What does God with us mean for our everyday ordinary lives?

Explore the meaning of "God with us" and how it transforms our daily lives. Discover practical insights for faith and everyday living.

Trevor H. Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/ and the Creative Storyteller at https://revtrev.com He helps you give thanks with your whole heart https://revtrev.link/heart Check out https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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Let’s read the Christmas story from Mathew:

Matthew 1:18-25 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

“and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.

God with us

I don’t think we realize how offensive that is to some people. - How can the holy be so profaned?

I know we don’t always grasp how significant that is for us. GOD - the creator of all the universes, outside of time and space, the author of all things, the first and the last. GOD is with us.

Today I want to to know GOD is with us...

and I want to to be brave enough to ask yourself - “am I with him?”

God is with us…am I with him?

Can I pray?

What does “GOD is with us” mean for us in our everyday ordinary lives?

How often do you take the time to be in Awe of God?

• It could be in worship.
• Maybe when you’re in nature?
• Perhaps it’ when a new born grasped your finger.
• It can happen when your deep in study of anything in the created world.
• OR when the song plays on the radio or when you read a passage you’ve read hundreds of times before.
• It can sneak up on you when you’re in conversation. It should come to your mind when you’re in prayer.

When was the last time you were in awe of God?

I’ve found

The more I stay curious, the more I’m impressed with God.

The more I am thankful,

the more sense His presence.

the more I expect to meet God,

the more I experience Him.

the more I’m in the moment,

the more I’m in awe of God.

• Curious people are never bored. Bored people are rarely curious.
• Thankful people have hope, peace and joy. It’s because they trust in the God of hope.
• Stories happen in experience.
• Miracles happen in the moments.

Let’s take some time to be in Awe of God. I’ve created a tool to help us VALUE His Presence

God is with Us…am I with Him?

Marvel at the mystery

The mystery you need to marvel at is God himself.

The one who spoke the universes into being, the creator of all. The one who thought up sub atomic particles and is outside of space and time. Who thinks in ways that we can’t ever imagine. Paul reminds us…

Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

We need to see him as our father, as our friend, as as the one who sticks closer than a brother, and we’ll talk about that in a moment. All these things that we can relate to, because that's how he expresses himself to us and scripture.

But also, remember, writer of Hebrews says

Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIVUK) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’

That's the otherness of God that we need to keep in balance. That’s the otherness of God we need to embrace. The unknowable God who has made Himself known. Don’t not let that hurt your brain.

That is the GOD who is with you.

The GOD who is with you is also seen in the person of Jesus Christ. The unknowable One who has made Himself known.

Jesus says,

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 (NLT)

That’s because Jesus was the exact representation of the Father.

He only did what He saw the Father do

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. John 6:38 New Living Translation (NLT)

He only said what He heard the Father say

I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” John 12:49-50 New Living Translation (NLT)

So let’s spend some time looking at Jesus so we can see the unknowable God who has made himself known more clearly.

How are Jesus and the Father Alike?

Jesus – Liked to Party

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Matthew 11:19 (New Living Translation)

The Father – Rejoices Over You with Singing

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (New Living Translation)

Jesus – Loved His Friends

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:13-14 (New Living Translation)

The Father – Calls You The Apple of His Eye

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings Psalm 17:7-8 (New International Version)

Jesus – Didn’t Come to Condemn

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

The Father – Is Not Angry with You

“Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:9-10 (New Living Translation)

Jesus – Healed All Who Were Oppressed by The Devil

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (New Living Translation)

The Father – Forgives ALL Your Sins and Heals All Your Diseases

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalm 103:2-3 (New Living Translation)

Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. He is perfect theology. If you want to know the Father, you need to know His Son.

This is the GOD who is with us.

The unknowable One who has made himself known.

He’s revealed Himself with Love and Joy and Peace and Patience and Kindness and Goodness and Faithfulness and Gentleness and Self-Control.

This is the GOD is with us…

That’s amazing and humbling and empowering

And He’s given you His Spirit…

Romans 8:15-17 "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."

GOD is with us…

We don’t only Marvel at the mystery and be in Awe…we need to embrace the mystery of what being in relationship with him means.

This is what I mean by wanting us to ask ourselves …AM I WITH HIM?

God is with us…am I with him?

TO be with Him I need to allow the marveling at the mystery lead to embracing the mystery.

What do I mean by that?

Isaiah prophecies Isaiah 60:1-3 (NIVUK) ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

If there is one thing I’ve learned during this season that we are in, it’s that we need peace and joy and hope at all times and every situation. The world needs the peace and joy and hope that’s only available to us.

God’s Peace is only available to us

When the angels announced Jesus’ birth Luke tells us:

Luke 2:13-14 (NIVUK) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

It isn’t “peace on earth” like we so often abbreviate. It’s peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests.

It’s peace for you. It’s peace for me. In the darkness Peace is the light that shines. It’s us having peace at all times and in every situation that is the brightness of our dawn that nations come to.

To have that peace, we marvel at the mystery and then embrace the mystery that is God himself. We recognize God is with us… and we do what we can to be with Him at all times and in every situation.

