Wait till you hear about it!

No, I don’t have pictures. But I have a stellar description of it, so stick around and check it out!

I was scrolling through the archives of my journal and happened upon one from June of 2018. It pretty much mirrored thoughts, emotions, and struggles that I’m staring at again. I kinda feel exasperated. I mean, these are different ones, but the feelings are pretty much the same.

I feel conflicted when I re-read my stuff and see similarities in past trials.

Thoughts like:

“I’ll never permanently change.”

“God’s gotta be frustrated and rolling His eyes at me… again!”

and sometimes I even wonder

“What’s the use?”

But I read further and discovered something that I had forgotten about. Something really powerful and special and exquisite that Jesus showed me about Himself. Something that was in response to battles I face and the need for rescue, the cry for hope and the plea to change.

Here’s where I start my written groanings:

“I don’t want to see You (God) as exclusive to certain needs I have, or only to certain people…. You want it all…. you care about it all. I know this in my head….Even about the stupid controlling PROBLEMS and their lousy conversations with me lately, I’m leaning into You for answers, for peace, for guidance where I need it. I’ll choose to stop being led by the vain imaginations trying to alter my focus and trying to keep me wrestling a giant that has already been conquered.”

I often forget what I promised there. That I said I would “CHOOSE” a whole lot of important things. Ugh.

But then, a stunning scene began to play out on the screen of my soul and spirit – based on the Bible verses in Ephesians 6.

It’s what Jesus showed me in response to the cry of my heart:

I sit here picturing You with me on the battlefield, a Giant and his armies laying there slain, dead…. You’re standing tall, your hair wavy in the wind, your beautiful face, smiling. Your handsome eyes gleaming, looking at me, grasping for my hand while speaking to me …

“Come with Me, look, I destroyed this giant! I destroyed all those that were working for him! Look at them, they’re dead! Come walk through this field with Me, it’s beautiful over there! It’s okay, be brave, I’m with you! Use the courage I gave you. I did this for you Julie! 

“Now you can take off the heavy dark gray armor you’ve felt forced to wear. Yes, don’t be ashamed…it’s okay, take it off! Look at the pristine bright garments I’m going to clothe you in…. Come look!

“You don’t have to wear the burdensome shield on your chest any longer.

“You don’t have to wear the heavy helmet on your head any longer. 

“Remove the belt! Toss off the cumbersome and smothering breastplate too, it’s not very becoming anyway.

“And something else, you don’t have to walk around in those clunky shoes if you don’t want to.

“Oh and that heavy sword? Toss it- Trust me. You won’t need it now. 

“Look. Here. This will be your new wardrobe!

“Your helmet is now your SALVATION. Remember? When I died, I conquered this enemy and saved you from him. It was for FOREVER. That’s been My commitment. So wear this crown of salvation proudly,  watch it glitter and gleam on you. It makes your face shine, your eyes light up now! Believe this position of honor and value that I have crowned you with. This is always who I made you to look like. Believe it. I have rescued you. You are SAVED!

“The heavy sword that you hate carrying on your side is no longer needed. Remember?  You have my BOOK- My WORD – with which you can use to wield for your ultimate defense. It is all you need to carry with you. This book is the one I wrote for you a long long time ago. I wrote it with stories and poems and dreams and plans with YOU in mind Julie. It is what I have given you to change your life.

“The shoes I’ve given you are carefully designed ones of the peace you’ve cried out for. I’m telling you now, it’s good news, you get to wear them! They’re what I want you to walk in now, EVERY single day….not those uncomfortably tight and painful shoes that made you want to retreat to a hiding place where you could sit and avoid the agony of standing in the stormy dark places in what has felt like forever. These beauties are custom made for you Julie. You’ll be confident when someone or something might try to steal your peace. You can stand tall and beautiful in these. They’re even better than ruby slippers. 

“Check out this new belt… NEVER take it off. It will NEVER go out of style. It is MY TRUTH. It holds everything together. It will always offer the truth that you need to go and live your life. The truth is what set you free. It is YOUR ultimate freedom. It is your light when it might get dark. Never ignore it and its purpose. I will always give you every single bit of truth that you need everywhere you go. ALWAYS.

“You know what? The only armor you need now is this beautifully designed lightweight garment of righteousness that I made for you when I rescued you. It’s one-size fits all. It’s the uniform of the Redeemed.  Everyone gets this armor if they ask and understand where it came from, who designed it. It cost Me everything. I paid for it with a love deep inside of me that is so passionate that I gave my very life because of it. But it will cost you nothing.  Just come here to me and let me dress you in it. I promise, it will fit you perfectly.  It’s just your color, just your style. It is transforming your whole look!

“I see some concern in your eyes and I know it’s doubt. But I didn’t forget what you need to wear for that. So lay down that clunky and overbearing metal shield. I’m giving you this weightless, custom-made armor of FAITH. This is where you learn to trust me more EVERY SINGLE time you use it. It dispels lies and lets the truth scream forth from your gut. It will guard your heart. Your arms will only get stronger with continued use. It stands the test of time. It’s DURABLE and STURDY, never tarnishes, it never dulls, it is strengthened by my love for you. 

“So here you are, look at yourself! Do you see my face gleaming at you!? I’m so proud of you. I am so honored that you have given me your heart. That you’ve trusted me enough to change your look, to redesign your life and get those heavy dark threads off of you and out of your life.

“You will stand out to others. They’ll want to know where you got your new digs. You have to tell them where. I have a new look for them too.” 

Do it! Let the whole message of His immense passion for YOU heal you, make you whole and bring you new life.

Here’s a bonus for you…..some lyrics from one of my favorite songs about the extravagant love of Father God.

It’s extravagant it doesn’t make sense

We’ll never comprehend the way You love us

It’s unthinkable

only Heaven knows

just how far You’d go

to say You love us

Written by Steffany Gretzinger, Amanda Lindsey Cook, Sean Feucht, Ran Jackson

Give it a listen!