Sometimes I Need to Remind Myself

(In response to an email encouraging me about having shared my story (link at the bottom))

“Hey sis,

thank you for your continued encouragement and friendship. Emails like this and knowing that I've got a bunch of people standing there with me, together seeking His face, chasing after His kingdom and righteousness, together struggling against the world, the enemy, and the flesh, fighting the good fight by the Spirit and by His grace. I struggled a lot with the decision to share that video before finally trusting God with it and what would come from it, but in everything He is good and has encouraged the church to be bold, and showed me continually His goodness. May we never forget that goodness and all He has done.

Phil 1:12-14 is how I want to see all of this.
"¹² I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."

I will admit that I really dislike boasting in weakness and relying upon others' grace or generosity. I try to be independent and confident in myself. But that always fails.

May God give us grace and boldness to proclaim our weakness and inadequacies as we trust in Him. May the gospel always be on our hearts and lips. May those around us see Christ. May He be glorified in everything. May we stumble, may we fall short, may the thorns in our flesh remind us ever of His grace and goodness, may we never forget that those thorns are not who we are, for we are now those who do not back down or are defeated, but we, who have been purchased, sanctified, made a new creation in the all atoning, propitiating death of Christ, we who no longer stand condemned, but stand alive, stand firm in Him, we are eternally God's adopted children, not born out of human decision or will, but fully by God's grace and everlasting love.

We are so worthy, and yet He loves us and lavishes His grace upon us. May we throw aside all hindrances and run forward chasing after Him as He enables and works in and through us by the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. May we experience Him and the resurrection, abundant life that is found in no other name than in Christ, our saviour, our redeemer, our God, our friend.

May that be according to His will and for His glory, and even more than we can ask or imagine.

Your brother in Christ, through struggle, trial, and joy,

D.Fa (帝法)”

My Story: Video; Written.