You may have a secret life that no one knows about. Something you do or someone you become that’s hidden. It’s your little secret. You feel you must keep it hidden because others might judge you or shame you. But, my friend, God knows about that thing. He knows every secret you hide. He knows every shameful thing you keep in the dark. There’s absolutely nothing about you that God isn’t fully aware of.

Does anyone else ever have thoughts that run off into the worst of places that leave you secretly thinking, “What in the world is wrong with me? Why would I think something like that?” You would never speak those thoughts out loud because it makes you sound like a complete twisted psycho. God knows about those thoughts.

He knows the worst things you’ve done, the worst things you’ve thought, the worst things you’ve spoken, and the worst things you’re capable of if given the opportunity. He knows it, and let me tell you something, God still loves you. He isn’t turning away from you. He’s not cancelling his good plans for you. He’s not crossing your name out of the book of life.

No – in his love, he is working within you. Scripture tells us exactly how he works. Today, we’re going to dig deep into his word and understand how God sees our secrets and how he works in them for his purposes.

Remember yesterday we studied Roman 1:20 where we learned God made this world so incredibly beautiful to reveal himself to us so that we would have no excuse for not knowing him. That’s why you can never get a photo to quite capture the beauty of God’s creation. You have to be there to really appreciate it. God draws you in through his creation to know him. A photo can’t do that. It never will.

But it’s not enough to just know who God is – we are created to worship God. We’re created to not only be wowed by the creation, but bow to the Creator. When we fail to worship God, we fall for worshiping other things.

Because you and I were designed to worship, we WILL worship SOMETHING. Something will be our idol. We will look to something.

It’s not because we’re weak or broken, it’s because of our divine design to worship. If you don’t worship the God who made the stars, you will fall for worshiping the stars. If you don’t worship the God who made the Earth, you will fall for worshiping a Mother Earth. If you don’t bow to God, you’ll be bowing to a third eye, bowing to your inner self, or bowing to some sort of master.

Bowing is an act of showing your weakness to something of greater power. What have we become weak to? What holds power over us? What are we trapped by and addicted to? That has become an idol in our lives. We’re bowing to it.

When we don’t worship God, Romans 1:21 tells us “We begin to think up foolish ideas of what God is like and as a result our minds become dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, we instead become utter fools.”

Oh my gosh, isn’t that us today? We have dark and confused minds filled with crazy thoughts! Can you see how maybe that’s your loved one? They’re confused – a source of confusion comes from a failure to worship God, so they begin worshiping something else. Their phone. An influencer. AI. Their boyfriend. Alcohol.

Instead of worshiping the glorious ever-living God, verse 25 says, “We worship and serve the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!”

When we bow to anything other than God, when any other power begins to control us, God responds in a very specific way, and it may shock you.

Does he strike us with lightening? No. Does he afflict you with a plague of insects and sores? No. Does he speak from Heaven with a loud, booming, condemning voice? No. Here’s what he does, verse 28, “God abandons them to their foolish thinking and lets them do things that should never be done.”

That’s right – God lets us do it. He lets us go astray. He lets us make a massive mess. He lets us make things worse. He lets us screw this up. He lets us face the consequences of our choices.

Why does he do that? Why does he let his girl just run down the wrong path doing the wrong things? Why does he let us hide in those dark corners of shame while we just keep doing the same harmful things?

Romans 2:4 tells us. Here’s why God didn’t strike you with lightening – here’s why he didn’t publicly reveal your secret shame – here’s why you’ve been getting away with it: “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

God is being patient with you. He is allowing your choices to have consequences. He’s allowing the mess you’ve created. He’s allowing your habits to pile up and create a life you really don’t like. He’s allowing it, not because that’s what he wants for you, but because he knows the consequences of your choices will bring you back to him. When you hit that rock bottom, you’ll realize HE IS YOUR ROCK. When you come to that dead end, you’ll realize he is the only way out.

His kindness and patience is not to allow you to get away with this. It’s to allow you to come to the end of yourself and then turn to him.

Just how bad will it have to get before you do that?

If you choose to wait until it gets worse, then it will get worse. BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO.

You know what’s crazy about humans? We literally invent new ways to sin. And guess what, God knew we would do that! Romans 1 lists some specific sins God was very upset about at the time of Paul’s letter to the Romans. You should read it for yourself. It’s God’s word, not my own. God knew what would hurt us. He knew the confusion the enemy would bring through these sins. He knew the dangers to our souls. And he knew we would just keep getting more twisted with new things. And we not only get twisted with these things, but we encourage others to do it too. (God’s words, not mine. Romans chapter 1.)

So here we sit with twisted lives that have gotten tangled up in crazy things, and God is being patient. He’s allowing the consequences of our choices to touch our lives so that we turn to him. Through it all, that’s all God has ever been trying to do – bring his prized creation back to him. Redeem us from our wreck. Save us from this destruction.

Keep reading in Romans chapter 2 and you will find what our Creator put within us to continually bring us back to him. Verse 15, “They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” God has literally put a self-conviction within his children so we know deep down within us when something is right or something is wrong. That’s why so many of us are fighting an internal battle. We’re all torn up on the inside because we know our own secrets and it’s killing us.

This is a gift given to us by God. Our self-conviction is like a compass that points us back to God.

God knows your secret life. He knows your shame. He knows your crazy thoughts. He knows your temptations. And with all of this, God still loves you wildly and shows you MERCY. He still calls you to him so he can help you clean up that mess. He still draws you in so he can heal what has been broken.

He covers you in mercy, forgives every wrong, and changes the desires of your heart to lead you back to the life he created you for.

Where do you begin? Go back to where it went wrong. Where it went wrong was putting anything else in God’s place. You were made to worship – but what have you been worshiping? What have you been bowing to as stronger than you?

Listen for that holy conviction within you. God will tell you what needs to go. His spirit will prompt you. Just respond in obedience. Then, bow to God. He is the power you seek. He is Lord over your life. He alone is worthy of your worship.

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Seeing God’s creation, I’m in awe. As the galaxies spin in a heavenly dance, I’m so captivated. I’m delighted in the beauty of this world. All of it. It’s so overwhelming.

If you’re going to be overwhelmed today – be overwhelmed by the beauty of God’s creation. His fingerprints are everywhere if we only look for them.

I’m a beach and island girl. My favorite color is the turquoise of water over white sand. The crashing of the waves is my favorite sound. But then I go to the mountains and what could possibly be better than a sunrise from the top of a long climb. Streams and waterfalls, valleys of wildflowers. Cool crisp air that makes your coffee taste delightful.

This world is so immeasurably beautiful. And it’s that way for a reason. God designed all of this for a single purpose – do you know what that purpose is?

It’s bigger than just his creativity unleashed. It’s bigger than just to bring him joy – it’s to bring him YOU. It’s bigger than just his love of beauty – it’s his love of YOU.

