Category: <span>thoughts by Claire Colvin</span>


“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17


If you’ve been in the church for a while, a song probably started playing in your head as you read that verse. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Can you hear the chorus? “Freedom reigns in this place/ showers of mercy and grace/ falling on every face/ there is freedom.

One of the most incredible things God gives us is the gift of freedom. He lifts the burden of sin and the wages of death and He sets us free.

Free from our past.
Free from our failures.
Free from the pressure to measure up.
Free.

We don’t have to do more to make God love us. He already loves us, even more than we know. It takes a lot of faith (and practice!) to step into that freedom and truly believe that we’re enough – right now, just like this.

I think sometimes we’re uncomfortable with the idea that we can’t earn God’s love because it makes us feel powerless. But the truth is that we are loved and we are in the family. God has sent the Holy Spirit – Comforter, Counselor, Advocate – to live in us. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

God, Thank you for the gift of freedom. When I get all tied up in my thinking you quietly whisper that I am loved and I am enough. You are more than enough. Thank you for the promise that You are renewing my mind. You are rewriting the story. Help me to rest in Your promise and breathe easy in Your freedom today. Amen.

Take Action: If freedom is an uncomfortable idea for you – shame might be getting in the way. Read Isaiah 41:9-10. Personalize it and pray it back to God.

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

•  A Yoke of Freedom or Bondage – by Karen Woodard

•  Use Freedom to Flourish or to Fall – by Fab Batsakis

•   A Prayer of Freedom – by Roy Lessin


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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’” Matthew 28:18


Matthew 28:18-19 is a very familiar passage – it’s the one about going and making disciples. Recently I heard a sermon on the twelve words Jesus says before he gives the Great Commission and it is still resonating with me.

If we read that passage in the New Living Translation it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (In some translations it says “power” instead of “authority”.) When my pastor was preaching he pointed out that if ALL authority has been given to God then Satan has zero authority.

I’ve always thought that Satan has less power than God, but still some power. But as this verse explains, Satan doesn’t have any power. He has none. ZERO. He can’t have any authority because it was all given to God.

Satan doesn’t have any authority, the only thing he has is lies. But we need to be careful because those lies can be very powerful. They come in a variety of ways.

•    He attacks our identity: My work doesn’t matter. I’m a screw up
•    He attacks our abilities: I could never do that
•    He attacks our attitude: I don’t have to forgive her, do you know what she   did to   me?
•    He even lies about the way we see God: God has forgotten me. God could never forgive that.

It doesn’t matter that the lies aren’t true because when we listen to them we live as if they are true. We give them power. We make choices based on false information.

My pastor went on to say something that has really stuck we me. He said, “You can’t fight thoughts with thoughts. You have to fight thoughts with words.” When Satan is whispering lies into our heads we need to fight back with words, and words of scripture are particularly effective. Instead of listening to the lie and agreeing with it in your heart, speak the truth of scripture. Focus your heart and mind on what God says and you’ll see the lie for the garbage that it is.

For each of us there is one lie in particular that Satan always hits us with when we’re down. It’s important to identify that lie so you can guard against it. What is the lie that Satan tells you? You’ll probably find that it’s related to your deepest insecurity or your darkest secret. Satan doesn’t mess around; he goes for the jugular.

Think about it over the next few days. What is the worst lie Satan tells you and which Scripture can you speak against it? Write that verse out and keep it close by so you’ll have it when you need it. That way you’ll be ready to fight back the next time Satan comes whispering.

Satan doesn’t have ANY power, not even a little bit. Isn’t that wonderful news? Lies are all he has. But when we speak the truth in the face of those false whispers, not even his lies can hurt us.

Father, Teach me to guard my heart. Help me to learn the difference between your quiet voice of conviction and Satan’s lies that tell me I am unlovable, or a failure, or not enough. Give me the courage to speak Your truth in the face of these baseless lies. Remind me that my worth, my value, my redemption and my eternity are in Your hands and Satan cannot touch that, not with all the lies in the world. I am so glad that all authority, all power was given to You. Help me to remember that he doesn’t have any. Not even a little bit. Amen

Questions: What is the lie that Satan tells you? What are the lies that you have believed in the past? Which verses combat those lies?

by Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

•  Pressing Your Reset Button

•  He is Out to Destroy You!

