Deliverance

I was really blessed today while reading  The Power of Praying Through the Bible.  I just wanted to blog some notes from the chapter on Deliverance.  We need deliverance and Jesus paid the price for us when he died on the cross.  God wants us to be free from anything that seperates us from Him.  We can so often feel trapped and controlled by unhealthy relationships, resentment, struggles, sin, discouragement, depression, and so on.

Psalm 50:15 (New International Version)

15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."


How we can find deliverance:

• Pray-Psalm 72:12 (NIV) For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
• Have someone pray for you- Psalm 34:17 (NIV) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
• Read the Bible-John 8:32 (New International Version) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
• Spend time praising and worshiping God and being with Him

Life is a process and so is deliverance. We aren't perfect, so we need help daily from the Lord.

Judges 3:9, 15(NIV)

 But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.  15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

Matthew 6:13 (New International Version)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Expectations

So often I set expectations way beyond my reach or other's reach.  Life is not in my control and neither is anyone else.  I am responsible for me and how I feel, my behaviors, my thoughts, and so on.  I often expect way too much of others and want to control and have expectations over their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Sometimes these expectations are intentional, and other times they are not.  Every person is an individual  and is responsible for their own behaviors, thoughts and feelings.  I'm not responsible for them and I can't possibly know what is best for them.  That is quite self-righteous of me to even begin to think that I know best for someone else.  I need to stop expecting what I think is right and start accepting others for who they are.  Then I won't be disappointed or unsettled and I won't be smothering or putting pressure on others.  I must focus on my own self and the many improvements that God is trying to show me in my own life.

Being Vulnerable

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.… The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers … of love is Hell."  C.S. Lewis

Trust is believing, upholding, and supporting.  Sometimes it is a risk.  We can't control a person into being trustworthy, they will show it through their actions and honesty.  God is the only person that can be trusted fully.  We are to put our trust in him, not in men. 

Running Away...or Running the Race

I run away literally when my problems get difficult.  I get in my car and drive around or I get away from the problem or person in another way.  I never run away forever, but remove myself for a bit from the situation.  Sometimes, I'd like to just run away from life altogether and just start life over.  It seems easier to run away from problems and try to avoid than to deal with them. I know that I can't do this, but it does seem tempting to quit things and just run away from them when my situation seems too overwhelming. Starting new would still bring my troubles with me, and probably add more, as I would have caused problems by avoiding.  Starting over wouldn't have changed my attitude, my discipline, my walk with God, my perception on life.  There are times that I feel stuck in my relationships and circumstances and don't know what to do.  I want better for myself and those around me.  I try to control my situation the best I can, but these efforts end up making things more difficult in my life.  Ultimately I'm not in control.

Genesis 16:7-9 (New International Version)

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"
"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.
9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."

God is the only one in control of my situation.  Instead of trying to run away or solve my problems myself, I need to turn to God and give him my pain, emotions, and situation.  He wants to help me.  He wants me to have hope.  It is best to realize that I need to face my problems, realize that my life is unmanageable, and that God is the only one that has the help and fulfillment that I need.  This world is full of hardship, and it won't go away, just by changing situations.  Instead of running away, I need to run the race that has a clear path.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version)
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Wow, this verse is so amazing!  I was praying about my life and my issues in this area, and God led me to both of these verses within 5 minutes of each other.  It is amazing how clear God's path is for all of us and how he truely wants to help us.

God is answering prayer again in my life...

Just a reminder to myself that God is still answering prayers in my life.  I had some major prayers about some things and he answered those specifically and right away.  It is amazing how his hand works in my life.  Again, this was nothing that I did, it was all my laying everything at his feet and him doing everything.  I didn't fix any of these things, God did it all!!

Acts of Kindness and Service

A friend on another blog posted about their experience with this!  I thought it was a wonderful idea.  I went searching and found this link full of ideas for acts of kindness and service!  I love it.  I think doing this once a week would be doable and would help my family focus on others instead of ourselves.

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Communication, Conflict, Needs...

http://gosmalley.com/explaining-your-needs-and-desires-to-your-husband

Share needs and feelings instead of critizing, making your husband feel like a failure or blaming.

Verses:
Proverbs 25:24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

Proverbs 27:15
A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;

http://gosmalley.com/choices-that-impact-your-marriage

I am responsible for my own choices. I'm not a victim or controlled by my marriage or my circumstances. I have choices in my life. I must have personal responsibility instead of trying to change my husband and unconditional love to accept my husband for who he is. Intimacy, happiness, growth, communication, and so on are the harvest of these two choices. Happiness rests in my hands, not my husbands. If I want an exciting and happy marriage, then I need to do my part. I need to love unconditionally, take responsibility, and not try to change my husband.