Romans 1:20, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

The creation of all we can see points us to the creator we cannot. The visible calls us to worship the greater invisible.

And that is why God made the shining stars in the night sky and filled the oceans with the most vibrant of colors – simply so that we would know him. You’re surrounded by miraculous acts of creation which God thoughtfully formed with the sole purpose of showing you his eternal power and divine nature at work. Those turquoise waters are showing you God. That towering mountain is showing you God. That perfectly unique flower is showing you God. The warmth of the sun is showing you God.

God is all around you, revealing his power and nature so that you would know him. You know that he is big. You know that he is over everything. You know that he is forever.

Scientist believe this earth is somewhere between 3 and 5 billion years old. And here we are floating in an existence that is so perfectly placed to sustain life. Not just life, but beautiful life. It’s all so remarkably beautiful by design of it’s creator so we, the creation, would know him, the Creator.

Every time I hear a bird singing, I have to think they know their Creator. When the sun comes up and they begin to sing their song, it must be a song of gratitude for the one who made a new day. And here we are as God’s greatest masterpiece standing in the middle of it all – do we still see our God in this? Do we still recognize him in creation? Are we still in awe of his power and his nature? This is all meant to bring us to him.

Today, there’s so much competing with God’s creation that distracts us. We’re here, but we’re not really here. We’re surrounded but we’re not seeing. Our eyes are glued to screens and devices literally robbing us of the sights that would show us our God.

The enemy of our soul has no power to create, he can only imitate. He takes God’s creation, and he twists it into an imitation of lesser value to distract us. Satan can’t make the sun set with the most magnificent colors of pink and purple, but he can distract you enough to have you only watching that sunset through a screen, consumed with trying to document it instead of just enjoy it.

Daily, God puts on this magnificent show for us, and the enemy has tricked us into trying to create a show of our own out of it. And my friends, when you’re obsessed with trying to get the right angel and the right lighting, you’re simply missing the point of the whole thing. God was trying to show you HIM. His power was on display. His nature was being revealed. This was all an invitation to be in awe of him, not be in awe of your photo.

Let’s read our scripture again: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

There’s a documentary called “Beyond Utopia” that opened my eyes to a world I didn’t even know existed. That world is life in North Korea where they are never told about God. They are isolated from all outside information and force fed stories that keep them fully devoted to the supreme rule of their leader. Escaping is almost impossible because they don’t even have an awareness that there’s anything else out there to escape to.

In this documentary, a young woman has escaped and she’s telling her story. On the night she risked her life to leave, she says she looked up at the night sky and began praying to a God she had never been told about. She had never heard of a Creator. She had never heard of a higher being who cared for her. She had never heard of a power other than the evil power of their leaders. Yet, looking up at the sky, she began to pray to a God she didn’t know existed, but his creation said he did.

When is the last time you looked up, you looked down, you looked around, and you allowed yourself to be swept away in awe and wonder over creation. When is the last time you recognized creation all around you and came closer to God.

Does God love beautiful things? Absolutely! Is God creative and unlimited in every way? For sure! Did he delight in making this world totally majestic in it’s deep beauty and unfolding wonder? Oh I think so. But never forget the driving force behind these millions of years of creation are truly for one purpose – That purpose is for you and I to know Him.

Psalm 19: 1-4:

Creation is speaking, will you listen? It’s all around you, the message of your Creator. He is making himself known.

Where will you see him today? Where will you recognize his power and nature? And when you see him, will you worship him? You see, it’s not enough just to be aware of God, he wants your worship. His creation deserves your attention, your awe, your wonder, and it is your call to worship the Creator.

May you see beauty today and whisper, “God, I know that’s you. Thank you.” May your eyes be wide open and your worship be ready. God wants to show off for you today!

The galaxies are spinning a heavenly dance all around you. Be captivated by his beauty. Be totally overwhelmed by God as you stand in the middle of all this. It’s for you to come to know him.

Go stand in God’s creation today and listen to the song “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave. Sing these words:

I delight myself in you

God you are the most beautiful

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Romans 1:12, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

You acting like you don’t need anyone to help you or encourage you is NOT being Christlike. You being all self-sufficient, not accepting help, keeping to yourself and trying to do it on your own is NOT the example of Jesus.

Look at Jesus. He came to this earth with all the powers of God. He could have done absolutely anything at any point. He had no need for help. He was 100% sufficient in every way. Yet he still didn’t do this alone. He gathered up 12 guys and shared the journey with them. Not because he needed them, but because in his divine wisdom he knew it needed to be more than just him. He was equipped to be a one-man show, but he chose not to be. He chose friends for the journey, he chose disciples to serve with, he chose partnership.

This has been one of the hardest things for me to learn. I used to be so overwhelmed and stretched beyond my limits because I refused to let anyone help me. I carried the burden alone in an effort to not burden anyone else. It wasn’t out of a need to be in control, it was out of a need to not be a bother. The voice in my head told me everyone was busy with their own bigger things, I shouldn’t ask for help. And even when they offered, I would politely refuse because “bless their hearts, they don’t want the load I carry. I’ll just do this on my own.”

Do you honestly think Jesus needed the help of the disciples when feeding the crowd of 5,000? For real, Jesus could have instantly plopped an individual plate of food in front of each person in the crowd. He could have filled their pockets with snacks in an instant. But he didn’t. He intentionally chose to invite the disciples into partnership with him by allowing them to help. It was the disciples who managed the crowd and divided them into smaller groups. It was the disciples who distributed the food as Jesus blessed it and broke it. Jesus let them help. He held a space for them. It was good for them to be involved.

When God was leading the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and they came upon an impassable Red Sea, don’t you think God himself could have parted that sea? He didn’t need anyone to help him. He alone holds that power. But instead God invited Moses into partnership with him, supernaturally empowered the staff he had in his hand and told him to put that staff in the sea, THEN it parted and stood on it’s end for God’s people to pass through safely on dry ground. God didn’t need Moses, but God allowed Moses to help. God held space for him.

God is showing us how to NOT do everything on our own. He’s showing us how to accept help, share the journey and work in partnership. How are you doing with following his example?

My sister, why is this all on your plate? Why does it all depend on you? You wear your overwhelm and work load as if it were some sort of badge of honor. No girl, that’s not a badge of honor, that’s honestly a failure to be like Jesus. Jesus didn’t do it all be himself and you’re not supposed to either.

In our study of chapter 1 of Romans, we’re reading this letter written to the church in Rome from Paul. Paul had experienced a very personal encounter with Jesus. His life-changing encounter with Jesus one of my favorite stories and you can read it in Acts 9. Paul heard the literal voice of Jesus. He had been blinded for 3 days, then he was healed, saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was filled with passion and on a mission to share the Good News of Jesus.