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women

I am still learning this balance between relying on God and doing my part.


They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.2 Kings 4:5b

You’re probably very familiar with the story of the widow and her oil. (Take a minute to read the whole story in 2 Kings 4:1-7) Here was a woman who desperately needed God to show up. Her husband was dead, her debts were piling up and men were on their way to sell her sons as slaves. Things were bad.

She goes to the prophet Elisha for help and he asks her a simple question, “What do you have in your house?” (v2) All she had was a little jar of oil. It wasn’t much, but God used it to perform a miracle and meet her needs.

What strikes me about this story is that little phrase in verse five, “and she kept pouring.” After the first few jars were filled she could have decided that she could get by on that and stopped. But she didn’t. Elisha had told her to ask the neighbors for a lot of jars.  In faith she kept pouring, and God filled every single one.

I am still learning this balance between relying on God and doing my part. We show up, tools in hand, but He does the heavy lifting. God will provide, but there’s always something for us to do as well. God invites us into the miracle.

I often think of faith as this great, huge thing but I’m learning that faith is more often the tiny steps that I take. It’s that moment when I stand up and say, “OK God, I’ll follow you there” –even when, especially when, it’s not where I wanted to go.

What are you facing today? Where do you need to keep pouring?

Father in Heaven, I know that You are able to do abundantly more than I can imagine or ask for. You have provided for me in the past and I believe that You will not forget me. Be with me in my fear. In the moments when I worry about how I am going to fix things remind me that Your hands are on it. Remind me that I don’t need to find all the answers, I just need to focus on listening to You and doing the things that You’ve asked me to do today. Thank you that we are in this together. Give me the faith to keep pouring today. In Your name I pray, amen.

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

How Big is God?

We Plan, God Directs

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6


My pastor was talking about trust and the vital importance of trusting God. He asked us, “What is under your standing? What are you basing your choices on? Do you believe that God is for you? Do you believe that His plans for you are good? Do you believe that God is going to show up?”

These are great questions. God is fully trustworthy. He has given us His whole heart. He’s all in.

Are you?

Am I?

Proverbs 3:5-6 speaks about trusting God with our whole heart and acknowledging God in all our ways. Trust is not a one-time decision; it’s part of our relationship with God that requires constant maintenance. Every situation, every decision, every thought is a choice to trust God or not.

Trust is absolutely vital to having a close relationship with God. Trust in God opens the door to all sorts of healthy spiritual practices. When I trust God I don’t second-guess the way He blesses others. Trust keeps me from doubting His goodness when I don’t understand His timing.

Father in Heaven, so often I catch myself falling back into old habits and trying to solve things my way, in my timing. Help me to come to You first. I believe that You love me and I know that Your plans for me are for my benefit – even when they don’t feel very good. Help me to walk in the reality of Your love today and trust as one who’s heart is turned toward You. In Your name I pray, amen.

Put your trust into practice today –  Track your doubts for a day. Really pay attention to your thoughts and practice trusting God. When fear or doubt creeps in stop that thought and pray. Ask God for His peace. Once you’ve counted your doubts for a day, see if you can make the next day’s number smaller.

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

Hearing God’s Voice

• Stepping Into a Personal Revival

•  Salvation Explained


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Thoughts by All thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9

You probably know that the word “confession” means, “agreeing with God”. When we confess our sins we don’t do it to tell God what we’ve done. He already knows that. We confess to say, “Yes God, I agree that that was wrong” and then we can repent. But what God showed me recently was that there are two things God and I need to agree on, not just one.

So often in confession I’ve listed out my sins and sat there in quiet guilt. The list is always so long. This time God spoke to me. “We agree about what you’ve done, Claire.” He said. “Now can we agree about who you are?”

There in that private moment He brought to mind verses that spoke of God’s love for me. He reminded me how I am fearfully and wonderfully made, how I am chosen and precious and planned for. I sat there quietly until I could agree with God about that too. I sat there resting in God’s truth.

It is so easy to see our own flaws and shortcomings. But when God sees us He doesn’t only see what we’ve done, He sees who we are. There are two sides to confession. Agree with God about what you have done and repent, but don’t miss the other side. Agree with God about who you are: loved and wanted and precious and worth dying for.

