heart.

Read more about Hester and her ministry at the end of the devotional.

Dying to Live!

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV 1984) "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

Jesus is in the business of bringing death to life.  He does it physically; He does it spiritually.  He did it with Lazarus (John 11:25).  He did it with Saul (Acts 9).  He can do it with you.

Remember, we are freed from sin and death to experience true and abundant life. Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10b).  Jesus is the life-giver.  Satan, however, is the life-stealer.  He comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). 

Because Christ is risen, His followers have the same resurrection hope and power.  Our reality changes because of Christ's victory over death.  Christ's triumph becomes ours through faith, which frees us to live the resurrected life every day.

Romans 6:12 teaches we are to count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. A resurrected life buries the desires of self and crucifies the sinful nature in order to proclaim this new resurrected life.  

Romans 6:13 further instructs us to offer ourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of our body to Him as instruments of righteousness.  A resurrected life belongs to God and lives for Him.  This life becomes a tool for His Kingdom.  

Living a resurrected life is a testimony to the risen Lord and a witness to the world.  Like Paul, we should honestly be able to say, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).  Just as Christ overcame death, we too can overcome by dying to self in order to live for Him.  We die so we can live!

To become like Him in His death is to lay down our life in order to experience the full significance and breadth of a resurrected life.  This is the goal and prize Paul reached for in Philippians 3:10-14.  He wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection; to become like Him in His death, and to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus resurrects my life.  As I continue to grow in my faith this truth revolutionizes the way I approach each day.  I see how God saved me from the clutches of death and restored my life to experience abundant life in Him.  

• He delivered me from severe bondage to eating disorders.
• He filled the gaps of my insecure heart as a young wife and mother.
• He brought healing to brokenness from crippling childhood wounds.
• He gave me strength to walk with hope and comfort when my mother died.
• He replaces my fears and concerns with trust in His sovereign will.
• He brings me joy despite frustrating circumstances.
• He calms my irritations.
• He enables me to love and respect my husband.
• He provides wisdom and patience as I strive to nurture my children.
• He rebukes my pride and unfair comparisons when I am discontent.

Do I get it right every time?  Hardly.  But, I believe the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, is also in me.  When I submit and choose to operate in His power and not my own strength, my response to life is beyond my own ability.  This is the power to live a victorious, resurrected Christian life!

Are you dying to live?

Heart Work:

The most significant event in history changed everything.  How has Christ's victory over death changed you?

Don't forget, when we die to self it offers the hope and life of Christ to others.

Heart Exam:

In what ways has God given you victory and new life?  

Have you died to self and been made alive in Christ?

How can your life better display the power of the resurrection of Christ?

Heart Transforming Word:

John 11:25-26 (NIV 1984) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"

Romans 6:4-5 "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live new life."

1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Cor. 4:10-12 "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.  So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

2 Cor. 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

1 Peter 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

 

Hester Christensen has been married to her wonderful husband and ministry partner, David, for 18 years and has three delightful boys, 14, 12, & 9yrs. old. They reside and serve in ministry in Spokane Valley, WA.

Hester is a co-author to "Greater Than A Superhero," set to be released this fall, a contributing author to "Women in High Def," has written over one hundred devotions and has published work featured in Rooted Living and The P31 Woman and other online sites. She is currently working towards publishing her first Bible study.

Hester has impacted numerous women through retreats, conferences, Bible studies, mentoring, and other women’s events in the United States and abroad. She has an undeniable love for God and His Word and her heart is driven toward discipleship. While her passion is leading women toward spiritual maturity, her greatest desire is to bring glory to her King!