Paul knew not everyone had experienced this same encounter with Jesus. Not everyone was so on fire for Jesus. Not everyone was willing to sacrifice everything to serve Jesus like he was. But that didn’t make him believe he was the only one equipped to serve. His personal experience didn’t make him dismiss anyone else’s less dramatic experience with Jesus. He held space for others.

In his letter to the Romans, he writes (Romans 1:12), “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Paul is saying YOU ARE IMPORTANT. YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS IS IMPORTANT. I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU. YOUR FAITH CAN HELP ME TOO.

Paul followed the example of Jesus – he may not have needed them, but he held space for them. He valued them. And Paul’s work for God became bigger than just him because he allowed his circle to be bigger.

A few months ago, my friend Eva shared a story with me. She told me about her mentor who guided her when she was a brand new follower of Christ. This mentor was very grounded in her relationship with Jesus. She was strong and connected. But this mentor would call Eva and say, “Eva, I need you to pray for me.” Eva would say, “Me? Why me? I don’t know how to pray like you pray? What could my prayers do? My prayers aren’t as powerful as yours. I don’t have the right words.” And her mentor would encourage her, “No Eva, I need YOU to pray.”

She was teaching her that her prayers mattered. Today, Eva is a prayer warrior who will stop absolutely everything to pray with anyone. I believe that’s because her mentor cultivated that in her by making space for her prayers. Now, Eva is teaching me how to pray like that.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has messaged me and asked, “Pamela, how can I specifically pray for you.” I typically give a shallow response, as if either everything is just fine, or even worse, that their prayers wouldn’t really make a difference. THAT’S NOT LIKE JESUS AT ALL.

The night before Jesus went to the cross, he asked his friends to stay up and pray with him. As he prayed, his friends kept falling asleep. He asked them several times to keep watch with him and pray. Why would he do that? I believe he’s showing us how to hold space for others in our faith. You’re not in this alone, this journey is to be shared.

Hebrews 10: 24, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” The ESV translation says to “Stir up on another to love and good works.” The MSG translation says, “Discover creative ways to encourage others and motivate them towards acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.”

Sure, maybe you could to the work on your own, but you’re not supposed to. You’re supposed to invite others into this work with you. Motivate each other, stir each other up, encourage each other, and do the work together.

Yes, I want YOU to pray. I’m not above you or better than you. I need YOU to pray. Would you?

I want YOU to help. There’s space for you and a role for you to play. You’re valued, you’re needed, and God works through YOU in a special way, not just me.

I want YOU to go with me. Not because I can’t do it by myself, but because we’re designed to be better together.

I’m encouraged by your faith – please share it with me. You matter. There’s space for you!

How will you hold space for someone else today? How will you show them they are valued and what God is doing in them is needed?

This is how we become more like Jesus – we invite others to work with us, maybe even while we really could do it ourselves. You’re not supposed to do this by yourself!

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Whatever you’re going through – whatever impossible you’re facing – whatever struggle you’re in the middle of – whatever it is, you will find your personal and specific answer here this morning. I promise you, it will be exactly what you need. That’s the best news I can share with you – your answer is here!

If I have something good, I want to share it. If I know of something that works, I want to tell everyone who needs it. If I hear good news, it’s like I’m bursting from within to spread that goodness.

Example – I use the deodorant brand Native (seriously, best deodorant ever). I’m currently wearing a new scent called ‘Holiday Gumdrop’ and y’all, I smell absolutely delicious. I can’t keep this to myself because I know you will benefit from it too. If it’s good, I have a deep need within to share it with you.

That’s the way Paul felt about Jesus. Paul had spent years of his life being so wrong about Jesus, but when he finally came to understand the truth of God’s plan of redemption, he absolutely had to tell everyone about it. Paul called it the GOOD NEWS and sharing it was his mission from God. He had something so good that absolutely everyone needed and he was bursting from within to spread this goodness.

Remember yesterday as we studied Romans 1:1, Paul identifies himself with this statement of identity: “I am a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” Now in verse 2 & 3, he writes, “God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy scriptures. The Good News is about his Son.”

Jesus was the Good News then, and he’s still the best news now. He is the one who can radically change your life. He is the one who can save you in this struggle. He is the one who can rescue you in this battle. He is the one who can tear down those walls, break those chains, move that mountain, and make a way where there has been no way. He is the one who can make you new. Jesus is GOOD NEWS!

I received a message over the weekend from a podcast listener. She shared with me how she had been stuck in addiction for many years, in and out of rehabs, treatment facilities, and mental hospitals. She had tried everything, yet continued to struggle. Then she took the simple step of listening to devotionals. She began hearing the Good News. She began believing that maybe this savior could save her too. Save her from addiction. Save her from destruction. Save her from the only thing she had known for so long. AND HE DID. Jesus absolutely rescued her. Jesus did for her what absolutely nothing else could. He changed her heart. He changed her mind. He changed her cravings and her desires. She’s now completely clean, living a fullness of life she had never known before.

What she needed was this Good News. The good news is all about Jesus. There’s absolutely no need to complicate it. It’s all Jesus.

Two days ago, I was sitting in the passenger seat of our truck while my husband was getting gas. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman approach my husband, engage in a short conversation, then she tried to get my attention. I could tell she was struggling in life. She was unkept with sores covering her body, twitchy and rapid. And do you know what I did – I’m ashamed to tell you that I pretended not to see her. I turned my head. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about her, it was that I felt helpless to help her. I told myself she needed more than I could offer her. A few dollars would likely only buy the next high.

I failed. I failed to share the absolute best thing I have with her. I failed to tell her the Good News. Jesus could save her. Jesus could heal her. Jesus could show her the way out of that life of addiction. I have the exact thing she needed and I failed to share it with her. I’ve had to ask forgiveness for that.

Paul tells us in the most simple way how to share this Good News. He says it like this in verses 16-17, “This Good News is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith the righteous person has life.'”

Paul doesn’t create hoops to jump through. He doesn’t exclude anyone. He doesn’t say, “Clean yourself up, then God can save you.” No, he says all you have to do is believe, then the power of God goes to work. When we believe in Jesus, Jesus makes us right. Faith does the work and brings us to life.

Everyone you meet needs this power of God to work in their lives and you have the Good News of Jesus that unleashes that power. You don’t have to have a single other answer or solution for them. JUST JESUS.

Paul quotes one scripture. He quotes Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” Faith is the only thing that makes us right with God, and that faith will give us life. Faith is all that is required. Faith in Jesus, the Good News of God.

You are not disqualified from sharing this Good News. There’s no degree or special training required. You, with your personal experience of Jesus saving you, you’re precisely the one God can use to share the news with others. Here’s how simple it can be – check out this story in Acts 8: 26-38.

