In Christ Alone

I recently went to a ladies singer songwriter event called Girls Write Out where a precious group of ladies come together to worship, encourage and fellowship with one another.    This particular day I had not decided if I was going to attend.  I was caught between wanting to go and feeling the pull of daily responsibility and obligation.   As I was thinking about everything I had on my to do list I heard the Lord say "Olivia, you need to go this evening"....It's not often I hear the Lord in such a clear, unmistakable manner.   So I went.   No more excuses, no more hesitation.  

 This evening there was a couple from Scotland who came and spoke to us about their journey in music, ministry, and even real estate.     They spoke about the Lord's guidance and direction....how through complete faith, communion with the Spirit and recognizing and believing in who they are in Christ, the Lord opened incredible doors, and led them on a journey that has brought them into possession of a castle that they grew up spending time in as children.    This castle, to mans eye is magnificent and historical.   To them, it is a landmark of the Lord's presence.   The start of something their country and even the world desperately needs.     A space where the Lord is in control, and able to move in power and glory, drawing people back to Him and standing as a beacon of Hope and favor.     They had an incredible testimony of obedience in faith and resulting favor from the Lord.   It was and is not an easy journey, but a few things they said really stuck out to me.   They talked about habits and behaviors that cultivate a life of creativity, integrity, and honor.   learning to speak life, rather then death over others, situations, even yourself....knowing who we are in Christ and walking from a place of victory rather then striving from a place of defeat.   Walking im faith and trusting God to move, rather then walking blindly hoping the Lord will bless you after the fact.    Not entirely new concepts but admittedly hard to live out on a day to day basis.   It takes action....itentionality.   so i thought....maybe if i understood exactly what life i was speaking.   Exactly what inheritance i am owning, maybe it would help me to live it out each day....scripture says, from the mans heart his mouth speaks.  What do i believe in my heart about who i am in Christ?   Who i am because of Christ?   Who i am with Christ?

Here are some of the things the Bible says about who we are in Christ.

Colossians 2:10-We walk in fullness

10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Ephesians 2:4-5-We have life in Christ

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Isaiah 54:13-14-Inheritance to Stand upon

13 All your children will be taught by the Lord,
    and great will be their peace.
14 In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
    you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
    it will not come near you.

1 John 5:18-Protection from harm

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

Ephesians 1:4-We are chosen and loved

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blamelessin his sight. In love

Philippians 4:7-Complete Peace

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 1:17-18-Wisdom, Revelation, and Hope

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people

Mark 16:17-18-Supernatural Abilities and protection

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Philippians 4:19-Provision

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:17-We are made heirs to the kingdom

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:37-Overcoming Power

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

These are just a few of the thousands of verses that talk about who we are and what we have in Christ.   It is His word, His truth to stand upon.

I can remember moments in my life...specific moments, both good and bad, where things were said that marked me.   They bacame assigments i held as truth...things that held me back or gave me doubt where non should have been.   Things that caused me to pause where a pause should not have taken place....I want to replace who I, or others, say I am with the truth of who God says I am.   To live that out and shine that light on others as well.

We all need reminders sometimes when the world is pressing in a little to hard.   I know i needed this reminder.      

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand

In His Peace

There is something i have always struggled with.   Something i have never in my 32 years been able to reconcile completely.      How to be confident.    Let me clarify....It is easy to fake confidence.   To walk in boldness while inside you are filled with fear and doubt.     I have longed for true To believe in who believe I am without the need for confirmation from others.   To stand boldly in my calling and never need to question it.    I realize there are many things that go unspoken and that nothing is ever how it seems.   But this is a topic that for me has always been one of mystery.  I am going to be totally honest here for a minute.    I could never figure out how to be confident without being prideful....where is that sweet spot where you can walk in humility while still having boldness and authority?   This is particularly challenging with ministry.

The world expects you to be cocky.   To be prideful....if you are good at anything you are entitled to walk in a level of authority that flaunts your ability.   And while it can be easy to determine the self serving from the sacrificial in others, sometimes it can be hard to find a balance within yourself.   

Sounds like a silly problem maybe.    A mental hurdle perhaps.    Something that should not really be an issue.   I have tried to talk myself out of feelings if insecurity....telling myself that its ok to be confident in something i know in my heart I am called to.    And every. Single. Time.   Something happens that knocks me down a peg or two.   I know There is a difference bewtween humility and doubt.   Between understanding ones humanness and dependance on the Lord and self deprecation.    But how does one find a place where confidence isnt pride and humility isn't insecurity?      Is it even possible?

I recently got asked to sing on a worship team I haven't been a part of in over a year.    my first response was to be thrilled.    My second response was to be filled with doubt.....fear.   So much so, I actually had a few bad dreams.   Those dreams where everything goes wrong and you forget all the word and you wake up feeling exposed and humiliated.     I mean....Why had it been so long?  Was this a mistake?  Do they really want me there or is this a pity invite?   These were the questions going through my mind...the overthinking, overreacting, unconfident self of mine, could not come up with a good enough explanation.....The enemy was really messing with my mind.   And then...in a quiet moment, I heard the sweet whisper of the Father "Take my peace with you".   Peace?    Wait....what does that have to do with confidence?   Or does it have everything to do with it.....I realized in that moment that what I had contributed to a lack of confidence was actually pride showing up as fear.   Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of saying or doing the wrong thing.    Because in pride I am caring more about myself, and what others think of me then what I am being called to do.   what the Lord wants to do with the gifting He gave me.   The calling He, not man, placed in my life.   And I realized the truth is I am very sure of my calling....it's the circumstances in which He sometimes calls me too that cause me to pause.    And sometimes, what I thought was humility... was actually an excuse to hold back where the Spirit was telling me to move forward.    All of this....all of these struggles, washed away when I realized all I had to do was walk in His peace.

The word peace means "Freedom from disturbance, Quiet, Tranquility"    

We can walk without fear!    We can walk in boldness!   We can walk in His authority as worshippers and Christ followers because in His peace we find freedom!   And even if we face rejection, even if we face failure, even if everything falls apart, in His perfect peace we have all we need.    Every time this week, I have faced something I was unsure about, I have stopped and said, "in His peace....in His peace" and my fear, like a wave, subsides.    

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because He trusts in you.