Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Aliene

Let It Go!

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Whether the disciples knew it or not, as they gathered around the table to take part in Passover, their meal symbolically portrayed what Christ would accomplish on the cross in a matter of hours. Jesus paused on his pathway to the cross long enough to prepare his disciples for the hours that would follow. The events of the next days would test their faith.

It is significant that Christ was crucified on Passover. The Israelites in Egypt provided their own Passover lambs to save their households, as God had instructed. But Christ himself became the Passover Lamb for the whole world—without defect because he was without sin (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Bible says that we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish or sin (1 Peter 1:19).

Isaiah 53 describes Christ as our Lamb who would bear our griefs, carry our sorrows, and be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. His stripes would bring healing; his chastisement would bring peace. And his soul would be made an offering for sin. When we come into the new covenant, we can rest in Christ!

God rescued the Israelites from slavery when they put the lamb’s blood on the door. Jesus rescues us when we put our faith in his shed blood.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we apply the blood of Jesus Christ over the door of our heart by putting our faith in his finished work on the cross. The shed blood of Christ rescues us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the dominion of darkness (Colossians 2:8–15).

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Renewing our minds gives us the power to put our rescue in Christ and releases our old life to take hold of the new. That’s godly girl power!

Read the following out loud:

Jesus took all my sin and gave me a right standing with God. Jesus took all my sorrows and gave me his joy. He took all my anxiety and gave me his peace. Jesus took all my shame and allowed me to hold my head high. He took all my weakness and gave me his mighty strength through the power of his Spirit. He gave me the armor of God for protection against the enemy’s attacks (Ephesians 6:10–18). He took all my sickness and depression and healed me body, soul, and spirit (Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53). He crucified my flesh and gave me the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Everything that Jesus has, all that his name means, all that his life represents, is mine. He lives inside me. Because of him, God has invited me to eat from his table and share in his Son’s inheritance.

Spiritually, Jesus broke the power of sin in my life. He took my religion and gave me a relationship instead. He took my fear and gave me love (1 John 4:18). He bound up my broken heart (Isaiah 61:1) and proclaimed my freedom. Jesus took my filthy rags and adorned me with a robe of righteousness and a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3). The curse of the law is broken (Galatians 3:13). And now I am free to have the power of his Spirit (Acts 1:8) and choose to walk into a new way of life.

Treasured one, find godly girl power in our Nourish Scripture this week as we remember our rescue so we can release our old life to take hold of the new. See you for the Treasured Tribe Talk on Thursday!

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Forgive but Not Forget

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Do you ever battle in the belief that you are an unforgiving person? Do you ever find yourself revisiting the same painful issue with an offender in your mind over and over again – questioning if you have forgiven the person who hurt you?

In today’s podcast, special guest Beth Vogt explains how understanding the difference between vertical and horizontal forgiveness changed her life. Listen to today’s podcast and find release from the self-doubt of the forgiveness struggle, and discover what your responsibility is inside forgiveness and what is not your responsibility to carry.

Award-winning author Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the third and final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, releases May 2020. She transitioned to writing women’s fiction because she enjoys delving into the complicated dynamics between sisters, mothers and daughters, and friends.

Connect with Beth at her website, bethvogt.com. You can sign up for her monthly newsletter and receive a free e-novella, and find out more about her upcoming release, The Best We’ve Been, that delves into the complicated relationships between sisters.

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Exhale

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True confidence flows from knowing that the greatest gift you can bring to the world is becoming the woman God created you to be. Part of this journey is confidently embracing your God-given spiritual gifts and understanding that he gave you these gifts to empower you to love others and share truth with them. That is true humility.

Step out of the shadows, brave heart. Come away from the sidelines. Who told you that hiding is humility? God has given you a spiritual gift to share. You have something to offer. That gift was given TO you but it was not FOR you. Hiding it is not humility. Hiding keeps you from using your gifts to help others.

Your purpose is a pathway to sharing God’s love, and our spiritual gifts are the vehicle to take us along that path. The Holy Spirit breathes ability into us and as we exhale, the life of Christ is shared and fills the world with his love. (Ephesians 4:4-10) 

Sadly, I believe we are often taught to hold our breath in the name of humility, but nothing could be further from the truth. False humility forgets about God’s power and paralyzes us with fear. 