Philip was an ordinary man on a mission to share this Good News he knew about Jesus. On his journey, he met a man from Ethiopia who was called a eunuch. I didn’t know what a eunuch was, so I had to look it up. Strangely enough, it’s actually a man who has been castrated so that he would serve Royalty wholeheartedly and not pursue creating his own destiny.

This man was in his carriage, reading aloud from scripture, but he didn’t understand what he was reading. Philip came along side his carriage and started a conversation about the scripture he was reading. Then Philip hops in the man’s carriage with him and does something so simple. Verse 35, “Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.”

Philip didn’t assume the responsibility of fixing this man’s life or changing him in any way – he simply shared the Good News about Jesus with him. What’s the Good News? Well remember how Paul says is – Its the power of God at work to save everyone who believes. Our faith in Jesus makes us right in the sight of God and gives us life.

That’s it. It’s that simple. God does the rest. We share the Good News, then the power of God goes to work!

Philip shared the Good News of Jesus with the eunuch. Here’s what happened next – Verse 36 & 38, “As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?’ He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”

That’s a life changed. All Philip did was engage in conversation and share the simple Good News of Jesus and unleash the power of God’s work.

We have that same news to unleash that same power. Will you simply talk about this goodness you know about?

I’ve seen lives radically saved and transformed by God. I’ve seen God change what could never be changed otherwise. If you’re needing that change after trying everything that hasn’t worked or hasn’t stuck, may I tell you about the Good News of Jesus. He’s the son of God who came to die for you. God wants to save you and he wants to give you a life that’s better than you could ever imagine. The only thing required for God’s power to work in your life is your faith in his son, Jesus. If you will believe in him, God will go to work. Your life will change because he will change you. Then you will live – really live!

Oh my sister, I have such GOOD NEWS for you and I can’t help but share it with you!

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Your identity is how you define yourself in this world. It’s who you see yourself as and what you believe about you. God has an identity for you, and the enemy wants to replace it with an imitation. God knows if you ever really saw yourself as who he created you to be, then you would be a mighty force of his power. Satan knows if he can trick you into settling for his imitation identity for you, then you will forfeit God’s power and no longer be a threat.

That’s the battle – identity. Who are you and why are you here?

The story of Paul in our Bible shows us a man who had one identity, then that identity was radically changed by God. Like many in that time, he had two names. Saul was his Hebrew name, Paul was his Greek name. When talking to the Jews, he used the name Saul. When talking to the Gentiles, he used the name Paul. Don’t be confused by the two names – Saul and Paul are the same man. It’s very similar to a difference in pronunciation. (In America, I’m Pamela – But when I’m in Italy, I’m Pau-mel-uh. I prefer me in Italy.)

The book of Romans is Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. He wrote this letter about 25 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Paul identifies himself in the opening line of the letter. Romans 1:1, “This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” In one sentence, he declares his complete identity. He says, this is who I am and this is my place in this world.

There’s simply no wiggle room there. There’s no cracked door for the enemy to creep in and peddle his imitation. There’s no questioning. It’s clear. Paul says I know who I am and I know what I’m here to do.

That leaves me to question – Do I securely know who I am and what I’m here to do? Am I absolutely certain of my identity? Or have I left myself vulnerable to Satan’s insistent offerings of something less? I’m personally discovering if you don’t continually stay grounded in God’s truths, you’ll get twisted up in a half-truth and find yourself believing you’re God’s girl, but also believing you’re not quite good enough for his purposes.

Personally, I’ve been in a bit of a battle. You likely don’t know that because you only hear my voice and my voice still sounds remarkably skinny, now doesn’t it? But my body isn’t. My body is going through some tough seasons and changes and it’s generally confused and disgruntled – thus my body has decided no matter what I do it’s going to self-insulate like a bear going into hibernation, and ya’ll it’s looking like the first snow is coming soon around here. The only thing that still fits me are my earrings. I’ve had several good cries about it and a few mini-breakdowns while on live video.

I’m sharing this with you today, not to make excuses or to try and rally the troops and complain about menopause. Nope – that does none of us any good. I’m sharing this to say, I understand an identity issue. When I got quiet and brought this struggle with my body to God, what he showed me was my identity had been left vulnerable to attack. The enemy had gotten in my head and whispered, “Pamela, no one wants chunky you. You’re not fit to be used as a vessel for God.”

Anyone else hear a similar voice? A voice that takes something so personal and uses it against you? A voice that disses you – dismisses you, discounts you, disables you, disappoints you, and disgusts you. Oh honey, you’ve been dissed, haven’t you?

I think Paul must have heard very similar voices. Paul had a history, and it was a history of being courageously and adamantly WRONG. Using his other name, Saul, he was a crusader AGAINST Christ. He actively persecuted and sought to wipe out anyone who followed this Jesus who had turned the world upside down. But God met him along the Road to Damascus one day and changed his heart. With a changed heart, his identity changed.

But imagine how the devil must have been loud in his head trying to dismiss him. “Paul, you can’t be a vessel of God sharing the Good News of Jesus now – you’re Saul, the one who fought against the message of Jesus. Who will believe you now? What good are you? Paul, just be quiet. You’re not good enough for God.”

And this is why Paul opens his letter with his chosen identity. He had to fight for that. He had to speak louder than the voice that continually brought up his past. He had to speak over the regret of being wrong. He had to choose his thoughts about himself.

And so do I.

So do you.

What are your thoughts about yourself? Who are you and how do you define yourself in this world? What do you believe about you? My sister, if you don’t believe anything, then you will fall for absolutely anything. Your confidence will go up and down with that scale. Your value will be thrown to the wolves and they will relentlessly rip you apart.

I think it’s about time we ask God who we are and what we’re here on Earth to do. Yes, Lord, give us our IDENTITY and our MISSION STATEMENT!

Paul says, “I am a slave to Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” That’s powerful! WOW! The enemy can’t slip through those cracks because it’s solid!

What does it mean to be a slave to Christ Jesus? The Greek word Paul used here is doulos. Some translations water down the meaning a bit and use the word ‘servant’. But doulos doesn’t mean servant, it means slave. It means completely bound to a master. If you’re a servant, then you get paid for a job then you are free to do as you wish when that job is complete. But if you’re completely surrendered to a master, you are in permanent relationship. You wholly and fully belong to that master.

Paul is saying, “I’m sold-out to Jesus. This is permanent. My will has been surrendered to his will. I am nothing without him.” Paul writes in another letter, 1 Corinthians 7:19, “God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.” If you’re a slave to Jesus, then nothing else can ever own you, rule you, or control you.

The world constantly tries to take ownership of us. There’s a battle for your identity. Who do you belong to? Where does your worth come from? What controls you? And if whatever you’ve placed your confidence in changes – then what?

Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” God says in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I DO NOT CHANGE.” If your confidence is found in the one who does not change, then regardless of the season of life you’re in – regardless of your body’s form or shape – regardless of your highs, lows, successes or failures – regardless of what anyone else says, thinks or does – then you’re strong, steady and unshakable.

When you’re sold-out to Jesus, as Paul was, you’re grounded in a firm foundation that never changes. That’s rock solid.

Paul says “I’m chosen by God and I’m sent out.” Whew, come on now. That’s powerful!

Galatians 1:15, Paul writes, “Even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” There’s your game changer. If you ever let that truth get down deep in you, then your identity can flow.

Do you realize before you were ever even born, God chose you and called you. Not because you would be perfect. Not because you would always do it right. Not because you would maintain a slim and trim body. Not because everyone would love you and accept you. No, none of that – but because of his marvelous grace.

Girl, you are absolutely saturated and dripping in God’s grace. It’s his grace that deems you worthy. It’s his grace that places you before his throne as forgiven, redeemed and worthy to be his vessel. And when you stop fighting his grace, believe who he says you are, then you can go out and do what you were created to do in this world. Yes, you’re being sent!

Identity. It’s been a massive target of the enemy of your soul since the day you were born.

Identity. It’s been 100% secure in Jesus since before your first breath.

Identity. It’s about time you discover it, believe it, and start living in it.

In the month of September, I will be teaching a series called ‘Identity’ in BIG Life Mentoring. Together, we’re going to dig deep and receive what God says about us, memorize it and speak it so we can show up every day and live in it. Whether you’re insulating for an apparent hibernation you don’t want, whether you’re struggling with a relationship that’s completely fallen apart and left you unsure of who you are without them, whether you’re bored to tears waking up in a life that feels meaningless, or maybe you’re just struggling to discern the voices and find your place, GOD HAS AN IDENTITY FOR YOU TO CLAIM, A PURPOSE FOR YOU TO FULFILL, AND A PLACE FOR YOU TO SHOW UP!

Lord, begin to prepare our hearts now to receive what you have for us.

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We began our study of the book of Revelation over 1 month ago. The first devotional was titled “Grab This Blessing” based on chapter 1, verse 3: “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.”

Now, I’m going to be honest with you – I believed there would be a blessing to come from reading and studying Revelation, but I thought it might be like a mysterious blessing only God knew about. As if a secret door would be unlocked because we stuck with it and trudged our way through the dread of the doom and gloom. I never imagined I would actually really be BLESSED by reading this. I thought I would just be driven by fear studying this, but it’s the absolute opposite – I’m overwhelmed by God’s love and patience.

I don’t see a mean angry God – I see a God who is willing to wait and wait and wait, through thousands upon thousands of years, giving each soul time to finally come to him. I see a God who is willing to go to any length and any extent to bring his children to him so that he can save them. I see grace upon grace and immeasurable mercy poured out on me simply because I choose to believe in his son Jesus.

Why didn’t someone tell me how incredibly blessed I would be in studying these words? Oh wait – someone did! GOD DID. “God blesses the one who reads these words and listen to its message …” And surprise, surprise – GOD WAS SOOOO RIGHT … AGAIN!

The word revelation in Greek is apocalypse. That word makes us even more fearful, but that’s our own spin. Both apocalypse and revelation mean REVEALING. You know like, “I have a revelation about this situation.” It’s a moment of sudden understanding. Yes, Revelation – a moment of sudden understanding. I understand what is being revealed here in this final, dreaded book of the Bible.

What’s being revealed is the profound love of God and the true meaning of salvation. Through Jesus, I am saved from all that is to come. Saved. Saved from the destruction. Saved from the plagues. Saved from the slaughter. Saved from the sting of death. Saved from Satan. Saved from the Antichrist. Saved from the mark of the Beast. Saved from the lake of fire. That is SALVATION.

Now I get it. Revelation, a moment of sudden understanding. The only way you can be truly grateful for Jesus saving you is to understand what you have been saved from. God wants you to know what you’re being saved from so that you can never be the same!

I always say my favorite people to stand next to are the ones who have crawled on rock bottom before. The ones who have come to the absolute end of their self and found themselves in a terrible mess. Those are the ones I want to rub off on me. You know why? Because they know what being saved really feels like.

By far, one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had this year was sitting in a Ben Fuller concert when he shared his testimony. He had been a drug addict, living the lowest low for 15 years – then he met Jesus. Jesus changed him. And I mean literally. Jesus changed his desires. He went from the drug addict on the street to leading worship with thousands of people at Red Rocks amphitheater. Ben knows what it means to be saved. He wakes up every day knowing where his life could be, but thank God it’s not.

He has a song called “He Got a Hold of Me” and the chorus goes like this:

It was at the end of myself

Some of us are walking through life, held by Jesus, and we really don’t understand what he saved us from. We don’t know how lost we really are without him. Revelation has reminded me just how lost I am without Jesus.

I’m ‘broke and hungry’ kind of lost without Jesus.

And when you know that’s what Jesus really saved you from, then he gets a hold of you!

At the lowest place you can meet the highest name and he will rescue you and change you. I mean really change you.

How does that happen? Ezekiel 36:26-27, the Lord says, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Do you really understand what the means? That means GOD WILL CHANGE YOUR DESIRES.

When David wrote Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”, he wasn’t saying God will grant your wishes like a genie in a bottle. He was saying when you turn your heart toward God and surrender your life to him, HE WILL CHANGE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. That’s how your heart of stone becomes tender.

And, what hope that brings if you have a loved one who is wandering down the wrong path in life. You do not carry the burden to change them. Nope, you’re not Jesus – that’s his job. He can rescue them, save them and turn their hearts desire in ways you simply could never imagine, and could certainly never force yourself. They may be part of the wandering lost, but the wandering lost can stumble their way to the cross when you pray for them. At their lowest place they can meet the highest name, so stop saving them from their lowest place.

And let me tell you, when Jesus saves them at their rock bottom, their lives will be rebuilt and unshakable!!!!!! That’s what I’m holding on to!

There’s a line in that Ben Fuller song that says:

Grabbed a hold of His hand

Woah. And that’s what Jesus said. Remember, on the cross, dying with me and you on his mind he said, “It is finished.” The work of saving me and you was finished. It was done. God says in Revelation 21:6, “It is finished! To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” Where God says its finished, our life can start!

And who is that offer for? ALL. TO ALL who are thirsty.

Are you thirsty?

You see, that’s what a life gone sideways does – it makes us thirsty for something different. That’s what addiction does – it makes us thirsty for something that lasts. That’s what our biggest messes do – they make us thirsty for something that fixes this. If you’re thirsty, there’s a spring with the water of life. This is where your life can start. Changed. Forever. Saved.

