Acts 2: 44-47 Jesus Is Trying to get us to a place like the church of old. Where we meet, pray, do the things of God, come together as one body, sell and share what we have with the body of Christ. The Lord added to their number! Will we get there?

Ephesians 6:10-18  We are instructed to put on each day the full armor of God so we can stand against the wiles of the evil one. The Helmet of salvation to cast down every thought not from the Lord protecting our thought life. As thoughts become feelings, and feelings become actions. To put on the breastplate of righteousness  to actively choose to put on and walk in God’s righteousness given to us by the blood and authority of Jesus.

To put up our shield of faith that when the fiery darts fly at us they will hit the shield of faith falling to the ground and dying by the fire of God. Using the sword of the spirit which is the word of God against all the enemies tactics, demise and plans. Keep girded around our waist the belt of truth. His word, His truth , His promises, His Prophecies that He has spoken. Putting and keeping on the shoes of peace. That no matter what is coming at us that we pick up our cross, deny our flesh and stay in our godly character. To put on and keep on the full armor each and every day.

But, will we let Him in? We as christians say we receive and walk in grace but in actuality walk in the letter of the law whether we are holding other people or ourselves to it.The Lord maker of heaven and earth has given us the gift of unending graciousness. Ephesians 2:8-9 He has forgiven us of things from our past, present and even ones we haven’t even conjured up yet. But will we accept it without trying to earn our way back into grace. We tell ourselves we need to be praying more. We need to be going to church more.

Spending more time on missionary work. Don’t get it twisted. There is nothing wrong with those things! But, when we use those as markers to how we are measuring up in our walk with God we missed the whole point!  Unearned unending graciousness. He knew we would mess up. He knew we would fall short. He knew we needed a saviour as on our own it was damaged beyond repair. Until God gave grace a name (Jesus) before we even knew we were going to need Him.

Paul had a thorn in his side. 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 Job went through many things. We all have “a thorn” in our sides. What is your thorn? Some it could be a character issue , a health concern, etc. Some He chooses to remain for greater purpose. We must decide whether we are going to choose to trust Him even when we can’t trace Him. But then there are the unseen thorns we create. Just like a splinter in your hand will you allow the Lord to methodically and tenderly work on it? To take it out, mend it up and heal? For, when we do the thorns we create will disappear.

For unseen thorns we create we create subconsciously and make choices from our brokenness and hidden hurt and trauma. When we truly allow God in to heal, grow, develop, mature and mend that is when we start to see the flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. We not only hear the words of hope we so long to hear but actually start to experience deep meaning and application of the Hope of the Lord in our day to day lives. But, we need to let Him in to do the work to actually experience it for our own selves in an intimate and personal way.

That is when we will truly feel and experience a personal account of the Lord’s Resurrection Power in our own lives and in our testimonies. That is when He will show us what we always needed was already given to us in our hands. That is when He truly teaches us throughout our whole lives He has been nudging us and helping us.

That is when we learn how to be truly anxious for nothing! It is when we are hard pressed on every side that He teaches us that it’s only a mirage and a figment of our imagination. He will instruct us how to lay aside every weight as He is the Way The Truth and The Life and He has always been on our side rooting us on. Dying for us when we were His enemy. When we were running from our calling even the opposition He allowed was controlled by Him and we were safe in Him. But, do you see what I see? Nobody is too far gone! All we must do is call on Jesus with a humble and obedient heart. He is Faithful each and every time!

What are our thorns in our side?

What are the thorns we create?

What are the self-inflicted wounds we are ignoring and allowing to remain? As you go into purposeful pinpoint prayers and as the Holy Spirit reveals, write down your answers, ponder and meditate on the part in the role that you take in it and what’s your part in it, Whether it is to repent, re release and submit? Whether it is to hold your head, heart and body still as He does surgery or whatever He is asking you to do. I have learned the hard way eventually He will have His way in us. Will we go willingly or like Jonah have to be swallowed by a big fish? Learn, grow and develop or stay in the wilderness? God bless you