Sharing your spiritual gift with others breathes the life of Christ to them. Your voice is valuable and can make a difference in the lives of others. (Ephesians 4:12)

The people in your life you are called to love are worth it. Let your love for them motivate you to move beyond your fear.

Sometimes I argue with God and hide.  . . . Who am I to serve you? What about past failures? I am not good enough. I am inadequate. I am afraid of failing!

And then other times, I stop trying so hard to BE and just surrender and rest in the power of the GREAT I AM. I am not called to create light—I am called to reflect the light of Christ by listening to and being led by the Holy Spirit. But when my heart is tuned inward in false humility, my heart is not facing the right direction to reflect his light. Focusing on your inadequacies brings attention to you instead of Jesus.

Fan the flame of your spiritual gifts by facing the other way. Turn it outward by taking steps this week to use your gifts to touch others. Find freedom to become all God created and redeemed you to be by letting go of fear to fan into flame your spiritual gifts for his glory.

I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6–7 NLT, emphasis mine).

God’s provision, including your spiritual gifts, flows to you and through you so you can glorify him and love others. God built you to accomplish his purpose for your life (Deuteronomy 7:6; Ephesians 2:10). He imparted spiritual gifts to you the moment you accepted Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4–11 and Romans 12:3–8).

The way you are wired—your personality and passions, your character and natural abilities, and your spiritual gifts—is part of God’s provision for your God-given vision . . . not something to hide.

Different spiritual gifts flowing from the Holy Spirit provide just what you need for what God has called you to do. The diversity in our gifts creates the need for us to link arms with one another to share his good news. And as we stand together, our gifts fit perfectly (Ephesians 4:16). And as each one of us does our special work, like instruments playing together in God’s orchestra, we will make beautiful music that sings of the glory of God. But if we hide our instruments, the music simply isn’t complete. 

You matter. God designed you to make a difference. Embrace your spiritual gifts and allow them to grow. Step into the stream of godly girl power by using your spiritual gifts to touch others and fulfill your God-given purpose.

Weekly Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Personal Revival Inside the COVID-19 Pandemic

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3 Steps to Revive your Prayer Life and Experience More of God

Lord, we want more of YOU!

Inside the pain of this COVID-19 pandemic, lies the treasure of personal revival. See this drought as a divine opening of the door to dive deeper into the stream of God’s presence through prayer. Inside today’s podcast, take your prayer life to the next level and find more of God. Find strength that only God can provide inside this storm and grow your roots deeper in God’s love as you listen to today’s podcast.

Looking for an online community doing this time? Come and join the Treasured Tribe.

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Give Me Hope

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Have you experienced loss and you feel hopeless? Inside our broken world, feelings of powerlessness come easily, don’t they? But God your Redeemer has a remedy just for you.

Listen to today’s podcast and find three steps you can take to spark hope and find the courage to rise above heartache on the wings of faith.

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The Power of Prayer

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“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV, my emphasis)

Immeasurably more. Her eyes ran over those words and then lingered for a while. Immeasurably more. God can do immeasurably more than she could ever ask or imagine, according to HIS POWER.

She pondered on her faded prayers that had once been filled with so much passion.

A season of storms sabotaged her prayer life, making it small. Like the force of hurricane winds loosening the roots of a tall tree, the storms of life shook her faith to the core. The enemy lied to her heart about the storms and told her that God was not powerful . . . and her prayers faded. She felt afraid. She thought about her past year and the loss she had experienced. The loss in her life combined with her fragile faith made her feel powerless. Her insecurity swallowed her confidence. In response, her soul grasped for security by clinging too tightly to the people in her life, and she began to walk under the false illusion of control.

This led to more insecurity and fear because when she tried to control her circumstances, her circumstances began to control her. Worry, fear, and anger surfaced as she tried to control what ultimately, she could not.

And she was weary.