The final paragraphs of this book of Revelation, the biggest ‘ah-ha’ book of the Bible says this, “Come. Let anyone who hears this say, Come. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”

This is an open invitation to receive salvation from Jesus. He excludes NO ONE. There are no requirements of “change this” or “get this right first” or “clean yourself up, then come.” No, it is to ANYONE, COME.

It’s really that simple. Do you desire to be saved from the direction of this world, from the pending destruction, from yourself …. Then come.

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I love those full circle moments. You know when what went wrong in the beginning comes around full circle and becomes so right in the end. When the entire journey was so worth it because it all came together for such a great purpose.

That’s full circle. We all love that. I believe we love that because it’s put deep within our hearts by our Creator. God is the author of the full circle moments. He holds the design of full circle moments when it all makes sense and all comes together and all becomes so worth it. It’s been his design for his masterpiece, so of course he put it within the heart of his masterpiece. And all this time in history, through every event and turn, it’s all been leading to full circle.

Full circle is God’s desire. Full circle is God’s design. Full circle is our destiny.

In the very beginning of our Bible we read the story of creation. God created the heavens and the earth and he filled it all in a perfect way. Look around, God formed all of this beauty. Then, he created the first man and woman and he placed them in the beauty of a perfect garden. Within this garden they had everything they needed and they were given freedom.

In the middle of the garden God placed two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The only restriction God gave Adam and Eve was this: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

And you know the story, right? In comes the serpent and tricks Eve. He twists God’s words and deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, thus sin entered the world. Then Eve, being the first wife showing us how it’s done, convinces her husband to screw up too and take a bite. And scripture says, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.”

Now, check this out – Genesis 3: 22-24: Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

So now that sin has entered the world by eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge, God says they now cannot eat from the tree of life. Remember, this was a tree in the center of the garden with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God had not forbidden them from eating of the tree of life. But now, because of their sin, they were no longer allowed to eat of it.

Hmmmm, now why is that? The tree of life brings eternal life. God says anyone with sin cannot join him in eternal life, so they are banished from this garden of perfection for the rest of their lives so they cannot eat from the tree of life.

Now, check this out … all the way at the end of our Bibles, we come to Revelation. These are the visions given to John to write about the future events to unfold at the very end of this world. After all the battles, after all plagues, after all the hardships, after all the nightmares of hell on earth, after chance after chance after chance is given for every soul to turn to God – Satan, the Antichrist and all the demons are thrown into the lake of fire forever and ever. This is when a new heaven and a new earth appear. God has made everything new. And the battle is completely won – there will never be another tear, no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain.

Then, John is given a tour of the new heaven and earth God is offering his people. Now, get ready for the full circle. Here it comes! Revelation 22: 1-2, “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”

The tree of life is there. The tree that was in the very beginning. The tree that would make us eternal like God to live forever. The tree sin caused us to be banished from. Now, it’s in the place of eternity. A place God has made brand new forever.

AND WE ARE GIVEN ACCESS! Verse 14, “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.” The act of washing robes is symbolic of being made pure and signifies righteousness before God. That’s what Jesus does for us. Jesus washes our robes. Accepting his sacrifice is what makes us clean from our sins.

Now, everyone who has been made clean by Jesus is invited into Heaven to eat from the tree of life. This is where we are made eternal. This is where we are healed. This is where all that was broken is made whole.

For thousands of years we have been banished from the tree of life because of our sin that started with Adam and Eve – now we are made right through Jesus and we’re full circle – we’re back to the offering of FOREVER.

Our God is the god of full circle. He brings it all back around. He redeems what went wrong. He makes whole what was broken. And he brings his children back to the garden where we belong. With him. Forever. Full circle.

Did you know the Old Testament ends with a curse? The last words in Malachi 4 are the Lord’s and he says, “I will come and strike the land with a curse.” THEN THERE’S JESUS. The New Testament is the entry of the savior of the world. The one who changed everything. The one who saves us from everything we’ve read about in Revelation. Now, the New Testament ends with Revelation 22 and the final verse says, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.”

We went from a curse to the grace of Jesus! That’s the difference he made. We are no longer cursed – we are covered in grace. It’s full circle.

We will be invited back into the garden to eat from the tree of life and receive our eternal reward of Heaven. Not because we deserved it, but because we are covered in the grace of Jesus!

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Just how much do your circumstances and life experiences limit your ability to trust God? How much of your struggle with sin and temptations is because of your childhood, because of your traumas? It’s someone else’s fault, right? They caused you to be broken, now that brokenness in you causes you to stray from God and fall into sin.

Right?

Actually no. The harsh reality is, even with a perfect childhood, you would still struggle with life. Even with the best of examples and the sweetest of circumstances, you would still be prone to stray. That sin nature in you is strong. It’s not changed circumstances that would save you, it’s only the mercy of God and a relationship with Jesus that can do the job. Today, we’re going to look at a prophetic word in the book of Revelation that proves even in a world of perfection, you would still struggle without Jesus and end up in a losing battle.

Revelation chapter 19 and 20 holds a part of the world’s future destiny I honestly was never told about. Perhaps this will be a little known fact of the future for you too.

Now, here’s what we know: It’s prophesy, it will happen. God has aligned it and ordained it and in it’s time it will unfold just as God foretold. We know when God gives a prophetic word, it will happen. Did you know the Old Testament is filled with hundreds of prophetic statements about the coming Messiah. Specific details of a Savior to come that the world had never seen. Jesus came and fulfilled every one of those prophesies through his miraculous birth, life, death and resurrection. The mathematical probability of Jesus being able to fulfill even a FEW of the ancient prophesies was staggeringly improbable, yet Jesus fulfilled all of them. It was impossible.

Now, when we read Revelation, it’s a prophesy of the end times to come. Every one will be fulfilled. One by one, the details will align and it will happen. How is that possible? Because God has already made it so. John is given the visions of these future events that hadn’t even happened yet, and still haven’t happened now, but he could see them because God has ordained it. It’s coming.

So, here’s what will happen at the end of the unleashing of hell on earth, after the time of Tribulation. Revelation 19 tells us the beast, who is the Antichrist, will be captured and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. That’s hell. His time and his deception will be over. That’s the sure end of him. That’s his undeniable fate.

Then chapter 20 tells us an angel will come down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seizes the dragon, who is the devil, Satan – and binds him in chains for a thousand years. The angel throws him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

So, Satan is chained up and locked away with absolutely no power for 1,000 years. The world is void of his evil deceptions and attacks. For this 1,000 years, Jesus rules the earth. Imagine what this time will be like. There will be no force of evil in the world. No voices from the pits of hell. Jesus rules. There will be love. There will be peace. There will be unity. It’s basically heaven on earth for 1,000 years. People will know of no broken childhoods, no trauma, no abuse, no neglect. There won’t be bad mommies or absent daddies. No one will be walking around with wounded hearts or nightmares. No addictions. No temptations.

