Jesus in the Middle

I am currently working a contest in my home-based jewelry business with Premier Designs Jewelry. I am on the final stretch of a 6-month challenge and I am working to achieve half of the new jewelry line (that comes out in July) for free! I hit a point the other night when I was discouraged and the devil began to feed my fear that it just wasn’t going to happen.
I need to let you know that I have accomplished 5 months of the challenge only by the grace of God – truly. When I began the month of June, and was “all-a-twitter” with fear, anticipation, hope and worry, God reminded me to just be obedient. God reminds me that often, especially since obedience is my word of the year. So I have prayed and consciously, consistently chosen to give my attitudes and thought life over to Christ.
Satan knows I want to WIN and his taunts were tempting me to look at my circumstance without the presence of God. And Jesus has been there, right in the middle of what I was experiencing →just as He has been the entire challenge. First Christ reminded my soul He is with me, He knows me and He loves me beyond what I can fathom. He gently reminded me to focus on who He is. I chose to declare ‘God is good – all the time.  All the time – God is good.’ Then God blessed me with two tidbits of encouragement: a positive rsvp to an event I am hosting, and a request to view my jewelry.
This morning God came to surround me with His sweet presence. In my email inbox was the verse of the day from Bible Gateway: Luke 11:13 (NCV) “Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” I was reminded how much God loves to give good gifts to those of us who belong to him. Along with the verse was a link to read the entire chapter. So like one who is starving I quickly clicked on the link and stuffed my face with the Word, as I dined with Jesus.  And God satisfied as He fed my soul.
I feasted on these truths from Luke 11 :
* I need to always be focused on revering God’s name as holy whatever I do (verse 2).
* I can trust God to provide what I need (verse 3).
* In the brief story Jesus gives before stating “How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” the main character is asking for help because he wants to help someone else→ I need to be about serving not just going for what I want (verses 5-13).
* If I am not focused on working with God and for His purposes I am choosing to not follow nor be obedient to Him (verses 14-23).
* If I do not fill the “empty spaces”  (whether they be from my fears, doubts, or hurts)  in my heart and mind with the wisdom, love and power of Christ, Satan will move in enforce (verses 24-26).
* I need to choose obedience, that is where true blessing is found and given (verses 27-28).
* Jesus is my miracle (verses 29-32).
* I am to be a light. A light doesn’t choose to whom it offers its service, or when it serves. It just is what it is (verses 33-36).
*  I cannot honestly claim to love Jesus and follow Jesus if I am not willing to live as He directs me to live. I need to adhere to the truth He gives me. Therefore I must put into practice all the above (verses 37-54).
I do not know if I will win the challenge. Admittedly, I do still want to win. More than that though, I want to serve and reflect Jesus Christ. And He has promised me the Holy Spirit : counselor, guide, encourager, strength, wisdom, peace. I am in the last stretch, and Jesus is with me, right there in the middle of it all. To God be all the Glory.