by Shauna Millar | May 2, 2024 | Action in Christianity, encouragement, faith, forgiveness, Trust
It is so easy to get caught up in doing our will that we lose sight of God’s will for us. Suddenly, our will is (what we perceive as) God’s will for our lives and becomes our focus. We turn our eyes from what we know we should do – following the spiritual laws – and instead; we institute the physical; we let our emotions dictate our path.
Still, we may put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). We take the time to gird our waist with truth, struggle into that heavy breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet loosely with the gospel of peace, throw on the Helmet of Salvation, barely shoulder the shield of faith in one arm and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) in the other. Once we feel completely dressed and ready for battle, we throw our hands up, tell God to stand back, and let him know ‘we’ve got it from here’. We often take an attitude of “I’ve got this, God” as if He needs us to defend Him. Perhaps we have seen one too many movies…
God goes before us
The Word tells us that God goes before us. (Deuteronomy 31:8).
He isn’t the king standing in the castle hidden behind the walls, expecting his army to defend him. He is the King at the front of the army, on the front line. He goes BEFORE us. God wants His people to stand with Him, for Him, near Him. We are given the armor, not to protect Him, but to protect US. The armor is FOR us.
We need to remind ourselves daily to put on the full armor of God. We need to remind ourselves daily that we need to follow Him. We need to suit up and show up and know that God will do the rest. Consider that when we are standing and preparing to fight, that we have a mighty banner flying in front of us, and we call Him Jehovah Nissi! (God is our banner! He is our victory!) [Exodus 17:15]
God needs us to open our hearts and our minds to Him. To do all HIS will in our lives and for our lives. It isn’t always easy. We don’t get to see the full path ahead of us. We get to put our faith to the test and TRUST in Him. We need to learn not to put our will first. We need to not get confused with doing our will and thinking it is His.
The Bible tells us to ask for wisdom and He will give it to us. [James 1:5] It tells us to ask for understanding, and He will give it to us. [Proverbs 2:3-8] He tells us to test the spirits to know His will in our lives.[1 John 4:1]
If you want to be standing where God wants you to be, then you have to trust Him. We need to Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God. [Mt 6:33] When we do that, God ADDS to our lives. Perhaps you are familiar with the name Jehovah Jireh, God, our provider. [Gen 22:14] God provides for His people, more so when we are doing His will. It is usually hard to see what that is. More often than not, we feel as if we are stumbling in the dark. God gives us just enough light for where we are. He never gives us more than we can handle. We need to remind ourselves about these things.
We need to go to the Word
There is comfort when we go to the word of God. The Bible is filled with His promises for our lives. It is filled with blessings for our lives. However, we need to remember that the Bible is not a magic lamp. It is not something that you rub, make a wish, and it comes true. God offers us many good things, but there are things we need to do in order to get the fullness of those blessings.
When the Israelites were in the desert, God blessed them with manna from heaven to feed them. He blessed them with water from a rock to ease their thirst. God blessed them, but they never received the fullness of what they could have had. Why? They often grumbled and rebelled while on the journey. They lacked faith and conviction of belief. In other words, they didn’t trust God to deliver. They didn’t do what He asked them to do. If they had, the story would have been completely different.
How can we hope to completely follow what the Bible tells us to do? We can’t. We wrestle with our flesh and blood. This is when we must consider two things; grace and forgiveness. God gives us grace, and He forgives us when we ask. We need to recognize that we will stray from the path God has us on. When we stumble and fall, He will pick us up, dust us off and help us get back to where we need to be. First, we must ask.
We need to not sit in the dirt, let our faces get all red and become so stubborn we refuse to ask. Remember – ask and it shall be given. Seek and it shall be found. The door is open to us, if only we will put aside our ‘ISM’s’ (I, self, me) and put God first in ALL things.