How do we do this? We…

Trust in the God of all Hope…

You and I are in a divine dance with the creator of all. That dance takes us to places we’re not comfortable with and entrust us with gifts we’re not able to steward without Holy Spirit’s help.

In order to trust God, we need to embrace the mystery. Three tips I have for you are:

Three tips to trust God

1. We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.

2. We need to Live Unoffended at God

3. We need to look to what He’s doing and not to what’s left undone.

Let me unpack this

1. We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.

When we're faced with situations we don’t want to be in, we often ask God why.

Far too often it's the why of accusation, not the why of searching it out.

“Why did my prayers not get answered” vs “What do you want me to learn?”

We’re promised peace that passes understanding, but we want to demand understanding.

We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.

What does scripture say? (Phillipians 4:6-7) Worry about nothing. Pray about everything and be thankful.

Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIVUK) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Worry about nothing. Pray about everything and be thankful.

2. Live Unoffended at God

God has never promised us that we won’t have trouble. He never said things wouldn’t go our own way. Instead Jesus said we have trouble… and in that trouble we could have peace.

John 16:33 (NIVUK) ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’

We will all have seasons that don’t seem to make sense. John was in jail when Jesus was saying he came to set prisoners free. Jesus didn’t say why John was in prison, only that he’d be blessed if he didn’t get offended his life didn’t make sense to his theology.

All of us will have multiple seasons when our life doesn’t make sense to our theology. If we don’t, our understanding of God and his will is really bad. We need to embrace the mystery of God himself live unoffended with him.

3. We need to look to what He’s doing and not to what’s left undone.

Phillipians 4:8-9 (NIVUK) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It our choice and - Holy Spirit enable us to do this - to think about the good things of God when we find ourselves in trouble. And the benefit of thinking this way and living this way is the peace God has for us.

Paul and Silas started to worship while they were in prison.

Will you praise him in the storm?

GOD is with us…am I with Him?

Do I insist on understanding and not have the peace that passes understanding?

Do I live offended at him?

Am I looking to what’s left undone?

The good news is, you can start afresh today.

You can have peace at all times and in every situation.

Marvel at the unknowable One who has made himself known.

Embrace the mystery of God when life doesn’t make sense.

Seek peace and pursue it.

May you have peace at all times and in every situation.

Conclusion…

I came across one writer who suggested that we can replace “believe in” with “embrace the mystery” in the Nicene creed. I want to read this before I close in prayer.

We Embrace the Mystery

We embrace the mystery of one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We embrace the mystery of one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We embrace the mystery of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We embrace the mystery of one holy universal and apostolic Church.

We embrace the mystery of one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We embrace the mystery of the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Will you marvel at the mystery?

Will you embrace the mystery?

God is will you…will you be with him?

Can I pray?

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:17-21 (NIVUK)

What I’ve taught on Holy Spirit

Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.

• How to know and experience more of our triune God today https://revtrev.com/living-light/trinity-essential/
• Is Spiritual Growth is on your vision board? https://revtrev.com/living-light/is-spiritual-growth-on-your-vision-board/
• How to be confident you’re being led from Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/living-light/be-confident-led-holy-spirit/
• God is with us will I be with Him? https://revtrev.com/living-light/god-is-always-with-us-will-i-be-with-him/
• How to understand and and enjoy the Gifts God has for you Today https://revtrev.com/message/how-to-understand-and-enjoy-the-gifts-god-has-for-you-today/
• Buying the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/buying-holy-spirit/
• How to Release the gift of words of wisdom https://revtrev.com/livecasts/how-to-release-the-gift-of-words-of-wisdom/
• 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-light/70-functions-of-the-holy-spirit/
• How can I Receive the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-today/how-can-i-receive-the-holy-spirit/
• 3 ways to know it’s the Holy Spirit Speaking https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/3-ways-to-know-its-the-spirit-speaking/
• How to let the Fruit of Holy Spirit Transform you https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-let-the-fruit-of-holy-spirit-transform-you/
• 5 things to know about Spiritual Growth https://revtrev.com/livecasts/5-things-to-never-forget-about-spiritual-growth/
• 11 ways the Holy Spirit Speaks to you https://revtrev.com/live-today/11-ways-the-spirit-speaks-to-you/
• Do Spirit-Filled Believers Leak the Spirit? https://revtrev.com/live-today/do-spirit-filled-believers-leak-the-spirit/
• How to use God’s Gifts for Another https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-use-gods-gifts-for-one-another/
• I build myself up reflection https://revtrev.com/livecasts/day-42-i-build-myself-up-reflection-livecast/
• 4 Tips I’ve learned To Hear the Spirit Speak https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/4-tips-ive-learned-to-hear-the-spirit-speak/
• As you go – how to use the gifts of Holy Spirit in the day-to-day of everyday http://revtrev.com/livecasts/as-you-go-how-to-use-the-gifts-of-holy-spirit-in-the-day-to-day-of-everyday/

The Only Way to Feel Like You’ve Forgiven

How can you feel like you’ve forgiven? Have you ever decided to forgive but didn’t feel like you really forgave? You might have been able to choose to forgive and even bless those who cursed you, but what do your feelings tell you about what you really believe that you've done? Jesus told us to forgive with our whole heart. Learn what that means and how you easily know when you’ve forgiven with your whole heart.

