~Life Is Beautiful~
These past few days I have been thinking about Paris. I don't know why, but I have. Paris has shown up in a couple movies I watched, in a post I read on a blog(humanmerelybeing), and in my thoughts several times.
I have never been to Paris but hope to visit there one day. I had a relaxing weekend. It was nice to unwind a little. Friday night I went to visit somebody I love in prison. I had never done that before. It was a very reflective and emotional time for me. I found myself so grieved for the men in prison, yet at the same time, felt relieved that they were there.
As I drove home I listened to God speak to me about my own spiritual bondage at times in different areas of my life as I am being sanctified. How true it is for myself, that I have grieved over areas in my life I have been imprisoned in through my own lack of repentance and not yielding to walking in the Spirit and accessing the freedom that is already mine. However, hopefully for the individuals I saw in prison Friday, they will be changed and restored as I am changed from glory to glory in my sanctification journey towards Christ. So in that, maybe they too, as well as I, are relieved to have been in prison in order to truly recognize and appreciate freedom and see how beautiful life really is.
2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
I am reading a book that God is really speaking to me through. Here is an excerpt:
"It still all comes down to the same thing. Life is beautiful. And I believe in God. And I want to be there right in the thick of what people call "horror" and still be able to say: Life is beautiful...I don't think I have nerves of steel, far from it, but I can certainly stand up to things. I am not afraid to look suffering straight in the eyes." Etty Hilesum quoted in A Tree Full of Angels:Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary-Macrina Wiederkehr
posted by Julie Ann @ 8:39 PM
9 Comments:
I'm reminded of the movie by the same title "Life is beautiful" ?. Have you seen it?. You must if you haven't already. Its about the same thing you've discussed here. To walk thro' difficulties in life with dignity and cheer.
Yes I have seen it once and loved it. It is one of my Mom's favorite movies and I have a good memory of watching it with her. I have to admit I haven't seen it in a while so I will probably try to watch it this weekend. Thanks for visiting and for the reminder of the message in the movie, Life is Beautiful.
You're post convicted me, Julie. Indeed, there is a large part of my life right now which imprisons my heart, and I need to let God lift it up for me, trusting Him to take care of it for me.
Thanks for this. Life is truly beautiful.
Such a great post Julie. A reminder that we are free in Christ. The battle has been won.
Yet so often we continue in our pride, in our flesh trying to fight a battle that we have no chance of winning. Only God can change our hearts, only God can conquer sin and our flesh. Failure to surrender is to affirm our pride and self reliance. We basically say, "No thanks God. I don't need you for this. I have it covered." Good luck with that.
Surrendering the areas of our lives that sin has a hold of takes a commitment to prayer; to take these areas to the Lord in prayer daily and seek him for healing.
Press in. Surrender. Let the healing begin.
Andy,
Thanks for your honesty. This verse is one of my favorites and helps me when I feel my heart is heavy. I hope it ministers to you.I will say a prayer for you tonight.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Jules,
This speaks to exactly where I am today. I realized today that I have spent the last week letting fear and doubt creep into the back of my mind, clouding the promises that the Lord has made to me. I am determined to be free of this prison. Thanks for this word. It is very helpful.
T
Dan,
It must be a blue moon tonight :0)
Thanks for visiting!! You are so so right, pride and flesh always get in the way for me. I was so pleased that the daily verse when I posted this comment was Galatians 5:16. Our hearts our sick. We have to rely on the Spirit's power in order to fully surrender our flesh and desires to Him.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)
9The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10"I the LORD search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds."
God also has been speaking to me about increasing my hope in order to heal my heart.....His Ordained Plan Envisioned....was an acronym I came up with to help me focus on HOPE in Him. We can't defer hope, it must be fervent.
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
T,
You're welcome. Believe and Sing the fear and doubt away!
Psalm 106:12
Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
Here are some promises I'm going to believe and sing about tonight!
2 Peter 1:4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may
participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Brandi,
I look forward to reading about your thoughts God has given your heart and spirit on freedom. I love the daily verse that is coming up today on my blog, it reminded me of you!
Love~Your like-minded sister and kindred spirit :0)
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