The Lord looked at his treasured one with love. No storm could ever separate them. He nourished her heart with truth and reminded her of the power of prayer. With tears in her eyes, she sank to the floor and let her prayers flow. People were there for her to love, but they could never give the security and life she was looking for.

Godly girl power flows from great expectations laid at the feet of our mighty God, who can do “immeasurably more” than we could ever ask in prayer.

Sometimes we can “self-sabotage” our prayer life because we pray based on what we think we deserve instead of WHO GOD IS.  The enemy can use a storm, or our past, or even our religious traditions to keep our prayers small. Don’t let the enemy fool you, wise woman. Pray prayers based on WHO GOD IS and remain faithful regardless of the outcome. Don’t filter your prayers through what you think you deserve—let your prayers flow like a mighty river and let God filter the results through his pure and perfect will to bring glory to his name.

Hey, treasured one, revitalize your prayer life this week by recapturing the awe of your God.

The God you serve is an “immeasurably more” God. Yahweh is the source of your strength. The Lord is his name. King of kings. Lord of lords. He is a strong tower. A fortress. He is mighty to save. The winds and waves obey his commands. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). He is Lord over all. “For from him and through him and for him are all things.” (Romans 11:36)

Great expectations in our mighty God through prayer gives us the freedom to let go of trying to extract from people what only God can give us. When our expectations rest in the Lord, we can let go of others to truly love them.

Much as a watering can must be filled before it can pour water out and bring nourishment to plants, we must first be filled with his love to give love out. And as the watering can pours out to others, a greater capacity is created to receive even more. When we are trying to extract from people what only God can give us—it is as if we are watering cans going to other watering cans trying to find water.

Think of bold prayer as positioning yourself to fill your watering can to nourish your heart so you can nurture others. To have some understanding of God’s love, we must experience it. To experience it, we must receive it. Each time we experience his power in answered prayer pushes the roots of our soul deeper into his love and makes us strong as we trust in Him. Only when Christ becomes seated at the center of our heart through the humility of prayer and our roots are deep in his love can we truly love others with his love. And that is godly girl power (Ephesians 3:14–21).

Prayer will grow your roots deep in God’s love because you are placing your trust in him. When your roots are deep in God’s love, you will bear the fruit of his love to others.

You have only one life. Pray with great expectation. Live a life worthy of your calling by receiving his love and giving it to others. Fall on your knees in prayer and trust the one who can bless you beyond measure so you can be a blessing to others.

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 3:14–4:6

Are You Feeling Powerless During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

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3 Ways Overcome Powerlessness by Remembering Your Rescuer

Never before has there been such craziness in our circumstances. It is paramount that we remember our Rescuer during this season. We can feel pulled into a place of despair that puts us at the door of panic. But let us be intentional about seeking God’s face during this time. We may be social distancing, but we do not have to be spiritually distant. 

Some have said to me that they are choosing gratefulness during social distancing. They are using it as an opportunity to retreat into God’s presence so that they can then respond to others in love. I invite us all to look at our circumstances as a holy pause, one that is a gift from the Lord where we can find strength and refuge under his winds of protection. 

The coronavirus will not separate you from the Father’s love. It will not separate us from each other spiritually. We have a choice to use this time to build each other up in the faith—virtually!

Though we are miles apart, we are still one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are not in this alone. The enemy of our souls will attempt to create a drumbeat that speaks disparaging words about…

  • God
  • Others
  • Our circumstances
  • Ourselves

But I say no more!

It is time we remember the promises of God!

God Is in Control During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Many of you may feel isolated and powerless during this time of social distancing. Perhaps the drumbeat the enemy is playing in your ear right now is a repeat of an old tune you stepped to in your past. 

When situations feel out of control, we can unknowingly step into a place of a victim mentality. But as a child of God, you can depend on him rather than your circumstances. 

Here’s How to Remember Your Rescuer During the Coronavirus Pandemic

God Calls Us to Remember

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called ‘uncircumcised heathens’ by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.”—Ephesians 2:11 (emphasis mine)

The Greek word for “don’t forget” is to call to mind over and over again. Some translations say, “remember…” When we “call to mind over and over,” we are quicker to remember and rest in the place of God’s rescuing power. 