In that moment of vulnerability that always comes with confession, let God love you. Walk out into the world forgiven.

Father, Thank you that because of Jesus I do not stand condemned. Help me to be quick to confess and quick to remember Your promises. Help me to understand what it means to be forgiven and keep my eyes fixed on You. Amen.

The next time you go to God in confession, take some time to think about how much He loves you. Pay attention to the story you tell yourself about who you are.

Sometimes accepting who we truly are in God is one of the hardest things to do.

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

•   God Programs Seashells
•  What a Friend we have in Jesus
•  Salvation Explained

thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  Romans 15:13

Emily Dickenson wrote, “hope is the thing with feathers” In her poem, hope perches in the soul, ready to take flight. What a beautiful picture of the attentiveness and expectation of hope!

I love the candle of hope. It’s a reminder that something wonderful is coming.

Jesus is on his way. He’s coming — to us and for us.

Hope, as we know, is a powerful thing. Hope grows into belief and with practice belief matures into faith. We go from an idea to action. We make choices founded on trust that the thing hoped for is really coming.

The best part is that our hope is already here. We’re not waiting in the dark for the Savior to come. He’s here today in this moment.

God with us. Emmanuel. He is the light that banishes every kind of darkness. Whatever hardship you’re carrying, rest in the peace of that hope today.

Father, Thank you for sending your Son to walk among us, to stand in our place and take our punishment, purify us from all sin, and bring us the hope of Heaven. Thank you for making a way for us to have a relationship with You. When the days are dark and the load is heavy, turn our eyes to you so that we can renew our hope, our strength and our joy in your great love for us. Amen.

If there is something specific that is weighing on your mind, bring it to God. If possible, light a candle to remind yourself that God’s perfect love casts out all fear.

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

•   A Poem of Hope
•  Hope for the Hopeless
•  Salvation Explained

thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

One of the most common questions of the Christian life is this: how do I know God’s will for my life? It’s a very important question. As Christ-followers we want to be obedient. We know that God has a plan for each of us and we know that His plan is for our good. So why doesn’t God just write out His plan so we can dive in? And what are we supposed to do until He reveals His plan?

It can be easy to slip into a never-ending holding pattern thinking, “I’ll just stay right here until I get a very clear direction from God. Preferably in writing. In triplicate if possible.” When we stand still, at least when I stand still, it’s often out of fear more than piety. (Or if I’m being really honest, I stand still because I’ve heard something I don’t like the sound of so what I’m really doing is waiting to hear God say something else.) But time and again in the Bible we see God telling people to start moving and His plan is revealed along the way. When God calls Abram in Genesis 12 He says, “go to the land that I will show you.” He doesn’t tell him his destination until later.

So how do we start walking? The other night at small group we were talking about this very topic and our leader told us that the when they launch the space shuttle the navigation system doesn’t kick in until it leaves Earth’s atmosphere. Why? Because there’s nowhere to go but up. Until the space shuttle enters orbit they don’t need to direct it because there is only one way it can go.

It’s the same for us. If we do the basic things God has asked us to do, we can be sure we’re headed in a good direction. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit and then ends with this phrase, “against such things there is no law.” If you are actively pursuing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and asking God to develop these things in your life, you can’t go wrong. You will be headed in the right direction. As you are walking God will continue to reveal His plans for you.

In that same small group meeting our leader quoted another pastor who said that “God uses what’s in your hands to get to what’s in your heart.” So if you are wondering what God’s will for your life is, look at what you have in your hands. Are you an excellent financial planner? Do you love horses? Are you really good at making people feel welcome? Do you have a great voice? Take the things that are in your hands and look for a way to use them for God.

God created each of us specifically for the good works he planned in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Ask God to show you how to use what you have. Pursue the fruit of the spirit in your life and you can rest assured that you are pursuing God’s will for your life. Walk forward in confidence, abiding in prayer. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Father, Give me the courage to start walking. Remind me that You will come with me and that You know the way, even when I can’t see it. Amen.

What holds you back when God tells you to start walking? Have there been times when you stepped out in faith? What happened?

