Some Encouragement for the Tough Seasons

Romans 8

There is, then, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yahshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

For the torah of the Spirit of the life in Messiah Yahshua has set me free from the torah of sin and of death.

For the Torah being powerless, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim, having sent His own Son in the likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the Torah should be complete in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit.

For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.

Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, neither indeed is it able, and those who are in the flesh are unable to please Elohim.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, this one is not His.

And if Messiah is in you, the body is truly dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah from the dead shall also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit dwelling in you.

So then, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, and if children, also heirs – truly heirs of Elohim, and co-heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him, in order that we also be exalted together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present are not worth comparing with the esteem that is to be revealed in us.

For the intense longing of creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not from choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in anticipation, that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage to corruption into the esteemed freedom of the children of Elohim.

For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

And not only so, but even we ourselves who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

For in this expectation we are saved, but expectation that is seen is not expectation, for when anyone sees, does he expect it?

And if we expect what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.

And in the same way the Spirit does help in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray, but the Spirit Himself pleads our case for us with groanings unutterable.

And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the set-apart ones according to Elohim.

And we know that all matters work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to be the first-born among many brothers.

And whom He ordained beforehand, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also declared right. And whom He declared right, these He also esteemed.

What then shall we say to this? If Elohim is for us, who is against us?

Truly, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up on behalf of us all – how shall He not, along with Him, freely give us all else?

Who shall bring any charge against Elohim’s chosen ones? It is Elohim who is declaring right.

Who is he who is condemning? It is Messiah who died, and furthermore is also raised up, who is also at the right hand of Elohim, who also makes intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall pressure, or distress, or persecution, or scarcity of food, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

As it has been written, “For Your sake we are killed all day long, we are reckoned as sheep of slaughter.”

But in all this we are more than overcomers through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor messengers nor principalities nor powers, neither the present nor the future, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Elohim which is in Messiah Yahshua our Master.

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If you’re still up to reading after that, here’s the poem (And if not, it’s all good, scripture matters much more than anything I have to say):

Here Now, But not Staying

I’m drowning again

I guess Peter can relate

I took my eyes off Messiah and started to sink

My prayer time has become inconsistent

A priority that falls by the wayside when not perfect

I slept through it the other day

My prayers stay silent within me

Broken

So so broken

Yet there is a power I know I can attain

And maybe it’s the realization that it’s not my power at all

It’s a power that can be within me that doesn’t come from me

There is freedom and there is hope

Just because I don’t feel it doesn’t mean I can’t live in it

Teach me Father to walk by faith and not by feelings

To walk by faith and not by sight

To devour your word like it is the only book worth reading

Worshipping You instead of me

Self

Leads to self-destruction

Learning to contend with my temper tantrums

When I don’t get my way

I’ve struggled as of late when you have said no, I turn inward instead of outward

I bury my head it the sand instead of burying myself in Your love

I run to avoidance like it’s home

And away from You like it’s second nature

When will I learn that it is at Your feet that I am found

In Your presence I am made whole

With You is home

The only place where I am truly free

Take the idols

Take everything that keeps me from You

Take everything that will keep me from entering Your kingdom

I do want to live for You

And not myself

But I don’t think my flesh agrees

Help me to submit my flesh to You

In this wrestling may You win

May You win

May my flesh submit to Your spirit

May my life be transformed by His blood

May my feet walk righteously before You

Not because of my power, might, or strength

But because I can do all things with Messiah

And I can do no things without Him

Surrender

Submit

Broken

May I be found at Your feet, healing in Your presence, guided by Your light

Hopeful

Loved

Redeemed

Not by me but through a sacrifice that I can never repay

So my life may I freely give

And when I hold onto it with all my strength

May my strength not be enough

May You lovingly pry my grip from my life

May I surrender, that You I obey

You desire obedience not sacrifice

Teach me what that means

Teach me to let go

To surrender

To be made whole

Not in my lack of sin, but by the blood that washes me clean

Crimson turning white as snow

May I remember that the blood stains

It covers my sin

I am not enough to heal myself

I am not enough to change myself

I am not enough, nor did You ever ask me to be

So I lay it down, at Your feet

The striving, the perfection that will never be reached, the wrong view of perfection

The hopelessness I seem to so often feel

The darkness that feels like it surrounds me

The pit my soul is in

Thank You

For light

Thank You that light casts out darkness

Thank You that this is a season

One that won’t last forever

When I take my eyes off me

I can be free

Free from the cage I put myself in

You opened the door and threw away the key

So why do I keep walking back into the cage that keeps me enslaved?

Is there an open door?

A place where the cage doesn’t exist?

Where freedom is found, and hope abounds

In this body, with this heart, with this mind

Can You, truly transform my life?

Or am I too much of a lost cause?

-M

I would love to leave the poem there…. But I can’t because I know if any of my friends were to say that to me, I would object, protest, and let them know there is no way we are leaving it there. So, to the friend that I so often forget to be to myself. I think this is what I may need to hear. I know you don’t see a way up or out right now. I know you’re struggling and I know it’s hard. I know that you have placed your value into something that will never measure up and so you feel as if you are never enough. I know that it is hard right now. I know that you are trying to leave old habits behind and struggling immensely. I know that you feel like you are failing daily. I know. But you know what else I know, what you have chosen to given your life to. To surrender it to the Father, that created absolutely everything, who heals, who restores, who redeems, who brings dead things to life. The blood of Yahshua, covers your sins, as hard as that seems to be to accept and comprehend. There is no mountain too high and no valley too low. There is nothing that can keep you from the Father’s love it will follow you.

And here is where, originally, I wrote Romans 8, that you read at the start.

More words of wisdom:

Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

Know Him in all your ways, and He makes all your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear YHWH and turn away from evil.

WE LOOK FORWARD, A FUTURE THAT IS TO COME, A HOPE THAT IS TO COME. It’s not easy, but it is oh so worth it. This season won’t last forever. But the wrestling will bring with it great reward when we step out of the ring and let the Father fight for us. When we let Him be the coach and the guide and Messiah our teacher. You are not alone. And a reminder to not do it on your own. Be in community, pray for it, the Father will bring it, in His timing. And in the waiting and in community may the Father forever and always be your safe haven. Community is great, but it is not your Saviour. Marriage is great, but it is not your Saviour. Family is great, but it is not your Saviour. Food is great, but it is not your Saviour. There are many great things in life, but they are not your Saviour and never can be, they can become idols though more quickly than we realize. The only One who will ever satisfy is YHWH, through the sacrifice of His son we are made a part of His family. Trust in the son. Have you given your life to Him, truly? I pray that you are a daughter or a son of the Father. And if you are…. Walk in it, hold your head high, knowing that you are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), not of your own doing but it is in your bloodline.