Let today be a blessing to you. Find one simple thing that you can thank God for. Spend time with your heavenly Father. Let Him shelter you beneath His wings. Let Him love and comfort you and direct your path.
by Shauna Millar | Oct 14, 2023 | encouragement, hope
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” -Jeremiah 1:5
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” -Psalms 139:13 -16
God knows everything about me! He deliberately created me. He intentionally created you! What does that mean? Intentionally is defined as “deliberately; on purpose.” Ask any craftsman about a piece of work they have created and they will remember it. It takes time to create a piece of art. You are a piece of art. You are unique and loved. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” -John 10:14
We need to stop listening to the voices all around us. The ones who know nothing about us. We can’t let people “bully” us into thinking we are worthless. We can’t allow their opinions to become our facts. The fact is, you are special. The fact is God loves you so much that He created you with a purpose, with intent. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you on the cross to ensure He would be with you for eternity.
He didn’t just create you, though. No, He didn’t stop there – He made sure that He had a plan for YOUR life. “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. Wow! Plans for prosperity, hope, and a future! You are valuable! Not feeling that way? Perhaps it is time to seek God and get to know Him better. Maybe it is time to put down the plans you have made for your life and pick up the ones He has for your life. There is nothing in this life that God won’t go through with you in this life.
In the realm of current events, we often witness nations embroiled in conflicts and the suffering of individuals. This inevitably prompts the question: Where does God fit into all of this? Some may even point fingers at God, but it’s important to note that this isn’t His doing. God granted us the gift of free will. This means we have the liberty to either align ourselves with the path He’s laid out for us or impose our own desires and wishes, not only on our lives but also on others.
The real question is, do you acknowledge and accept this? God foretold that life would be fraught with trials and tribulations, but He assured us that He wouldn’t abandon us. Consider the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel, a devoted servant of God, faced the terrifying prospect of being thrown into a den of lions. It’s crucial to understand that these were no ordinary, docile lions; they were creatures deliberately deprived and provoked, manipulated for the amusement of those in positions of power. This act was a form of punishment; it was equivalent to being sentenced to the ultimate capital punishment.
Yet, what happened? God was there in the lion’s den WITH Daniel. He didn’t allow harm to come to Him. He had plans for Daniel and Daniel believed that no matter where He was, God was in charge.
How about being thrown into a fiery furnace as happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? What happened? There was a fourth person in the fire with them! God was there! There are times, however, that God’s people will go through and there will be death and destruction. There will be a senselessness in what is going on. I believe all things work for the good of those who love the Lord. That all things happen according to His will and purpose, even if we can’t see it.
Just like God was with Daniel, and with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – He is with us. He loves you. He loves me. A man may fail and let you down, but God never will. He will provide for you. Seek Him. Know Him. Trust Him.
Prayer:
Lord,
You know our hearts. You know our situation. You know when we are hurting and when we are celebrating. Father, I ask that You just continue to be with us. That You continue to watch over us and remind us that we are loved. I ask that You bless those who are feeling down and forgotten. I pray for those who may feel dismayed and may be contemplating ways to disappear. I ask that You touch them. That You send your angels to watch over and keep them. Wrap Your wings around them and let them feel the safety and shelter of Your love. I ask that You touch them so they come to know You and understand that they are always loved and wanted. That You never forget us. That You are always with us.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
by Shauna Millar | Jun 28, 2023 | encouragement, General, hope
One moment can change our entire lives. It can change the direction we were heading in and put us on a fresh path. It can turn our lives upside down. Sometimes those moments are significant – such as accepting Christ into our lives. Sometimes those moments are horrifying ones, like the death of a loved one. Or beautiful, like the birth of a child. However, what all these moments have in common are the “after” effects. What comes after a life-changing moment? The breath of “what’s next” or “now what?” The path we find ourselves on also comes with decisions that we will have to make.
How do I choose to raise my child? How can I move forward after losing someone I love? How will I become a person worthy of Christ dying on the cross for me? What can I do to make the world a better place in the next moment? We live moment to moment, decision to decision, breath to breath. What we make of our world is based on our choices. They are a gift freely given. Yet, everything comes with a cross. Jesus paid a price for our sins. There is always a “price” for everything that is “free”. Even though Christ chose to die for us [Titus 2:14], to give us a clean slate, He paid the price. His life was the cost for our sins to be washed away. His life was what it took for us to have a “clean slate” in God’s eyes. Jesus had a choice.
