Welcome back to the Knife's Edge Podcast! I apologize for the delay on this episode, it is coming out in God's timing, and how perfect because in this episode I talk about the necessity of entering into the valley of death to self, and in the interim I had a change to go to Death Valley, CA. That's where this episode's photo is from! God has been deeply schooling me in HIs ways, and delivering me from all sorts of traps of the enemy, preparing me for this episode, to continue our journey of learning how to uproot and cast out areas of shame in our hearts, that we may live in greater freedom and more fully carry our cross with Jesus day by day. This episode we're headed back to the story of David and Goliath to take a closer look at Goliath- the picture of our shame giants, why he is such a formidable foe, and why he will always go down in light of God's love. Come travel with me to the Valley of Elah where we will learn to take off our armor of pride and trade it for the armor of God.

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to our seasons of learning what it takes to take up our cross daily as we stand at the crossroads and look to God. Last episode we talked about how God leads us to cast out shame in the process of facing ourselves, and how God empowers us with love and truth as we do, to more fully take up our cross and follow Him. In today's episode we're looking at the crucial role humility plays in these moments when we are facing shame. We'll begin to dive into David's life and how he defeated, arguably the greatest giant of all, in humility. With him, let us say to our shame: Today the LORD will let me defeat you. I will kill you and all the other shame giants in my life! Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel, and a God in me! (1 Samuel 17:46) Join me on the journey to freedom and fullness of life in Jesus!

One of the greatest challenges we face, and one of the enemy's deadliest weapons against us, when God holds up the mirror and reveals the sin and dysfunctional ways we've been walking in, is shame. The enemy comes to pull us into the pit of darkness with lies of "you're too broken," "you've gone too far," "you don't have what it takes," or the trump card, "there's something inherently wrong with you." He does this in order to disable us from stepping out in faith and running the glorious race God has marked out for us. Join me in this episode as we look at what Jacob did when faced with his worst sins, his past coming back to haunt him, the way he ran to God and entered in a wrestle that ended with a new name, a new identity, and greater freedom. I share my own struggle with shame and how, like Jacob, God led me into freedom when I ran to Him. May the Holy Spirit work through this episode to encourages and equip you in your own battle against shame and bring you, and us all, more fully into His glorious light!

For further study: Read Genesis 32:1-12; Hebrews 12:1-2; Romans 8:18-30; 2 Cor. 4:7-11 and Zeph. 3:14-17. What do you think God wants to free you from right now? What burdens does He want to lift, what brokenness does He want to deliver you from? What do you hear God saying to you about who you really are?

James 1:22-24 says:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Today we're going to dive into what this verse has to do with Jacob's wrestle, and the wrestle each of us has when we find ourselves at a crossroads in our walk with God, the point in which He holds up the mirror. Will we agree with God and be set free? Or will we walk away and forget what He's told us, forget what we look like?

John 8:31-32 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

For further study: Read the above scriptures, and Jacob's wrestle in Genesis 32:22-31. What do you sense God saying to you? What is the truth He would reveal to you right now, about your life, your call, yourself? Will you agree with Him?

In Matthew 10:38-39 Jesus says to us: Those who will not accept the cross that is given to them when they follow me are not worthy of me. Those who try to keep the life they have will lose it. But those who give up their life for me will find true life. What does this stir up in you? For many of us, a wrestle ensues. What does it mean for me to lose my life? What is God asking me to give up? Can I do it? We're diving deep into these questions today, looking at the story of the rich young man, and Jacob's wrestle to understand what Jesus is really asking us and how we can get through this wrestle to the other side of taking up our cross freely and joyfully.

For deeper study, read Mark 10:17-31 and Genesis 32:22-28 and write down what you sense God is asking you to let go to take the next step with Him, or to take up your cross for the first time. What are you wrestling with? What are your fears, your doubts, what do you feel you can't give you God? Why? What do you think God is saying in reply? Praying His love, peace and courage to wash over you as you wait on Him.

*Green Room Podcast Episode I mentioned in this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VyQAREX2KupxXpndTuzCX?si=1gyPfaOXToqZg4cVMn4irw

Jeremiah 6:16a NIV

This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

In this episode we dive deep into what the Lord is saying to us right now through Jeremiah 6:16 and what it means for the body of Christ as a whole, and each of us personally in relation to carrying our cross on the knife's edge with Jesus.

For further study and application: read Jeremiah 6:16, 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Jeremiah 33:3 in several translations. Write down what you hear the Lord saying to you through these verses. How is He asking you to respond? Pause in His presence to consider, to hear from Him, lay down whatever you need to, and commit to taking the step He's asking you to take.

In this episode I share the journey God has had me on with this podcast, and where I'm sensing He's leading for this season. So excited to

In this episode we dive deep in to Matthew 4, identifying the tactics the devil used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, tactics he still uses today, even quoting scripture. I pray the Holy Spirit will work through this episode to help sharpen your discernment in identifying when the devil is speaking to you, that you might silence his lies using the sword of the Spirit- the word of God!

Scriptures in this episode: Matthew 4:1-11

Bible study

Read Matthew 4:1-11 and write down anything that strikes you, or you feel the Spirit speaking to you, including any insights from this episode. Then answer the following:

1. Have you ever experienced thoughts of doubt or second guessing after God has spoken identity over you? Read Psalm 139 and write down whatever the Spirit speaks to you about who you are and how much you mean to God. Ask God to reveal what the root is of the identity lies that come up.

2. Have you ever felt you had to prove who you were to someone, to the world or even yourself? What does God's word say about the revealing of His children in Romans 8:14-25 , 1 John 3:1-10?

3. Read Genesis 16-18, 21. Has satan ever attempted to get you to birth an Ishmael, that is obtain God's promise by your own strength and in your own way?

In this episode we dive into Genesis 3 to understand some of Satan's oldest tricks to lead us away from God and His plans for us, right into his traps. Then I share one of the greatest deceptions satan tricked me with in my walk with Jesus. i pray this episode will encourage you and empower you, sharpening your discernment to strike down the devil's schemes the moment they hit your mind, in Jesus's name!

Scriptures in this episode: Genesis 3:1-5; Psalm 84:11; Numbers 23:19; John 10:10, 14:6, 17:17; Psalm 25:10; Lamentations 3:25.

In this episode I share what God has been teaching me through many different situations how to discern when the pull I feel to do something is Him, or me. Is it my flesh, or the Holy Spirit? Join me on the journey to becoming more in step with His Spirit, more like Jesus everyday!

Scriptures in this episode: Mark 1:35-39; 4:35-41; 5:21-43