No Longer I, But Christ
Scripture: Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The banana tree is sturdy and resilient even if it looks weak. Unbelievable as it seems to be, no fire or typhoon can kill it. Even if one cuts its body into a thousand pieces, it still can survive. The only way by which a banana tree can be prevented from growing again is to uproot it completely.
Me, myself and I – the one who had control of my life. My goals, my plans and my dreams of how I wanted my life to be or rather how I thought it should be. But then one day it was uprooted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was no longer about me, but about Christ – He was now in control and His plans had already been established before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.)
What or who is trying to hinder your growth? Is it the fires of adversities like you’ve never experienced before (I Pet. 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”) Or are you able to testify as Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”? These perilous times will make you feel like the banana tree – cut up into a thousand pieces, yet you are still here because you have been crucified with Christ and the work He began He said that He will complete until the day of Jesus Christ. You may go through changes emotionally, physically and spiritually, but you can’t be uprooted because you have been sealed until the day of redemption. Let the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has made His abode in you establish, settle and strengthen you in these last days.
Prayer: Precious Father, I am so glad that You are true to Your Holy Word which will never return void. Thank You for the eternal investment You are making in me for Your glory and Your eternal purposes. Thank You for keeping me even when I didn’t want to be kept.
(by Cheryl Torain)
The banana tree is sturdy and resilient even if it looks weak. Unbelievable as it seems to be, no fire or typhoon can kill it. Even if one cuts its body into a thousand pieces, it still can survive. The only way by which a banana tree can be prevented from growing again is to uproot it completely.
Me, myself and I – the one who had control of my life. My goals, my plans and my dreams of how I wanted my life to be or rather how I thought it should be. But then one day it was uprooted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was no longer about me, but about Christ – He was now in control and His plans had already been established before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.)
What or who is trying to hinder your growth? Is it the fires of adversities like you’ve never experienced before (I Pet. 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”) Or are you able to testify as Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”? These perilous times will make you feel like the banana tree – cut up into a thousand pieces, yet you are still here because you have been crucified with Christ and the work He began He said that He will complete until the day of Jesus Christ. You may go through changes emotionally, physically and spiritually, but you can’t be uprooted because you have been sealed until the day of redemption. Let the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has made His abode in you establish, settle and strengthen you in these last days.
Prayer: Precious Father, I am so glad that You are true to Your Holy Word which will never return void. Thank You for the eternal investment You are making in me for Your glory and Your eternal purposes. Thank You for keeping me even when I didn’t want to be kept.
(by Cheryl Torain)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
5 Comments
Amen. A very helpful message. Amen!
Amen my sister Cheryl.. May my love for Christ continue to increase as I decrease in my Christian walk.
Amen!!
Amen sis!!!
Amen! Sister Cheryl powerful Devotion...