God is good! He is so good! Everything He does is true and loving and pure and blameless! He is everything we need and more! He invites us all to be with Him and enjoy Him now and forever. And He is infinitely good! He is smiling over us right now!
God is so good for so many reasons! Plus, since He is infinite, there are probably an infinite amount of reasons that He is good! Just one of these is how He made us in His image! We are made in the image of God!!! "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27). How amazing is He; this is incredible!!! And since He is infinitely good, that means that there is probably an infinite amount of reasons that we are made in His image! We can enjoy learning more about this and everything about Him forever! Hallelujah! (And one more thing too, about His infinite good nature, is that Jesus is God in the flesh; His Word in the flesh! We read about this in John 1:1-3, and 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus is LORD! He is so good! And because He is God, what He says to us, as recorded in the Bible, could actually have an infinite amount of meaning! That would make sense! For, have you ever read a familiar passage of Scripture in an amazing, fresh, new way! God always does this! We learn, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). God will always teach us new things from His living Word, forever! I used to think that this would stop at some point, but I think that even in heaven we will be awed at what Jesus said, and is continuing to say forever! He is alive! Even with more concrete passages of Scripture, God will be continuously praised and glorified with fresh understanding forever! God is good! Hallelujah!)
So there are many reasons that we are made in His image, but God put on my heart several very important practical ones. First, we are made in God's image! Wow! It does not say, in the world's image or something else! We are made in the image of God! Thank you God! This means that we have our identity in Him! For when we have just childlike faith in Jesus, then He takes our place! Plus, we read, "So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith, for all of you were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29). We also read that Abraham's seed is through faith! God is so amazing! We are now in Him through faith! We are made in His image, and through faith, we have our identity in Him forever! Hallelujah!
Praise God for being so good! Jesus also said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). He came to set us free! He came to help us realize our identity in Him! He reminds us that we are made in His image and sets us free to be with Him! Hallelujah! God led me to write this passage of Scripture and also what is to follow! I'm simply amazed right now at all of the connections. He is so good! Let's see what he has to share with all of us!
God led me to write this breakthrough to help people know that He has set people free from some very common lies! I've always had trouble with religiosity, and recently have been set free by God! I don't know really how this happened, all I know is that I was blind, but now I see! God did the miracle! Praise God! He is so good! Well, God led me to realize that other people are in 'bondage' to other lies that the world tells them. These sounds heavy, but they are not. They actually have no weight! They are not real! Jesus is real! He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is Life and Truth and the Way! Praise Him! Therefore, everything else is not real! He is Truth! So, He led me to talk about these lies! To talk about depression, not true!, anxiety, or any other bad feelings, they are not true!; troubles with sexual identity and addictions, like alcoholism or drugs or any addiction - they are not real! If we are made in the image of God, and we are my dear friends, then we cannot be an 'alcoholic.' That's not real! It's not true! Just think about it! We are made in the image of God! Our identity is not in this world, as an alcoholic or whatever it is telling us - a lie, but we are made in God's image! We are completely free right now for God paid the price for freedom over 2000 years ago! And He will take away all the chemical dependency right away! It usually goes away within a week, and then from then on it's psychological. Truly, He takes all that away! Right now, whatever you are dealing with that separates you from God, it is a lie and it's not real! You are free in Christ! He died for that! You are freeeeeeeeeeeeee! We are all free in Jesus, who is Truth and Life and the Way! He is real!
Praise God! Well, let's think about this more! God revealed to me some important light on all of this. He led me a while back to read through the Gospel according to John. I was just delighted reading through it and learning more about God! It was wonderful! After reading though it, then God led me again, to read this section in John 9-10:18, about the man born blind that Jesus healed. At the time, I was just blown away - because God always teaches us new, and fresh things through His Word! I was not expecting, though, to be even more blown away by the lessons that God would teach me from this. Let's read the Scripture, and then Praise God for the lessons that He is about to reveal to us from it! He is alive and active! He is amazing! I'm very excited to share this- it is all form Him! He sets us free! So let's carefully and joyfully read!
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.4 As long as it is day, we must also do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, 'Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?' 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, 'No, he only looks like him.'
But he himself insisted, 'I am the man.'
10 'How then were your eyes opened?' They demanded.
11 He replied, 'The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.'
12 'Where is this man?' they asked him.
'I don't know,' he said.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. 'He put mud on my eyes,' the man replied, 'and I washed, and now I see.'
16 Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.'
But others asked, 'How can a sinner do such miraculous signs? So they were divided.
17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, 'What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.'
The man replied, 'He is a prophet.'
18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19'Is this your son?' They asked. 'Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it now that he can see?'