In this message, we explore the only way to truly feel like you have forgiven. Learn practical tips and insights on how to let go of past hurts and move forward with inner peace. Whether you're struggling with personal relationships or seeking emotional healing, this guide will help you navigate the journey of forgiveness. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more content on personal growth and mental health.

Trevor H. Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/ and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com He helps you give thanks with your whole heart https://revtrev.link/heart Check out https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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Read the transcript of The Only Way to Feel Like You’ve Forgiven

I'm praising God because I have not been loopy for the whole last two weeks. I am knocking stuff out of the park, and it's just awesome. Yes, I'm happy. It's one thing to praise God in the middle of the storm, and it's another thing to praise God simply because you want to. It’s nice to be in that place where it’s easy to praise God.

I want to pray for all of you that if you're not in that place, choose to praise God now. But if you are in that place, that's where we all want to be—walking with God in the garden in the cool of the day. It becomes so easy to sing His praises and give Him thanks because He's showing us all the cool things around us. Like, “Oh, isn’t that cool? It’s snowing!” Excellent! Don’t be surprised; it’s November. Last week, Pastor Shawn taught on unity, and one of the tools that God gives us for unity is forgiveness.

Have you decided to forgive, but not feel like you’ve forgiven?

Have you ever had someone or a situation where you thought you had forgiven, but it didn’t feel like you had? If you haven’t, wait; it will come sometime in your life. You’ve made that choice to forgive. You really have. Yet, it’s tough to think about it. You want to avoid that person because it is possible to feel like you've forgiven. It really is. That’s what we’re going to talk about today. I’m going to pray now, and then we’ll get into the scripture.

Heavenly Father, I want to thank You for being God. Thank You for Your greatness and thank You, Lord God, for turning all things together for good. Thank You, Lord God, that even what the enemy meant for evil, You will turn around for good. I thank You, Lord God, that lives are being changed today. I thank You, Lord God, that souls are being touched today. And Lord, we commit this all into Your holy and precious name. Amen.

Matthew 18 - Jesus talks about Forgiveness

I'm going to read a little bit more just to give you context in Matthew 18 because it’s something we very rarely teach on, but it’s in the book and we need to know it. Starting at verse 15 of Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won't listen, take one or two more with you so that by the testimony of two or three, every fact may be established. If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn't pay attention to even the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector.

I assure you, whatever you bind on earth has already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. Again, I assure you, if two or three of you agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among you."

Let’s Contine...

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Seven? Is it as many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I tell you, not as many as seven," but "seventy times seven." For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began to settle accounts, the one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him. Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything be sold to pay off the debt. At this, the slave fell face down before him and said, "Be patient with me and I will pay you everything."

Then the master of that slave had compassion and released him and forgave him the loan. But the slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii.

Forgiveness is costly

Let’s just pause here. A denarius was one day's wages. So 100 denarii was about a third of your salary for the year—this was not an insignificant amount. Some translations say a few thousand dollars; however, in our economy, it doesn’t matter—but it was a significant amount.

He grabbed him and started choking him and said, "Pay me what you owe!"

At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you back." He wasn’t willing; on the contrary, he went and threw him in prison until he could pay what he was owed. When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. Then after he had summoned him, his master said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave as I had mercy on you?"

His master got angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay everything that was owed. So my heavenly Father will do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.

Didn’t know about forgiving with your whole heart

I didn’t know what it meant to forgive with your whole heart until I showed a friend of mine this portion of scripture. I ran into him at church one day; he had a big lump on his head. I asked him what happened, and he hesitantly told me that he was walking down the stairs when a demon tripped him and he fell down the stairs. I was intrigued—what a good story! I found out he had been seeing demons in his house; this was the first time one of them had done something harmful, but he needed help. Could I come help? Sure! No problem!

So Karen and I went over to their house and prayed in the places where he’d seen the demons. It was clear—they were there because they thought they had a legal right to be there. So we went through some things to shut those doors for them. He thought that was a good idea.

Using Steps in Freedom in Christ

We used Neil T. Anderson's steps in "Freedom in Christ." A big part of what Neil does is walk through forgiveness. We got to the point where we normally ask people: Is there anyone you need to forgive? Most people think about it for a while—but not this guy! Right away he said his wife and father without even thinking!

I had to make sure he didn’t mean his wife who was sitting next to him on the couch. No! It was his first wife he was talking about! Okay—that's great! Without finding out more of the story, I decided my wife would stand in for his wife and ask for forgiveness so he could forgive her.

Karen tried to object at that point, saying he should forgive his father first. I said, “Yeah, just do it this way.” You’ve got to listen to your wife—especially if she’s prophetic! Oh my goodness! In about two minutes, I had to step in front of Karen because this guy looked like he was going to jump across the coffee table and strangle her!

I said, "Okay! Time out! Let’s hear the rest of this story; something else is going on here.” What had actually happened was this guy and his wife were part of a Christian organization together. His father had an affair with somebody else in that organization, and a leader in that organization told him: "You do not forgive them until they come and ask for forgiveness." And I thought—oh! Here it is! Matthew!

