Do all and More

Are you a ‘Do all things’ and ‘More than a conqueror’ Christian?  

   “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭AMP

   “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].” 

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Yes, I am linking 2 scriptures - do you see the words? Would you let them define who you are - how the Lord sees you? Do you see the source in both scriptures and let it be the foundation for your words and actions? Do these 2 scriptures paint a picture for you?

Many times a 'can't' slips into our spoken words. But are you confident that your 'can't' is accurate? You have the Lord working in you when you accepted Him as your Lord - right? And He really CAN do all things - right? Then if He is calling you to it....... He is/has already equipped you for it - yes? If our 'no' is based on our perception of who we are then perhaps you could be right. But......... if He IS your Lord, if He is who He says He is and if He has come to make a home in you [John 14:23]... doesn't that make you a 'more than' and a 'can do'? Certainly, you can't be arguing with scripture??????

I could provide you with other confirming scriptures, but I think the point's made. We really can't be 'can'ts' and all and more at the same time. Don't be dismayed, I think most of us have bought the lie satan sends us about who we are, even after we have been born again. Sometimes I don't think we understand that when we have accepted Jesus' Lordship that that's when the devil gets really riled and tries to throw every possible doubt our way. Remember... simply because he throws it doesn't mean we have to catch it.  

Where... a ? or !

 So do you know where you are? What season are you in? Where do you want to be? Are you willing to pay the cost of getting there? and/or Not getting there? I suspect, in some respect, I'm asking you what you are doing with your free will. Saying you don't have it is completely untrue - you do! Not using it is using it. The Father chose to make His ultimate creation, man, have the ability to make his own decisions. But this is not in a vacuum - we have all the directions, understandings available to us to make Good decisions - it's called, The Bible. All your questions are answered there.

And notice I did not say you will always understand... or even like the answers. Not the point - the answers are there and we have the free will to accept it or not. But remember, not accepting it comes with more consequences than following it. I also discovered that the Lord never gets upset with all my 'why's'. He always patiently explains through His word. Then again, I don't approach my why's with a rebellious spirit - my intent is to understand. Interestingly enough when I get to that point of accepting or rejecting - liking isn't one of the options. I may not like it... but will I follow it? 

Sometimes the problem seems to be that we don't always like the decisions we make. Or maybe we feel rushed (by whom?) to make a decision we aren't confident in? Perhaps it's a case of accepting the lesser of evils? When we begin heading in the direction of a decision, do we also begin to develop our scapegoat in case things don't go positively?

Remember too that we have different seasons. Sometimes we are in a highly active time in which time just flies by. Other times we seem to be in a learning time. Do we recognize this and take advantage of the opportunity to learn, to grow? Still other times appear to be testing times. As uncomfortable as those times are - do we choose to learn through them? My belief (based in scripture - James 1L13) that the Lord will never tempt me. Test, on the other hand - absolutely. 

Why tests? Because that tells us what it is we do know and understand and what we still need to know. Tests are as much for us, making certain that we are learning and incorporating into our MO what we learn and know AND still need to learn. So back to the initial question. Do you know WHERE you are and is it a ! or a ?, and what will You do about it?

Only… Just

Those 2 words, only and just, are NOT descriptions! Nor should they be attributed to You or you attribute them to another person. What a gigantic put down. The problem, of course, is the definitions of those 2 words. Then again, many of our communication problems occurs because we assume we all define words in the same way... and we don't always.

I've discovered, when I've heard either of those 2 words attributed whether to me, someone or something else that the person speaking them might not (benefit of a huge doubt) realize what they are implying. Personally, I don't believe these two condescending words should ever be used with/about people. I certainly don't want to be described or seen as a 'just' or an 'only'. Not new behavior. I remember... a long time ago when I was probably 6 or 7 an 'adult' speaking to someone, that children were 'just'... I also remember saying that I may be many things but a 'just' was not one of them. (Only ever so slightly precocious.)

It wasn't until years later that I realized it was a put down (or a put in one's place) comment. It was meant to be condescending. It there is any behavior that immediately strikes a reaction in me is when someone is being patronizing. Part of my intense dislike is probably based in how I was raised. There's even a scripture that talks about this. We should never ascribe a certain elevated prestige that is not ours to 'proclaim'. And, scripture also tells us that we shouldn't esteem ourselves better and that God never shows partiality.  

If you doubt my scriptural reference, let me quote one source:

   "Several Bible verses speak to God lifting us up. James 4:10 states, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." 1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Additionally, Psalm 3:3 says, "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head."

John 12:43 says: "..for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God." Now these scriptures put a period to self-esteem and simultaneously show us Who can grant and lift us up. 

If you think I just provided the argument for only and just - no. Look at the source - it's speaking to man about man and indicating Who should be the source. No one should put another person down for any reason - that's not your role or responsibility. You also need not follow them. 

Final thought. You really CAN become an 'only' or a 'just' - but that's your choice. Never choose this... there's no benefit.

I never met a Question I didn’t like

… the answer, on the other hand is a whole different matter. 

One suggestion I have about questions though is - never ask a question if you aren’t prepared to ‘hear’ the response. If all you want is affirmation or applause, you could be sadly mistaken.

A question is never a statement that you haven't thought about the subject, it suggests that you have and want to see if your understanding is met by another's or if there will be iron sharpening iron or something entirely different. It does indicate that though you may have at least a beginning understanding - you are seeking a greater depth. A question is also never a tease to gain others to your point of view.

One source says:

   "In the Gospels Jesus asks many more questions than he answers. To be precise, Jesus asks 307 questions. He is asked 183 of which he only answers 3. Asking questions was central to Jesus' life and teachings."

Reason for questions?

   "While God asks questions for many reasons, one of the broader patterns we see displayed in Jesus's questions is the dual need of noticing and confessing. Jesus always asks questions for our sake. And he's always bringing us to confess his Lordship and notice our need."

Which also affirms my personal reason that I ask so many questions - I want the person I'm talking with to discover and develop their own answers. In listening to the 'answer' to the question you can make a great many discoveries such as: does the speaker listen to what they are saying, how much the speaker has previously thought about the underlying premise, the level of confidence the speaker has in their opinion, how open they are to differences in understanding. 

The answer to those observations will give the 'listener' a great deal of information about how to discuss the topic with the speaker. When there is a 'meeting of conditions' when both agree on format, this can result in understanding, confirmation or change, and a new level of confidence in that you've discovered the 'answer' about the focus of the discussion.

Questions, in my world, are never idle they are paths to truth when your source is the Bible. God is never 'afraid' or angry with our questions - I think they are proofs of our intentions. If you are a person who wants to learn, wants to discover then one of the best ways is to ask questions. The paths of discovery of the answer is rarely a one and done. Typically one answered question leads to a new one. 

Enjoy the journey!!!