Freedom Now???

How can I attain freedom from doubt, fear and the "hell" in my life...and receive lasting Peace and Joy NOW??? This is possible by bringing Jesus Christ into the midst of your "hell" through Praise and Thanksgiving in EVERY defeating circumstance in your life. As you are about to read on, I will need to say this however...the things that you are going to "hear" will totally oppose your natural thinking, in fact it will seem utterly absurd and will be hard to accept and do.

This is totally in order, as we are natural beings...and the things of God are foolishness to the natural mind, but we are to die to our "self" the flesh and it's natural inclinations...and walk in the Spirit as to not fulfill the desires of the flesh. (Gal 5:16) We need to obey God's word and not follow that which makes "sense" to us, but that which makes for FAITH...for without "faith" it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, our faith. (1John 5:4) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21)

So, how do we overcome? The first step to overcoming is to allow God to renew our minds or thinking. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:2) So, in other words we are to change our thinking from the way the world thinks and acts; renew our mind to think and "react" differently from how we would "naturally" react by human default. We are to give Christ His rightful place in our life, and allow Him to live through us. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20)

Ok, now let me get to the point. The first step to overcoming is that we must be willing to obey what God commands us to do. One of these commandments is In EVERY thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1Thess 5:18) And in another place God tells usGiving thanks ALWAYS FOR ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Eph 5:20)

The Holy Spirit revealed something to me that had never occurred to me before...every one of us knows to be thankful when things go "right" in our lives, when life is just a breeze...but "every thing" and "for all things" does not restrict our thanksgiving to just the "good" stuff...EVERY THING and ALL means just THAT...including the "bad" stuff that happens to us. (ugh!) Yes, you read that correctly. We are to thank God FOR the flat tire, the headache, the missed appointment, the lousy husband/wife, poor finances, thank Him for everything that upsets your life.

You'll say, 'how is that possible to do?' Well, it definately is not an "easy" thing to do, but requires some 'sacrifice'...yet, it is possible (and I'll explain to you how, further on). By Him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE of Praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. (Heb 13:15) Notice the word "sacrifice" in that verse. A sacrifice is the act of "giving up something dear to us" and a sacrifice is never an easy thing to do, because it "costs" us something.

God knew that to begin with we could never do this with upright hearts, but for obedience sake we would do it often with gritting teeth using merely our lips. And this is all He expects from us...using our lips without our hearts, and continually offer Him the sacrifice of praise with our lips. He will then reward our obedience with a quiet transformation in our hearts, and we will soon begin to notice a flow of genuine thanks and praise coming from our hearts as well. We will be able to be thankful for the most dire circumstances in our life. (This still sounds very absurd and stupid, doesn't it? but it is POWERFUL, believe me.)

So, what actually happens when we "verbalize" our thanks and praise to God in a situation that afflicts our wellbeing? We know from accounts in the Old Testament that God dwells in the Praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) So then, when we praise the Lord in and for a bad situation (for the actual bad thing) we lift Him onto the throne of circumstance and thereby acknowledge to Him (and the world) that we TRUST Him in the midst of this, and by this act of "thanksgiving" put our Faith to work. We can do this because we already "know" that...(God works) all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) Also, as a result of our Faith, we will be able to "enter into a rest" in the midst of turmoil.

It was only because of this mystery in Praise, that Paul and Silas could sing praises to God, while laying with bloodied bodies and beaten limbs in the inner dungeon singing praises to God. And notice what happened as a result of their Praises (Acts 16:25) - they PRAISED God...and the glory of God shook the entire prison. Bad circumstances are like a PRISON to us, they keep our minds and hearts captive with fear, anxiety and doubt...but when we decide to PRAISE (and THANK) God for the BAD events in our lives (our personal prison at that moment)...God will set us free, and receive much glory from our testimony of overcoming. You will experience lasting Peace, Joy, and Strength...and you will be an OVERCOMER in this life and this world.

It took me a while to understand this truth, and when at first I was thanking the Lord for a bad headache, or my broken down car and the delays resulting from that, I was not sure of why I was doing this. But let me tell you of what I have come to learn and understand. Based on the reality of "God working ALL things out for my good", I finally came to realize that I was in a very secure position, regardless of what this world and the devil might fling at me...God has His eyes on me in every circumstance, and His grace is sufficient for me to 'not having to fight and still win' (because Jesus overcame all things for me). And surrendering to Jesus every moment of distress through thanksgiving and praise, brings deep, abiding peace into our hearts. It is no longer I, but Him that lives through the circumstances with me and for me. There is a rest prepared for the people of God...and I have found entrance into it through the 'gates of praise'!!! Enter in...the door has been opened for you.