From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

© Bill McCown | www.myghcf.com

Work, laundry, church and community projects, relational disharmony, broken equipment and cars, economic burdens, pressure, pressure, pressure…where's the freedom God talks about? Honey-pie, it's certainly not in any of those areas mentioned! Etch this in your mind folks-FREEDOM IS FOUND BY SEEKING TO PLEASE GOD ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS. If what others want and expect of you is your driving force, it'll be like hooking up a vacuum hose to your energy source and it will suck you dry. If you're putting on a show for others, you'll exhaust yourself dancing out life trying to fill your void of self-worth.

Get in God's presence, not your own or others. He will never "drive" you, nor exhaust you. In His presence is life and refreshment and, oh, how we so easily forget that! We do all else and then come to Him exhausted. That's like an aircraft refueling after the flight…a wicked stupid idea that puts it at risk of falling out of the sky without enough fuel. Don't you do that, either. Get "refueled" in Jesus before you plunge into the daily grind. Be refreshed with His strength, encouragement and just sheer, pure holiness to prepare you for the day. With His wisdom, knowledge and power coursing through your veins, all challenges can be identified and overcome. He will either calm you or calm the storm! What F-R-E-E-D-O-M! (John 8:12) Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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