victorious living – The Jesus Chick

So again I’m excited… A new Pastor’s on his way, I’m heading to a ladies retreat in Virginia for the weekend, and Sunday is just around the corner. Woohoo… life is good! This morning I’m away on business so I’m in the lobby of a hotel, thinking about the goodness of the Lord. Grinnin’… probably causing the lady that is setting up breakfast (and not overly happy about it) to wonder why someone would be so joyous at 6:05 in the morning. Perhaps I’ll have the opportunity to explain it to her but for now I’ll revel in the Word of God which has my heart stirred this morning.

I encourage you to read Exodus 15 this morning. What a chapter of victory! Moses is singing a song (and it rhymes, I love that!) Israel is reminiscing about Pharaoh and his band of merry men being swallowed up in the sea and I would suppose that all of us can identify with the feeling of being pursued in such a way that you absolutely thought it was curtains for you this time; only to be snatched from the jaws of death by almighty God! I love that too! Those scriptures of victorious living this morning had me on shouting ground and then I read once verse too far. Actually, I’ll consider it a warning having just come out of a consuming sea kind of time in my life. The warning is this… we’re just a few words from a complaint.

My heart was just about to bust out of my chest when I words of fatality to the song of victory…

Exodus 15

²¹And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

²²So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

²³And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

²⁴And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

I almost laughed. You’re worried about water? God just split the sea, walked you through on dry ground, destroyed your enemy with the same water and you’re worried about what you’ll drink? Oh my goodness… I’m pretty sure these people were Baptist! We’re always looking for the next failure!

So God just brought us through, what now?

I want to remember this scripture when the new Preacher arrives and we’re tempted to complain because something is going according to plan. I want to remember the bitter water and remind myself to add a little sugar and drink it any way.

Well… my days starting early… no time to finish this thought like I’d like too, but just a reminder to you and I both, Grab your timbrel and Dance!!!!

Isaiah 18:5 ~ For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

In Chapter 18 God warns the arrogant Assyrian army who are plotting against Israel, that their party is about to end and destruction draweth nigh. I don’t hear God shouting in this verse, nor do I see Him pacing back and forth in Heaven saying “let Me at’em, let Me at’em!” I see God’s calm, all knowing demeanor, standing quietly looking out the window of Heaven as He sees His children suffering, partly because of their own rebellion; but He says in finality, ”I allowed you to serve my purpose in instruction, but now, I’m gonna cut you down where you grow.”

I’m so glad that God is Omniscient; all knowing. Because if I were standing at the window of Heaven when I seen friends and family hurting or suffering at the hands of someone else, my godliness would likely go out the window. Sour grapes are good for nothing, on either side of an argument, somebody got to keep their attitude in check. There are people in our lives that, deed, they look like sour grapes are all they feast on! Do you have any in your life? They get on your last nerve… (draw this out for effect) with their constant tearing down of your emotional state, or negativity and lack of vision for you.

I speak in generality, nothing specific in my own life, but I see so many Christians being beat down by the circumstances of the world and allowing it to stop their own spiritual growth. Oppression is a part of our society; it’s how some climb the ladder of success, it’s how other’s keep their family in control or it’s a means of keeping everything quid pro quo, in a non changing state because change bother’s people.

We cannot move forward in our lives with dying branches on the vine. It stops our growth. God said He would cut down the branches of sour grapes, because sour grapes can do nothing but set your teeth on edge. If something or someone in our lives is keeping us from having victory it’s time to get out the pruning hooks. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they can no longer be a part of your life; it means you prune away parts of it.

Govern the conversation by keeping things on a positive note, talk about gumdrops and bubblegum flavors if you have too but stay away from conflict – snip!
Encourage them in something they’re working on. You’d be amazed how far a little sugar can go – snip!
Don’t spend time in their presence if all they want to do is discourage your dream, sometimes you have to walk away – snip!

God said “before the harvest.” Don’t let negative things take root in your life and bear fruit. – snip, snip!

I hope today finds you enjoying a bountiful harvest of the goodness of God! Got any sour grapes you need to get rid of?

Tag: victorious living

Grab your timbrel and dance!

Pruning Sour Grapes for Victorious Living! ~