By Claire Colvin
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Further Reading

•  Life Can Bring Joy out of Sorrow by Norma Becker
•  Fully Surrender to the Lord
•  Salvation Explained

thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


It can be hard to hear God in the busyness of life. Take today’s lesson to hear how to listen better.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12b

There’s a moment just before the performance begins where the lights go down and the symphony tunes. It’s a strange, cacophonous sound, nothing at all like the music that will start a few minutes later. I love that sound. It sounds like anticipation. It’s a sound that tells you that something wonderful is about to happen.

Tuning is not a warning bell; it’s an alignment. One musician plays a single note, always the same note, and each of the instruments joins in. They play, they listen, and they adjust and play again. They keep going until all the sounds blend together, until there are united and aligned, in tune.

I love the line in the old hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” that says, “tune my heart”. I want that. I want my heart to sound like God’s. Did you know that if you put two grand pianos in a room and play a note on one of them the corresponding string in the other piano will start to vibrate? I want the note God is playing to resonate in my heart.

In 1 Kings, God tells Elijah to go and stand on a mountain where He will pass by. There is wind and fire, even an earthquake, but God is not in the wind or the fire or the earthquake. God comes in a gentle whisper. I need to be still and hear that whisper; I need to tune my heart to it.

I cannot do the things God has planned for me if my heart is out of tune. No matter how carefully I try to serve God, if my heart is out of tune it’s all just garbage. I think it’s so interesting that even professional musicians have to tune and they tune every single time they play. I want my life to be like that, to begin every day by listening for the voice of God and moving my heart – dragging it along sometimes – until my heart, my attitude sounds like God’s. I want to go through my days in tune with Him.

Father, As the hymn says, “Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace”. Teach me to stop and listen for your whisper. Keep me still until the song of my heart sounds like You. Mold me so that when people hear my words and see my actions they think of You. Thank you for being patient with me. Tune my heart. I’m listening. Amen.

When is it hard to hear God? Where do you find it easiest to hear His gentle whisper?

By Claire Colvin
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FURTHER READING

•  How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit
•  How to Pray

 

thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Years ago I walked into the Registrar’s office and changed the course of my life. I remember looking at my signature on a little piece of paper and thinking, “That’s it?” Changing programs was such a big decision—shouldn’t there be more to it?

Sometimes I view salvation the same way. It feels like there should be more for me to do. It’s hard to accept that my part is so small. I don’t deserve salvation. I can’t earn it. I can’t train for it. All I can do is humbly admit my need for a Savior, believe in Jesus and place my faith in Him.

It is only God Himself dying in my place that can save me. Utter dependence is an unfamiliar posture. How wise of God to place me in this position from the very beginning of my faith journey!

Any time I think I can live the Christian life in my own strength, I’m in trouble. When I’m tempted to do it my way, to tough it out or go at it alone, I look to the cross. It wasn’t up to me then; it’s not up to me now. How do you view the cross?

Father in heaven, thank You for the incredible gift of salvation. Forgive me for the times when I try to do things on my own. Teach my proud heart to look only to You. It’s only You that saves me. It is only You who gives my life purpose and meaning. There is nothing I can add to what You’ve done. Thank You for loving me. May I reflect Your love in all I say and do today. Amen.

By Claire Colvin
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FURTHER READING

• Eternal Love
• Fully Surrender to the Lord

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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.’ Proverbs 3:5&6

Jesus’ disciples are willing to follow him anywhere with joy. 

But that’s the challenge, isn’t it? Deciding to follow Jesus is one thing. But how do you keep walking with him when it’s hard, when it hurts, when it doesn’t feel like God’s plan at all? How do you stay close to Jesus when the circumstances just make you want to run away and hide?

When you commit to obey Jesus, willing to do anything, anytime, anywhere, at any cost, you don’t just end up with the promise of the Kingdom; you end up with the King. He didn’t just die for you; he lives in and through you by his Spirit. When it feels scary and uncertain, when you’re not sure where Jesus is leading you, draw closer to him.

Jesus is always for you; he’s always leading you, always loving you. He is there to guide, correct, encourage, and empower you. If you are feeling condemned, take a closer look at that voice. God convicts us, but without ever condemning us; he always offers us a way forward. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize which voice is God’s and which is the Enemy’s.

