Faith, Prayer, Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard Faith, Prayer, Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard

Advent // Meditate on His Word // Digital Download

Join us this Advent Season for a time of meditating on His Word.

Advent Memory with Lindsay Griswold

 

Meditate on Advent this Season

Join us this Advent Season as my friend Lindsay Griswold hosts Good News of Great Joy.

In addition to meditating on His Word, there are prayers that I wrote to help you pray through the Word.

We start on November 27th, and we will meditate on a new verse each Sunday.

The download includes:

  • memory verse cards for 5 weeks

  • prayers to help you pray through the Word

  • a5 divider

  • a5 meditate + prayer pages for each verse

  • scripture memory pages for each verse



 
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Bible Teaching, Mile Marker Anthems, Prayer Jennifer Edewaard Bible Teaching, Mile Marker Anthems, Prayer Jennifer Edewaard

Nothing Can Separates Us.

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 25:15

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 25:15

I remember that day in the car so vividly.  I was crying out to the Lord. I could feel the heavy weights this uneven ground of special needs held. I felt it for myself and for my son, Mason. It was sticky— pretty gritty at points, and I began to realize that as I became more aware of the weight, I really became even more aware of His nearness in it.

In our awareness of the weight, we see our desperate need for the Lord. Then the Lord spoke so clearly, that the tears rolled down my face. His words repeated over and over again— “ just exalt Jesus.” In every break in the ground that we might feel like we are falling through or every place, our foot might get stuck between the rocks, exalt Jesus.

Ever since that moment, I have reminded both Mason and I that it might appear to be rugged terrain, or that the weight of the disabilities are trying to overcome but really, we just need to exalt Jesus.

So we began to take His word and proclaim what we call mile marker anthems to keep us going. Mile marker anthems take a piece of scripture and break it down verse by verse creating statements that will be anthems. These anthems are what we live out as we live in Him throughout the trek. We press into the terrain because His goodness carries eternal weight. They are a way for you to tell of who He is, to dig deep into His attributes.

What our eyes are fixed on is what will lead the way forth.

What our heart is set on determines the path of the trail.

What our mind focuses on is what we will pursue.

Mile marker anthems serve as reminders to us that no matter what it is we are trekking through our God is bigger, our God is good, and our God never leaves our side.

The ground below might look like a whole lot of grit, maybe a pile of mundane, or an overwhelm of fear, heartache, or shame.  The rugged places in the terrain are where we witness His goodness.

What if we looked at it through a lens of faith instead of unbelief?

What if we plunged right into His promise?

What if we put our hope in Him over the conditions?

What if we rested in the knowledge that we have been set with God?

Our faith in Him equips us, fills us, and it nourishes us.

His presence changes everything.

Perhaps right now it might be hard to see over that mountain in your life, or maybe you are in the valley waiting to make the big trek up, wherever it is He has you, can I encourage you to stand firm with Him in it?  Our deep need for him is revealed in it. The way forth is led by Him alone. The path of the trail is set to His ways. The pursuit progresses by faith in Him.

As I proclaim these anthems I am reminded day after day to live by faith—my eyes only fixed on Him, my heart solely with Him, my mind relentless after Him. He is the only answer we need.

In the midst of unfamiliar surroundings approaching, etch His word in your heart—

Genesis 25:15 says, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Whatever happens in the trek furthers His eternal purpose.

Anything can make its way in— BUT God is already here.

Maybe today you find yourself in terrain that is overwhelming or anxious or maybe you really don’t know where to put your foot in the broken ground that lays in front of you, or you need to be reminded of who He is.

The valley may feel vast, the wilderness never-ending, know that He is the God who gets in the valley with you, He is the God who is your refuge in the wilderness.

This is your invitation to proclaim mile marker anthems.

His word is a tangible encounter.

His wounds are our healing.

Press into the terrain.

Grab hold of His hand in the trek.

Receive what He is producing along the way.

Nothing can separate us.

Romans 8:39

 

Sign up now to get my Mile Marker Anthem printable FREE, and start writing anthems from Scripture!

The Exalt Newsletter is meant to equip you to passionately pursue your Savior by sending frequent encouragement, tools, and prayers right to your inbox.

