Road to 31 Devotional Day 23 - “To God Be The Glory”

Listen to “To God Be The Glory” from my new mixtape https://m.soundcloud.com/jeannie-ortega-2/2god?in=jeannie-ortega-2/sets/road-to-31-mixtape-jeannie

Anxiety in the atmosphere, angry people everywhere, dirty surroundings, financial pressure, stress, struggle, sleeplessness - Sounds like a nightmare right? But it’s not, that just a typical day in the pressures I faced growing up in New York City. From as far back as I could remember, these are the things that molded me. Thickening my skin and making sure I would be ready for anything. Unfortunately, what it also did in me was create this defensiveness that made me ready for battle even when it wasn’t necessary. Instead of trusting in God or finding His beauty in every scenario, my guard was always up making it impossible to even let love and light in.

Of course, the disappointments of life also build up our walls but what I learned as I started walking with Jesus is that He wants to get in. He wanted to teach me that even in the midst of chaos and destruction I could smile and stand because of Him. He wanted to teach me that being on the offensive was way better a position than always being offended. I don’t know about you but living in such a state of contention is exhausting so I finally let Him in.

Ezekiel 36:26

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Ephesians 2:14

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”

As I let my walls down for Jesus, I began to see beauty in things that I had never seen before. I began to feel compassion for people that would normally get under my skin and ultimately I would be able to love even the unlovely. My circumstances had stayed the same but my perspective changed.

I no longer acted like a victim always looking for something that was trying to hurt me but I walked in the authority I had as a daughter of the most just King their would ever be. I understood that the God in me had the power to change the very atmosphere around me and so I lived like I did.

Luke 10:19

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Matthew 18:18-20

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

1 John 5:4

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Spiritual warfare (meaning fighting in the spiritual sense - prayer, resisting, rebuking etc…) is a real thing but sometimes our biggest battle is our mindset. I began to exercise my faith, knowing that to God alone belongs all the glory and God alone is victorious over any petty thing that comes and tries to interrupt my peace.

Reflection: If you are, how I was - always seeing the things that are wrong and you find yourself defensive and burdened, pray this prayer - Lord God, you make beautiful things out of dust, help me to see your precious glory in all circumstances. Knowing that regardless how bad it gets you are in the midst of us working it all together for good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Chance my heart, help me to see the world with eyes of compassion, anoint me to walk out your love and light even in the dark and empower me by your precious Holy Spirit to be the change, for your glory and honor, in Jesus name!