[ Niki’s pals are trying to get her to adjust her focus, because she’s making herself sick. ]
Life is legit and so are it's problems! However, Faith is here for us whether we utilize it or not. Each of us has a personal gift by Faith from our Father; the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the 'handle' ( a powerful part of who God is ), that we hold on to throughout our lives for strength, spiritual power, the right confidence - confidence through God, and freedom. When we tap into our Holy Spirit we gain access to a power that's unavailable in the caporal world, and it's on full all our entire lives. Isn't that a comfort? For many, perhaps not - because we are unfamiliar with our Holy Spirit or don't have an understanding as to how to have access to it.
"And i will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn't see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you."
~Jn 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit is [ Active ], he is our guide, our helper, our replinisher a teacher, an interceder and an advocate for us. The Holy Spirit is the conduit to become who God created us to be. He is there in every area of our lives. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work [together] for us, the coolest part being the Holy spirit has a presence within us!
~We are encouraged to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up on a regular basis. When you feel depleted or need strength, ask Him to replenish you. Ephesians 5:18
[ Let's use our time to get in the best spiritual shape so that we can learn to body slam Satan's challenges! ]
We are flesh based creatures :() I think of the Holy Spirit as my personal trainer, always there to keep me in 'shape' the kind of shape God desires for me. I KNOW I fumble throughout life and need God's help on a regular basis! I know that I CANNOT live a life of goodness, a life that's pleasing to God without the help of my 'trainer' the Holy Spirit. The flesh is strong and stubborn and always wants complete control!! But, I know the Spirit has my back. My relationship with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit won't ever let me fail [ no matter my circumstances ] as long as I am a believer, have faith, and make choices to keep living my life within this world, but not of it. ~Romans 12:12
We are all being challenged to depend on God, on our faith, on the Holy Spirit to power through any circumstances. We are being challenged to cast down our fear and to stand tall in what we're promised by God: ~ When I am afraid, I will trust in you. ~ Psalms 56:3 ~ He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. ~ Psalms 112:7 ~ For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ~ Isaiah 41:13
Many of you may be thinking, ok, that's all good but I'm still afraid for myself and loved ones, of financial disaster, of loss of a way of life as I've known. Yes, all these things are true, and yes all these things are uncomfortable, scary and difficult as the unknown always is. That's precisely why we have to gird up our loins (Proverbs 31:17)
Strenuous times are precisely the time to exercise those spiritual muscles so that they can support us. It won't be easy, especially with people who depend on us; but that's too is WHY we must grab hold of the LORD, of his promises to us through his Word and allow the Holy Spirit within us begin to lead us by the hand.
We aren't promised instant answers or solutions, and in a world where we pretty much have that; we've grown impatient and that's made us weary and weakened our spirit minds. Time to get back to basics and work on cultivating the fruits of the spirit - on being Patient. Change is hard, but what's the alternative? To keep living in a state of panic and fear? No, our bodies will give out before we do because stress causes all matter of distress, and disease in the body taking us further away from effectively dealing with anything.
Pray to connect, it's the connection that trumps all others. We don't need 5g for it either! :() When we don't know what to pray, or are overwhelmed, the Holy Spirit is there to intercede for us. Just ask - and allow the exchange to happen...Praying isn't a one time deal so we need to be diligent and consistent, after all God looks for ways to bring us out of our [self - focused] lives and into a relationship with him.
[ Yep, I've been the one that's flipping all around the darned wheel, trying to hang on! ]
It’s a Decision... we must make a decision to actively let go of some ( best case ALL) of this current fear, that’s causing more stress, that’s causing more fear! I found myself tumbling down from fear into mild anxiety and that wasn’t helping me or the loved ones I take care for. My prayers, my Hope not in the world circumstances but in my God has jump started me to move through this crisis with Active Faith, Active Hope. Faith is active, not only words in the Bible, we have to be Active with our faith! The term just do it not only applies to Nike😂👟.
[ God's faith in us allows us to soar through our fears with Him by our side! ]
Does this mean we'll never again have fear? Nope! Does it mean that we'll be free of the effects of our current world crisis? Again, no, but what it means is that we have the comfort, the peace that comes only from God, throughout our faith and dependence on him, cling to HIM. Our flesh will always rail against what out spirit minds strive, it's a life long battle, but one that's worth fighting because...what's the alternative? Our brains have to be overridden with new programming that is NOT of this world, but of God! It's helping to change the way I'm dealing all of this, and in my weakness I find strength in the Lord. I cannot tell you how freeing that is!!
I believe most of us are also grieving, for affected loved ones, for the loss of our lives, for our way of living that's now altered, our comfort and stability, our trust in daily living. The world is changing rapidly and we have no control, but we never did. This is why we can't rely on the world, we have to remember that our ultimate rock, our greatest comfort, and stability lies in our Lord.
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