ROOTED RENEGADE

As I was journaling the other day, lost in thought, prayer for others, and really just trying to find the right words at the right time, I was moved by the Holy Spirit with such grace and love. My pen just began to flow with words and I was reminded of my own flesh and where it needed to change. Where it needed to take some steps back and reposition myself with such a gracious and glorious God. I was seeking desperately the intimacy of knowing Him on such a deeper level and He showed me just how much we can all find Him in not just our life, but in the lives of others as we move to a greater yet more humble position.

Prayer.

(1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Hebrews 12:1-3)

How many times have you been scrolling through Facebook or Instagram and seen a post where someone is asking you for prayer? A lot right?! You post a quick “praying” comment with the ‘praying hands’ emoji (which is really a ‘high five’ emoji) and continue to scroll. That is most of us right? Now, how many of us actually stop in that VERY moment they see the need and write out an actual life giving, heart felt, storming the Throne Room of Grace prayer (or you at least pray one)? Some of you are probably feeling a little emotional or convicted right now. That’s okay – we all need that at times to bring us right back to the heart and the Word of God – it gets us back on track and keeps us on our toes!! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us to: “Pray without ceasing”. Pray ALL the time. Don’t stop when you are weary or tired. Pray right when you see the need on a social media post (and don’t be ashamed to do so either). Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us that looking to Jesus will allow us the opportunity to have our faith perfected since He alone bore all our sin. Prayer is a weapon against the forces working in opposition to us and it is a pleasing aroma to our wonderful Creator. It is how we communicate with the only One who truly knows every detail of our lives, including every decision we have made and have yet to make, and loves us with an AGAPE LOVE. Prayer changes lives, attitudes, perspectives, and it changes “positioning”.

Positioning.

(2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

There are times when we look at positioning in the wrong context. For the sports fanatic, it could mean the distance between having a runner on 1st and 3rd base with a strong left hand hitter on home plate. The pitcher is tired and weary, it’s already the bottom of the 10th inning because of a tie in the 9th. He knows this pitch could seal the deal on the last game of the season. He cannot keep throwing to 3rd base to keep the runner on it or to 1st base to keep him from trying to steal 2nd base. He has to pitch the ball. Either he walks the batter and loads the bases or he prays for 3 strikes and hot hands! Either way – the battle doesn’t belong to him when he puts his trust in the Lord God! Positioning! Trust puts us in the proper position with God and activates our faith just like it did in 2 Chronicles 20:15-17. Jehoshaphat was told by Jahaziel that the battle was not theirs but God’s and they would surely defeat they army they were going to face but they needed to remember and take action. First they had to remember the battle didn’t belong to them – BUT GOD! Second, they had to take action by pursuing the army. By pursuing they only had to go into the valley and get into position (v. 17). Third, they had to observe the Lord at work. Fourth, the observation was the Lord delivering them from the army! Can we just praise Jesus because sometimes He just wants us to observe what He is doing for us by getting in the right ‘position’. And lastly, they just needed to trust Him and have some faith which would replace their fears! WOW!! God laid out for them and us a step-by-step plan to ‘position’ for battles that we don’t even fight in! Why? Because we don’t have to fight people! We are called to love them and pray for them – NOT fight them! Which brings me to our next “P”.

Purpose.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

We have all heard “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1. The Byrds sang “Turn, Turn, Turn” which took verses 1-8 straight out of the Bible and back in the sixties many people were rocking out to it. But God intended us to gain a better understanding than what a folk rock band could teach us about ‘purpose’ especially with other people. There will always be times in our lives where we have relationships that stretch us so thin they exhaust us. Then we will have some that fill us with so much love our hearts want to explode. Then again, we might be stuck somewhere in between. Wherever you fall on the spectrum comes as no surprise to God, and if I am being honest, should come as no surprise to you. Usually we are given a heads up as to the direction of each of our relationships if we first understand their ‘purpose’. For instance, it has taken me a long time to figure out that this one person in my life, is specifically ordained to stretch me and uproot things in me, even though she is completely oblivious to that fact. However God is not! He knew this person would be like a flint to my match even though I don’t always show it – all because they serve a very strategic purpose. BTW – I just figured that out! We don’t always forsee people’s purpose when we are too busy looking at hurt and offenses. John 10:10 says: “The thief does not come, except to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. When we truly understand the two distinct differences in this verse, we can better relate to people and how we respond to the offenses and hurt. Jesus said that we should forgive 70×7 which is equal to 490 times (broken down further is every 3 seconds per day). This is how often you should forgive someone. God may be using them to work something out in you. Or the enemy may be using them to tempt you or cause you to stumble. Either way – utilize your weapon of prayer and surround them in prayers of healing, restoration, deliverance, and freedom! ‘Posture’ yourself properly.

Posture.

(Psalm 16:5, Psalm 119:57, Lamentations 3:22-24)

It is so important to have good posture with people and God. Often we tend to think of posture as being strictly physical but it is spiritual also. Being in vertical alignment with the Father allows you to be in a humble – not prideful or arrogant – posture before the Almighty God. Psalm 16:5 talks about the Lord being David’s portion as he takes refuge in Him, not in other gods (vv. 1-5). When we submit to God’s will we are allowing Him to work in our lives and saying that we want out ‘posture’ to be radically different than it used to be. This means that we must also change our ‘posture’ with people as well, because people are important to God. Our views, thoughts, attitudes, and actions but begin to shift so we can begin to see people as Christ sees them. For some this may be hard to do. Again, I understand this all too well. People who have suffered immense trauma have a hard time relating to Jesus and people. We tend to discount that Jesus was beaten, his back was ripped open, He was spit on, slapped, punched, mocked, slandered, ridiculed, drug around while trying to carry a cross on his back after being torn apart during a beating that left Him within inches of His life. Pierced with a crown of thorns on His head, stabbed in the side after hanging in our place, nails in His hands and feet and given vinegar water to drink. As if that was not enough, He took on EVERY single sin for you and me that we would EVER commit. Pause there for a moment and let that really sink into your intellect and heart. Jesus was in the proper position with a Holy God, in all of His pain. While He had previously asked for the cup to pass Him over, He still took on sin and stayed in the right position with God and man – vertical and horizontal. It was about positioning. Just position – vertical with Jesus and horizontal with people – Love.

Placement.

Romans 8:15-16

The final “P” is ‘placement’ which is about our place with Christ first and foremost. Romans 8:15-16 states: “For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry “Abba Father”. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God.” Our place is in the Kingdom of God. As sons and daughters of the Most High King! The message is the Gospel. Our next placement is amongst a fallen world that truly needs to hear the message and love of Jesus Christ so that none should perish but all come to have everlasting life (2 Peter 3:9). We all have a calling with assignments attached. Dive into the WORD OF GOD. See where He has placed you and fill yourself with the meat of His Word as you won’t hunger anymore!

The Lord surely delivers and this is His message to you! Thank you Lord God of Jacob, Abraham, and Moses for this rhema word! May your people receive it and Lord may it pierce hearts and bring forth good, edifying fruit! Amen

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, I encourage you to Pray that the Lord come into your heart and you receive salvation and get connected to a local church.

Pray this prayer: Lord God, I know I have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. I am asking for your forgiveness of my sins and that you come into my life and change me Lord so that I may follow you all the days of my life. Lord I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that you are the Lord God who died on the cross and shed your blood for my sins and rose on the third day to be seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Lord I thank you for the finished work of the cross. Jesus, thank you for saving me and coming into my heart. Amen.

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