Who are You Emulating?

    Many people have someone they look up to. Someone they want to be like. Someone who has characteristics they want to have. Who is that for you?

   I don't know who that is for you, but I hope it is someone with godly characteristics. Let me ask you this: do you have someone who you don't want to be like? I'm not even talking about someone who is following the ways of the world, though I hope you are not following them. I am talking about someone that people say you act a lot like, but you don't want to be like. Maybe it's a sibling or a parent. You don't want to be like them because you want to be unique, or you see things in them that you don't like. Then what happens is you get so focused on not being like that person that it becomes a problem. The problem is what, or who, you are focused on.

   When you are focused on not becoming, or being, like someone then you are not focused on who you should be like. Who are you to be like? The answer is Jesus. Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." We are to imitate Christ. When we are focused on being or not being like someone else then we miss who we should be like. We should be focused on Jesus and his work. We should try to be like him instead of focused on trying to be like other people.

   So, who are you trying to emulate? How can you focus on being more like Jesus today?

https://youtu.be/KERyG8FfDvA

You Don't Have to be a Beast of Burden

    One day I went to a church service. I was going through something medically related but everything else in my life was going well. I felt good that night overall.

   The service started and I began to get chills. Now it was hard to tell at that point if the chills were coming from the Holy Spirit, because it was cold, or because of my medical issue. I began to worry and overthink about my medical condition. At that point it was a weekend, and I wasn't on medical insurance. If I had to go somewhere it would cost a lot of money. 

   I began to feel the anxiety creep in. In the past, I had a major anxiety issue. I knew what it felt like for me. My brain began to become foggy, my heart raced, and I felt short of breath. But each time I told myself I was safe, and God was with me. This continued through much of the service. I finally realized what was happening. Satan was trying to distract me from what was happening. He didn't want me to focus on the service or God. He wanted me to focus on anything but God. That's when I knew it had to end. 

   I commanded Satan to leave me alone. I took my thoughts captive. I asked God to help me and to heal me. Suddenly I felt something wash over me. My brain felt peace first. Then I felt it in my spirit. I also didn't feel as much pain, which was part of my medical issue.

   So many times I think we think we need to handle things on our own. We think God can't help us or won't or we are scared to call on him because maybe he didn't answer us in a way we wanted him to before. But it's not our job to fix things. It's our job to trust him. It's our job to fix our eyes on him instead of our problems or the things of this world. You don't have to carry your burdens. You don't have to worry. You can give all that over to God. And he will give you peace.

   So, what are you carrying today? Will you give that burden over to God?

https://youtu.be/3yuvuH82Poc

You Can't Have Me

   One day I was at church. In the middle of worship, I began to feel an unwelcome presence. Anxiety began creeping in. I was tired and weak from the week. Once I felt it, I had a choice. I could choose to accept it. I could give it a name. I could say, "well, it's back. What can I do?" Or I could say, "no, you cant have me. I rebuke you. I wont even give you a name."

   I prayed immediately and asked God for strength. I asked him to rid me of this evil presence. The next song literally talked about this. It talked about pleading the blood of Jesus. It's not in my own power or will that I can be rid of that presence. Jesus' blood washed me clean and he has the power to demolish demons and strongholds. I needed to trust in his strength. 

   1 Peter 5:8 was what I followed right away, "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Instead of relying on my own power, I claimed Gods power. I tagged him in, and the anxiety was gone a lot quicker. 

   So, when you feel the devil attacking what do you do? How can you follow 1 Peter 5:8?

https://youtu.be/l-AOvBK6x4Y