20 'We know he is our son,' the parents answered, 'and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.' 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.'
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. 'Give glory to God,' they said. 'We know this man is a sinner.'
25 He replied, 'Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!'
26 Then they asked him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?'
27 He answered, 'I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?'
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, 'You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.'
30 The man answered, 'Now that is remarkable! You don't even know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.'
34 To this they replied, 'You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!' And they threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
36 'Who is he, sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.'
37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."
38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, "For judgement I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, 'What? Are we blind too?'
41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
10 I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
God is so good! There is so much here! Wow! Let's let Him walk us along as He holds us step by step and hear just what He has to say to us! In Jesus' Name, you are already healed by Him! Praise Him! You are already healed, so let's read along to give Him all the glory and to help others!
Alright, first, let's remember that every word here is important and from Him! For we read, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him" (Proverbs 30:5). And, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Truly, this is all God-breathed! Let's look at Him! The first line starts with, "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth." Jesus and the Holy Spirit writing through John referred to this man as a man, not as a blind man! Do we see? Is God letting us see? We are made in the image of God! He made us, male and female! Right away, God see's this man as a man who was born blind, but he is never a blind man to God. Same with us! Even if things have been against us from an early age, it is not who we are! We are God's! We are made in His image! Hallelujah! Check out this verse! "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Through she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:15-16). God is with us, Emmanuel! (See Matthew 1:23 and at least Matthew 1-5) We belong to Him! Nothing can separate us from God and His love for us! "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). We belong to God and He made us! He made us in His image, and heals us now! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Second, let's look at who is saying that this man was blind! We read about the man being blind in verses 17 and 19: 'Finally they turned again to the blind man, 'What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.' And, 'Is this your son?' They asked. 'Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it now that he can see?' The Pharisees, or what the world is telling us, even people in the church are tricky here! They call the man 'blind'! And he already sees! This brings us an important point! "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12; which remember don't really have any weight, they just lie that they do! Only Jesus is truth! "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)). Well, it's a good thing that it is the LORD's battle then, and not ours! And it is already won! He already has the victory! In Him, we are healed right now! For we read when God was speaking though David against goliath, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47). Plus, we read many verses about God's already victory. "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57; and see here for 'victory' in an online concordance to see how much God tells us He already has won!) Plus we read about His victory in Revelation, where God concludes with some of these verses, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12-13). Jesus is already victorious! And He has saved us! We are freeeeeeee! "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). It's finished as Jesus said on the cross! (John 19:30). We can't do anything more to add to it! It's done! Hallelujah! So, we are free and healed in Him! Halleujah! As we see here, though, the world continues to lie against us! Wow! That is blindness, and the type of blindness that Jesus talks about in verse 9:41. We must know that now we are healed in Jesus, but expect that many people will be influenced by the world and not believe it! They will say that we are still 'blind,' or not give glory to God! But we are not against them, though, as we read above; it is the world that has caused this division. So, let's always love them, and pray that God has us all see!
Another interesting part about people being blinded to seeing God's healing in our lives, is that it may even be us at some point! We can think later, 'am I actually healed!' Our struggle is not against ourselves, though! We are the LORD's! We are made in His image. We can't fight ourselves, and we are already healed-not by our strength, but by His! when these thought come up, instead, it is the world lying again. Consider even the man's neighbors and those he knew well. Some believed that he was the same man and some thought he was a different person! Reactions will vary, but God has healed you! Therefore, whenever any adversity arises now because of God healing you, just remember, it is to be expected, and it doesn't really matter! Hallelujah! What matters is Jesus!
There is more! You are already healed, and you don't have to read or understand this to be healed, for Jesus heals you! This is the next lesson! Check this out! Jesus simply healed this man. He put mud on his eyes and said to wash. With that, the man could see! It is very simple! Jesus heals you! All we need is childlike faith in Him! That's it, for God does it! The rest of this post is really just for giving Him more glory and praise, and to help others! You are already healed in Him! Hallelujah! It's done! You are free!
So who then, makes this confusing, or more hard than it needs to be? Again, as we read, it's the Pharisees! They are weighed down by how this man can see. They want to figure it out not just to know, but to cause division. You can read in the text verses 9:13-10. (Also, it is interesting to note that division is hard to avoid! But look at the two kinds of division. The religious leaders were divided because of unbelief and they were trying to divide! Jesus was healing, and giving life and truth, but some did not believe, and they were divided. Therefore, we should always side with Jesus! Consider, too, how Jesus prayed for us! "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:20-21). Jesus brings unity and peace! Let's be with Him!) Well, the religious leaders just go crazy and get angry because of so many rules and ideas from the world! But it is very simple! We don't need to understand how God heals us, He just does, for He desires for us to be the people He made us to be! He says, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life" (3). Jesus wants to reveal the work of God in our lives - the work of God of who He made us to be - without the lies of the world! He wants to show the world how He is the light of the world, and people see in Him! (3) He brings us life and light and makes us really who we were made to be - reflections of Him - made in His image! Also, the man did not know how he was healed, so the man said, "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (25). We can give the same answers that this man did, and we will get to explain that Jesus did it! It's so simple! That is the important part! Jesus is awesome!
