Archive for September, 2009

I have been giving some thought as to why problems we think we have released sometimes spring back up again.  I believe it is because we think in regard to our hurts and pain, “A good Christian would not feel this anger, hurt, etc.” so we push the situation away in our consciousness and never really face it.  We may just deal with it on the surface but not really go to the root.

In my experience it is important to bring the pain to the light by talking it all out before your heavenly Father in prayer.  Tell Him every detail and every disappointment you are experiencing related to the situation.  Have a “pity party” with Him.  This step is often missed or cut short; therefore, we are not able to release the pain because it has not been fully exposed to the light.

A word picture came to mind that helped me understand how this works.  In the world we live in roots of any plant left in the dirt continue to grow.  If they are only cut off and not pulled up they grow right back.  The dark dirt is the perfect environment for the root.  If we pull the plant up with the root and throw it aside it dies.  Drawing a spiritual parallel if the roots of hurts and pain that we experience are pulled up and held up to the light of Jesus Christ they die for lack of nourishment in the dirt.  They are in the light. Just as the plant in the natural does not continue to grow if pulled up so the root exposed to the light of the Lord, Jesus Christ will not continue to grow.

Colossians 2:7 tells us we are to be “rooted and built up in Him.” And Hebrews 12:15 encourages us, “See that to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

If you desire to grow in Christ I encourage you to check your roots.

©peggypark, 2008

A few years ago I was in a shopping area and my car would not start. Fortunately there was of those “rare” to find service stations right in the area. The mechanic came over and declared, “ Lady, you have no power because your gas tank is empty. You are out of fuel.”

We, as believers in Christ, have fuel that powers our spirits. It is referred to as zeal in Scripture. Of course, our power source is the indwelling Holy Spirit but one of our responses to that Spirit is zeal.

Numbers 25:10-13 records that Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, the priest, had a zeal for the Lord. The wrath of God did not come down on the children of Israel because he was zealous for his God. He and his descendants received a covenant of peace. His spiritual tank was full of zeal.

What steps can we take to be sure our spiritual tank is not empty and powerless when we have a chance to speak a word of the Lord or when we face the multitude of challenges that arise in our lives?

1. Praise and worship Him. “Through Him, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.” Hebrews 13:15

2. Calm our fears. “Do not be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God.” Philippians 4:6

3. Make a high priority of spending time with Him daily both in prayer, listening, and studying His Word and hiding it in our hearts, “Thy word have I hide in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11 Also by studying we prepare to “Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within.” I Peter 3:15

4. Sit under anointed teaching both in person as well as teaching C.D.s.

5. Have a trusted prayer partner or a spiritually mature person we can trust to share our lives with and who will hold us to Godly attitudes and behavior. My prayer partner and I have adopted the attitude that we listen to each other in our pain and frustrations, then we point each other back to the Scriptural way to react.

Following these steps we have fuel, that is zeal, in our spiritual tanks so we are prepared to seize every chance to speak for Him in the market place and to minister His life to others as the opportunities present. themselves. We will be zealous for the Lord and that will influence the ones to come after us in our generational line.

© Peggy Park 2008

Continuing from previous blog

Jesus, I thank you that you are the Alpha and the Omega. You are the beginning and the end. You were present at creation and you will be present at the culmination of the ages. You will reign forever and ever.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the burden bearer. You have told us to come unto you and roll our burdens onto you and you will carry them for us.

Jesus, I thank you that you are my shade.  I reflect how good it feels to sit under a shade tree where the heat of the day can not beat down on me. The cares of life seem far away as I rest in the shade.

Jesus, I thank you that you are a strong tower and I can run to you when I need to take refuge. Often the world seems ready to devour me but you are ready to help me when I ask.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the Living word. When I feel the need to know God the Father better I can look at your life in Scripture. You are the exact representation of God.

I close with the prayer Jesus, you are the name above all names, You are worthy of all praise, you are the magnificent one!  I love, honor, and esteem you today as I offer this sacrifice of praise to you.

Jesus has become more real to me as I proclaim aloud  His magnificent characteristics..

I have learned how to put my eyes on Jesus.

© Peggy Park 2008

Continuing with the thoughts in the previous blog:

Jesus, I thank you that you are the light of the world. There is no darkness in you and if I accept you and obey your commands as I walk through life there will be no darkness in me. Your light will overcome the darkness. I know that light is essential for things to grow in our gardens so light is necessary for me to grow in my spirit.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You have come that all might have life and have it more abundantly if we chose to follow you. I have made that choice and I thank you that you took my sins away.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the author and perfector of my faith. I realize I have no power to save myself. You so gloriously offer this as a free gift. You even wrap me in your robe of righteousness. I would certainly be dirty without this garment.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the way, the truth, and the life.  There is no other name where by mankind can be saved. You provide the pathway that leads to God the Father and life eternal. I want to be faithful to stay on that path and not wander off into the byways.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the King and I know I will see this as a reality when you set up your kingdom in the heavenly Jerusalem. On that day You will be recognized as Lord of all.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the Prince of Peace and that I can experience your peace in troubling situations.  It is a peace the world can not understand.

Jesus, I thank you that you are the wonderful counselor. You have said if we lack wisdom we should ask and you will give it to us. I thank you that you are always ready to listen to my heart cries.

I thank you that I am learning to put my eyes on you.

© Peggy Park 2008