When you feel like you don’t have the strength, the energy, the grace, or the love to do what he’s asking you to do, rely on  the Holy Spirit. Invite him into your circumstances. Discipleship is the process of following Jesus in the Spirit’s power and becoming more like him. Spend time with him. Fix your eyes on him. Lean in. Spend your life getting to know the King. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

By Claire Colvin
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How to be Saved
• How to be fill with the Holy Spirit

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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


How do you face the Christmas season when it doesn’t look the way it used to?

A friend of mine will face his first Christmas in over 20 years without his wife. Another will celebrate without the child she waited so long for and held so briefly. They had both had plans for Christmas. They knew what was coming and now, this year, Christmas doesn’t look like Christmas at all, (especially with the challenges of COVID 19).

Heartbreak and loss, loneliness and disappointment stand out in sharp contrast to the sparkly excitement of Christmas. Chaplin Kate O’Dwyer Randall said,

“Holidays in our culture are often about families, and families are not always happy institutions. I think that particularly if you’re facing a death or a divorce, the ’empty chair syndrome’ becomes very real at this time of year.”

Many churches now have “Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas” services. These services offer a more subdued atmosphere to welcome those who want to acknowledge Christmas, but can’t face the ebullient joy of a well intentioned “Joy to the World!”

Christmas gets all glamoured up, but at the heart of it all, it celebrates a very quiet moment. Christmas began with a little baby in a stable. It started with two parents who were tired from a long journey and caught off guard that the baby would choose this particular moment to be born. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t shiny, but it did mark the moment when hope came to the world. (If you’re rusty on the details, you can  read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.)

This poem by Ann Weems from her book Kneeling in Bethlehem sums it up perfectly:

The Christmas Spirit

Is that hope
Which tenaciously clings
To the hearts of the faithful
And announces
In the face
Of any Herod the world can produce
And all the inn doors slammed in our faces
And all the dark nights of our souls
That with God
All things are possible,
That even now
Unto us
A child is born!

By Claire Colvin
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“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Years ago I said to my brother, “I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment or an insult.” I’ll never forget what he said next.

If you have a choice, assume it was a compliment.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that.

So often the same words can be taken as good or bad. When I choose to assume the best of people it completely changes the way I experience the world. My attitude changes my circumstances, even on days when really awful things are happening.

It all starts in the heart. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or irritated quickly pray, “Lord, guard my heart.” Ask Him to help you let any injury or insult slide off you. Don’t pick up the hurt and take it home.

My mom used to say, “If you’re determined to find an insult, you’ll succeed.” Ask God to show you His view of the people you come in contact with. Pay attention to what’s happening in your heart. Pray for grace for yourself so you can show mercy to others. Is your heart hanging on to a hurt that you can release today?

God, Thank you that Your grace really is enough. Where there is injustice or hurt, when my pride gets bruised or my voice isn’t heard, teach me to run to You first. Remind me that my identify comes from who You say I am, not from words that get muttered in the heat of the moment. Guard my heart Father. When insults try to take root help me to be quick to pull them out. May the words I speak to other be Your words. May my attitude be more Christ-like today than it was yesterday. Teach me Your gentleness in the heat of the moment. Thank you for loving me more than I know. Thank you that out of the overflow of Your love, I can love others. Amen

Thought: Pay close attention to your attitude today. When you catch yourself holding on to hurt ask God to help you release it to Him. Give yourself a visual reminder and check in with yourself or a trusted friend throughout the day.

By Claire Colvin
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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


Have you ever played Hide and Seek with a two-year-old?

You close your eyes and count to ten, turn around and you can see his feet sticking out from under the blanket. It’s like that when we try to hide from God. We think we’re being so clever, but God just sees right through us.

We know that we are forgiven. So why do we try to hide from God? There are so many reasons:

    • We hide because we’re ashamed.
    • We hide because of our pride.
    • We hide because we want to pretend that we are better than we are.
    • We hide because we doubt God’s love.
    • We hide because we want to punish ourselves.
    • We hide because we have not yet forgiven ourselves.
    • We worry that there is a limit to his forgiveness, and that this time his love might have run out.

Trust in God’s forgiveness — that is where true freedom lies.

In Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive his brother. Jesus replies, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

If we humans — frail, limited, and full of envy — are expected to forgive 77 times, how much more limitless is God’s forgiveness for us?

