The Second Half
Dear Team Christi,
On September 8th, it will be two years since Mylon graduated to heaven. (See special MYLON TRIBUTE here.) Wow, looking back I didn’t know how to continue my race without my best friend. But glory to God,“there is a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother!” His name is JESUS and He gave me YOU. I’ll never forget when the Holy Spirit explained, “Those who stay when they could’ve walked away, that’s covenant.” Oh, how I cherish your covenant partnership. We’re on this journey together and we will see the fulfillment of our divine destiny.
We’re launching into the next chapter with our NEW On the Road to Freedom intro starting this Sunday. (YOU get to watch it FIRST—see here!)So many times in moving forward, I was tempted to despair thinking my best days were behind me. After all, I enjoyed heaven on earth for 25 years with the man of my dreams. My brain couldn’t figure out, “How could it get better?” Thinking back on my life, I remember my years growing up as a cheerleader. If I had to pick my favorite sport to cheer for, it’d be football. (I’m a Texan after all!) If you’re also a fan, you know that no matter how good or bad the first half, the game is won or lost in…the second half. Are you sitting down? God is ready to make the second half of our life so much better than the first!! What He’s already done for me has been magnificent and He’s the ONLY ONE Who could top Himself!
We see this principle in the life of Job. It looked like total destruction when this blessed man lost his family and his fortune. Even his wife told him to curse God and die. (Be aware of listening to unbelief in a time of crisis.) But God had the final say! Job 42:10, 12 NLT says, “the Lord gave him twice as much as before! So the Lord blessed Job in THE SECOND HALF of his life even more than in the beginning.” But maybe you’re thinking the beginning of your life seems insignificant. Job 8:7 NKJV admonishes us saying, “Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” So, no matter our beginning, God is ready to amaze us in the days ahead!
Being without my husband, the enemy tried to discourage me with shame and the “reproach of my widowhood.” (Isaiah 54:4) But Isaiah 61:7 promises, “Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a TWO-FOLD recompense…Therefore in their land they shall possess DOUBLE; everlasting JOY shall be theirs.” WooHoo! Zechariah 9:12 is another witness of the double blessing, “Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of HOPE; even today do I declare that I will restore DOUBLE your former prosperity to you.” Please notice we have a part in receiving the double blessing—we stay full of hope! Whatever disappointments we may have experienced, it’s time to get our hopes up! Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance (evidence) of things hoped for…” Laying hold of the promises of God by faith begins with hope.
We also see in Job 42:10, another essential factor to receiving the double blessing: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job TWICE as much as he had before.” Job prayed for his so-called “friends” who’d been harshly judgmental and blamed him for his heartbreaking situation. We must also pray for those who hurt us, betrayed our trust or walked away. Please understand forgiveness doesn’t mean we trust those who’ve proven to be disloyal. Trust is earned. But we can pray FOR them (NOT God get ‘em!) and pray for God’s best in their life. Take a moment between you and the Lord. Say, “Father, I forgive and release those who hurt me deeply. I stay on the LOVE side and wholeheartedly cast the care to You for I know You care for me.”
Now when you sow your precious seed this month, your obedience to forgive opens the door to The Blessing. Say with me over your seed, “The Lord is RESTORING DOUBLE and blessing me in the second half of my life, so much more than in the beginning! No matter my past, in Christ, my best days are in front of me!”
You are dearly loved, valued and appreciated.
Christi
P.S. We’re here for YOU. Please let us know how we can pray specifically for you by emailing us: prayer@mylon.org. Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for new episodes each week of On the Road to Freedom and Healed Heart with Christi Podcast.
SPECIAL SURPRISE! We have a surprise video to share honoring Mylon from his album, Live Forever, 1983. It was recorded live (42 years ago!) at a Christian music festival. Mylon was one of a few early Contemporary Christian artists to give an invitation on an album. Throughout the 25 years of our marriage, we loved hearing how people gave their lives to Jesus while listening to The Invitation. Check out Mylon’s powerful ministry through free MP3 teaching and anointed music available at mylon.org.