 
 
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Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard

Field Note 004

Explore the Word- Exodus 13:18

EXPLORE THE WORD

HIS WAY IS BETTER

The Word: Exodus 13:18

Theme: His way is better


Trail Map

What am I learning about WHO God is?

God knows the path ahead. Ps.107:7⁣

God leads with purpose. Ex 14:12⁣

God is faithful in all his ways.⁣

God sees what we can’t and guides us in such a way that calls us to depend on Him. 1 Cor 10:13⁣

Word or phrase that God is bringing to Light. How does it further explain the Word?-

- led —סָבַב çâbab -to turn, cause to turn, to cause to go around, surround, or to encompass. Change directions. He surrounds where He leads. ⁣

-of the wilderness- מִדְבָּר midbâr— an open field, a desert, uninhabited land. From the root word, דָבַר dâbar, which means to speak, to promise, to lead, to guide. He will surely lead us in the wilderness. The other way they could have gone had great dangers— it was where Egypt's military outposts were). Our God is present in the desolate. ⁣

How is His word transforming my heart and mind?

God's presence is always with us. His plan, path, and pace are what we can in fact rest in. Even when His way is longer or more rugged, His way is better, His way outweighs any conditions because in the midst of it we are with Him. When we go His way, we can trust that we are equipped in and through Him. He surrounds us, he cares for us, and he keeps us. Deut 32:10⁣

 
 
 
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Field Note 003

Explore the Word- Isaiah 40:31

EXPLORE

EXPLORE THE WORD

WAITING WITH GOD

The Word: Isaiah 40:31

Theme: Wait with God


Trail Map

What am I learning about WHO God is?

God is with us in the waiting⁣⁣.

God satisfies us with good as we wait with him. ( Ps.103:5)⁣⁣

God is working in the waiting.⁣⁣

God brings us to him, he sets us on the course, and he walks with us. ⁣⁣

Word or phrase that God is bringing to Light. How does it further explain the Word?-

- wait —קָוָה qâvâh- waiting (active not passive), to bind together. In the waiting not only are we bound with Him, but this binding is giving us renewed strength. ⁣⁣

-renew- חָלַף châlaph- to show newness, to change for the better, to alter, to substitute. God gives us a fresh strength in our waiting. ⁣⁣

How is His word transforming my heart and mind?

The waiting is not passive, it is a time to depend on Him, to unwavering in our pursuit of Him.⁣⁣

To mount up, an upward motion, with wings like eagles shows us the measure of the strength that comes from Him.

To run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint, shows us that God gives this renewed strength to keep going towards Him in the waiting. ⁣⁣

What a powerful reminder of God sending his son to take our place on the cross, so that through him we would be redeemed and have eternal life. ⁣⁣

 
 
 
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Field Note 002

Explore the Word- Isaiah 58:11

EXPLORE

EXPLORE THE WORD

SEEK GOD IN ALL THINGS

The Word: Isaiah 58:11

Theme: Seek God in all things


Trail Map

What am I learning about WHO God is?

The Lord will guide continually.

The Lord will satisfy in all circumstances. Is. 33:16

Life with God is flourishing, sustained, rebuilt, and redeemed through him alone. Is.61:11

Life with God is like a watered garden. Jer. 31:12


Word or phrase that God is bringing to Light. How does it further explain the Word?-

guide: נָחָה nâchâh- to lead, to bring forth. God brings us into the light. He leads us forth into the truth and his ways. 

continually: תָּמִיד tâmîyd- to stretch, constant, continuity. He never leaves our side, he is the constant with us. 

How is His word transforming my heart and mind?

God promises to guide continually, he is after our hearts.

When we are seeking Him in all things we are fully dependent on him— this unwavering faith in him leads us forth. 

His joy will be our strength.

Everything shall be build upon a foundation of the Lord. 

Even in a parched land, when we are in Christ, we will be like a watered garden. 

 
 
 
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Field Note 001

Explore the Word- Psalm 37:3

EXPLORE

EXPLORE THE WORD

FEAST ON HIS FAITHFULNESS

The Word: PSALM 37:3

Theme: Feast on his faithfulness


Trail Map

What am I learning about WHO God is?