Let’s read Matthew. I got to the point where it says they’ll be handed over to the jailers—that's what God has done to you! The tormentors—the version I was using at the time called them tormentors—are present because of your unforgiveness.

Should have listened to my wife

Karen piped up again: “He’s not going to be able to trust the Father to forgive his wife unless he forgives his father first.” Brilliant woman—I’m hearing you! Yeah—that makes sense! So I stood in the place of his father and asked for forgiveness while blessing him as a father; then Karen stepped forward as well so he could forgive his father.

It wasn’t easy—it was tough—but eventually he worked through it; it wasn’t as violent as before but he forgave his first wife too. In all the time we knew him afterward, he never saw demons again in his house.

Forgiveness is abostulely critical

Forgiveness is absolutely critical for us. Where are we at? At that time, I didn’t know what it meant to forgive with your whole heart; if I had known—I think we could have helped him a lot more.

What I've learned since is that the Hebrew understanding of heart is that it is not only the seat of our emotions but also the seat of our decisions and actions. I had known all along—or learned—that sometimes people can make the decision to forgive; sometimes we make that decision and feel forgiveness—we feel like we’ve forgiven; we have that peace—we’re done.

Other people can make the choice to forgive but if they don’t bless that person—either verbally or in some safe way—they may never feel like they’ve forgiven them. And then there are others who can make the choice and feel like they’ve forgiven—or not make the choice but still bless someone—and yet never feel like they’ve forgiven.

And I'm not even saying it's only people sometimes—it can be situations we face too! Many times I make a choice and feel forgiveness; other times I have to make that choice and then bless someone before I feel forgiveness; then there are times when I have some junk I need to work through before feeling forgiveness—but eventually I do.

Forgiving with your whole heart

I've learned how to feel forgiveness for every offense. I learned about forgiveness when I was a young pastor—and by young I mean too young—I can't believe what God entrusted to me when I was that young!

One lady came to our church after seeing a sign we put up; whoever put up that sign used pink letters—pink was her favorite color—so she felt God was telling her to come here! Her husband had an affair; he wasn’t a Christian; she found out about it and confronted him—and led him to Christ!

Now she was trying to find a church for him because she didn’t want anything more to do with him—basically in her mind she believed God had forgiven him for his sins—so if she let him off the hook then he would get off scot-free!

We met many times over weeks; finally in one of our last meetings I had a word of knowledge—I knew this was not a blanket statement for everyone—but it was certain for her! I told her if she didn’t choose to forgive her husband within six months she would not believe God existed!

Because when Jesus taught us how to pray He said: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.” If we don’t do that—He can't forgive us—and then separation occurs! She was blown away by this; she said she couldn’t believe it—God is the only thing getting her through this—how could she ever not believe God existed?

Another story on feeling like you’ve forgiven

Around that time another lady came into church wearing dark glasses and a hoodie pulled over her head; when she sat in my office she positioned herself against the wall near the window so there would be no line of sight from outside.

She showed me a button she had—that would summon police within two minutes—but her husband was a sharpshooter; she figured he told her he would shoot her from a distance! She was an abused and fragile person. And me—a young pastor—I said: “You know—you’ve got to forgive them.”

Her eyes got big: “I can’t live with them anymore!” “No!” I exclaimed. “Forgiveness and trust are two separate things! Forgiveness is between you and God; trust must be earned! He has lost that right!”

You do not put yourself in harm's way in order for someone else to regain trust—do not do that!

I don’t remember much after that but she made that decision eventually—to forgive—and something changed!

Six months after she had forgiven

Six months later while preaching at church this beautiful lady came in and sat at the back with a huge smile on her face—it was strange—people don’t smile like that for no reason!

Afterward I approached her because I needed to find out why she was smiling so much! About six months after our encounter—I went up alongside her—she jumped up and hugged me! Literally—I said: “Nice to meet you! Have you met my wife?” because I had no idea who she was!

Once she broke the embrace she told me who she was—I couldn’t believe it—she was the same woman who’d been covered up in dark glasses before! She said she was so happy because she testified against her husband—he is going to jail for a long time!

She is now in witness protection—leaving today—but just had come by today because she wanted me to know that when she chose to forgive everything changed.

The ongoing story about forgiveness caught my eye

Then something caught my attention—I turned around and saw the husband of the first woman; he had been attending church this whole time—growing in grace and knowledge of God—part of a care group—and meeting weekly with me!

Before that service he had told me his wife doesn’t believe in God anymore—but he’s going to keep loving her until she does again! Both stories are horrific—but both have happy endings!

Another story about feeling like you’ve forgiven

Another young woman came asking for advice—she wasn’t married but told me she was pregnant; she said she had a friend over for supper who slipped something into her drink—and when she woke up she realized she’d been raped—and now she was pregnant!

She asked if God would forgive her if she had an abortion—to get rid of this child! “You’re asking the wrong question,” I said; “For your sake—and your child’s sake—you need to ask: Can I forgive him?”

I talked with her about forgiveness; she chose forgiveness—but nothing changed right away! Then I asked: “Can you bless him in Jesus’ name? Can you bless whatever goodness he may find? That God would bless him?”

It wasn't an easy prayer—but once done—a big smile came over her face as she said: “I’m going to keep my baby!”

