Free from Frustration

God sure is funny. Some times he teaches us things we knew we needed to know but didn't realize we would be learning. That make sense?? Let me explain - hopefully. I recently downloaded a sermon on Supernatural Childbirth. The bible says faith comes by hearing the word; I'm believing for babies, so I figured it was a good idea to listen to sermons on the subject, right? Anywho, as I was listening, the woman preaching was talking about how we have been redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). She said everyone likes reading the first part of Deuteronomy 28, the part of the chapter that lists the blessings, but she said it's also a good idea to read the "curses" part of that chapter, keeping in mind those are all the things we have been redeemed from.

So, the other night, I took her advice and read the second part of Deuteronomy 28, and then I came upon verse 20 - "The Lord himself will send on you curses, confusion and frustration in everything you do ..." Something immediately went off in my spirit. A little insight into Whitney (my husband can attest to this) - I am amazingly high strung. It doesn't take much to get me frustrated, upset or fired up. I constantly go home from CrossFit down on myself and frustrated because people beat me or lifted more than me when I felt like I should've done better.

What frustrates you? Just remember, God doesn't send frustration; Satan does. Notice how being frustrated puts you or those around you in a bad mood. My husband in turn gets upset with me because I'm frustrated; it can drive a wedge between us. Now is that second sentence making more sense? God used that sermon on childbirth to show me I have to deal with my frustration because it's part of the curse. This applies during workouts or anything that you're believing God for. If you're frustrated, your faith is being attacked. You have to remember that you have been redeemed from the curse of frustration.

I know God showed me this because of the way CrossFit frustrates me but also to help strengthen my faith as we continue to believe for babies. Faith doesn't get frustrated because faith continues to believe God is going to do what he promised. Frustration isn't just something that can raise your stress level or blood pressure; it's part of the curse and if you're a child of God, you have been redeemed!! Read through Deuteronomy 28 to see what else you have been redeemed from.

This blog is based on Psalm 139:13-16: 
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of 
the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. 
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

You were created for a purpose, and God made you exactly the way you are on purpose! You truly were created to be fabulous!

No Rules, Just Righteousness

For whatever reason many people in the world have this idea that being a Christian is just a long list of things you can and cannot do. A whole lot of "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not". Maybe this perception comes from the fact that some people have portrayed the church in this light hoping to appear more pious or saintly; or perhaps it's because so many Christians have taken on a judgmental attitude, which makes people feel unworthy. I'm really not sure, but if you read the bible, it's not following a list of rules that makes you a Christian, it's simply believing in Jesus.

Throughout his writings, Paul hammers home the point that it's not following the law, but faith in Jesus that makes us right with God. Galatians 2:16 says "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law ... For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." How freeing is that?? You do not have to earn anything; God's grace and mercy is an absolutely FREE gift!!!! Romans 6:14 tells us sin is no longer our master, for we no longer live under the requirements of the law, instead we live under the freedom of God's grace.

Being a child of God is not a list of no-no's; it's an unbelievable freedom of knowing that I could never on my own be good enough, but simply because God loved me so much, I am now his child. We have all sinned because we are human, but if you choose to simply accept a free gift, you can be made right with God and become a child of his.

For whatever reason this morning while reading, this thought really struck me. I know I've had days where I've felt like I royally screwed up and like I would never be good enough. But I can take comfort in the fact that I never have to earn God's love or my place in his kingdom. Jesus dying on the cross and being raised from the dead already did that. I can just bask in that freedom and love each and every day.

This blog is based on Psalm 139:13-16: 
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of 
the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. 
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

You were created for a purpose, and God made you exactly the way you are on purpose! You truly were created to be fabulous!