Amazing right?

Then after that 1,000 years of Jesus ruling this world with a complete absence of the devil while he’s locked away in the bottomless pit with zero ability to deceive a single soul, the devil is let out again for a short period of time. And you’re not going to believe what happens when he get lose again. MANY of these people who had 1,000 years of bliss will partner with Satan and join his battle against God.

Why would they do that? They’ve literally never had a reason to question God. They’ve never had a reason to run from God. They’ve never, in 1,000 years, been touched by darkness, but now they join the forces of darkness so quickly.

Revelation 20: 7-8, “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle – a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore.” That shows just how many will fall for the ploys of Satan. Even after their perfect lives. There will be so many they can’t be counted. So many they are like the sand on the seashore. Formerly perfect lives with perfect childhoods and no problems, now partnered with Satan to fight against God.

But, this battle isn’t a battle at all. Satan deceives the masses, gathers them to revolt against God, and BOOM, God shuts it down. In a matter of 2 verses, it all comes to an end. Verse 9-10, “They surrounded God’s people – but fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

So it’s over.

But, what was the point of this 1,000 years? We call it the Millennium. Satan is bound and held with no power while Jesus reigns in peace and righteous for these 1,000 years – only to let Satan out, Satan deceives countless people to follow him instead of Jesus, and then he’s wildly defeated without question. Fire comes down from heaven and annihilates them. Really, why wouldn’t God in all his power and wisdom just send that fire to defeat Satan way before this?

Understand, God always has that power. There’s not a delay because God can’t do it. There’s a plan and it’s unfolding. Satan is ALWAYS powerless against God’s plan. But God’s plan includes this intentional time of peace on earth under the rule of Jesus, followed by a super short influence of Satan again.

What’s the point? I believe it’s to take away every excuse. The excuse that it’s our childhood, it’s our traumas, it’s our past, it’s our wounds that drive us to sin. No honey, we would fall for Satan even if none of that had ever touched our lives. Without a relationship with Jesus, we will be deceived.

You cannot do life on earth, even if life on earth were blissfully perfect, without Jesus. That life you wanted, the childhood you wish you would have had, the privilege you missed out on would NOT have saved you from future sin. Only Jesus saves you from that. You think you need a better Mom or a present Dad. You think you needed protection. You think all your issues would be solved if things would have just been different for you. But the truth is, all you’ve ever needed was Jesus.

That’s what we can learn from the prophesy of the time to come. It’s not a kind, gentle world with peace and joy that saves us … it’s JESUS and ONLY JESUS.

When times are hard, we need Jesus. It’s easier to see our need when we’re in those hard times. But when times are good, we still desperately need Jesus. We just don’t see it as much.

Wherever you are on this journey of life, there’s one fact that remains – without Jesus you will be fooled and you will fail. You’ll end up on the wrong side of the pending battle, fighting for things you are deceived into believing, and you will never win that battle.

Thank God we have Jesus!

After writing this early this morning with the rising of the sun, I went on a run. On that run, God gave me a revelation to share with you. A prophetic word. Are you ready?

If you don’t sell out to Jesus, you’ll settle for Satan. If you don’t sell out to Jesus, you’ll be caught in battles you shouldn’t fight. If you don’t sell out to Jesus, you’ll settle for excuses. If you don’t sell out to Jesus, you’ll get trapped in sin. Addictions, distractions and irresistible temptations plague us when we’re not sold out to Jesus.

When Jesus is all yours and you’re all his, Satan cannot deceive you, trick you, or cause you to settle.

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What is your focus when you’re going through the toughest times? How do you talk about it? What fills your thoughts?

It’s easy to become hyper focused on our problems. It’s easy to follow all the facebook pages that share in your trial and trouble and become consumed by all the quotes and memes that give words to those feelings you feel and thoughts you think. But that’s a problem in itself. Now you’re not only going through what you’re going through, but you’re bombarding your mind with constant reminders of what you’re going through. Girl, you will unknowingly work yourself into a dark pit of despair like that.

God’s word shows us a different way to focus our thoughts and reframe the story we tell. In the midst of the 7 plagues poured out on the earth in the final days of Tribulation, we find those who have turned to God and refused the Antichrist, singing 2 songs. These songs are their focus. These songs are the story they tell in the midst of their hell on earth being unleashed.

Revelation 15: 1-3, “Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”

So, these people who have faced the unimaginable conditions of hell on earth are singing 2 songs, and we’re even told specifically what those songs were. This is an important detail. God wanted us to know the power of these songs because it shows us the power of our focus during our problems.

First is the song of Moses. Where’s that? Turn all the way back to the beginning of your Bible. In Exodus we read of the Israelites who had been held in bondage as slaves of Egypt. Then God chose Moses to lead them to freedom. God did impossible and miraculous things on their journey. God split the Red Sea so they could cross the water on dry ground, then the sea swallowed up the enemy army chasing them. On the other side of the Red Sea, the Israelites stopped and sang a song. The first 18 verses of Exodus 15 is the song of Moses.

Here’s what you need to know about this song. It was a total focus on God. It wasn’t a song about how hard the journey had been for them. It wasn’t a song about how unfair their lives were. It wasn’t a song about all they had lost or left behind. It wasn’t a song about what in the world they were going to do next. It was a song focused on God. 26 times in this song the word ‘you’ and ‘your’ is used.

It was YOUR right hand, o Lord. You overthrew them. The power of YOUR arm. This wasn’t a ‘me, me, me’ song – it was a ‘you, you, and your’ song. Verse 13, “With YOUR unfailing love YOU lead the people YOU have redeemed. In YOUR might, YOU guide them to YOUR sacred home.” Count them, how many ‘yous’ and ‘yours’ are in that single verse of the song they sing? SIX. How many “mes” and “mines” are in that song? ZERO.

The song of Moses shows us to think about 3 things:

• Think about WHO God is. He is the great I AM. When you focus on the strength of the I AM in your life, then you see absolutely NOTHING is impossible. You may not know the way, but God does. You may not have the resources needed for this, but God does. You may not be strong enough for the battle, but God is. When you focus on who God is, then you see your circumstances in a different light.

• Think about what he HAS DONE. What has God already done for you? How has he already brought you through? The sheer fact that you’re alive today is a miracle and only God is responsible. He’s already done so much, and if he’s already done that much, doesn’t that prove he can do even more?

• Think about what God WILL DO. There are promises over your life – promises of what God will do for you. Promises of purpose and redemption. Promises of intended harm being used for good. Promises of all things working together for good. Promises of his presence and provision. Why would you allow yourself to live in fear when you are covered in the promises of God and what he will do?