Some time later she sent me a letter with a photograph enclosed—she moved back with her mom—and wrote: “Thank you so much for helping me forgive because this baby is God's blessing!”

With her it wasn’t just making a choice—it required action too!

Follow up on other story about feeling like you’ve forgiven

I should tell you how things ended with that first lady and her husband—we ran into them years later—they invited us over because they wanted us to meet their son!

She eventually chose forgiveness—and when we sat down together it was really strange; she told me: “Trevor—I think you were a little harsh with me back then.”

I replied: “I think you were a little stubborn!”

But we’re still friends—we haven’t seen them in a while.

What feeling forgiveness means to us

Oh my goodness—horrific things can happen—and sometimes people feel they’ve forgiven—but then someone forgets to call me—and suddenly I'm angry again—even though I say: “Okay God—I forgive them,” deep down I'm still upset with them!

It seems feeling forgiven has less to do with harm caused by offense—and more about lies we don’t allow Holy Spirit to heal with truth!

Let me say that again: feeling like we've forgiven has less do with harm from offense—and more about lies we let Holy Spirit heal with truth!

Our heart is where our decisions lie—as well as our actions and emotions—when we forgive—it’s indeed a decision!

Lies we can believe to keep us from forgiving

Sometimes those lies can simply be replaced by truth—let me give some examples:

The lie is: The offender won't pay if I forgive.

• The truth is: Matthew 18:25 states: “So my heavenly Father will also do if you don't forgive your brother from your heart.” If we don’t forgive others—God can’t forgive us—it hurts us!

Another lie might be: "I don't trust God; I won’t let them off the hook."

• The truth is Romans 12:19: "Dear friends never take revenge; leave righteous anger up to God." For scripture says: "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord.

Another lie could be: "I won’t forgive unless they ask for forgiveness."

• The truth is Jesus taught us how we should pray: “Forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”

Another lie might sound like: "I'm not hurting anyone if I don’t forgive."

• Oh did you catch that? In the story read earlier—the king threw the servant in jail until he could pay back all owed—does this make sense?

It hurts everyone if we don’t forgive

It only makes sense if you understand it affects family & friends who must raise money/work hard so he can be released!

Who you don’t forgive affects me! Who I don’t forgive affects you! It matters—it’s not just between me & God—it impacts all of us & generations following!

We have got to forgive!

Another lie could be: "I won’t forgive until I feel like it."

• The truth is Luke 6:45: "A good person produces good things from their heart's treasury while an evil person produces evil things from theirs." What flows out from our heart reveals our true beliefs!

That’s key here—the key is our emotions reveal what we truly believe!

Our emotions tell us what we truly believe

Now here’s good news—some listening now or watching later have heard these verses echoed—and this truth replaces lies—and healing occurs!

Holy Spirit has infused truth allowing some of you say: “I forgive so-and-so for such-and-such” and suddenly feel forgiven—all at once—it’s awesome!

For some situations—that may be enough aligning our whole heart—but our heart also serves as seat of action—which is why prayers spoken as blessings align ourselves with God's heart too.

If safe—we can express appreciation or serve in ways appreciated by those we've hurt—doing this sends raindrops on both righteous & unrighteous alike—as your good Father does for all.

We don’t do these acts solely for their sake—we do them for ours when loving those who’ve wronged us—a blessing shared brings healing!

When doing this—you can say now: “God—I bless so-and-so in Jesus’ name; bless prosperity upon them; bless health unto them!”

What they meant for evil—you’re turning around for good—that's all needed—a simple blessing spoken over them could suffice!

That action might replace lies—with truth allowing Holy Spirit healing—that heart serves as seat of decisions/actions/emotions—we've established.

I've developed tools aiding this process—I’ve used them personally many times—the thing...

Okay—I’m pretty good with most people! However—the thing needing Holy Spirit's help most occurs when someone hurts someone dear—and I'm powerless—instead go before God saying: “What lie am I believing?”

Is it I'm not enough? Is my belief causing doubt He'll take care? What lie?

As I approach Holy Spirit—He reveals what needs healing allowing me eventually feeling I've forgiven.

Use GRACE to feel like you’ve forgiven

The tool is called GRACE—I intentionally use word grace—I won’t tell why—but think you'll figure it out:

G - Get in touch with emotions.
R - Remember feelings associated with past similar events.
A - Accept what feelings reveal.
C - Center upon truth.
E - Examine whether feelings have changed.

That’s all okay? What does this mean?

So G means getting familiarized with emotions—what am I feeling? What feelings arise recalling offense against me? If able name them great! If not ask Lord revealing deeper truths.

R means exploring previous times felt similarly—why does prior event resonate? What belief surfaces?

A means accepting feelings even if wrong—they may feel true—it's not real God left forsaken—you may feel abandoned but His plans prosper—not harm! Whatever Holy Spirit reveals there...

C means centering upon truth—Holy Spirit show actual events occurring—you thought alone when really He carried & led ahead—you may see truth shatter lies held tightly!

Finally E means examining feelings after truth revealed—what feels different now having processed?

So if previously felt pressure recalling offense against self? Now consider why can't feel like I’ve forgiven?

