I Refuse...

I refuse to be deceived; 
I refuse to fall asleep;
I refuse to live as though I were in control.

I refuse to rely on my utter insufficiency;
I refuse to live selfishly;
I refuse to place the spotlight on me.

I refuse to focus all of my time and energy into making a seemingly endless check-list of all my wants and needs;
I refuse to look back; only to be drowned out by a sea of past regrets.

I refuse to believe the lies of the enemy;
For the LORD our God is with me; (as He is with all of those who love and trust Him.)
Who can be against me?

I refuse to be deceived; but I choose to BELIEVE! (Amem! Glory be to God Everlastingly!)

I refuse to be led by fear;
For I KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS NEAR.

I will let go of this pseudo-sense of control.
I will not be fooled. Instead, I will place my trust in You.

I will finally embrace the full measure of Your Everlasting grace, and trust that it's enough for me.

I refuse to live consumed by the worries and uncertainties of life.
Instead, I will rejoice and be glad in Your Glorious and Everlasting sacrifice...

...For you came to live and die for me; and for all of humanity! (Yes, You did my LORD! Glory be to God Everlastingly!)

But You rose again on the third day!; thus, the HOPE we have today!

I do not speak of my own accord;
I do not speak to be known or recognized;
For that would be my demise.

Rather, I speak because the Truth must be known;
The Gospel must be preached;
And salvation granted to all of those who believe! (Amen! Hallelujah! Glory be to God Everlastingly!)

I am small and inadequate;
My words are lacking;
I'm faint and weak.

But You, Oh Everlasting God, lavish your Everlasting mercy and grace upon the meek.

I am unfit to speak. For "I am a man of unclean lips..."

(excerpt from Isaiah 6:5b)

But I cannot be quiet;
I cannot keep silent.

For your Truth must be known;
The Gospel must be preached;
And Salvation granted to all of those who believe! (Amen! Hallelujah! God be to God Everlastingly!)

Therefore, I say onto you: Believe God's Everlasting Truth, and it shall save you!
Receive these words of Truth that have been spoken to you.
Receive them with all your heart by faith in Jesus Christ, and it shall give you Everlasting life! (Amen! Hallelujah LORD! Let it be so!)

Once again I say: I refuse to be deceived; but I choose to BELIEVE!

I refuse to let go. For I know You are in control.

Although I am faint and weak, I refuse to fall asleep.
I refuse to be overwhelmed by fear;
For my God is always near.

I refuse to live this life as though I will not die.

For one day, it could be tomorrow, it could be today...The fact of the matter is, I will be face to face with Jesus Christ one day...

...To love, worship, and embrace, but also to be held accountable for the life I live here today.
So what will He say on that fearfully glorious day?

Will I have lived a life geared towards placing Him in the spotlight?
Will His Holy name have been glorified in the way I lived my life?

I do not know. I can only pray it may be so.

But this much I know: I refuse to take the spotlight.
I refuse to take control.
My life is not my own;
To Jesus I belong.

All glory, honor, and praise be to God Everlastingly!
Amen, Amen, and Amen!