Sophie King

“Jesus, thank you for already breaking these chains & tearing down these walls.” I repeat every time I notice my thoughts returning to those same patterns and places.

These past several days have been fun. I have been able to hang out with lots of my friends and my sister in-law has come over a few times and I always enjoy talking to her about the Bible, Jesus, prayer, pretty much anything.

She had mentioned a time she thanked Jesus for breaking the patterns she had, and I said to her that I feel like I have prayed those prayers but still find myself landing in the same place. It was almost like I was asking her…is this an issue of my heart, or is God not answering my prayers? What is going on here? And she responded, “sometimes He already has” and/or (in different wording but same idea) it’s a partnership with Him through the discipline.

Boom… I felt that hope filled conviction. The first thing I heard, 1. Her prayer was through gratitude and not begging, which mine had been from a heart of begging (Which I do believe there is a time and place for a lamenting or crying out), 2. Discipline isn’t bad in fact it’s often necessary and a part of the miracle of the hand of God in my life. LOL let’s be honest discipline for Tay..me, that is a miracle. (hehe jk but kinda not) BUT it is true, recognizing that a part of the answer to my prayers is through the discipline.

I also have been recognizing that I have faith, but faith is so much like trust, and I struggle with trust. I have been reading through 1 Peter- 2 Peter every night. The very beginning of 1 Peter says this,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I underlined, highlighted and re read this over and over. What a beautiful encouragement within these letters.

I have challenged myself, and would love to challenge you to stop the cyclical thoughts, lies/patterns, or even discontentment and say, “Jesus, thank you for already breaking these chains and tearing down these walls.”

 ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”