God is a refuge for us, He desires our hearts to trust Him. Ps.62:8

God is our help and our shield. Ps.115:9-11

God is the everlasting rock. Is.26:4


Word or phrase that God is bringing to Light. How does it further explain the Word?-

dwell: שָׁכַן shâkan— to settle down to abide. God has given the land, and is the provision in it. Lev 26:5, Prov.2:21

faithfulness- אֱמוּנָה ʼĕmûwnâh- firmness, stability, security, fulfilling promise. God provides safe pasture, feasting on His faithfulness makes way to security that can only come from Him. 

How is His word transforming my heart and mind?

David remind the people of God in this Psalm, that in this land, God is their refuge, lay aside all weariness, and trust Him. 

Feast on the stability, the firmness, the faithfulness that only God can provide as we settle down to abide in the land. 

We have a clearer vision when we trust Him.

His faithfulness is what sustains us in the land, feast on it

 
 
 
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Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard

Field Study 001

TRUE DESTINATION—

A FIVE-WEEK EXPLORATION INDUCTIVE STUDY

THROUGH PSALM 84.

EXPLORE

TRUE DESTINATION 

A FIVE-WEEK EXPLORATION INDUCTIVE STUDY THROUGH PSALM 84.

Field Study Image 001.jpg

In the trek, through the wilderness, deep in the valleys, and into the desert, the only way through is to depend on God fully.


We want to forge our way closer to Him.

We seek to relentlessly pursue Him. 

We hunger for a deeper understanding of His word. 

We are desperate for intimate prayer time. 

We crave His sustenance that fuels and sustains us. 

Yet, we are faced with distractions, overwhelm, lack of time and resources, confusion, and fear. 


Field Studies are a tool that will equip you, no matter the terrain you are trekking through. You will be spurred on in the knowledge of who God is, and grow in deep connection with Him. Think of this as a tool in your backpack that will guide you and teach you how to study the Word on your own, piece by piece, consistently. 

 

Trail Map

daily discussion in stories & weekly live teaching


EACH WEEK:

FIELD NOTES (MON-TUES) - AN INDUCTIVE STUDY THROUGH THE TEXT

EXPLORE (WED-THURS) - REFECT & RESPOND TO GO DEEPER

PRAYER (FRIDAY)- PRAY THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE


READING PLAN:

WEEK ONE- VERSES 1-2

WEEK TWO- VERSES 3-4

WEEK THREE- VERSES 5-7

WEEK FOUR- VERSES 8-9

WEEK FIVE- VERSES 10-12

 




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Bible Teaching, Prayer, Rhythms Jennifer Edewaard Bible Teaching, Prayer, Rhythms Jennifer Edewaard

3 Ways to Transform Your Prayer Life

Our prayer life is transformed in walking out our faith, surrendering it all to Him, being expectant of the work He is doing, where we might be swept in a slew of directions, shaken, sifted, taught, even paused-- to actually being present, showing up to do the work-- meeting Him in that place. Honestly, we have to have a faith so rooted in Him where we allow Him the room to do the mighty works-- that is fully transforming, not necessarily doing but being one with Christ. 

 

"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]."

Romans 12:2

 

 
 

Are we fully giving ourselves to the Lord because of the grace that we have thru Him that which saves us? When I thought and prayed about how I wanted to start the year off, prayer was the first thing that came to mind. I think it is a topic that we hear and talk about a lot, but I think sometimes we only grasp the surface. When we are new in Him, we have come from the dead (a brokenness) to a new living being from within. The old withers, and the new sprouts. As we are made new in Christ, our minds are also transformed so that we can further discern God’s will. That which is good and acceptable and perfect for our world is far different than that of Christ most often, a purpose that goes far beyond the expectancies of the world. When we meet the Father in prayer we are letting Him overtake it all for us, which is what He desires, it is what He wants so that we have a vast awareness of what He is capable of in our lives. Our prayer life is transformed in walking out our faith, surrendering it all to Him, being expectant of the work He is doing, where we might be swept in a slew of directions, shaken, sifted, taught, even paused-- to actually being present, showing up to do the work-- meeting Him in that place. Honestly, we have to have a faith so rooted in Him where we allow Him the room to do the mighty works-- that is fully transforming, not necessarily doing but being one with Christ. 

