His Voice

She now walks in places she never dreamed possible. Her past no longer haunts her. The mistakes she made she is now wiser for. There's a new gleam in her eye, a steady confidence in her step. She's moving....yes, she's moving forward.

 

She's very aware that adversity is still certain to be around the corner, voices of opposition are still waiting to tell her who she is not, but this time, yes this time she has learned one valuable and important truth:

 

God has not changed His mind about her...

 

Regardless of what the world would say, regardless of the opinions of her friends and enemies, she is determined to hear His voice. His voice says, "I am with you" and His voice declares, "I am for you". His voice so tender and sustaining, affirming all she had forgotten. His voice catapults her forward into her destiny, all because she was determined to hear Him speak and to follow.

 

Blessings, Polly

Who Told You That?

After the fall, Adam tried desperately to explain to God that he was ashamed and afraid because he was naked. I love the way God responded, He asked Adam, "Who told you that you were naked?"

Obviously by his actions Adam had been influenced by a voice other than the voice of God. Up until this point God never mentioned to Adam that he was "naked", although he had been naked the day before and the day before and the day before... What voice convinced Adam he was naked? What voice told him God wouldn't accept him that way, leaving him feeling so inadequate and ashamed that Adam felt he had no other choice but to hide?

If you've lived in this world long enough there have been other voices competing for your attention. Voices that have spoken loudly and without relent, in complete contradiction to the voice of God convincing you to hide behind the veil of secrecy ashamed and afraid. Convincing you to hide from a loving Father full of grace and mercy.

How often have we chosen to listen to some other voice, besides the voice of God? Imagine the grieving heart of our Heavenly Father when we choose to believe something other than what He has said about us.

Who told you it was too late to start over? Who convinced you, that you didn't belong? Who threatened that you could never be forgiven? Who intentionally made you feel incapable, inadequate and unaccepted? Who whispered you'd never accomplish anything significant? Who said you couldn't do it? Who lied to you? Who threatens,  you will always be lonely?Who refuses to forgive you? Who has denied you a second chance? 

It certainly was not God!

He said, "You are the head and not the tail." He declared, "You are an overcomer!" He gave you "all authority in heaven and earth" and He promised, "In your weakness you would be made strong." God said, "He loves you unconditionally" and nothing can change His mind about you! He promised, "To never leave you or forsake you" and that His desire is for you to be blessed beyond measure.  He proved that you were worth dying for!

It's time to press the mute button to the voices that contradict God! You don't have to get in the ring with the enemy and argue your point. You just have to remind him, God's word is final.

Blessings, Polly

2013 - Just Let Some Baggage Go!

I've tried, believe me I have, but since an early age I've had this desperate need to be prepared especially when it relates to packing.

Don't ask me to pack the car for a DAY TRIP! I'll include enough food for two weeks, and I'll pack a few pillows, blankets and extra clothes for everybody just in case we have an emergency and need to spend the night somewhere. I seriously drive my family crazy.

I just don't know how to travel light.

...and when I check in at the airport, I will be the passenger with that extra piece of luggage solely for those necessary outfits, in addition to the ones I have already packed. Who knows what the weather is going to be when you arrive at your destination and besides, a girl has to have a few options on stand by!

Hey don't act like you have never been caught with a few excess bags!

Maybe even today I could find you over at the baggage carousel loading up. Don't remember seeing that baggage carousel? That's because it was not in the airport, it's the one in your mind and the bags you grabbed aren't made of leather, decorated in Vera Bradley designs or manufactured by Samsonite. Nope;  these are made of burdens!

I saw you pick up the suitcase of REGRET, and the second bag is filled with GUILT. Over your shoulder you tote a bag of WEARINESS and another labeled HOPELESSNESS and if that wasn't enough you have to have your briefcase of UN-FORGIVENESS, where items are stored in chronological order and kept close, so later in the day you can rehearse them. Oh and don't forget the purse of SHAME, filled with MISSED OPPORTUNITIES, MISTAKES and FAILURES, it's small but hefty and always with you. Pretty soon you are pulling more stuff than the skycap and you wonder why month after month and year after year you are so tired, so weary, so exhausted.

I'm hear to scream to you today, "Drop some of that baggage! You can't get to where you're going if you are distracted and burdened with needless weight."

The truth is God has a great race for you to run and under His care you will go where you've never been before, never served before and in ways you've never dreamed, but you have to be willing to leave some stuff behind. How can you give hope, when you can't let go of your bag of hopelessness. How can you teach forgiveness to someone who needs it, when you have a briefcase of files from the past of those who have hurt you? How can you expect to make it a better year, when you hug so tightly to shame? How can you lift someone else's load if you have too heavy of a load yourself?

To get to the place God has destined you to go, you must travel light! To run the race He has prepared, you have to discard the excess baggage. There are just some things you were never intended to carry.

I remember a trip we were taking from Tampa to Baltimore and we were trying to catch our connection in Atlanta. Of course we had more bags than my husband and I could carry alone... mostly my fault I'm sure. We were trying to hurry and catch the tram that seemed far off in the distance and only came every five minutes.  We didn't have time to go and retrieve a cart, so we grabbed our bags off the carousel and placed them anywhere we could on our bodies. We looked utterly ridiculous and  unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our attempts, there were just too many bags for us to carry. My son noticing our dilemma, attempted to pick up a large and heavy duffle bag. Immediately the skycap came over and laid his hand on my 5 year old's shoulder and said, "Son put that heavy bag down, it's too big for you. I'll carry it for you!"

That's what your heavenly Father is whispering to you today, "It's time to put down some of the bags you are carrying, they're too heavy, you were never intended to carry them in the first place!"

Psalms 68:19  - Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Let 2013 be a year you Let Go of the baggage you were never meant to carry and allow God to pick up the load. Run your race with less of you and more of Him! I promise you'll get there faster.

Blessings, Polly