Explore honest thoughts toward individual—is there still pain lingering? If feeling forgiving great—you’re done but if not explore further queries surrounding feelings?

Thank Him revealing truths—is there confession/repentance necessary?

This serves as form aiding feelings toward forgiveness.

Don’t “Forgive God” instead Live unoffended at Him

If needing God’s forgiveness isn’t mentioned specifically within text remember—you needn’t live offended at Him either!

How do live without offense? Know need living unoffended—but feeling offended isn’t reality—use GRACE—to navigate memory needing trust restored or goodness revealed.

If asking forgiveness get heart right first exploring why acted out hurting others using grace tool discovering triggers behind behavior leading needing repentance.

In A Season When People Take Offence

We’re currently amidst seasons where everyone takes offense—a season trying link offense as harm.

If offended thus harmed necessitating restitution—that’s completely wrong—I offend folks constantly while speaking truth yet they desire apologies when holding onto offenses themselves!

Get over yourselves folks—we cannot abide these lies any longer!

But listen—the darker nights bring brighter lights shining forth—we must shine brightly showing God's love amidst unforgiveness held captive within hearts unable functioning freely!

Keep short accounts choosing forgiveness actively blessing those wronging—you’ll find healing follows discovering God's grace anew each day!

Jesus stated—you’ll know truth setting free! Believe Jesus truth revealed through knowing Him ultimately leads toward healing received abundantly!

Conclusion

Will stand together today? In closing—

If Holy Spirit spoke directly today or later viewing online contact us—we’ll help navigate process needed toward freedom achieved together!

If present here today prompted by Holy Spirit remember not leaving without allowing His healing grace flow freely within life!

We can chat distant or closer depending comfort level—not broadcasted ensuring trust remains intact.

Remember don’t leave without seeking freedom today—we were created unto freedom!

Prayer

So Heavenly Father—I speak freedom unto every heart present today—I release every lie believed preventing healing occurring because unhealed truths remain hidden from view within hearts unaware needing restoration sought after fully expressed unconditionally received through grace presented daily before followers seeking forgiveness offered freely without conditions attached whatsoever—

Thank You Lord—you’ve done great work within us promising completion toward wholeness achieved continually flourishing abundantly radiating through lives touched around us daily revealing hope restored life ignited within darkest corners existing within hearts seeking light shining bright throughout our lives illuminating paths walked forward boldly embracing future full grace received freely given unconditionally poured forth liberally upon lives surrounding—

You’re too many bound by offense today—we speak directly spirit offenses go forth name Jesus releasing every burden held captive causing divisions amongst brethren hindering growth experienced together walking unity reflecting light shining brightly illuminating paths forward leading toward hope renewed life restored fully embracing grace received freely given unconditionally welcomed extended unto others reflecting kindness displayed freely encountered daily—

May know goodness Lord reign fully alive land living experiencing fullness joy dwelling eternal presence continually experienced leading forth life abundantly lived out each day reflecting hope restored life continually experienced walking alongside those journeying homeward through presence Holy Spirit guiding hearts navigating trials faced while ensuring peace reigns supremely within hearts gathered here today united together purpose serving faithfully sharing love extending grace unto others reflecting kindness displayed graciously throughout lives touched forevermore—

In name Jesus praying boldly believing receiving answers swiftly provided according perfect will glorifying Father ultimately bringing honor glory unto Him forevermore—

Amen! Amen! You may be seated.

Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday, June 21, 2024

The Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday, June 21, 2024 celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/ and https://revtrev.com

Trevor H Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com. Subscribe and set notifications on https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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This is the Live LIGHT Loop for Friday, June 21, 2024.

I’m Trevor Lund the Chief Storyteller at https://RevTrev.com and the Founder of Live LIGHT Academy on https://LiveLIGHT.ca.

What about you?

You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.

Download the Live LIGHT Manifesto to print off at https://revtrev.link/free

How Can I HELP?

Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help you not conform but be transformed so you can have peace and hope and joy at all times and in every situation. What I create always needs to HELP - Honour, Empower, be Life-giving and Pleasing to God Learn more at https://www.livelight.ca/about

How do I self-identify?

I am a wisdom loving, knowledge sharing, God marvelling, life celebrating, kingdom living, soul healing, Lord seeking, gift imparting, Spirit flowing, grace knowing, irenic follower of the Way. I hold you capable and Holy Spirit trustable to finish the good work He's started in you.

What Am I Learning?

Since Holy Spirit is trustable, everything is figureoutable and in His time God makes all things beautiful.

And that’s not all…

Newest Blog post

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• Sneak Peek at the CARE and Root out Shame Tool https://revtrev.com/livecasts/sneak-peek-at-the-care-and-root-out-shame-tool/
• As you Go - How to use the Gifts of Holy Spirit in the Day-To-Day of Everyday
  https://revtrev.com/livecasts/as-you-go-how-to-use-the-gifts-of-holy-spirit-in-the-day-to-day-of-everyday/
• Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith? https://revtrev.com/living-light/is-the-jesus-of-history-the-christ-of-faith/
• 7 Reasons why I know Jesus Rose from the dead https://revtrev.com/living-light/7-reasons-why-i-know-that-jesus-rose-from-the-dead/
• How to Thrive and Not Jut Survive https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-thrive-and-not-just-survive/

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How to THRIVE and not just Survive

It’s been a long haul. We’ve all had to cope. We had to deal with the reality we’ve been facing. Do we know how to THRIVE? Learn how you can no matter what you're facing today.

