Issues- July 2023 Chick Church

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • Mark 5

  • Colossians 3: 9-10

  • 1 Samuel 17

  • Hebrews 4 & 11

  • Proverbs 17:22

  • Romans 15:13

  • 2 Corinthians 10

SHOW NOTES:

Have you ever had a bad day where it seemed as if everything was going wrong? Maybe you felt like you reached your tipping point where if one more thing didn’t go as planned, you may just lose your cool. We’ve probably all been there a time or two; let’s face it– most of us have some issues that need confronting. If we aren’t careful our issues can spill out all over life, and before we know it, we’re no longer living the life God has intended for us.

Sometimes our issues are internal, stemming deep down from past wounds or shame, and sometimes our issues are external–those things beyond our control such as sickness or trauma or other external issues caused by outside circumstances like a conflict in our marriage. Whether we ask for the issues or not, left unchecked, we can begin to label and redefine ourselves by that issue.

The enemy loves when you adopt an issue as an identity. If you get out of your identity in Christ, you’re stripped of your authority, no longer standing in faith for the things God has called you to. Don’t let your issues become your story. That's your old nature and it’s contrary to who God says you are!

Colossians 3: 9-10 tells us to put on the new self, being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator. Don’t continue to say, “That’s just the way I am.” No! God is calling you to be more and more like His son, Jesus.

If issues themselves weren’t bad enough on their own, they come with ramifications. Issues can’t be compartmentalized, but they will morph and shapeshift. Anger, for example, is followed by condemnation. Pretty soon it has you feeling like a bad mom or hypocritical Christian.

Begin to deal with issues in your life that you are ready to put to rest once and for all. As you work on overcoming the issues, remember to–

  • Be courageous enough to take responsibility for issues in your life, and get to the root of the issue. Much like a weed, if you don’t uproot what’s causing the issue, it will come back again and again. This may mean you have to get really honest with yourself and ask, “Is it really everyone else or is it something in me?”

  • Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you’re happy…you will be waiting a very long time (the only thing that is perfect is Jesus!)

  • Change your perspective, shifting your focus from the problem to Jesus. What you think about, you bring about.

  • Watch your words–what are you saying to yourself? Your own voice is often the loudest one you hear. The words that you speak are a seed for what you want to grow in your life. Take the “if only’s” out of your vocabulary.

Victory is contingent on your decision to be made whole, overriding what you see in the natural. Choose whether you’re going to side with God or side with the issue. Faith goes two ways. Will you have faith in what God wants to do in your life, or will you let bitterness anchor you to your issues, preventing you from moving forward in the plans God has for your life?

Daughter of the King, He has called you to be whole, to walk in peace, overcome your flesh, and override the things that make you feel out of control–He has called you to greater things. Cling and adhere to what He says about you and break free. Hold onto the hope that Jesus wants to wash all of your issues away. His healing virtue can reach the deepest part of your heart, you just have to be willing to let Him.

joie miller