Powerful Enough

8 March 09 Journal Entry

Nahum 1:12b-13
"Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer. For I will now break off his yoke from you and tear off your shackles."

Lord, once again You have let me encounter my own weakness. Determination alone can't get me out of the shackles of pride, self-absorption, food, skin-picking, vanity, laziness, doubt...

The ugly list could fill many pages, I'm afraid. But Jesus, this is why You came and died. Your Blood is powerful. Powerful enough to not only forgive me and wash away my guilt, making me white as snow (Hallelujah!), but also powerful enough to deliver me from the clutches of the sin so I don't have to be stuck in the rut of repeating that sin.

Still, Father, I'm fighting battles. Please deliver me!

Thank You for allowing me to encounter my weakness which helps to combat my ugly, ugly sin of pride.

I love You, Jesus. I'm so thankful that You love me despite my junk.

I trust You, Abba. Please be king of my heart, ruling all my decisions. Please change my desires to be in conformity to Your will.

Awesome God. I love that You care for me. I take security and comfort in that knowledge.

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

#34

6 March 09 Journal Entry

Yep, I'm 34 today. Having time with the Lord outside this morning. Sun is just rising. Cool air, but I'm comfy wrapped in a big blanket.

New dawn, new year, LORD, what does the future hold? What do You have marked out? What can I give You? Is there anything today I can lay aside in order to more thoroughly be surrendered and abandoned to You?

I echo Mike Haman's pray this past Wednesday--"Lord, please remove anything I'm leaning on that is keeping me from fully relying on You!"

I heard Mike and thought, "Wow, that's a brave prayer." But I want to say that, with all sincerity!

Counting the cost...what might He eliminate? Am I ready? Lord, please make me ready! I want to be 100% dependent upon You, and nothing and no one else! Abandoned to You in every way, Abba God.

Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore since we also have such a large crowd of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race marked out before us."

v. 2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus."

Lord, may I be fixed on You, heart and soul, forevermore.