 

 

Prayer-Life.png

 

Transformed through Surrender

In order for prayer to fully transform us, for us to know that we are fully His I think we have to begin with surrender, the rest will follow from there. The thorns that we read about in Matthew 13:16-23, they will choke us-- it is on the hardened ground where we might cling more to the cares of the world that produces less fruit. If we dig a little deeper into our lives, into our prayer life even more specifically,  when we allow our fears, our anxieties, our brokenness, our need for perfection to take hold of us-- we are in bondage to Him. We are admitting to our Savior that we don’t think what He paid for us on the cross is worthy enough--- when in truth it is His abundance He gives to us. When we break free from the thorns, whatever they are in your life, you are opening yourself up to God. He already knows every single detail about us-- He just needs us to speak it to Him.  For transformation in our prayer life to sprout, to experience the fullness of Christ, we must speak His abundance-- that means laying it all out to Him. Practically it means being present with the Lord--- we live a world where it can be easy to just go through the motions-- however, in prayer, it is not that way. We have to open ourselves up to the Lord trusting and asking for His will, His way, to be done.  


I don’t know about you but when I read about Jesus praying I can picture Him, being so humble and lifting His hands up in surrender. In a posture that allows our Heavenly Father to lean in closer to us. We learn from Jesus that by surrendering it all we seek His will, we are there to encounter His whispers. Our hunger and thirst for the Lord when we surrender becomes our constant appetite. Can we be so desperate that our faith in the Lord is the complete belief in what His ability is and not ours? Are we coming to the Father, fully surrender, fully prepared to abide in what it is that He has for us? 

Before you begin to pray, surrender--- pause, hunger, and thirst for you to hear Him, draw near. It is almost as if you are taking a deep breath and lifting yourself up to Him. 

 

Transformed through Expectancy

Our prayer life is transformed when we have a posture of expectancy. We need to position ourselves, our prayers, our thoughts to be expectant of what is to come. This can be hard sometimes, our world wants us to think we have to move two steps ahead and have all the answers-- that is flesh, that is not how our God works-- He is the only one who knows what was and is to come, we however just need to expect Him-- trust that He is present. We are made new in Him, and this sometimes means that we will have to wait. We are on His timeline, and each day that He gives us, we need to know that with that we are made new again and again until He says He needs us in eternity with Him. 

I will tell you when I had Mason at 23 weeks, of all the things I remember most on the day he was born and the very scary days into his life, was having to be expectant. We hear the word expectant, and we tend to think of a woman carrying her child, but for me, in that place, it was expectant of what God’s plan was for Mason’s life, for our life. In praying almost every minute of those days, prayer woven into every conversation with the doctors and nurses, especially the first 4 days of his life-- I remember so clearly, hands open to Him, letting Him know I was going to just be expectant, if that meant He needed to take Mason to be with Him, He could, if He wanted Mason to stay with us a while longer, it was His will. We must go to a place in prayer where we understand that it is not about what we want when we want it--- what we may pray for may come but also in a completely different way. No matter the way He presents it to us, being expectant forces us to trust that no matter what, He is there with us-- there is nothing in His purpose for us that is not used to glorify Him.


When you pray, be expectant--- instead of only asking Him what you want or need, give Him the permission for His will to be done in your life. 

 

Transformed through Revival

Let us first define revive:

revive is the translation of chayah, "to live," "cause to live," used of restoration to life (Genesis 45:27; Judges 15:19, etc.); of rebuilding (Nehemiah 4:2); of restoration to well-being (Psalms 85:6 (the Revised Version (British and American) "quicken"); Psalms 138:7; Isaiah 57:15; Hosea 6:2; 14:7); of Yahweh's gracious work for His people (Habakkuk 3:2, "revive thy work in the midst of the years," etc.); "reviving" is the translation of michydh "preservation" or "means of life" (Ezra 9:8,9). "Revive" occurs in the New Testament as the translation of anazao, "to live again" (Romans 7:9; 14:9, the King James Version "Christ both died, and rose, and revived," the Revised Version (British and American) (omitting "and rose") "Christ died and lived again" zao). Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'REVIVE; REVIVING'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.  

