G R A N D

How long, self? How long, oh mixed mind?

How long till I realize thoughts of insufficiency aren’t from God?

How long till I see that this heart is already victoriously won, so that all of my being can now humbly/hopefully follow?

You know what they say: “It takes a village,” though I’d wager it takes a whole nation for me— a whole realm, a whole kingdom.

Between living as a body tied to the law of sin and living as a spirit freed by Christ’s blood taking full effect today, all I can sufficiently say is that hope is our one driving force as true believers today. Hope, and I mean the most eternal of sorts, is the means by which we overcome and conquer that which plagues us within our minds.

Choosing good over evil is a matter of fully perceiving the grace, being thankful, and then abounding in faith that pushes us along this path of righteousness toward hope of eternal life in heaven. We must never belittle the grace, never forget the hope, never lose the zeal— this is our work to do and our hope to accomplish, all in the name of heaven and God’s rest.

The self-defeating thoughts end here! The law was put in place to make us aware of our sin, but Christ’s sacrifice and prayer is for us to petition ourselves away from it! Who else can remove these thorns but God? Who is the gardener? Who prunes us and makes us ready? None but God! The words he sends to earth are there to change us. There’s no room for wallowing cynics in heaven.

Thank God for God, the almighty and powerful who abounds in love and deserves all glory, honor, praise, power, authority and majesty until the very eternity we speak of so fervently— praise him from whom all blessings flow.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30

allyances:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 4:6-7 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”

- 2 Corinthians 3:11-12 NIV ‘84

I can attest, I can attest

allyances:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 3:12-14 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 3:12-14 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

- Ezekiel 11:19 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

- James 4:7-8 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called -
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

- Ephesians 4:4-7 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

- Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV ‘84

allyances:

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

- 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV ‘84