Good morning,
As we draw nearer to Christmas and all of the festivities and traditions that we engage in at this time of year, I am reminded to be grateful to God! This gratefulness is not about things, but about the generous kind heart of our loving Father. Any and everyone that is living has had an opportunity to take offense with God and man, it comes attached with feelings of rejection, low self esteem, poor self image, a barrage of emotional baggage. All of these emotions are twisted and ingrained into our lives while we are growing up as a snare to keep us from looking to and believing in a God Who only wants to do us good. So that every time you start to trust that God will do you good, these feelings try to talk you back into the old-man's issues. These are some of the crooked places in our lives that God by Holy Spirit is progressively and consistently working on removing from our make-up as new creations. The enemy is always trying to pull up our past to hurt and harm us, that's why the Word is the agent to wash and purge them from our lives. Remember the scripture says; "Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." (Is. 40:4-5) The change is inevitable as we stand and believe again in the Word of God. So, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." Confidence means free and fearless; boldness and assurance; freedom in speaking, openly, frankly without concealment. As we continue to trust in God and His Word, then we will be able to cast down those emotional issues and not allow them to continue to be a stronghold in our life. These are the things that keep us from taking all the territory that God has given to us. We take our territory by freely speaking what God has done in our lives. That means every time those "old heart" and emotional issues show up in our lives, we are to speak our bold assurance, that we are progressively changing. Those valley and crooked places will be straightened out and then God's weightiness, His glory will be seen in our lives more and more. Be confident that God will accomplish His good work in you.
So be aware of the enemy's plan to try and trick you into the same old stronghold of feelings. Stop him before he starts with your confession of bold assurance. "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:8-10) Vigilant equals being keenly watchful to detect danger. Being cautious shows alertness and prudence, or wisdom in responding to hazardous situations. Recognize the enemy's tactics, that he's trying to dredge up your past, something that the Word has been steadily delivering you from. Be cautious, Christmas which is meant to bring the best memories, sometimes, if we let him, the enemy will try to restore the old hurt feelings. Do not let him seize you. I know that not all of us have fond memories from our past but we can start afresh and anew with our heavenly Father. We can really have a wonderful life, right now! Listen as we speak with boldness and assurance about the Lord completing and grounding us in those areas in our lives that were crooked and know that He is making them straight even now. Then we can be sure that the God of all grace [God exerting His holy influence; His power influencing our abilities]; will cover our emotions as well as all rejections, low self esteem, poor self image, and, any and all past memories, giving us the victory over them. Resist and oppose the devil and his lies about you, do it the moment you hear anything that opposes the Word of God that concerns you. Expect to see the glory, [the magnificence, the splendor and weightiness of God, all that makes God, God!] The glory and grace of God will be revealed in your life during this season. Have a blessed and memorable Christmas, knowing that you have a lot to be grateful for in Him!
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 
Thank you Pastor D, Merry Christmas to you!!! Even though I have never met you, your site has been such a blessing to me!!
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