Anticipating a Walk in Freedom and Overcoming Barriers of Inadequacy – Purity 1917
Purity 1917 03/21/2026 Purity 1917 Audio Podcast
Purity 1917 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of Edvard Munch’s (1863-1944), oil on canvas, The Magic Forest (1919-1925) comes to us from yours truly as I captured this work of art during my visit to the Clark Art Institute on July 9th, 2023.
Well, it’s Saturday, and I share today’s painting as part of my Lenten journey to recognize beauty in the things of the past and in anticipation of taking a return trip to one of my favorite walking places, the two-tire rutted country farmland expressway that I call “Freedom Road”. Because of the snow, I have only walked down it once in 2026, but it has melted now, and even though the weather may be wet and the going possibly muddy in spots, I want to mark the beginning of Spring by enjoying its peaceful silence and the wonder of its natural beauty. It’s not always easy to find peace in this world, and sometimes we will have to let go of our ideas and preconceived notions of what a “good day” is and choose to find joy right where we are, regardless of the weather or the circumstantial conditions we find ourselves in.
Our experience is directly affected by the meaning we subscribe to it, and when I consider the fact that my future circumstances will more or less eliminate the likelihood of me ever walking down Freedom Road again, I recognize the sense of urgency to take advantage of every opportunity to experience Freedom Road while I can. Tammy Lyn will be closing on our new house in Glens Falls in the next month or so, and after we move, I won’t have a reason to be in Easton anymore, and I will only visit Waite Road and the time we spent in what will be our former countryside home in my memories. Another chapter of my life is closing as a new one begins, and I intend to enjoy these moments as they pass.
Be it a new home, a new job, or a new ministry calling, as we move from one place to another in life, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and experience anxiety when we face the losses that come from change and the excitement of uncertain times but when we rest in the present moment, with the Lord and draw from His strength, we never have to feel that we lack the resources to move forward with confidence. In Christ, we never have to feel that we are inadequate to face new beginnings that our Sovereign God calls us to walk into. What happens in life is part of God’s plan, and we have to believe that He will provide us with everything we need to walk through it.
Speaking of being overwhelmed by change and feeling inadequate to face the challenges before us, the In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley devotion for today speaks about overcoming the barrier of inadequacy, and I am sharing it on the blog today to encourage us to believe that we are more than able to meet whatever life brings our way with God by our side. Dr. Charles Stanely writes:
“Inadequacy as a Barrier
Do you feel overwhelmed by the task in front of you? Step out in faith—God will help you.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Do you ever feel unequal to the calling God has set in front of you? At times, all of us struggle with such feelings because certain responsibilities appear to be more than one human being is able to accomplish. We sometimes try to convince ourselves that a task is too great or that God expects too much.
When this is the case, we might be tempted to turn away from some tremendous God-given opportunities. For example, sometimes the Lord provides a situation that is just right for sharing the good news of Christ with someone else. But how often do we back off and end up missing such moments because we’re afraid we won’t know what to say?
Inadequacy grows out of fear. No matter how unqualified we feel, apprehension shouldn’t hold us back. The truth is, even if a Christian feels incapable of accomplishing some of the awesome tasks God calls him to do, the Holy Spirit is more than adequate! As believers, we do not have to possess perfect qualifications or skills; we need only be willing.
2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has given us a spirit of power, not one of timidity. All the believer has to do is step out in faith; the Holy Spirit’s strength and courage will be there to meet us.” – Charles Stanley
Amen. The good thing about choosing to adopt a lifestyle of walking in the Spirit is that when you take this path of Christian Discipleship, you are never alone, for the Lord is with you. When we walk in the Spirit, we are guided by the Holy Spirit in the steps we take through life. The Holy Spirit convicts us to walk in the Lord’s ways, infuses us with strength beyond our human capacities, blesses us with godly wisdom and insights, and comforts us when our limits are stretched. The Holy Spirit also gives us the peace and joy of the Lord that transcends our circumstances and goes beyond our understanding.
With the Holy Spirit as our guide, we never need to be afraid or feel that we are inadequate. Although things may change as we walk through life and we might feel challenged in what we are called to do, we can walk through life knowing that God will provide for us and help us to find a way. Life with the Holy Spirit is a guided tour of wonder, faith, and love that leads to our fulfillment in Christ. So, walk in the Spirit and rejoice in the fact that God is with you and will give you everything you need for life and godliness.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on the Providence of God.
Isaiah 46:10–13
Isaiah 46:10 (NIV) I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”
Today’s verse falls under the twentieth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on the Providence of God.
20. God has sovereignly planned what shall come to pass, and he sovereignly carries out his plans.
Today’s Bible verses are the words of our Sovereign Lord, revealing that He has always been and that He will always be and that He determines the future of the universe. God never stops being the Creator of all things thus history really is His story.
Fulfilled Prophecies throughout the Bible confirm that Jesus is Lord and that what God says will happen does happen, and we therefore should seek to know His word and to do His will. The future is shaped and determined by God and if we want to have peace in our future we need to make peace with Him through faith in Jesus.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com, where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 51 – Rising Above – Read 2 Corinthians 12:9–21
I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.… For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Cor 12:9–10
God does not give us His grace simply to help us endure our sufferings. God’s grace should enable us to rise above our circumstances and cause our afflictions to work for us in accomplishing positive good.
What benefits did Paul receive? He experienced the power of Christ in his life. God transformed Paul’s weakness into strength.
Something else happened to Paul as a result of his suffering: He was able to glorify God in his infirmities. This does not mean that he preferred pain to health, but rather that he knew how to turn his infirmities into assets. What made the difference? The grace of God and the glory of God. Paul delighted in these trials and problems because he knew he was suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 12:10). “It is a greater thing to pray for pain’s conversion than its removal,” wrote P. T. Forsyth. Paul won the victory, not by substitution but by transformation. He discovered the sufficiency of the grace of God (v. 9).
Something to Ponder – How would your spiritual life be different if you focused more on converting pain than on asking God to completely remove it?[1]
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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
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