Now, in Revelation, all the way at the end of our Bible, the people who have endured the unleashing of God’s wrath on the Earth and found their faith in God in the process, are singing that same song again. And remember, Revelation is a prophesy, so that hasn’t even happened yet – it is to come. God knows those who will come to him, and he knows the song they will sing. They will sing about God!

The second song they sing is called the song of the Lamb. The song goes like this (Rev 15: 3-4):

Great and marvelous are your works,

Once again, zero me or mine in this song. The soul focus is on God. Count them – 7 YOU and YOURS, zero me or mine.

But how often do we go through something and our focus is on the trial, the problem, the trouble, the chaos, the loss, the unfairness of it all. And because that is our focus, it’s all we see, all we feel and all we can talk about. This is how we get overwhelmed. This is how our world closes in and it all becomes too much. We sing the wrong song.

Where is your focus? Is it all about what you’ve gone through, how wrong they were, how hurt you are … or is it all about God. The one who has brought you through that. The one who has never left you. The one who made a way. The one who supernaturally strengthened you. The one who divinely provided.

What’s your song, Sis? What story are you telling? Where is your focus?

The song of the Lamb shows us 5 intentional mindsets to chose that make us the victor not the victim. You can be going through it, but honey you don’t have to be overcome by it. These are the mindsets found in the song the victors sing:

• The worthiness of Jesus.

If you’re going through it, facing a battle, fighting a fight you never wanted to be in, surrounded by the chaos – choose your focus and choose your song. Will you focus on God, or will you focus on you? Will you see God working, or will you see you struggling? Will you see how they did you wrong, or how God will make it right?

Join me in intentionally choosing this as your song and repeat a verse of the song of Moses from Exodus 15:13 with me:

With your unfailing love you lead

It’s all YOU God. Your power. Your love. Your timing. Your way.

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When my kids were still at home, there were certain buttons when pushed just right that would unleash my wrath. I learned it from my Mama. My mama had buttons when I was growing up. When I pushed them, you could almost see the steam come from her ears. I bet you have a trigger for your wrath. Something specific that just sets you off and makes you turn into a raging lunatic.

Did you know God has a trigger for his wrath? And the bad news is, we each have our own special way of pushing it. God’s wrath arises when the buttons of sin are pushed. We know that, but do we understand it? Do we really understand WHY God is so enraged by our sin? I could never understand this until my children became young adults and I stood from a distance and watched them struggle with sin. I didn’t want them to hurt like that. I didn’t want them to get stuck in that bondage. I didn’t want them to create that future regret they would have to carry with them. What they were doing wrong wasn’t about me and my rules – it was about them. It was about their future.

God knows what sin does in our lives. He knows the pain it will create. He knows the separation it will bring. He knows the regret we will one day carry because of it. It’s not all about his rules, it’s about our future. Sin has consequences, and those consequences are not God’s desire for his children.

Each one of us have a divine purpose and good plan for our lives. God has seen that plan from the very beginning and specifically handcrafted each one of us to perfectly fulfill our unique purpose. It pains him to see us get stuck in bondage along the way and forfeit the goodness he has for us. He wants so much better for us, but he will not force it on us.

Our sin causes us to miss out on God’s aligned goodness. It creates a separation between us and him. Sin grows a divide – and that divide is the distance between how we’re living and how we COULD BE LIVING. That distance is NOT God’s will for us. We’re creating messes he didn’t design for us. We’re causing wounds that will affect us and those we love. And this sin in our lives is making us go further and further down the path leading to a way of living that falls far short of God’s good plans for us.

That’s what sin really does. And that’s why God hates it so much. It enrages him that his beautiful creation gets tangled up in temporary pleasures that will hurt her. It enrages him that his masterpiece would get caught in a trap and be held in bondage. It enrages him that the life he has planned for his chosen one would be traded down for a lesser than, settled version that misses the mark set for her.

It’s his button. And eventually, that button being pushed over and over again will unleash his wrath. Scripture calls it God’s cup of wrath. It’s good for us to decide right now we really don’t want that!

We last left off in our study of the book of Revelation with the Antichrist and the mark of the beast. Yuck – not a fun topic, but a necessary one. What we learned is this Antichrist is a fake imitation of our Jesus. He’s a knock off version backed by Satan, sent in the time of Tribulation to fool the people still left on Earth. He will show up with miraculous signs and people will love him. Worship of this Antichrist will become the means of survival. To eat, you must get his mark. To get his mark, you must worship him.

And to this, we are told in Revelation 14: 9-10, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath.”

God’s wrath is poured out on this world. It comes in 7 bowls described in chapter 16. As each bowl of wrath is poured out, utter destruction comes upon the Earth.

Horrible malignant sores break out on everyone who had the mark of the beast. Then all the water in the sea and the rivers and springs become blood and the sun scorches everyone with it’s fire. This is God’s wrath. It’s a preview of Hell. Demonic spirits are unleashed and a great earthquake strikes. The whole earth as we know it is destroyed.

This is what sin caused. And God wanted absolutely NONE of that for his people.

In fact, between each separate bowl of wrath poured out, we see an opportunity for people to turn from their sins and come to God. But when they don’t, the next and even worse bowl of wrath comes.

So, what’s the difference between the cup of God’s wrath we read about in chapter 14, and these bowls of wrath in chapter 16 that destroy the world as we know it? Well, a bowl is just bigger. A bowl contains many cups. It’s the larger portion that’s been collected. The bowls of wrath contain the cups of God’s wrath and the result is judgment and punishment.

Now, here’s the absolutely amazing news. THAT BOWL ISN’T FOR YOU!

If you have accepted Jesus, these bowls of wrath will not be coming your way. You don’t have to fear this. God never wanted any of that for you, and simply because you’ve accepted the invitation of Jesus, you will not endure his wrath. And here’s how I know … JESUS DRANK YOUR CUP OF WRATH FOR YOU!

Remember the night before Jesus goes to the cross and he’s in a garden praying. He’s literally sweating drops of blood, he’s in absolute anguish because my sin and your sin is all being placed on him. He’s bearing the weight of everything you and I have ever done wrong. Every failure, every shortcoming, every mark we missed, every sin. All of it is on our Jesus. And Jesus prays in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

THIS CUP – That’s the cup of God’s wrath. It’s my cup of wrath I deserve. It’s your cup of wrath you deserve. It’s everything our sins have caused. And now Jesus is drinking that cup of wrath for us.

Because of Jesus, the coming wrath of God does not apply to me. Will it apply to you? Or has your cup already been handled by Jesus?

Revelation is indeed a book of revealing. And what it’s revealing over and over again is the depths of the price paid for us by Jesus and the undeserved grace that has saved us. I’m saved from my deserved portion of God’s wrath because Jesus drank that cup for me. And he drank it for you too – all you have to do is turn to him and receive his invitation.

Thank you, Jesus, for drinking my cup of God’s wrath brought on by my sins. I can never thank you enough.

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