It’s Not the Same!

13 Oct It’s Not the Same!

October 12, 2025

 It’s Not the Same!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed familiar, and you found yourself responding emotionally, physically, and spiritually as you did in the past?   I have been there and found it to be a big mistake not to look at each situation with a fresh view, especially when we have the Lord on our side.

The more we increase in wisdom, knowledge and understanding the better we can adjust our responses/ reactions to situations even if they appear to be familiar. 2 Peter 3:18 says: “But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah) …”  Jeremaih 33:3 says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Learn from the past, but don’t stay there.

A couple of things here.  Hopefully, we will learn from the various situations we find ourselves in but always know that Psalm 55:22 is working for the believer (If I was not saved I’d get Saved). “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Once, I was between assignments (jobs), and everything was past due, with disconnections and little to no income for months.  The Lord had told me I would not be at that company much longer, giving me a heads-up, but I did not ask Father God what I needed to do or how to prepare.  I don’t need to tell you that was a season I do not want ever to see again or for anyone else to experience.    The next time the Lord told me I would be moving to another assignment, I immediately said “Lord God, what are we going to do now?”   That’s Jeremiah 33:3 kicking in. He did not tell me specifically what I would be doing, but he started preparing me for it spiritually and naturally.

Spiritually

I had become more of a student of the Word, attended ministry school, started teaching Bible classes, and continued to volunteer at my church.  These things help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   When we grow in the things of God, it keeps us connected to the vine (John 15:1-5), matures us to the fact that we know we need all that Jesus did for us on Calvary (Galatians 2:20).  We also seek and follow the leading His leading Holy Spirit (John 16:13). We have a prayer life and relationship with God.

Naturally

Hey, let’s do some rearranging around the house. Then the Lord told me to look at my finances. “Fix the Money Thing,” as one pastor says. Instructing me to increase my giving and my tithes. Also, do not increase your spending, and always know where you are in your finances. Get things in order and keep them in order.

Our giving is one of the powerful ways God sustained us. Luke 6:38”Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”  Malachi 3:10-11 and one of my favorite Psalm, 37:25 King David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Here we go again

Things got tight and crazy again after leaving the second assignment, and I got all upset, “Lord, not again”. See, deception is rampant, and if we are not careful, we will believe something that is not true.   All my needs were met and on time, no disconnects…it was just tight. It was deception that pulled me into fear where there was no need for it. Psalm 53:5.

It’s not the Same

Yes, we miss the mark sometimes, but know that maturing in Christ is the goal. That is the way we can immediately see that it’s the same old devil, just in a different dress or pair of pants. Especially when you know you heard the Lord and obeyed him.  Also, it’s not the same because you are not that wimpy person in the spirit anymore.   Paul says in Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV, “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

See those things of the former life we are not subject to now.  You meditate on the Word of God, have been calling things that are not as though they were, and are seeing results.  Emotionally, you’re not moved by what you see or hear. It used to stop you in your tracks, but now you drop to your knees and get your bearings straight. It’s not the same, and neither are you! 💕

Theresa Woodard