The Imp of Fear

  Imp definition... A small demon or mischievous child.

Hence upon the soul comes slyly 

This impish fellow with impish grin

and on his coattails fear and doubt come sliding in

The subtle whispers in the night

 to little ones he gives a fright

and as he gains new ground

anxious lies begin to circle round

The what ifs and what about

impishly creating more doubt

That little imp clamoring in your head

building stories filled with dread

Dropping seeds that feed our fear

doom and gloom allowed near

To stop this little wimp 

only to look upon Him

The one who is above it all

The God who makes giants fall

The little imp's only power is in telling lies

Taking thoughts captive to break the ties

Retraining our brains to see and discern

Time to let impish falsehood burn

Freedom devotional

 

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Now the Lord^[a] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

 

Freedom is… being released from man’s laws and decrees.

No need to do man’s bidding, to respond to pressure.

 I don’t have to perform,

 I only need do the Lords will, move when he wants me to.

 I have Freedom to serve or sit at his feet.

Not bound by should’s and shouldn'ts

Not bound by religiosity!

I CAN, but I don’t have to!

I can worship, have fun, be silly, be serious, move or be still,

Responding only to the spirit,

 Internally at rest, outwardly obedient only to God.

 

Oh, the pressure to walk as Jesus. Often the heavy yoke of being a “good” Christian can weigh a body down. The “I should do this and that “, both the internal and external messages often obliterating the gift of being truly free in Christ. We are not to submit again to a yoke of religious slavery or of slavery to sin but to walk with Jesus in freedom. To know his word and be obedient to his voice and to find rest.

 

What are some of the internal or external voices that are weighing you down? Can you see and hear the invitation to simply love the Lord and listen for his Voice?  The Lord is delighted in you and is inviting you to dance, create, laugh, cry, rest and be fully free. Today, take a few moments to ponder what that invitation to walk in more freedom could look like for you.

storms devotional

 

Mathew 8:23-27
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey."

 

Warning signs,

Storm's coming.

Trying to head it off.

Prayers, fleshly words,

No stopping it.

Gale forces stirring up the muck from below.
Simple cries to the One above.

He's got this one.

The healing will come,

Not from weather watching,

But from his perfect timing and plan.


How many times have you seen the storm on the horizon? All the emotions and turmoil begin to swirl, sometimes from our own souls or from those around us. We want so desperately to head it off but sometimes it’s out of our control.  It’s a struggle to hand it over to the Lord and yet that is often all we can do. To call out to Jesus and then shelter in his love, waiting out the storm.

What storms have been swirling around you? Take a few minutes today to just pause and lean into the Lord, calling out to him in the midst of the storm, looking to the one who even the winds and the waves obey.