For us to understand transformation through a revival perspective, we break down what the word revival means. Here we can see that to revive is to live, a means of life, to live again. We become alive when we have this living relationship, which we can do through prayer with the Lord. Revival is showing up, day in and day out, knowing that we need Him in every moment of our days. It means when we want to give into what our flesh might want, impatience, exhaustion, anger, sadness-- we have to rise to Him. We have to rebuke the enemy. Living in Christ is a relationship with Him, one where He shows up no questions asked, even when we doubt His presence. We have to show up and meet Him in all areas of our life. In order for us to bear the fruit, we have to tend to the harvest. The work needs to be put in-- whether you set 5 minutes aside a day, or you talk to Him throughout your day-- you have to filter your days through Christ. 

Maybe for you, that means writing out your prayers, physically seeing the words you speak to Him, and then seeing His promises back to you-- whatever works in your life, to be transformed in prayer let yourself be revived-- brought back to life in Him. When we pray and read the word, we are not trying to get something out of it for ourselves--- our main focus has to be about getting to know our Lord and Savior. Not what He will do and fix in us, but what He has done. When we sin, when we feel less than, to trust that He makes us new--- are you going to Him, confessing, and asking for forgiveness? We have to ask ourselves if we understand the depth of what His victory in our life means-- that there is no battle we actually need to fight because it is won by Him already. In the midst of our days, when we pray we are rebuilt, right then and there. Our thoughts are shifted to a position of focus towards Him. 


When you pray, show up--- get into His word, get to know Him more than anyone-- serve Him, build His Kingdom, live in Him. 

 

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; From Him comes my salvation.He alone is my rock and my salvation,my defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened.” Psalm 62:1-2

 

What if we break down the walls of prayer-- remove the fear of not doing it right or saying the right words--- what is we grew in our relationship instead-- ultimately our transformation comes through the Lord this way. What if we threw out the misconceptions of prayer just going through motions and actually had an honest conversation with him? Can we move from here and now and to our beings waiting, surrendered, present, expectant of what the Lord has planned for your life. Waiting in silence, so that we can draw near and get so close to Him so that we can hear Him speak. Maybe you can’t quite make out the words, but a place of awareness brings so much freedom in our lives.  Being aware of our joy, and contentment, all stem from Him alone. I have found that when I feel overwhelmed, doubtful, anxiety-filled— I can wait with Him, I never have to feel alone, even in a world so big, I can get still in Him. We see SALVATION here twice- deliverance— we are delivered from Him, and this friend is the only thing that should shake our day— nothing else, can shake us because thru Him we are delivered. I cling to this, I can release fear in my life because He is my defense, He wants me to live a BOLD life for Him, His strong tower protects and this is also the truth for you! In times when my soul might feel dry or run down, exhausted— these words of truth bring an eternal light and life to me, may they bring the same to your life. 

 

Will you wait in silence for Him today? Will you FULLY trust that your salvation, your deliverance comes from Him alone? Can you picture Him as your defense today, your strong tower? You cannot be shaken friend, He is your eternity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

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Faith, Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard Faith, Bible Teaching Jennifer Edewaard

Breaking Free From Our Imperfections Defining Us

Our imperfections are messy, intimidating, and sometimes you might be letting them defeat you, maybe even disqualify you. I am guilty of it. I have to catch myself as I go about my day and dismiss the lie that I am not doing it well, that I am not doing enough. Perhaps they can feel like pressure - pressure to be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect business owner, the perfect friend.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood."

Ephesians 6:12

 
 

Our imperfections are messy, intimidating, and sometimes you might be letting them defeat you, maybe even disqualify you. I am guilty of it. I have to catch myself as I go about my day and dismiss the lie that I am not doing it well, that I am not doing enough. Perhaps they can feel like pressure - pressure to be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect business owner, the perfect friend. And when we fail, it hits us hard. This is a natural emotional feeling, and I think it is important to process it, but we need to stand firm in truth that is behind it. His truth, and really our identities are only rooted in Him alone. These imperfections that we are created within Christ might be a description of the season we are in, or what we are processing, but never are we defined by them.

