Encouragement 08-30-04

 

August 30, 2004
Encouragement for Today

Reclaiming What the Thief Has Stolen
Glynnis Whitwer, Senior Editor P31 Woman, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, editor@proverbs31.org

Key verse:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  John 10:10 (NIV)


Devotion:

What has the thief stolen from you?  Is it your peace at home?  Is it your enjoyment of your children or has the thief robbed you of your confidence in Christ?

Jesus said He came so that we would have life.  Not a life with holes in it where Satan has stolen something of value, but a full life.

Unfortunately, we have an enemy whose plan is that we only have a partial life.  Satan would like our life to be like a tree eaten by bark beetles or a leaf nibbled by a worm.  He picks away at us until we collapse in misery over what we have lost.

A few years ago, I experienced a traumatic fear of flying.  Every take-off, I would dissolve into tears and my heart would pound at every bump or unusual sound.  This fear grew until I avoided opportunities to fly on personal trips or speak out of town.  Since I believed God was calling to speak to women across the country, this fear led to disobedience.   I'm not one to see spiritual attack at every turn, but this was the obvious cause of my fear, even to me.

It took a lot of prayer, but eventually I realized that I had placed my personal safety in the hands of a pilot, an airplane mechanic, the engine of the plane or calm weather.  I trusted everything but Jesus.  I allowed Satan to steal my faith in God's ability to protect me, and I believed the lie that my life was in the hands of another human being or the weather.

If you are feeling weak and fearful over what has been stolen from you, there's hope - and it's found in Jesus.  Jesus can reclaim anything that has been stolen from you, because He replaces lies with the truth.

If the thief tells you that you have no future - Jesus says He holds your future in His hands.
If the thief tells you that you should be afraid - Jesus says no one can snatch you out of His hands (John 10:28).
If the thief tells you that you are of little value - Jesus says He will die for you (John 10:11).

Dear sister, Jesus has a plan for you to live a full life and that involves Him restoring your lost pieces.  Many times, we walk through life; wounded, believing we'll never be whole.  Allow Jesus to reclaim what has been stolen from you; replace lies with the truth; and enjoy the WHOLE God intends for you to live.


My prayer for today:

Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your power over the evil one.  I know that You are above all and that nothing is out of Your control.  I confess the times that I forget this and place my trust in something of this world.  Thank You for loving me and caring for my needs.  I ask for Your help in reclaiming the parts of my life that have been stolen from me.  I long to live the full live that only You can bring.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Application steps

List areas of your life where you are not living the full life God intends.  Identify the lies that have taken the place of God's truth.  Confess any sin that may hinder God working to bring you a full life.  Thank Him for His faithfulness and power.


Reflection points:  

Why do you think Satan wants to kill, steal and destroy what Christians have?

What lies have you believed about yourself or your life?

How has believing these lies affected your life and Christian walk?

What truth from God's Word can replace the lies you've believed?

What does a full life in Christ look like?


Power verses

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."  John 10:11 (NIV)

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."  John 10:27 (NIV)

"To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"  John 8:31 (NIV)

"Then the Devil came and said to Him, 'If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.'" Matthew 4:3-4 
     

Additional resources

P31 Woman Magazine
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/p31woman.html

Who Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/key.html

How to Live a Life of Victory tape set by Mary Southerland
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/victoryset.html

Originally published Monday, 30 August 2004.

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