(This was orginally posted on my The Shame Factor blog a long time ago, but I feel like someone needs to read this TODAY!)
I have a friend who is in a battle right now. She’s struggling with condemnation. I’m begging God for words, verses, anything to comfort her. I want to be a voice of hope in her darkness, not someone to add to her shame.
Sometimes we believe lies because we start seeing our lives from our failures, not from the truth of who we are. The word declares we are free in Christ. Free from condemnation. We are chosen, precious, and loved with all of our dirt and scars.
Just because we struggle and fail doesn’t mean we are worthless.
Our feelings and thoughts are powerful. They affect us in so many ways. Emotionally, physically and spiritually. The goal of our enemy is to steal our hope. To blind us from the light of Christ. He prowls around waiting for just the right time to wrap a blindfold around us. He knows when we are too weak to remove it. He speaks poisonous lies over us.
This is where the power of prayer comes in and the body of Christ. When we see someone down, we must extend a hand, undo the blindfold and offer our prayer and our listening ear. We can even groan and cry on their behalf. We are called to bear the burden with them. I wonder how many people run from these hurting soldiers.
I hate knowing people are stuck. Knocked down. Wounded. I so want to fight off the lies. I feel a fire inside to attack the enemy. I am furious to think about how many believers’ sight is hidden. They live in the dark.
I so want to embrace the wounded. Offer a cold drink, a soft blanket and a warm embrace. I want to carry them to the lap of our Heavenly Father. To the place where He can do his healing work. A place of perfect love and perfect peace.
Come, Lord Jesus, bring restoration to my friend’s heart. Do not allow her light to be snuffed out by her past. Set her free from condemnation. Heal her hurts. Show her truth and bring her hope again. I echo this prayer for all who are stuck in the muck of their failures. Please, Father God, start a revolution of our lives. Restore the years the locust has eaten. May we experience the land of milk and honey, where love reigns over pain. Cover us in your wings, Lord. Shelter us from the fiery darts. Minister to us as we transition from deep mourning to songs of joy and praise. You are able to do above and beyond all we could hope or imagine.In Jesus’ name, Amen.
****
(pic taken Florida beach 2009)
I stand in agreement in Jesus' name.
You said it so beautifully Tiffany and what a beautiful and servant like heart you have. You friend is so lucky to have you in her life to walk along beside her until she realizes the truth for herself.
These bad things happened to you because I intend to work it together for your good (Romans 8).
These happened so that you would rely more on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1).
This happened so that the gold and silver of your faith would be refined (1 Peter 1).
This thorn is so that the power of Christ would be magnified in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12).
God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in our lives, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell us all of them because our brains can’t hold all of them.
Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.
I do not know enough about this person to say for sure….but "we" must be careful not to give spiritual advice to a person who may need professional help with their emotions. Either way….I pray along with you.
This was a real blessing Tiffany!
In Him,
Cherie
Wonderfully said. And I LOVE the picture:)
Amen!
LIVING HE LOVED ME, DIEING HE SAVED ME, BURIED HE CARRID MY SINS FAR AWAY= CHECK OUT GLORIOUS DAY WITH LYRICS BY CASTING CROWNS=HOPE THIS LIFTS YOUR DAY
Standing in prayer with you dear one, love you.
Your friend is blessed to have you by her side, searching for the right words to help her.
Trusting in Jesus,
Terra
God came into history in Jesus Christ because of His great love for humanity (John 3:16). Jesus Christ is the Righteous One, who died for our sins on a cross. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and is now eternally victorious over all His enemies. There is now no condemnation for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. His kingdom is eternal, and He will reign throughout all eternity. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, redemption and hope for all who will turn to Him and embrace His gospel.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)
Tiffany,
Thanks for re-sharing these heartfelt thoughts, definitely worth repeating. God's put it on my heart to share this with a friend.
Blessings,
Kelli
I am ever so thankful that He brings beauty for ashes…restores what the locust has eaten…His promises are true and He redeems our past! I went through a long dark time such as this…In it I learned so much and had the opportunity to die to myself, surrender to the Lord and rise up out of the ashes. Glory to God!
Tiffany, thank you for sharing that story. I have a story that I wrote on a journal 3 years ago and its along the same lines – called "Jesus weeps for you" and will be posted next month. We as Christians have become a little too comfortable in our christianese phrases in our haste or busyness we shrug off someone's pain with a catchy phrase – when they really need a prayer for them, share a cry or just a little time. Amen Girl!
Tiffany, thank you for sharing that story. I have a story that I wrote on a journal 3 years ago and its along the same lines – called "Jesus weeps for you" and will be posted next month. We as Christians have become a little too comfortable in our christianese phrases so in our haste or busyness we shrug off someone's pain with catchy words- when they really need a prayer for them, share a cry or just a little time. Amen Girl!
What a wonderful compassionate heart you have to be able to express these emotions so well. Very touching….love the picture, well actually, I love Florida beaches!
Dear Tiffany,
Thank you kindly for stopping by and leaving kind words By The Lamp Light. Your encouragement blesses me.
And I am so glad I stopped by to visit you today…I'm just going to sit and soak in your prayer and personalize it for me.
Amen sweet sister, Amen.
Lord, may You work in me revolution
Be my one and my only solution
Through heartache and tears
LORD, restore my years
I want to live out Your promised land
Help my feet to not get stuck in enemy sand
You are turning my mourning to songs of praise
You astound me LORD – all of my days.
In the mighty, redeeming Name Above all Names, Amen.
Amen, Amen, Amen! Thank you so much for pulling it out and sharing it. Awesome words and truth – TRUTH! Blessings friend.
Lord, be with the women that are hurting today, tomorrow and..
With love,
Yolanda
Hay ya Turtle Dove Nice to see you around the circle. Great post. I so can understand the compassion that is overtaking you. Good thing to love