We want to be worthy. We want to do our best. We want to follow the path that is set before us. It is HARD. We will not always make the right decisions; we will fail, and make mistakes, and yet still we can move forward. We can learn from our mistakes. Doing better than we did before. Every time you fail doesn’t mean you should give up. It simply means there was a lesson to be learned so we don’t fall into the same pattern of behavior again. Yet, we are also our deepest critics. We judge ourselves harshly, beat ourselves over the head, throw down, and pound the ground. We want to use it as an excuse to give up, not move forward, as the reason “nothing good ever happens” and “why it can’t be done”.
It does not mean our mistakes and failures happen for this purpose. They are there to allow us to see what we did wrong and how we can improve. God gave us the gift of forgiveness. He gave us the gift of making us “whiter than snow” [Isaiah 1:18] not so we can roll around in the dirt, but so we can move forward with boldness. We can choose to cling to the past or we can step forward in faith and strength. The decision is ours. Though, it is often easier to wallow in misery than to lift our heads and move forward.
Why isn’t our faith enough? For some reason, there is a mistaken belief that once you accept Christ into your life, everything will be easier. It is not easy to choose to follow Christ. The path is narrow for a reason. Human nature dictates that we take a wide path. The one that’s trampled and paved for what seems like an easier, smoother journey. The question is, who paved that path? Why is it easier? We can look throughout history to see the persecution of Christians. No one likes to be persecuted. No one wants to deal with hardships and difficulties. You would think after 2,000 years that Christians would have it easier. Yet, throughout the world, we continue to see Christians being oppressed or blamed for the ills of the world. For standing up for the truth against the masses.
In today’s society, it is even less popular to be a Christian. Or to be any person who has a moral compass, especially in the U.S., where the world has been turning into everything the Bible warns about. No one aspires to be harassed, attacked, or “canceled out” based on their belief system. Yet, the world says it is okay to do that to followers of Christ, but not to those who would prey on our children. The world says it is better to make children a victim than to allow Christians to stand firm in their faith. Most religions in the world don’t face the same type of persecution that Jews and Christians do. Why? Perhaps this is something to think about.
We cannot afford to not stand firm. We need to speak the truth and pray for people to receive what is being said. Just because you speak out against sex in schools or force children to attend pride celebrations in schools doesn’t mean that you are incorrect. Remember, some of us will prepare the ground, while others will plant, water, and still others will harvest. God called us to be a light set upon a hill. He called us to follow His word and His will. He called us to meditate on the Word day and night [Joshua 1:8] so that we may show ourselves approved [2 Timothy 2:15]. He has told us to hide the word in our hearts. [Psalms 119:11]
One moment, standing in front of the school board and speaking the truth, could be the thing that changes the direction. Remember, it started with one woman who took prayer out of school. One woman started the abortion movement and got Roe v Wade instilled. Last year, (2022) in a historical moment the Supreme Court gave the power back to the states.
Things can and will change. We must do our parts. We need to remember that every moment matters and what we do with each one of them. You may be the one person who starts the next movement of positive change.
by Shauna Millar | Jun 14, 2023 | encouragement, hope, strength
I suppose you have heard or read the story of David vs Goliath. [1Samuel 17] The important part here is not that Goliath was a giant, and was undefeatable. In 1 Samuel 17:49-51, David defeats him.
49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
Now, while I have jumped to the “end of the story”, there was a lot in the beginning. First, we recognize David was still a shepherd. He was also the youngest of his brothers. The three eldest had already joined the army and were following the king. The Philistines issued a challenge. Send one out to fight our champion and if you win, we will be your servants, but if we win, then you will be ours. Even Saul didn’t want to go out and fight him.
The importance of this is that Saul was king. He should have been the one to stand up and lead by example. However, we see that he and his men “shook” from fear when Goliath issued his challenge. Which he did for 40 days before David came into the picture.
David was young. He was filled with faith and belief in the Lord. He knew the Philistines were nothing that God couldn’t handle, yet everyone around him was afraid. David stepped forward in faith. He volunteered to stand up against an almost 10-foot giant. He knew God was on His side and would help him prevail.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 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.”
We all have giants in our lives. We all have something that seems overwhelming, and while history shows a lot of wars that were fought that also had the victors overwhelmed by the invading armies’ numbers, they too prevailed. We need to remember that what God has done for others (David) He will do for us. He is the SAME God today that he was yesterday, and He will be forevermore. This means that we can trust that He will rescue us no matter the situation.