Psalm 103:11-13 says, For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Shame is one of Satan’s greatest tools. He lies to us and says, “Look at your life, you’re no example. How could you ever share the Gospel?” He whispers that God doesn’t really love us. He tells us to stay quiet, stay small, and hope that God doesn’t notice our awful sin. But we don’t need to live under the weight of shame.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This verse and others tell me that I have a complete new identity now that I am in Christ: in God’s eyes, I am pure, holy, honorable — utterly forgiven and loved. God already sees me the way I will be in eternity — perfectly delivered from all sin, fully in God’s image (1 John 3:1-4).

The next time you want to play hide and seek with God, ask him to remind you of who you are in his sight.

By Claire Colvin
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FURTHER READING

Studies by William S. Stoddard:

  1. The Way to Know God
  2. The Everlasting God

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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

You probably know that the word “confession” means, “agreeing with God”. When we confess our sins we don’t do it to tell God what we’ve done. He already knows that. We confess to say, “Yes God, I agree that that was wrong” and then we can repent. But what God showed me recently was that there are two things God and I need to agree on, not just one.

So often in confession I’ve listed out my sins and sat there in quiet guilt. The list is always so long. This time God spoke to me. “We agree about what you’ve done, Claire.” He said. “Now can we agree about who you are?

There in that private moment He brought to mind verses that spoke of God’s love for me. He reminded me how I am fearfully and wonderfully made, how I am chosen and precious and planned for. I sat there quietly until I could agree with God about that too. I sat there resting in God’s truth.

It is so easy to see our own flaws and shortcomings. But when God sees us He doesn’t only see what we’ve done, He sees who we are. There are two sides to confession. Agree with God about what you have done and repent, but don’t miss the other side. Agree with God about who you are: loved and wanted and precious and worth dying for.

In that moment of vulnerability that always comes with confession, let God love you. Walk out into the world forgiven.

Father, Thank you that because of Jesus I do not stand condemned. Help me to be quick to confess and quick to remember Your promises. Help me to understand what it means to be forgiven and keep my eyes fixed on You. Amen.

By Claire Colvin
Used by Permission


Confession is the first step.  If you don’t know Jesus in a personal way you can begin a relationship with him today. The first step is a prayer telling him you believe He is who He says He is and a second step is surrendering control of your will and life to him.  These can be communicated in a simple prayer (prayer is talking to God):

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.


If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.


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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women


“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

I am in the midst of a kitchen reno and my house looks like a disaster zone.

The simplest tasks are complicated and frustrating. The kettle is in the en suite bathroom, the tea bags are on the coach, the mugs are somewhere in the living room. Everything takes longer. Nothing looks familiar.

Even when it’s time to rest it’s hard to relax in a room that is literally stacked to the ceiling. The other day I stood on the bare concrete floor and thought about the beautiful kitchen that is going in. I remembered all the years I had prayed for a place of my own and I took a deep breath. “It’s chaos now for beauty later,” I said to my roommate and I heard a whisper in my heart. Oh, there’s a lesson in that.

If your life feels like a frustrating mess right now is it possible that God has renovations underway?

Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is at work before we’ve even noticed what He’s up to. We see the inconvenience; God sees a temporary diversion that sets us on the right path. Renovations, whether they’re in your kitchen or your heart, are a messy business. But it’s easier to tolerate the inconvenience when you have a picture of what’s coming.

God’s plans for us are so much more beautiful than the kitchen my little brain dreamed up. His plans give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) So if you’re in the midst of unwanted change, take a deep breath. It’s chaos now for beauty later.

Father in Heaven, When I look around me and see confusion and loss, pain and longing, injustice or slander or lack, remind me that You, the very God of Heaven know my name. You know the cry of my heart and You know the character I need to build to live out the plans You have for me. When it’s time to renovate, help me to yield graciously to the changes You have ordained for me. Help me to be quick to see You in the chaos and quick to remember that You have not forgotten me, or left me behind. I am never leftovers in your economy, never second best. Give me Your peace as I wait to see the beauty you are creating. In Your name I pray, Amen

Question: Is your life under construction? What verses do you find helpful when the world tilts? How has God brought beauty out of your chaos in the past?

By Claire Colvin
Used by Permission

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thoughts by Claire Colvin Thoughts by Women