Under Scrutiny Or Celebrated?

Under Scrutiny Or Celebrated?

I recently hosted a ladies’ breakfast at my house for my local church. As I was preparing, I was thinking about what people would think about my house—maybe my lack of ironing skills (or dusting skills), and some of the disarray. I was wondering if they would judge me, dislike me, or condemn me, but I felt God nudge me in that moment. He showed me that He is cheering for me, and all my brothers and sisters in Christ are cheering for me too. People’s opinions are not worth worrying about, because I am not under scrutiny any more. The real scrutiny occurred on the cross, and Jesus took it all in my place. How liberating to live in our new identity in Christ! Here’s some delightful thoughts from Ephesians 3 [https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+3/]:14-21, and ways we can live fully by receiving God’s infinite love, grace, power, and glory into our lives. Then we use intercession as our way of passing that on to others. Our homework is to repent of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, and unbelief, and to be ready to intercede for anyone God leads us to. Let’s pray blessing and God’s kingdom into our own lives, our churches, and everyone we think of today. Do you have a good story of God answering prayer? I would love to hear it! Thanks for reading Drink from the River of Delight! This post is public so feel free to share it. Some of the ideas in this podcast were taken from Jada Edwards [https://www.instagram.com/jada_edwards/]’ lesson on Ephesians 3:14-21 in When You Pray [https://a.co/d/00oQnjLw], a wonderful seven week Bible study for women from Lifeway. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe [https://janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Lament That Can Save Your Soul

We’ve just concluded our 50 Days of Freedom Challenge and I hope you have seen the fruit that I have found in my life! Time with God in His Word will always bring transformation. How can we move out of survival mode and into the freedom and delight God has for us? We need to learn the skill of lament. Lament is processing our pain in God’s presence and with His truth. When we are in pain, we are at a crossroads. Will we choose to process our pain with God and move into worship and rejoicing in God even as we are lamenting and grieving, or will we process it without God? When we process it without God, we go down the path towards disappointment, envy, or trying to numb the pain, which leads to addiction. Read Psalm 13 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+13/] today and bring your feelings to God. You can ask Him for what you need, and then pray your worship back to Him. Want to read more about lament? You can do the study that I have been doing, When You Pray [https://a.co/d/0eBEtG3K]. My friend Em Tyler [https://substack.com/profile/110091993-em-tyler] will have a Masterclass on lament on July 18th, and she is doing a cohort [https://app.heartbeat.chat/growandgo/p/page-504e8d97] this summer on Psalm 119, which includes the masterclass. Subscribe [https://substack.com/@janetabadir] for my 50 Days of Freedom Challenge! Leave a comment below: what have you learned about lament? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe [https://janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Freedom Makes God Happy

You won’t want to miss this episode of the Drink from the River of Delight podcast with Robert Cale [https://substack.com/profile/321056913-robert-cale]! Have you ever felt enslaved or oppressed? Robert and I discuss the common things that can take us captive: people pleasing, substances, false narratives, comfort, or our own pride. When we are enslaved or oppressed, we can’t dig ourselves out of it. We can’t fix the problem without outside help. We don’t need to fall into hopelessness, think we are a victim, or believe a lie that God doesn’t care. Today’s episode is all about the freedom that God has for us, and how we live in that reality—not just knowing about freedom but actually experiencing it. God will give us that experience of His love and freedom when our allegiance is fully His, to the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. Putting both feet in the boat with Jesus is possible: come in meekness ready to receive His Word, come in desperate need of Him as your only hope, come in anticipation of His love and goodness. Trust God with everything! Don’t put any conditions on your obedience to God. Practical ways to live faith: read your Bible daily, pray honestly and constantly, and live in community with other believers through discipleship, accountability, and service in the Body of Christ. Embodied faith, or faith that is fully integrated into every aspect of your life, is God’s will for your life. We discussed how learning to lament can help bring the truths we know about God into our experience of Him in our heart. Read the prayer below, making it your own. Our prayer is to experience God as our loving Father through Jesus’ mighty work on the cross. Read more from Robert Cale [https://substack.com/profile/321056913-robert-cale] and the book of James [https://substack.com/@koinonia59/note/p-193353890?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1nwwp5]. We referenced Mark Vroegop’s book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. [https://a.co/d/006fyE8n] Are you looking for someone to walk with you on your spiritual journey? I would love to welcome you into God’s healing space in His Word during a one hour session [https://janetabadir.com/ContactPage] on Zoom. Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name. Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (ESV) -Isaiah 63:15–Isaiah 64:4 Thanks for reading Drink from the River of Delight! This post is public so feel free to share it. Drink from the River of Delight is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe [https://janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Bring Heaven To Earth: 50 Days Of Freedom