Trevor H. Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com. Subscribe and set notifications on YouTube at https://revtrev.com/tv and visit https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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Read How to THRIVE and not just Survive

Read Isaiah 44:1-8 and Isaiah 44:21-26

The people of Israel were in for the long haul. Jerusalem would be destroyed. They would be taken away into captivity. But God wanted them to be encouraged. His plan was to prosper them and not to harm them. His plan was to give them a hope and future. Isaiah was encouraging them they could trust their maker through the tough stuff.

It’s been a long haul. We’ve all had to cope. We had to deal with the reality we’ve been facing. We know how to hope. Do we know how to THRIVE?

Last time I spoke I reminded you how we can HOPE at all times and in every situation

HOPE at all times and in Every Situation

H - Hold on to testimony - Revelation 12:11
O - Operate in reality - Hebrews 12:7
P - Pour out your heart to God - Philippians 4:6-7
E - Engage your whole heart with hope - Isaiah 40:27-31

But the word that is resonating with me for this year isn’t HOPE, it’s THRIVE. I don’t think it’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows this year. I think it’s a challenge for me to THRIVE in spite of anything that comes my way.

What does it mean to THRIVE?

I believe it means I can have peace and joy AND hope at all times and in every situation. I figured that’s a good definition for THRIVE - peace and joy and hope - it’s all part of the Kingdom. It’s bringing the Kingdom to earth. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Paul starts his letter to the Romans and Peterson transliterates verses 16-17 this way.

Romans 1:16-17 It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”

Are you ready to really live?

Has it been a while since you felt like you’ve really lived?

Guess what? Your standing with God hasn’t changed. His grace is still sufficient. You might have moved away. You might feel like it’s been a while since you’ve really lived. I want to help your feelings line up with your spiritual reality today.

You and I were made for so much more than to just survive. We were made to thrive.

How does the song go?

Joy unspeakable. Faith unsinkable. Love unstopped. Any thing is possible.

You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Do not conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.

Today I’m going to share with you the

How to THRIVE Tool

THRIVE

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace who God says I am - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

T - Tune into Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

How do you do that? The rest of the chapter shows us.

I’ve put it in an acrostic to help you remember - HUMBLE

HUMBLE Yourself Before God and Others

Galatians 5

H - Hope in his promises v.5 (wait patiently to receive)
U - Understand faith expresses itself in love v.6
M - Maintain freedom by serving others in love v.13
B - Ban what the sinful nature craves v.16 (Crucify your passions and desires)
L - Let the fruit of Spirit grow v.22 (they are going to grow, don’t get in the way)
E - Enjoy peace with others v.26 (Follow the Spirit’s leading in every area)

That’s what Paul tells the Galatians it means to keep in step with the Spirit.

How have you been doing with that?

What would Holy Spirit tell you if you ask him if your keeping in step with him?

To THRIVE we need to be HUMBLE

To THRIVE we need to remember to be HUMBLE so we can tune into Holy Spirit.

H - Honest in your reflection

Proverbs 28:18 “The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.”

In order to THRIVE we need to be honest in three ways.

1. Honest with ourselves - admit when we’re struggling
2. Honest with those around us - be vulnerable when we need help
3. Honest with God - practice lament and admit we need his help through

Yes, we praise him in the storm. Yes, we praise him before the battle is won. Yes, we praise him before the answer comes, and when we do that with gratitude it changes our attitude.

Psalm 103:2 Let all I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

But we don’t put on plastic masks and say, “Thank you Jesus” when we feel everything but gratitude. We need to be honest in our reflection. We need to pour out our heart to God. We need to exchange our problems for his peace.

Are you honest in your reflection?

Do you turn from his gaze?

What would Holy Spirit impress on you if you asked him?

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18

R - Rest and to be Renewed

Psalm 127:2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

What is rest?

Isaiah 30:15-16 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!

Have you been trusting in horses and trusting in chariots or have you been trusting in the name of the Lord?

Rest is trust.

REST is Trust

R - Relying on God to finish what he started - Philippians 1:6
E - Engaging his Rhythm of praying and obeying - Luke 5:16, John 5:19
S - Stewarding what he’s entrusted to you - 2 Peter 1:3
T - Thanking him for what he’s done and is doing, not worrying about what’s left undone 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It’s not sitting on your hands. It’s not waiting for God to do what he’s already told you in Scripture to do or impressed personally what you need to do.

Are you resting?

Remind yourself of what Jesus has done and promised to do for you.

Testimony and living out the prophecies over your life that allows you to grow in trust or start to trust again.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Rest is our part… Yes Jesus gives us rest, but we need to take up his yoke and learn from him.

Renewal is God’s part.

5 Ways God Renews Me

1) My Strength -

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

2) My Soul -

Psalm 23:3 He leads me by still water, he restores my soul

3) My Willing Spirit -

Psalmc 51:10-12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

4) My Mind -

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

5) My Knowledge of God -

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Your job is to rest in his love…let him give you his rest.

