From the coast of Nova Scotia in North America and as far south as Uruguay lives an amazing creature called the Blue Crab. In order for it to grow, it regularly sheds its exoskeleton. It has to do this as its hard outer shell stays the same size, but the tissue of the crab itself is always growing. The process of shedding takes effort and patience but is vital for its growth. As it peels away its old shell, the crab stops eating and takes shelter as it is more vulnerable at this time.

When I look back over my life, I am amazed at how much I have grown. There have been many seasons that have caused me to wriggle. Seasons that have taken effort and patience, but the result has always been growth. In those moments I have learnt to take shelter in the Lord as He is my refuge and strength.

In Luke 5 it says “no one puts new wine in old wine skins.” Jesus came to do something completely new. It just didn’t fit the old way that things were done. Sometimes old things have to go in our lives in order to make room for the new. They may be things that once were good, but now they just don’t fit with what God has for us. If you’re in a season where you feel you’re a bit wriggly, that things are taking a bit of effort and a lot of patience, be encouraged. God may be causing you to be dissatisfied with the old because he has something new for you. The key is to find shelter in Him as He develops well-formed maturity in you.

And remember, if God asks you to grow, He will always give you all you need for what lies ahead of you. You can always trust Him.

As we have been learning about God's power and walking in it for the past few weeks I thought I'd look back over my week and see what testimonies I have of God's power at work...

He has freed me from sugar cravings and helped me to have a healthy diet ongoing including this week.

He has helped me to encourage and speak words of faith over my work colleague when she was declaring sickness and ill health in her future.

My other colleague has testified about her family that they are doing well including her daughter passing her driving test (though she lacked the confidence before) and God had prompted me to pray for them the last couple of months.

Hearing that a gentleman in church was given a new job and promotion after people from our church family prayed for him as he was going through a situation where he was wrongfully accused.

Another friend sharing that a boy in her school she works at is now miraculously able to speak after she had been praying for him, inspiring me to pray in faith for those in my setting.

Several young people lately bringing their parents to church/interested in coming to church off their own backs.

God teaching me to be filled with the light of God in all things. What we look at, think on and hear either fills us with darkness or light, and then what comes out of us is that darkness or light. I've been putting this into practice more and more.

It says in Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.

I challenge you to look back over the last week at the testimonies of God's power at work in your life, I'm amazed at what God has done in just this week!

I was thinking the other day about how Jesus defeated the enemy, by the words that he spoke. When Satan tried to lie to him and undermine him, his response was repeatedly, ‘it is written …’ (see Matthew 4 for this).

So recently when facing some challenges, I tried the same response. I just started to speak to every worry and accusation going on in my mind, responding every time with, ‘it is written…’ using a scripture to counteract the lies.

Sure enough as I did this, any anxiety and negative feelings started to melt away, as my mind was renewed in the truth of my standing before God and His promises. I realised that as they disappeared one by one, none of these thoughts had an ounce of truth in them.

I was then no longer weighed down and distracted by these lies. If you think you’d like to give it a try there are some examples below to get you started:-

Struggling with fear about the future:

It is written that “I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11.

Struggling with health issues:

It is written that He will keep me safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.

Psalms 91:3-16.

Struggling with insecurity:

It is written that we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Galatians 5:26.

Struggling with loneliness:

It is written that, God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6.

Struggling with unresolved sin:

It is written that, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Romans 8:38.

Struggling with fear of what people think:

It is written that it is the Lord who judges me.

1 Corinthians 4:4.

It is written, for am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10.

Struggling with disappointment and loss:

It is written that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18.

It is written that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31.

I am blessed to work at Cardiff University and this week I have been seeing lots of new first year students coming to campus. Lots of them look lost, unsure of where they are and where to go. For many it is their first time away from family and for some it's their first time living in a new city or even country.

After a while though they will start to get to grips with their identity as a student, they will learn about themselves as well as the subjects they are studying. When they get their students cards this will grant them entry into parts of the building not open to the public. They will be able to access learning and resources only available to Cardiff University Students and because of this learning and resources they are given a new direction for their careers. All of this will be available to them because they have paid their student fees.

This got me thinking about our lives as Christians. How because of the blood spilled for us we have new identities as sons and daughters of God. We get to learn more about what this means for us and how amazing God is. Because of this new identity we are and free to enter into God's courts and into his presence.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit who knows everything there is to know, and He gives us wisdom, guidance and knowledge, for us, our families and others.

We are given a new direction, purpose and a mission; to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15).

All of this is made available to us because of the price that He paid for us on the cross. How amazing is that?!