Searchlights & Spiritual Shark Attacks - Part 1

In case you haven’t noticed - we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto!

The Garden of Eden is long gone, and there’s something deep inside us that really resents that.

All of us, without fail, have experienced the pain of failure, rejection, abandonment, and betrayal. We’ve been “missed”, unappreciated, misjudged, and abused in one form or another. Our hearts have been stomped on in countless creative ways, and if we let it, those wounds can and WILL color our perspective and absolutely BLOCK US from becoming the person we were meant to be, living the life we were meant to live, fulfilling our dreams, and walking out our full potential. And something in us at a subconscious level is really ticked off about that because that’s NOT the way life was supposed to be! We were made for a life of eternity in the Garden.

The REALITY we have to accept right now is that hurts and struggles are a normal part of life on this earth. AND as if that isn’t bad enough, the Villain of our story (Satan) smells human brokenness like a shark smells blood in the water and goes after it! He is pure wickedness, incapable of mercy, and targets additional attacks right in the wounded, broken, bleeding portions of our heart.

Right now you’re thinking - “Gee thanks Annette for that really peachy news. I feel so much better!”, but don’t shoot the messenger just yet. At least if we can diagnose what’s going on we can do something about it, right?

Listen to the words of Jesus as He gives us the bottom line on the good news and the bad news…

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NLT)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. John 10:10 (NLT)

So, this means we’re not crazy to feel like everything is against us sometimes (it is!), but it’s possible to overcome it and walk out an incredible life. On top of that, we’re able to find peace in the MIDST of the crud of life, peace no matter what circumstances we’re facing right now! Trust me, I’m not just blowing smoke about this. I’ve had plenty of exposure to the ”bad news” portion, and am now standing in the “good news” zone, even though many of my current circumstances have NOT yet changed to what I’d like them to be!

So, how do we start overcoming the world and the evil one and start living the life of fullness and abundance we were meant to have? Oh, if only the answer were simple enough to say in one paragraph. Actually, I’d much prefer to have some magic foo-foo dust to sprinkle over me and you and we’d be all better instantly! But, since we’re here in the real world, the very best I can give you for the moment is this:

* Decide now that you will NEVER AGAIN SETTLE FOR LESS THAN GOD’s BEST for you and you will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get there!

Purpose in your heart that you are hereby commiting to pursue, ON A DAILY BASIS - a new way of thinking, a new way of relating, a new way of being, with a heart that is healed, whole, and vibrantly alive - led by the Spirit of God, so that the desires of your heart will align with the desires of His heart.

If there’s any doubt in your mind that God WANTS to give you the very best of life - an exciting, full, rich, abundant, blessed, adventurous life where the crud that’s thrown at you gets turned around for good and you overcome the odds to be surprised by incredible gifts from God - in both tangible and intangible ways, then take a look at this…

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes. Romans 8:28 (NLT) (emphasis mine)

“I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord, “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)

Not only does God want to give you His very best, more importantly, He wants you to BECOME the person He meant you to be when He dreamed about you before you were born. He’s crazy in love with you and wants you to feel the same way about Him. That, by the way, is the door-opener for all the rest. Oh, but now I’m giving away too much of the story for one day! ;)

For now, GET READY FOR THE ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE! Can I getta “WHOOP, WHOOP”?

So Whatcha Gonna Do With That?

I promise you, your resolve will be tested. As a matter of fact, expect it to be tested almost immediately.

So, here’s my recommendations for right now:

1. Write your commitment down on something and post it in a dozen places where you’ll be reminded to stand up and march forward boldly into a new frontier!
2. Find a traveling pal so you can have a like-minded person to encourage you, laugh with you, understand what the heck you’re talking about and going through, pray for you, and remind you of TRUTH when your vision gets cloudy. This person will not overshadow what’s happening between you and God, but they will be very helpful to you - and you for them!

God hooked me up with someone who’d previously been a casual friend. Unbeknownst to either of us we had both committed to seeking God’s best plan for our lives at the same time. God arranged for our paths to cross and the subject to come up and we’ve been walking tight ever since then. That friendship has been an unexpected gift from God for us both.

Ok, here I am Lord, standing on the edge and ready to dive into the unknown. I need courage and strength directly from your heart to mine. I don’t want to miss out on another minute of the life you have for me so I’m giving you permission to have your way with me. I’m not going to hold back any aspect of myself from you - and if I am without realizing it, please point it out to me so I can deal with that too. I don’t know exactly what I’m getting into and that’s probably a good thing right now, but I’m taking you at your Word that your plans for me are good - better than I could dream of or hope for and I want you to start right NOW to make me ready for your very best. You know I’m going to need just the right person to walk this out shoulder to shoulder and I ask you to provide that friendship. Let me know beyond a shadow of a doubt who that person is for this season of my life.

Until next time,
Annette

HELPFUL RESOURCES

In the "Declaration of My Choices", refer to the following sections:

“I choose to guard my heart and renew my mind. Therefore, I will…
(bullet points #1, 9, 11)

The "Declaration of My Choices" is available as a FREE resource when you sign up to receive the www.LIFEwithGodDevotional.com FREE every-other-day Devotional and monthly Newsletter