The truth is that I have no plan for any of these posts. I have no schedule.
Schedules stifle me. Make me go crazy.
Mostly, I just go with it.
In fact, I really have no idea where I might end up on any given day.
I fly. With the wind.
The wind organizes me and provides direction.
Weakness. Strength.
All that to say that this post is 100% inspired by my reading in my Jesus Calling devotional. Seriously, this little book rocks my word daily. {But this morning I had no idea what/how I would post. Now you're up to speed. Welcome to my world.}
Enough about my finite personality. This series is about how my infinite Father sees me.
And it's so good.
He told me specifically, personally that my name is victorious king in whom He delights.
(The only reason He can say things like this to me is because King Jesus is alive in me. Praise Him!)
I have been showing up to my life with this new name for several months now.
What I've found as I've practiced being king (you know saying things like, "Good morning, King." Sounds silly, but it's not. It's life.) is that I am secure.
Jesus said so about His people:
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
Jesus's words are enough, but Paul also writes:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (c'mon, victorious king!) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) (all emphases & that teeny personal addition, mine.)
{Also, I think non-planner Ashley just determined the rest of the week Romans 8 week. [Subject to change. ;)] Go read Romans 8, y'all. So. So. So. Good.}
No one, no thing, no circumstance can take me away from God, can change my standing before Him. I don't plan to screw every day up, but I will, and even then I am secure. I am His. Eternally victorious king.{Though he is free to change my name when I see Him in person to something like beautiful voice of rest and peace. Amen. Or to whatever He wants. Amen.}
Anyway, my thought from Jesus Calling is about giving thanks. (What does thankfulness have to do with your security, Ashley? Everything.)
Check this.
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)
I often withhold thanks. For instance, Monday when John pooped all over the state of Michigan (slight exaggeration), I didn't say, "Thank you, God, for this epic poop."
More seriously, when my husband was mostly jobless for a year, I didn't pray, "Thank you, Father, that Josh has no job."
But that is what this verse is saying. Say thank you for everything.
Not to try to find the good things from the bad situation.
Not "even though Josh has no job, thank you that this circumstance has brought our marriage closer and made us better friends and better parents to John."
No.
We give thanks for everything: "Thank you that Josh has no job."
This is only possible through Jesus.
Only possible when we intimately know Him and know that He is good.
One more time, we gotta know that He is good.
If we believe this ...
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
... we can give thanks for everything.
I can give thanks for everything.
Thank you, Father, for days when John wakes early from his nap and my time with you is cut short.
Thank you, Father, for times when my classroom is bananas.
Thank you, Father, for the day when baby Beam 2 comes (nor things to come can separate us. Amen.) and I get to bear psycho newborn days with no sleep and rare bathing. Thank you.
Thank you, Father, for times when I am drowning in life.
Thank you, Father, for winter.
Thank you, Father, for times when I can't.
Thank you, Father, for the days when I fight with my husband.
Thank you, Father, for demanding people.
Thank you, Father, for people who guilt-trip me.
Thank you, Father, for divorce.
Thank you, Father, for death.
Thank you, Father, for alcoholics.
Thank you, Father, for hearing me and saying no.
God has so got me that I can say thank you for all of this.
He is good.
"Thank Me for everything, even though this seems unnatural - even irrational." (Jesus Calling // October 3 devotion)
{If you have a hard thing to say thank you to God for, feel free to leave it in the comments.}
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