Wednesday was challenging - Thursday is a new day

Tuesday WAS full of DELIGHT! So much I am simply grateful for.

Wednesday was a challenge for me. I did not meet these challenges with success. As evening fell I slid further down the hill of regret and condemnation. These two tormentors are my familiar companions; like the Apostle Paul's thorn they seem to persistently return to hurt me. I ended my night engulfed in tears, apologizing to my husband and not in control of the flow self condemning critical words coming out of my mouth. My husband, reminded me to trust God, even in the unpleasantness, and for the things I am anxious about. A wonderful reminder of truth from my husband! It is funny how the things I know get drowned out by the "loudness" of negative condemnation, like when Peter looked at the storm and slipped under the water.

This morning, I rise to the rising sun; and mercy is renewed. I cry out for Jesus. I look for His hand to save this retch and I fully embrace His love. Allowing myself to be wrapped in the arms of the one who makes all things new. I am one of God's kids; chosen and dearly loved. I am not only not my own, but not on my own. Jesus is ever interceding, the Father's love is everywhere (in the sunrise, is the sound of the birds, and His presence goes before me and is also my rear guard); and the Holy Spirit wells up inside of my reminding me of the Word of truth, empowering me by His power to walk in step with Him, guiding, coaching and encouraging me on each and every step I take.

Today I rise again. Today the truth of Easter is fresh within me. By the very same power that raised Christ from the dead, I rise from out of my dead ways to life.


MY PRAYER:
My dear Father God I need you more than ever to resurrect Your likeness in me. The just shall live by faith, Your word says, so in faith I walk into this day. I trust you. Haven taken off the old me and all the filthy ways of my messy sinful nature, I put on the garments of compassion, mercy, meekness, gentleness, forgiveness, endurance, patience, and Your Word, and with the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of Your righteousness, the belt of Your truth, the shoes of the readiness of the peace of the gospel, the sword of the spirit which wields the sharp doubled edged Word, and the shield of faith. Holy Spirit you have washed me and dressed me this morning. I don't just acknowledge Your presence but welcome it. Please invade my every thought and deed. Today I live to give my love back to You, in how I do my work-work, in how I speak and think about myself, and in how I engage with others in merciful confident love.

And all the needs (you know each one that runs through my thoughts and even the ones I am not remembering right now) ... I cast them before You ... Trusting you to respond perfectly according to who you are.

I love you - and I want to love you even more.

Make your children Holy Lord - all together different - marked by our love and the beautiful presence of Your Spirit and Truth.

AMEN

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IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
...
And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.
...
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:1, 10, 12-17 AMP)