God CAN change the direction we are heading. We can overcome this overwhelming evil that is so prevalent in our society today. How? The Bible tells us we have to first seek God. Are you in a situation where you don’t see a way out? Are our children’s lives important enough to fight for? Should we be standing up for our rights? Do we seek God first? When was the last time you looked into His word to see what it says?
2 Chronicles 7:14 – which I am sure you have read or heard – states:
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
What can one man do? Well, let’s look at David. He loved God. He believed in Him. David was also flawed and failed. Yet, he didn’t allow his failures to guide his life. What he did was constantly seek God. He would ask for forgiveness. The book of Psalms is filled with the praise and failures that David felt. Yet, God saw fit to take a shepherd boy and make him a King. One of the most influential and well-known kings in history. We still talk about him today.
I am not saying that God is going to raise you up to be a king. After all, God knows the plans He has for us and each of us follows a unique path. Sometimes our paths will cross, sometimes we will journey together, yet no matter where God is leading us; He is in charge and will direct our feet.
It is time we get back into the Word. We need to remember what God says. The Bible has all the answers we will ever need or want. From how we are to act, to how we are to protect our homes and families, to who we are to serve. You may face a giant in your life. Just remember, nothing is bigger than God. What He did for the Israelites against the Philistines, He can do for you. Trust Him. Follow Him. Read His Word. Pray. Let Him help you slay the giant. You don’t have to do it alone.
by Shauna Millar | Jun 8, 2023 | encouragement, General, strength
There are a lot of pressures in our world right now. None is more clear than the willingness of Christians to stand up and be counted. There has been a lot of silence with what has been happening. The pressure facing Christians is more and more prominent in public education and, in particular, our children. With CRT (Critical Race Theory or whatever name it currently goes by) and explicit sex education beginning in Kindergarten, we need to make sure we are not only praying but getting involved.
Matthew 18:5-7 states:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Recently, in our town, there was a reading and showing of one of the more explicit books at our local library. People showed up to pray for those children. Sadly, parents brought their children to learn and listen to what was being taught. Five- and Six-year-olds have no business learning about sex. They should be out playing and being children instead of being groomed. We should protect their innocence. Letting them learn to play. Directing them along a path that will allow them to not become involved in what the current world agenda offers. When a baby is born, for a parent to automatically dismiss its gender based on pressure from the world is wrong. Telling a child that they are a different gender is wrong. Yet, we are seeing these types of things more and more.
It is an agenda that continues to grow and transform into new and more evil forms of “reality”. There are those who say that we all have our “truths”. No, there is one truth. The rest is how we lie to ourselves to make it okay to accept what is going on. The Bible tells us everything we need to know; how to handle what is going on. What we should do, say, and how we act or react to situations. There is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
We know that throughout history, children have been taken advantage of and exploited. While a few years ago there were the “rights of the child”, we no longer see anything like that. Once again, an agenda is being imposed on our children. It’s an agenda that starts early and continues as they get older. The rise of transgenderism in our youth has become prevalent. It has reached a critical point, where they are being given chemical castration drugs and unnecessary surgeries in their formative years. How many individuals have had this type of surgery and have now, in their early 20s, admitted it was a mistake? Children, no matter their age, need to be allowed to explore who they are and what they want without a permanent solution being forced on them as if it was their idea.
While I was very much a “tomboy” growing up. I have an older brother who I looked up to and wanted to be like. I wanted the things he had because I adored him so much. However, later in life, while I still enjoyed some of those things, I discovered who I was independent of him. I became my own person, wearing dresses and heels, and discovering my own unique beauty. Those of us who are older have had that opportunity, yet we say that this new generation doesn’t get to do that. They must make a life-altering decision without discovery.
The children are our future. Without them, there is no future. The freedoms we have known and enjoyed, this next generation may never know, if we don’t shine the light on truth and share it with them. They are being told which direction to go and how to get there. Without the influence of Christians in their lives, to be a light for Christ, what type of future will they really have? What does this mean? We need to be involved at every level. Not just as parents, but as grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, and more. We need to step up and offer a different solution. We need to not judge, for judgment belongs to the Lord, but we need to offer a helping hand and be there.
