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25 Floors Up

Sunrise time w/ the Lord on the 25th floor can truly change your point of view!

Every few years we hear a Bible verse (2 Chronicles 7:14) tossed around . Many bible study students will notice that this Old Testament verse is a “conditional” promise verse beginning with the word at the beginning “IF” and at the end of the verse with the word “THEN.” (Translation: If you obey,  you will be blessed.  If you disobey, you will not.) These “conditional” covenants are called the “Mosaic ” covenant and the “David” covenant. Interestingly , the first covenant (“Abrahamic”)  & the last covenant (“New ” )  are entirely unconditional with God amazing us with the phrase “I WILL!” It’s the unconditional covenants that usually astound us because God is the Giver of the covenant and the actual provider of the ability to fulfill it! Jesus fulfilled everything and we walk in newness of life.

So, how do we read an Old Testament “conditional” verse? We look for a timeless principle! Even though we don’t live under the Mosaic or Davidic law like the people of Israel in the OT, we can look throughout the New Testament for spiritual parallels that link the believers in Abraham’s day to the believers today under the New Covenant . The faith of Abe in Genesis 12 & 15 is similar to our faith in Matthew through Revelation.  God initiates the covenant and fulfills it. We can compare the covenant and ask ourselves: “Is the character of God similar here as in the NT?” “Is the way God operates here similar in the NT?” ”

NOW, we can read this text with fresh eyes! It’s a conditional covenant verse given to Israel under the Mosaic (Old Testament) covenant. Yet, we see all throughout the New covenant (New Testament) the similar way God responds to His people. He responds to true humility, He answers desperate prayer, & He delights to show Himself strong when we seek only Him!

In the verse below, we realize we can obey the OT call to humble ourselves  &trust our good God to show up for His NT people!  I wrote this out and wrote my personal application next to each phrase. Let’s pray expectantly!

2 Chronicles 7:14

“IF my people who are called by My Name will:

HUMBLE themselves (This means go low in your relationships starting with God !)

PRAY (This means ask big -even miraculous-things of God!)

SEEK My face (lThis means sit with God , look up, & wait on God!)

TURN from wicked ways (I must ask God to change me. Personal revival must precede national revival!)

THEN
I will hear.
I will forgive.
I will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

Time to hit our knees!

#WindowsillWorship — with Brian G. Fisher at Hotel Beacon NYC.

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Want a better marriage?

The most important relationship you will ever have is with GOD. The second most important relationship is with your SPOUSE.  We all have a habit of digging deep into the Word, joining Christian groups, and offering help in the name of Jesus. God always wants to move in our hearts and out into our relationships-especially marriage.  

  • Realize no marriage is perfect! This should encourage you-because we are humans with a sin nature and selfish tendency. If your marriage was perfect, you couldn’t see God change you or the situation. God loves to be needed.    
  • Realize we all want to grow in this area! Whether we can verbalize it or not, we all want a thriving marriage built on the constancy of Christ.  He has designed His people to want to grow in all areas of life.  God will show you where you need to grow-if you ask Him to reveal Himself through His Word and the counsel of godly friends.  
  • Realize encouragement is KEY!  Begin now to “speak” the language of encouragement in your marriage.   Come in deep humility and ask God to help you train your tongue now to speak words of life and not death to your spouse.  Practice being kind-it’s just not natural. Start now: are there 3 things your spouse has done this week that you appreciated? Tell him or her verbally , in a note, or even in a text.  Get ready! THIS will change your marriage relationship!

 

 

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Room for a New View

An issue ALL women can agree on is our corporate struggle with  identity! How do we stay secure in WHO we are and not live in the constantly-changing world view of beauty? As always,  we have to recognize first IT’S A SPIRITUAL ISSUE.   

1. Our View of God- The challenge is always “Do I believe what the Bible says about God’s Identity or what the world says? Do I believe my ever-changing feelings or what the strong wall of His Word says? These are the questions we women ask ourselves when we struggle. All of us want ideas that work. One of my favorite ideas (that  help!) is called “replacement thinking”. We write out 2-3 verses about WHO God is . (Isaiah 40, Ephesians 1, and Colossians 1 are POWER-packed!) I love to tape verses to your mirror, print out Bible verses on a card to put in my car. We can put the Word in places where we have to see it! I promise, you’ll gradually read it, speak it, and believe it. When the enemy of our souls (who often works through the lies of the world) whispers, “You are not enough! You are not lovable! You’ll never have victory!”, we push back with the unchanging WORD.

2. Our View of ourselves  I love hanging out with younger gals and listen to them chat about fashion! Sure enough, if I go back 15..er…20 years, we all wore the same things! (Remind me to just keep all of my Old Navy clothes!) I’ve lived denim overalls, black chunky shoes, smoky eyeshadow, high-waist jeans (formerly know as “mom jeans”) BIG hair, flat hair..and (I admit it!) crimped hair! You too? In a world where fashion changes in a New York minute, how will I choose to to stay secure in me? What is a healthy “taking care of ourselves” and when does it turn to obsession or vanity? I have to  step outside my emotions and check my thinking with honest questions.

“Why do I feel I need to look like that?”

“Why do I feel I need to buy that to be happy?”

“What am I watching or listening to that feeds my insecurity?”

Half of our battle will always be recognizing our thoughts for what they are (truth or lie) and placing the Word of God right alongside it! Let’s read truth (The book of John), receive truth by faith (The book of Colossians), and perceive truth (The book of Ephesians).

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus cares about defeating evil in the world  AND our personal insecurities? We have no idea how very deep His heart is for daughters. He loves us so very fully and we are chosen to reflect His beauty!

Tristie Fisher