Also, get this! Jesus puts mud or clay on the man's eyes! Then He says to wash (6-7). Some of the common things we hear about people not being healed are these: they were this way from birth (not a problem for Jesus!), it is biological (not a problem here either! Praise God), it is the result of sin (not this man's sin, though!), it is because we live in a fallen world (which is true, but is not an excuse for not being healed by Jesus, our Savior!). And I've thought all of these things before too! But this story teaches us so much! Jesus wants us to see! (Plus, when people say those things, they are saying that it is a part of us, "they are this way, or that.' Well, that's actually not true! Remember, Jesus is the only Way! (John 14:6). Instead, we should say, "they are the LORD's! That is God's son, or God's daughter! We are made in his image!" That's the truth! Let's all start identifying ourselves correctly in Jesus, remembering who He made us to be! We are made in His image! There is not such thing as an an 'alcoholic' or a 'blind man!' Rather, there are people made in the image of God, who have been attacked by alcoholism, and blindness! Praise God for Him coming to set the captives free!!! "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). Praise Him! We are made in His image!!!)
So, Jesus putting mud on the man's eyes is very interesting. He teaches us so much here! For, we read that, "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). God makes us from the earth, but in Him, He makes us holy, or set apart. We also read, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). This shows us that we should be humble (which means from the ground- also real humility is not saying we are bad, but remembering who we are in Jesus!), and also God shows us that He made us, and that life in us is His! He is life (as Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Life"). He also shows us that the actual earth is not unclean! "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). The earth is not unclean, or actually even the world itself, but it is the evil that is attacking it, that is unclean. And also we read, "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean' " (Matthew 15:11). Jesus goes onto explain that, "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:17-20). Jesus shows us that what He made is good, but there is evil attacking it! that is why we should be filled with Him, not the evil! For, we also read that God is supposed to fill us, just like we are jars of clay, and He fills us. We read this also in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." God filling us is real and the way it is meant to be! Everything else is not real! Him healing us is Him living in us - for we are made in His image! That is the truth! He is the Truth in us! (John 14:6) When he put mud on this man's eyes, He showed that we should not worry! There is nothing wrong! We tend to think of fighting against all of that evil and sorting it out, but it's not our battle, remember! "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47). Plus, we read many verses about God's already victory. "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57) Jesus has the victory already, so when we just have childlike faith in Him, we are healed! Hallelujah! We don't have to fear the 'mud' or what people are saying -like it's hereditary! That's not real! It has no weight! Jesus is real! For example, I used to think that I was a person that God made, in His image, but there was the mud of religiosity on me covering me up. I used to think I had to be so religious - but it is God who saves us, not our acts! Well, anyways, there was actually nothing covering me up! It was actually not even there! We are completely free in Jesus right now! Jesus putting mud on this man's eyes shows that He sets us free, for the whole earth is full of His glory! "One [seraphim] cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole world is full of His glory!'" (Isaiah 6:3). We tend to think of the world as bad, but it is full of His glory! Let's instead think of Him and how amazing He is all the time! Let's fill our minds with His beauty and love and truth and freedom! He set us free!