Therefore, when circumstances tell us to doubt, we can pause and proclaim God’s promises. As we proclaim, we are placed in position to receive Christ’s rescuing hand instead of focusing on the storms of life.  

Remember… You are not separated from God, but are now a citizen of heaven and in covenant relationship with him because of the blood of Christ!

God Calls Us to Reflect

Not only can we reflect on God’s goodness, but we can also be a reflection (or imitate God as the verse below says) so that others see him in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”—Ephesians 5:1-2 (emphasis mine)

You may ask, “How can this be done while we are social distancing?” 

Treasured One, we can look at this situation as a holy pause. It provides opportunities to reach out to others and give a good word to them virtually. 

Spend some time each day reflecting on God’s goodness. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a message to share with someone else. 

Even though we are exercising social distancing, we can share a message from our Rescuer that reflects his power by reaching out through…

  • Facebook
  • Text
  • Zoom
  • Skype
  • Phone calls
  • Facetime

And let us not forget handwritten letters!

God Calls Us to Renew 

As we wake each morning, let us renew our minds with a good report from the good Word. We can be overwhelmed and feel powerless when we see the giants in our circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, we have a choice. Will we give a bad report or a good report?

There might be people or circumstances that push us to disagree with a good report, but let’s choose to renew our minds with God’s new mercies and grace today!

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”—Lamentations 3:22-23 (emphasis mine)

The Takeaway

Treasured One, hear this: The blood of Christ covers you. When you are fearful or feel powerless because of the coronavirus pandemic, take a moment to pause and…

  1. Remember you are in God’s family.
  2. Reflect on and be a reflection of God’s goodness. 
  3. Renew your mind and agree with the good report of God’s mercies and grace. 

The blood of Jesus gives you the guarantees of an inheritance that blesses you with…

  • Rest
  • Peace
  • Restoration
  • Salvation
  • Redemption
  • Joy
  • Abundance!

Let us not adopt a victim mentality during the coronavirus pandemic, but instead adopt the mind of Christ. Pause for a moment and invite the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to seeing this circumstance from a different perspective, from your Rescuer’s perspective. 

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”—1 John 4:4

Want Resources During Social Distancing? 

Check out the Treasured Devotions Series. Currently, we are going through Godly Girl Power–we are tapping into God’s power, which will empower us as women!

Join the Treasured Tribe, which will allow you to connect with others who are doing the Treasured Devotions.

Get started on a Nourish Bible Study Series. These 3 studies allow you to dive deep into God’s Word throughout the week. Get a group together and meet on Zoom, Facebook, or Skype weekly to discuss the study. 

Don’t let the enemy keep you from meeting together spiritually. What God has brought together, nothing can keep apart, and he is bringing women everywhere together virtually during this time!  

United

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Great and gracious Father, my breath is taken away at your generosity in my life. 

You ask for my faith in Christ and trust in you, and in exchange you give me access to every promise given to Abraham. By faith, I share in the rich nourishment that flows from the abundant inheritance of God’s family. 

I renounce every lie from the enemy that I have received that produces a scarcity mentality. I instead choose to believe this truth: I have been entrusted with abundance beyond what this world can give me. 

To activate that abundance, I must act because faith and actions always walk hand and hand. 

Today I receive your abundance so that tomorrow I will have the capacity to give to others with the same abundance you have given me. 

Give me wisdom to discern true strength. Let me not fall for a flattering tongue or falsely assume that people who persuade others or have a title necessarily carry your power. 

Let me be wise choosing those I walk with today, because the people I spend time with influence me. Let me stand with those who stand with you, even if that means I need to be different or face rejection. Let me find contentment in your acceptance alone. 

I confess that charisma and charm have deceived me before and created unhealthy connections in my life. I saw people, instead of you, as the source of my strength. My desire to fit in eclipsed my desire to follow you. 

Today, give me wisdom to choose to stand with the strength that only you can provide. Abba Father, I want to align my life with you because your power produces love, and love is the most powerful force in the world. I am answering your call to be strong in the Lord and in YOUR mighty power. Amen. 

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-Ephesians 3:13