Bound in the Spirit

Bound in the Spirit

And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. – Acts 20:22-23

The Apostle Paul saw bonds and afflictions waiting for him in Jerusalem, but he was resolute and determined to obey the Lord. Nothing could deter him. Even people around him could not dissuade him from going. He was so bound up in the Spirit of God that nothing else could capture him. In Christ, we too become bound up in the Spirit. 

We become free, by the Spirit of God, from unacceptable bonds in our lives. By His grace, we learn to stand strong in the bonds we have with the Lord. We are bound to the covenant, to His purpose, to His anointing, to Him! We are so closely and inseparably connected with Him that what does not fit gets disconnected. This could be a habit or an association that is not in agreement with whom we are in Him and where we are heading.  

In Christ, we go from liberty to liberty. Our relationships with others carry no obligation, dependency, control, or necessity. The spirit of control can no longer manipulate us, and the spirit of intimidation can no longer incapacitate us. When the Spirit of God removes the hindrances, He empowers us to walk in the supernatural, from glory to glory!

Free to Flee!

Free to Flee!

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Tim. 2:22

Our freedom in Christ enables us to flee when temptation comes. Instead of easily running into a trap of the enemy, we can rush to the Lord. We discern the cunning of our adversary. Being aware the enemy can disguise himself as an angel of light prepares us to watch and flee; not slowly, but quickly. Like a deer facing danger, we leap away from hindrances. 

We trust the leading of the Holy Spirit with each step we take. When He says flee, we do. No time for questioning. We obey immediately. In some situations, we must flee, taking no time to think it over; even a slight delay can hinder our escape. We become stronger, saying no when necessary as we reinforce our boundaries.  

In Christ, we are free indeed! Jesus is our fortress, our refuge and our strength. We move rapidly and run to Him. We long to reach and keep our place of safety in Him. It’s not fleeing because of fear; it’s escaping to absorb the protection we have in Christ. We are free to flee, from glory to glory!  

Never Stop Praying in Faith

Never Stop Praying in Faith

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. – Luke 11:9

We never stop praying in faith for God’s will. Even though we don’t always know what it is, we seek and knock in faith for it to manifest. We can trust His answers will exceed our expectations. God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. God opens and closes doors. He orders our steps, and our stops. He teaches us His marvelous ways and blesses us with His best! 

We keep praying because we delight in our communion with Him. Our communication is with a childlike faith and with total trust in His loving care. We can come to Him knowing He accepts us and answers our seeking hearts. We don’t have to beg or persuade Him. He loves us, cares, and understands. He never rejects or neglects His children.   

One of satan’s lies is: “if God didn’t answer your prayer yet, stop asking. You will only be disappointed.” Fear of abandonment and fear of rejection are some of His most potent fiery darts. We must ignore these lies and never stop praying for God’s will. Let’s trust He will do much more than we can ask or think, from glory to glory!  

We Cry Out, “Abba, Father.”

We Cry Out, “Abba, Father.”

 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” – Rom. 8:15

God is our Heavenly Father through the Spirit of adoption. The word Abba is Papa in Aramaic. Our Papa is a faithful provider and a mighty protector. There is no need to fear because our Papa is near. We can cry out to Him and trust that He will always come to our rescue.

When we ask our Papa something, He doesn’t ignore us but delights in answering us, always. He doesn’t keep us in the dark, but takes us out of the dark into His marvelous light. He teaches us to do things with Him by our side, ready to catch us when we fall. He gently, with love and patience, helps us again and again until we succeed. With amazing care, He takes us to the finish line.

He loves us unconditionally and desires the best for us. We can go to Him, cry out, “Abba, Father,” and ask Him anything. Whatever needs we have, He provides according to His riches in glory. When we get hurt, He picks us up, comforts and encourages us. As He continually leads us, we learn to rest, safe in His arms, from glory to glory!

We are Heirs of God through Christ

We are Heirs of God through Christ

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. – Gal. 4:6-7

We have the Spirit of Christ in our hearts crying out, “Abba, Father.” As born-again believers, we are sons, no longer slaves, heirs of God through Christ. As sons, we no longer wander as though we are orphans, feeling lost, without help, support, and, most of all, love. Regardless of our relationship with our natural father, our relationship with our Heavenly Father can be wholesome.

The Holy Spirit reveals to us our identity in Christ and empowers us to respond accordingly. As we yield to Him, we overcome adversity. When division comes, sonship calls upon unity. When fear comes, sonship calls upon faith. When hopelessness comes, sonship calls upon hope. When lack comes, sonship calls upon provisions. Sonship affects all our relationships.

As heirs of God through Christ Jesus, we discover spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Father meets our needs according to His riches in glory. Our inheritance goes beyond anything we can perceive or understand. It is revealed as we walk from victory to victory. It is His life and His life more abundantly. Loneliness, fear, and despair vanish through sonship, from glory to glory!

How Can We Not Be Anxious?

How Can We Not Be Anxious?

 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  – Phil. 4:6-7

The only way to be anxious about nothing is to surrender everything to God. We can cast our cares onto Him because He cares for us. He hears our cries; He understands what we are going through and carries us through the storms of life by grace. His supernatural peace guards our hearts and minds. It protects us from anxiety and fear.  

Even though God is all knowing, we should make our requests known to Him so we can perceive what is in our own heart. Our thoughts receive clarity. Our fleshy frustrations and desires diminish. As we pour out our heart onto Him, our drawing nigh increases, and thanksgiving replaces worry. Whatever we think, feel, or experience, we can express to the Lord. 

Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. We seek to hear Him and receive His wisdom. Knowing that God hears us and can help us empowers us to stop paying attention to our own thoughts and the lies of the enemy. Let’s make our request known unto Him and receive that peace that surpasses all understanding. In God’s care, we remain carefree, from glory to glory