 

 

Break free, imperfections, faith.jpg

In the genealogy of Christ, we see many people, women, who were completely imperfect-- yet they are included in this list--

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,[a] 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,[b] 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,[c] and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,[d]and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Matthew 1:1-17 (ESV)

 

It is important to note that God carefully places  this genealogy to show us that we all come from somewhere, that we have broken parts, that we are imperfect, but the greatest truth in this to hold on to is that Christ redeems us. We are a part of His story of grace. I am here to tell you that we get to BREAK free from our imperfections defining us because we get to embrace them-- when we embrace them, we are essentially embracing Him, trusting that God is in control of our lives.

There have been many times in the last 6 years or so that I have let my imperfections define who I was, to fall into a trap of thinking that I am less than-- when I decided that I no longer wanted to pursue becoming a doctor, and instead I chose real estate for a while. So much of that transition left me feeling lost and seeking His purpose in my life. As I went thru infertility there where many days where I believed lies that it was my fault, that I had caused these issues with my body. Then there were, even more, times when I blamed myself for delivering my son early--- all thoughts and emotions that I had to break free from because that was not God's plan and purpose for me or for infertility and the premature birth. Honestly, friends, the struggles are still there as I break free from these imperfections defining me on a daily basis. There are moments when I am at doctors visits and therapy appointments with Mason and I will slip back into turning the imperfections to blame and down a spiral that is not at all what He wants for my life. I am here to tell you that no matter the imperfection, we can BREAK FREE because He is in our future-- He is going to use all of it the way He desires, and that might not be an easy thing to swallow. It might not be what you want or what I want, but when we can surrender it all to Him and allow Him to make a beautiful thing out of it-- that is when we can be free from the imperfections making us believe we can exist and be on our own.

We have to begin to trace the source of our internal thoughts and ideas that we have. If we are truly metabolizing His words to fuel our minds, then we can fully thrive in the living truth. We become grounded in Christ which is an essential part of breaking free from the imperfections defining us, and instead, we begin to thirst for more of Him. To have such a deep love for the Lord that you feel as if He is standing right there with you. I experienced this many times,  particularly in the NICU, I vividly remember when I literally had to just fall to my knees and just sink to Him. God reminded me that my imperfections are not weaknesses, they are opportunities to cling to Him, seek Him, hear Him. I heard Him over the constant ringing alarms in the hospital day after day for five months, over the chest compressions on my son many times, in the hospice room, and on the walk out of hospice as Mason was moved to a room of life.

I will also share that there will also be times when you can’t quite make out His voice, or see the light, or run to Him-- but know that He is not disqualifying you, He wants you to grow closer, connect with Him even further.You see the closer we are to embracing our imperfections, we are that much closer to understanding how much we need Him. We were made imperfect because He wants us to need Him, to run to Him and lay it all out--- and His grace covers us. He gives that to us unconditionally.

In our lives, these imperfect moments, situations, feelings, thoughts, they are part of His plan, and we have to know that we can’t fast forward thru them. Many times they will last for a season, or years, and sometimes they will remain forever. Yet we get to remain in Him, and that is where we see Him unfold in our lives. Our broken world would have us think that we need to get out of the imperfections-- let me emphasize getting out and breaking free are two very different things. Getting out of the imperfections is not embracing them, it is believing a lie that we don't need Him. Breaking free from them defeating and disqualifying you is a very different idea. It is the premise that when we allow ourselves the space and time in the imperfection we are in fact intensifying the connection with Him-- we begin to see God at work in our lives thru the imperfections and know that we are defined by Christ only, and the imperfections make way for us to stand in His glory.

You can stand through anything when you stand in His abundant grace. Because, friend, it's in our imperfections that Christ makes His perfections shown. He has the power to break us free from the role lies play that can takeover us not embracing the imperfections. He loves us today like He loved us yesterday and like He will love us tomorrow, imperfections and all.

 

 

 

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