We are all sinners saved by God’s grace. We need to remember that, and be an example of what Christ can do when we let Him. There has been a spotlight that is shining on revival in our lands. We need that revival now, more than ever before. We need to remember the truth. We need to get in – and stay in – the word of God. We need to pray and remain firmly rooted in Him. This is the only way we can reach out honestly, with strength, encouragement, and love. The battle is the Lord’s. We are His army and we need to trust in Him. Pray for God to show you the direction that He wants you to go. Pray that He will give you strength and not let fear of being “canceled” out stop you from stepping out. Move forward in His word and in His will.
Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Be willing to say, “Here am I Lord, use me” – and mean it.
by Shauna Millar | Jun 25, 2021 | encouragement, Fruits of the spirit, Praise & Worship
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Ps 34:8
What an exciting time when we accept Christ in our lives. When we put away the old things and become a new creation in Him. When we accept Christ, when we are baptized and allow ourselves to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we allow ourselves to follow His word and His will in our lives. When everything is fresh and new!
Then we begin to share with the people around us. Those who ‘know’ us from ‘before’ can be a challenge to our new spiritual growth. We want them to SEE the new us! However, all they can see is the old us. Especially the ones we hung out with and know all the secrets from our past. They want to use it against us. They want to bring us down. Its not even that they WANT to do it, it’s like they are compelled to do it. The devil wants to steal our joy and he will do it using those closest to us if he can.
We have to have time to build up who we are in Christ. We need time to learn His word, to saturate ourselves in His presence with prayer and praise. We need to move away from ‘the old’ and into the new. This can be a very difficult transition. Sometimes this means that we have to leave our old friends and find new ones – to surround ourselves with a body of believers – in order for us to be built up so that we can stand firm.
We need to remember that not all of our old family and friends will welcome us with open arms. John 4:44 tells us ‘a prophet is not welcome in his own home town.’ He gave us a warning that we might face people turning away from us when we proclaim the Good News. Yet, this doesn’t mean we can’t witness or shouldn’t witness to those people. It doesn’t mean we can’t plant a seed – through our actions – that show we truly have changed.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
This can be a very difficult journey. We have to remember we weren’t promised that WE would be the ones to lead our family to salvation – in some cases those family members may be saved and have been praying for us for a very long time. We are told that ‘unless the Lord builds the House then the laborers labor in vain’. We need to seek God’s will and direction. We need to produce the fruits of the spirit and let them manifest in our lives. We need to be a light set upon a hill. We need to be willing to be a servant and humble ourselves. We need to remember that God is always with us.
Isaiah 41:10-13 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
No matter where you are in your walk with God. No matter where you find yourselves. No matter how high the mountain or how low the valley – Always remember that God will not leave you nor forsake you.
All we have to do is seek Him and we will find Him.
It is such a small thing, to seek, yet there are times when we choose not to. We don’t want to humble ourselves, we don’t want to pray or ask, we don’t want Him to find us. We don’t want to recognize that even after we accept Christ we will stumble and fall. We need to recognize that everything in life takes time and work. Every relationship we have requires that we put something in – and only by
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
working are we able to build up something that will last.
One great thing about our relationship with Christ is that the work we put helps us. It helps us become strong in the spirit and the knowledge of God’s word. We know what He has done for others He will do for us – but if we don’t know WHAT He has done for others then we haven’t even begun to understand what He can do for us.
He reached into the darkness and found me. He pulled me out of the fire and nestled me safely under His wings. He protected me when no one else was there to protect me – not just from others but from myself. He holds me constantly in His love and care. He has bore witness to my comings and goings. He has picked me up when I fell down. He has heard my voice when I called upon Him. What a loving, wonderful God we serve.
You know what He has done for you – you may have shared your testimony with someone. You have probably heard the testimony of others. My friend, this is only the tip of the iceberg to what God is capable of and wants for our lives. We need to continually submit to His will. Our nature will have us stumbling and falling; without the grace of God we would not have come as far as we have.
Even after salvation, you will stumble and fall. You may unintentionally cause your brother to trip as well. We need to remember that this is not something God holds against us – as a matter of fact, He has given us a way to move forward – forgiveness; asking for it and giving it.
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
What a wonderful God we serve!
