Rhemalogy

Have you ever been in the middle of your ‘to-do’ projects and an idea suddenly popped into your head? Well, that’s what happened to me the other day, while I was cleaning and arranging my pocketbook shelf. Going through one purse after another; on a scavenger hunt for loose change, I was hoping to find. But alas! I found a treasure amidst the mess — this title post.

It’s about this one purse I own. To me, it looks beat up and outdated. But I have received numerous compliments when carrying it. Yet I always tell those giving compliments that if they could see the inside of this purse they would really be surprised. The inside reminds me of gold leaf that is now antiquated and falling apart in many places.

Then I began comparing this purse to some of us who wear the perfect make-up, smiles, clothes, hairdos, and mani-pedis, who are just beautiful on the outside. But, inside are torn up — an emotional wreck. Because society dictates we wear this false bravado as part of some twisted initiation into fitting in — whatever that means. And no matter how many people you date, how many office parties you attend, or how drunk or high you get… You always wake up the next morning feeling the same way you did the day before. Except now you have a hangover, skeletons coming out of the closet chasing you, as ghosts of sad memories float about the room! You know you need help because your heart is broken. You have a love-hate relationship with yourself; which causes you to live between two extremes. Not to mention, the things you’ve lost along the way; took a whole lot out of you, and so blinded you that reality became lost in that stuff. Now you’re living in a fantasy expecting Prince Charming to kiss you and wake you out of this nightmare.

When inside we were a holy mess.

Others of us, the church-goers; were led to believe we were to look like Christians, talk like Christians and act like Christians—not fully understanding what it meant. When inside we were a holy mess. Trying to live up to what we thought God expected from us; instead of knowing what He required. So, we went about like robots, lying to ourselves and others by constantly saying ‘we are blessed and highly favored’. Praying that one day our lives would finally line up with what we were saying. After all, we were taught to call those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4:17 NKJV). But, inside we felt insecure, inadequate, unloved, unwanted, an outsider with a guilt complex, or a complete failure in life. And no matter how many religious calisthenics we went through—we continually left feeling the same way we did when we walked through those church doors. Yet this is in total antithesis to what we’ve read in the Scriptures. So, we tried figuring out what we did wrong. We’re supposed to be inheritors of the Kingdom of God and so far all we inherited was the wind.

Embrace all of your issues…

What do you do when the inside doesn’t look like the outside? In both situations find and know the truth. The word says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV) Not people, activities, religion, or things. Then we find, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NIV) But in order to do this you must first be truthful with yourself. Stop allowing lies to hold your life hostage. Embrace all of your issues, get down on your knees, and pour those issues out before the Lord like Hannah did—she got results. (I Samuel 1-19 NIV)

For those being chased by skeletons and ghostly memories. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV) And for those inheritors of the wind. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19 NIV)

No, I’m not Dr. Phil—-But am speaking from experience. You see friend, these are not hypotheticals. Both of these people were me. Deliverance is a lifelong process and just like God didn’t create the world overnight. All of your issues won’t be solved overnight. Men created and projected this genie-like God into the minds of the people. I still have my good and bad days. But those bad days are easier to endure because I know the LORD is on my side. I’ve been blessed to see some miracles in my life. As a matter of fact, I am one! And He is still the God of the impossible! This voice of experience can say without a doubt, that if you stay with God He will stay with you. Even when you think He isn’t there—He is. That was His promise to us. (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

“Nearness to God. Brings likeness to God. The more you see God. The more of God will be seen in you.”—Charles Spurgeon

Then one day like Hannah you will look in the window of your soul and see the inside finally looks like the outside. (1 Samuel 2:1-10 NIV)

Other posts you may find beneficial:

How to Connect to God in a Disconnected World.
How Did I Get Here?
What Does God Require Of Us?
Are You Standing In A Dry Place?
Are You Worth It?

May the Blessings of the LORD be with you today and always. Thank you for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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