God’s job is to renew your strength, your soul, your willing spirit, your mind and your knowledge of Him.

Are you resting in His love?

Are you allowing and inviting him to renew you?

What would Holy Spirit say if you took the time to ask him?

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2

I - Ignite my spiritual fervour

Romans 12:9-17NIV Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

How do you ignite your fervour? How do you naturally do all these things? It can’t be a checklist. It can’t be overwhelming.

How do you ignite your spiritual fervour?

Repent and return to God’s presence. In his presence is fullness of joy.

Revelation 2:1-5 ‘To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

How was your faith expressed at the most thriving part of your life?

What are the things you did at first? Were you in the Bible? Were you spending a lot of time in prayer? Were you overwhelmed a love for others? Were you praying in the Spirit?

Faith is the natural response to the revelation of God. We know when we’re not in right relationship with God his revelation can be limited in our lives.

So what do we do?

James 4:7-8 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Confession and Repentance are the tools God gives us to be in right relationship with him.

Can you look God in the eye?

Can you spend time alone with him in silence?

Do you need to ask Holy Spirit if you’re living offended at God?

What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?

When we go through the motions, when our goal is simply to cope, we can easily pull away from God. This is the danger in not meeting together. This is problem of not making space to connect with him. You’re prayer life will tell you if you’ve pulled away from God.

Have you withdrawn from God?

Confess and repent.

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17

V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39

When we are in survival mode, we often forget that through the power and blood of Jesus Christ we have ultimate victory. Yes, we may face trials and difficulties, and even though they seem like they last forever, one day, they will be over, and we will have victory.

Romans 8:31-39 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How do you victoriously live?

STAND In Christ’s Victory

S - Stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. - John 10:10
T - Treat all hardship as discipline knowing he will work all things together for good. - Hebrews 12:7-11
A - Agree to cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
N - Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:11-13
D - Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything and thank him in all things, knowing that’s his will for you. - Philippians 4:6-7

Are you living victoriously?

Are you ready to thrive and not merely survive?

What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace Who God says I am - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The only opinion that really matters about me is God’s.

I need to take thoughts captive that disagree about what he says about me.

If I want to THRIVE I need to….

Erase shame. Embrace grace.

I need to erase shame.

How do I erase shame?

Believe him that when I confess my sin he is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

If I don’t FEEL forgiven, I should consider repenting from the sin of unbelief. He will free me from that.

I should feel guilt from sin.

I should never feel shame for sin I’ve confessed and repented of.

Confession is agreeing with God that it’s sin. Repentance is turning around and doing the exact opposite. He has given me everything I need for life and godliness.

There is no shame in my game.

I also need to embrace grace.

What is grace?

God’s supernatural enabling to do what he tells me to do. He empowers me a accomplish every good work prompted by faith.

Do you embrace who God says you are?

Do you erase shame?

Do you embrace grace?

What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?

Conclusion

I don’t believe the year to come will be all rainbow and sunshine. I do believe he wants me to THRIVE and have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2

All creations longs for the children of God to be revealed. Will you choose to THRIVE and not merely survive?

Will you?

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in your reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite your spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace Who God says you are - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Challenge

Will you take time to listen to what Holy Spirit is telling you today? I’m going to give time for you to hear from God. He’ll likely speak directly to your heart. Don’t think you’re not hearing him if it’s not an audible voice. If you have a pen and paper you can write a question and write down his response. If you’re able to quite yourself and sense what He’s saying, do whatever your comfortable with. I’ll pray a prayer inviting Holy Spirit to speak and we’ll play some music quietly to help you hear what he says. We won’t spend a long time, but we will create a moment. His words are life. We need to hear what he’s saying. Take time to connect with him. After a moment, I’ll close us in prayer and there will be a few announcements before we go. But if you’re watching now or watching later…take the time to hear from God, knowing it’s his will for you to THRIVE.

I expect in this moment you will…

T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25

Can I be still and know He is God?

H - Honest in your reflection - Proverbs 28:18

What does God think of me?

R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2

Can I rest in His presence?

I - Ignite your spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17

Will I be joyful in hope and patient in affliction?

V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39

Will I choose to thrive and not just survive?

E - Embrace Who God says you are - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

What does it look like when I live out of who He says I am?

Let’s give him space right now to do that in our hearts.

The Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday, June 7, 2024

The Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday, June 7, 2024 celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/ and https://revtrev.com

Trevor H Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com. Subscribe and set notifications on https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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This is the Live LIGHT Loop for Friday, June 7, 2024.

I’m Trevor Lund the Chief Storyteller at https://RevTrev.com and the Founder of Live LIGHT Academy on https://LiveLIGHT.ca.

What about you?

You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.

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Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help you not conform but be transformed so you can have peace and hope and joy at all times and in every situation. What I create always needs to HELP - Honour, Empower, be Life-giving and Pleasing to God Learn more at https://www.livelight.ca/about

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I am a wisdom loving, knowledge sharing, God marvelling, life celebrating, kingdom living, soul healing, Lord seeking, gift imparting, Spirit flowing, grace knowing, irenic follower of the Way. I hold you capable and Holy Spirit trustable to finish the good work He's started in you.

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