God is so good and fun! Another important lesson from this story is how the religious leaders are really bogged down by the details and they think that by understanding on their own, they will see. Understanding, and learning are from God, but when we think that we must understand and know to be healed by God, or saved by Him, then we are trying to do it on our own! It will not work on our own! "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus also reveals to us how He has come into the world to give us the Light! (5) He says before, too, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). So He is really teaching us about spiritual blindness as well. The Pharisees thought that they could figure it out on their own, or see on their own (41). That is why Jesus continues to talk about the sheep pen. Some people try to get in another way, but He is the Way! (John 14:6). Only in Jesus, can people see! Jesus healed the man born blind, and then later said to him after the man was thrown out, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 'Who is he sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said, "You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him" (35-38). By believing in Him, Jesus had him see! The man did want to understand enough to learn about God, but it was not his understanding that made Him see Jesus, it was Jesus! The understanding and significance came after and was for praising Him, and giving Him glory. We approach the Bible, friends, family, neighbors, praise and everything else the same way! Jesus is the way to be saved (John 14:6), and these other things are there to enjoy Him and share His love! We don't read the Bible really hard to prove ourselves to God, or learn enough, or do anything to get out of a situation; Jesus just heals us and then we enjoy Him! We can spend time with Him in His Word, and doing everything else in His freedom! Hallelujah! You feel His freedom! He has set you free! We have all heard of the expression, seeing is believing, but here from Jesus, we learn, 'believing in Jesus is seeing!' So, just by believing in Jesus, He makes us see! Praise Him!!!!!!! He sets us freeeeee! (also, God put this quote on my heart about two weeks ago, and I was waiting for Him when to share it! Well, this is the perfect opportunity to share His quote! Indeed, He knows all things and He loves us very much! It is true! Jesus is Truth! ""For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
The lesson of not needing seeing to believe, or needing to figure it out on our own, but Jesus doing it very simply already, has some really important practical lessons! We need to realize that we can't face anything on our own! The battle is His and He has already won!!! (1 Samuel 17:47; 1 Corinthians 15:57; Revelation and more!) We just relax and enjoy Him! We are free, and we can just enjoy Him! Hallelujah! There is no need to do anything else! Truly, it's really done! Jesus said it is finished! It is so refreshing and actually makes me laugh for joy and sing and dance! That is where Jesus wants us to be!
Here is an example. For a long time in my life, as I mentioned, I really thought I needed to be religious. I would have to say prayers just right even to leave the house! I fought against it for so many years; as long as I can remember. I've seen the same 'struggle' with many of my friends with whatever issue (and really there is no issue!). We struggle and use energy against them. This is just what exasperated and made the Pharisees tired! They were trying their best to figure it out, but it was on their own! It is just like fighting agains the air! There is nothing there! Instead, we can relax in Jesus, who gives us life!!!!!!! The simplicity of Jesus working is so refreshing!!! He even said to wash! Well, let's wash in His pure and cleansing water! We are free in Him! "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them" (John 7:38). God is so good! Let's remember His face, verses these issues! Whenever another 'issue' comes, or pretends that it is coming back, let's not think of the issue, but instead of Jesus! By thinking of the 'issue,' we actually are wasting time and energy! There is no need to think of nothing! We will get nowhere! Instead, as we are taught, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand or the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). One of the biggest lessons God has recently been teaching me is how to relax in Him, just by looking at Him! I used to think, though, that even spending time with Him required effort, or 'struggling.' Well, the following verse changed everything for me! I'd never paid any attention to it, or read it! I'm so glad God gave it to me, and His Truth in it is really important for us! We just look to Him and are relaxed! We can enjoy Him starting now, and forever! He flows inside of us! He is the living water! He is God and He is alive! Here is the verse: "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me" (Colossians 1:29). We don't have to 'struggle' or work really hard against the lies that attack us. We can simply relax in His arms and enjoy Him, and He takes care of it all, in His energy! Let's look to Him and be relaxed!!! He is so good, pure and refreshing! Also, we read, "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter relied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But wen he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down" (Matthew 14:25-32). Jesus was walking on water! Nothing is impossible for Him! There is no need to fear! Also, He had Peter walk on the water! We learn that, "Jesus looks at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God"" (Mark 10:27). When Peter looked to Jesus, Jesus did it! When he looked to the problems, then he was distracted! But Jesus still saved Him-and immediately! We are free and safe! It's so fun to be with Him! Therefore, we should look to Jesus all the time, in everything! We can think of Him through this verse! "Finally, brothers and sisters; whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9). We are free, so let's look to Him in everything, for He gives our freedom!!! Hallelujah!!!!!!! He is with us and He is so good and so fun!
Let's just think of Jesus! Look into His eyes! He loves you! He is with you right now and sets you freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Be refreshed in His beauty and goodness and grace! He loves you so much! He has completely healed you! Let Him send you now to your pool of Siloam (Siloam means Sent). With this newfound sight that He has given you, how do you feel! You probably want to get up and rejoice! This is from Him! You are free now to enjoy Him! Enjoy Him for the sight He has given you! And now that you are free, you probably want to tell others! This is the gospel! (And actually, apostle means 'one who is sent!' This man was an apostle without even knowing it!) God sets us free and lives within us, so we can share His love with others! We are made in His image! Wow! He is good! "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). Rejoice!
See, 'Breakthrough 10: Our identity is in Christ! Let us fix our eyes on Him!' and, 'Breakthrough 11: John 17:20-21; One with the Father!' for more on being made in His image! Hallelujah! He is so loving!
See also, 'Breakthrough! An Introduction', for more on breakthrough and how God is always with us through His LOVE!!! Hallelujah!
