30-Day TRUE WOMAN Make-Over Day 12

So... I'm a little behind... we've had some 'struggles' along the way in life (especially on the 'real' 12th day of my make-over)... not in the make-over itself... so I am catching up tonight...

Here's DAY #12...

Today's Topic is: AFFIRMING OUR FAITH

Today's Verse is found in Proverbs 31:12 -- "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."

WOW! Today's devotional by Nancy Leigh DeMoss is amazingly affirming the direction that my actual Day#12 day took. I am generally a happy, cheerful and positive person... but today (the 12th of May) was a little beyond my control... (which is good for me to admit).

In our devotional today, Nancy asked:
Nancy: If we were to take a little inventory of your life, do you think people would describe your life as being well-ordered, or would they describe it more as being chaotic?

On a 'normal' day, I would say my life is far from 'chaotic' on the inside... yet so chaotic on the outside because of the fact that I work with Preschoolers who are a little busy during the day. There is a lot of loud noises, running, screaming, crying, cheering, laughing, etc in my day. However, inside I have the peace that passes all understanding, the love & joy of the Father, and more... all which give me the inner strength to go through the outer 'chaos'... BUT... today of all days, was an amazingly 'stressful & chaotic' day for me on the inside. I am not going to delve into all the details, as it was a stress that was beyon my comprehension, and felt a little like the devil was trying to latch on to me... yet I am thankful for HOLY SPIRIT who was there with me through the day, and He continued to give me the strength to go on, knowing that it wasn't something I could do on my own, but that I fully needed God to overflow my life, heart, spirit and mind for me to function. I know it was an 'attack' of the devil, as the situation that I was in and worried about was about to be 'shared', and I was also to give a devotional message that night at our local 'soup kitchen' ARK AID. The devotional went very well, if I do say so myself, and the other situation is working itself out slowly... prayers are always welcome! (See devotional here... 'HOPE Floats, SETTLING Sinks'!)

My (outer) physical 'home' is not so 'well-ordered' as was stated in a previous devotional here... it's a little chaotic with piles of stuff here and there... but I was proud that I was working on the (inner) spiritual 'home' of my heart, and that it was indeed working out to be 'well-ordered'. These 'concerns' are just another reminder that I NEED THE LORD! We need Him, His Spirit and His Blood, His power and authority to overcome! <3

Going along with the topic today "AFFIRMING OUR FAITH" --- we need to reaffirm our faith daily, and remind ourselves that HE IS LORD, and that WE NEED HIM! We need Him more than ever before...

"Affirm" by definition means:
–verb (used with object)

1.to state or assert positively; maintain as true: to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.
2.to confirm or ratify: The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
3.to assert solemnly: He affirmed his innocence.
4.to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support: to affirm human rights.

We need to therefore, state and assert positively of our faith and loyalty to JESUS, GOD and HOLY SPIRIT! We need to confirm on the INSIDE and the OUTSIDE that our Faith is real and makes us who we are, and that we cannot do anything without Him or His Spirit. We need to solemnly vow and assert that He can and will do what He promised, and that He will fulfill His promises, IF we do our part as well!! We need to express our agreement with Him and what He desires to do in our lives, and we need to be committed to Him fully...

In our devotional today, we continue looking at 1 Timothy 2:9 & 10, Nancy stated previously and in today's devotional here, "it's so important that our appearance and our attitudes and our actions confirm and affirm our profession of faith."

She also states, "Your appearance, actions, and attitudes will never make you a Christian. But if you are a Christian, you absolutely will have an appearance, attitudes, and actions that confirm your profession of faith."

She states too that "...it’s not enough to claim to be a Christian."

These quotes and the above truths that I've shared go along with today's verse, "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Our outer appearance and actions show what we have going on on the inside. the old saying, 'Garbage in, Garbage out' can come into play here. We know that God is not really interested in our outer appearance and attitudes, but that He looks deeper at our heart's appearance and attitude. We need to walk in love, as that shows others that we are His disciples. (John 13:34-35) We need to dress respectable (as Nancy quotes in today's devotional), and appropriately. We should dress loosely, with loosely fitting clothing, not as a loose woman... nor should our hearts allow us to speak with loose lips. Our dress, actions, attitudes and appearance should bring good to our husband, our family, our work/co-workers, our church family, etc... We should clothe ourselves in RESPECT first and foremost (after the LOVE of the Lord). Respect is lacking in today's society of teens and children, because too many times their parents are lacking it as well. We need to respect authority (those above us), peers (those with us), and outcasts (those below us)... we need to respect and love everyone!! We do not want to cast 'harm' on those around us, due to the 'laws of association'... we want to be seen and heard in the words and ways of our Father who's love and light shines from the inside to the out. God has changed us from the inside out... If we dressed inside out, others would take notice, and some would comment... others would laugh and giggle... others would be embarrassed for us... and yet others would walk quietly by, and leave us in our mistake. It is the same if we were seen from the inside out (if we truly wore our heart on our sleeve) -- Some of us have 'dirt' on the inside of our hearts, and our 'tags' of sin are showing... and others may comment, laugh, be embarrassed, or walk quietly by in dismay... We DO NOT want to show the love of Jesus by walking without respect. Jesus respected all... he was no respecter of persons. God does not show favouritism...(Romans 2:11) I have seen the T-shirts, (and even wanted to buy one) -- "Jesus loves you, but I'm his favourite" -- but that is not true, we ALL are His favourites, and that is why He created us, so that we can in turn love and worship Him, and do the work that He called us to.

Part of the 'stress' problem that I am not going to delve into, has a great deal to do with respect... and watching someone not show respect to those that I love and care for, makes me sick! (and literally made me physically 'sick') However I thank God that I can 'practice what I preach', by trying to shine the LIGHT of Jesus to those around me. I know I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But if I write something here, or on my FACEBOOK, or teach it in my class at work or church, then I best be ready to live it out. That is one of the main things I am teaching my new class of "GOD CHASERS", that we are to be accountable to each other, and that they can come up to me and question, if they feel that I am doing something opposite to what I taught them. (IE If I teach them that lying is wrong, and they hear me telling someone in the church something that is not true, then I gave them permission to come up to me and 'remind' me that lying is wrong, and that I taught them not to lie, etc.)

We all need to be accountable... and when we live out what we preach/teach, then we are also AFFIRMING OUR FAITH, and we are BRINGING GOOD, NOT HARM, ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

Hallelujah, and Praise the Lord that WE NEED HIM so much more than HE NEEDS US, but He does in fact WANT us still!! <3

Be blessed, and be a blessing!