Here’s the recap of our conversation on June 21. Reigns Of Victory [https://substack.com/profile/263089718-reigns-of-victory] and I discuss what we are learning from the 50 Days of Freedom Challenge so far. God wants us to live in freedom, not enslaved to performance-based worth, our own achievements, or negativity. We talked about being motivated by joy instead of fear. We are completely, eternally safe in Jesus, no matter what happens to us in life. Heaven and earth have finally met in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully Man. We read Psalm 85 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+85/] and God has invaded every aspect of our lives, giving us the Holy Spirit [https://janetabadir.substack.com/p/where-is-the-spirit-of-the-lord?r=1nwwp5] to live in us. We can bring Him glory in every moment of our lives, even in the mundane tasks. We no longer look at people based on status, money, influence, or abilities. We can treasure maturity over productivity. We can receive God’s compassion, and become more compassionate, better listeners [https://janetabadir.substack.com/p/be-the-kind-of-person-who-listens?r=1nwwp5], humble and joyful people. Nothing in the temporal is wasted in God’s plan, nothing is meaningless, nothing is beyond God’s ability to use for good in His eternal kingdom. The blood of Jesus can redeem the most painful parts of our lives. Our testimony of Jesus’ work in our lives is far more valuable than outward “productivity.” I am so thankful for everyone who tuned in: Divinely Disabled [https://substack.com/profile/369469003-divinely-disabled], Phil Hannum [https://substack.com/profile/115355758-phil-hannum], Amber Taube [https://substack.com/profile/3232464-amber-taube], Mackenzie Lueken [https://substack.com/profile/140811293-mackenzie-lueken], FaithBindsUs [https://substack.com/profile/393149255-faithbindsus], Dr. Shenica [https://substack.com/profile/181300422-dr-shenica], and others. Do you feel that your earthly life demonstrates heaven invading our space? Share below. We are so thankful for God’s work in your life. It’s not too late to join the 50 Days of Freedom Challenge! Subscribe today! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe [https://janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

God's Will For Your Life Is Freedom

Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life? He is the Creator, and He has a purpose for you, but how can you know what it is? In this short podcast, I will share some insights I have been learning about seeking and finding God’s will. He isn’t hiding. He delights in revealing His will to you. Look up! Start with praise (Psalm 145 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+145/]). Next comes repentance, or turning back to God, and turning away from other things (Psalm 32 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+32/]). Finally, start listening with humility. As you gaze at the glory of God in Jesus Christ, you will be transformed (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 [https://www.esv.org/2+Corinthians+3/#:~:text=Since%20we%20have,the%20Spirit.]). God’s will is not always efficient or productive based on our definitions, but it is glorious in the end. Even if we have to endure suffering, God helps us to see it not as an interruption of His plans, but as an invitation to know Jesus better. Check out Mike Pennington [https://substack.com/profile/216044895-mike-pennington]’s article [https://open.substack.com/pub/635916/p/in-a-blink-everything-changed-is?r=1nwwp5&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web] about his experience of suffering. Freedom is God’s will for His people. He is the God who brought His people out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery. Now, as God’s children under the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus, we can find freedom from the lies and enslavements that are burdening us. Don’t miss the 50 Days of Freedom Challenge, starting this week. Subscribe for free on Substack [https://janetabadir.substack.com/]. If you would like help in seeking God’s will for your life, I would love to walk alongside you with biblical counseling. We seek God together through prayer and the Word, with His Spirit to guide us. Reserve your spot on my website [https://janetabadir.com/ContactPage]. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe [https://janetabadir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]