I was raised to understand the God of the Universe who created all things and then made man in His image is also The One who wants nothing between Himself and His children.
I know this is true because I have experienced a continued favor in my life. Because of this I raised my three children to know He loves them just the same, and at the young ages when we would load up to go anywhere in the car – I would ask them ” do you have your seatbelts on?” They would say ” yes ” and then I would tell them “ok now lets put on our spiritual seatbelts ” and we would stop and pray.
I believe that in this life we are subject to all kinds of possible accidents and it’s those accidents that would discourages us from believing that God cares, I’ve heard it said often “if God is love…”
What we fail to understand is there is this great conflict of { Good verses Evil} this is very much the reason for all the tribulations; trials and heartache.
This is not because God doesn’t care or love – just like driving safely doesn’t keep you from all the possibilities of an accident. We are subjected to other drivers, their distractions; their lifestyle choices.
There is a great need for you to trust and obey the Word of God. In order to survive the daily assault’s by the evil one. If you believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you have become an enemy to the liar and deceiver. You are at war daily to stay closer to the path of righteousness.
But you need not fear, only respect and trust that whatever is born of God {confessed sinners made new } overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ( 1 John 5:4)
We also need to realize Jesus ~ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. ( Galatians 1:4)
He who came and died for you will hear the desire of the humble; He will prepare your heart; He will hear.
Friends, don’t stop praying let nothing come between you and the Savior – the reward is great.
According to Romans 6 ~ I am no longer a slave to sin.
Living as a new creation saved by grace through Jesus Christ.
Sin shall have no dominion over me because I am no longer under the law but under grace.
To be obedient to this word so I may be lead to ” right living” righteousness. My life – body – mind – spirit needs to be a willing vessel to right living, instead of wrong living which makes one under the penalty of sin.
By grace = saved through faith not of myself but a Gift from God, not by works. However created new in Christ for good works which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.
The end is near ( at hand) therefore I need to be serious and watchful in prayers.
When prompted to pray..do it.
And above all things have love for one another for love will cover a multitude of sins. Love of family in their weakness – love of friends in their own “lost sense” because we know love heals.
This a foretaste of Heaven, if love was used this way.
Be hospitable towards others without grumbling.
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I just shared the working out of the scriptures in study. Did you notice how one layer of truth builds upon another and another giving a firm foundation? This helps us to understand better the way the Lord is wanting us to walk.
This is why it is so vital to study to understand. Acts 17:11
The only way I can speak about the Word is by the ability He gives me in bringing it forward to my mind, my part is to study to put it there so that I will be able to see and testify to His glory.
In this, He creates within us the gift of life to share with others freely. Being tender hearted, compassionate and courteous, this is what He calls us to do so that HE may be blessed and seen.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecc 7:8
I encourage you to journal your study times to see how He leads you in understanding, it only takes willingness.
Are you walking around with a dark cloud over your head?
I’m not talking about clinical depression or anxiety which tend to feel this way.
This cloud is more spiritual and today it’s becoming more common in the times we are living in, everyone is being oppressed.
In 2010 my life was actually good. I was raising three healthy children, I was able to be a stay at home mom, great marriage.
But I was walking around with that dark cloud over my head.
For whatever reason I couldn’t shake it, I tried lots of natural approaches, went to a doctor to get a diagnosis and he said
“I’m not prescribing you anything, just eat better and exercise.” And I did. But I was still so unhappy.
I remember having a conversation with a mentor who was telling me about a new prayer ministry she was involved in, I became curious about it because she was seeing God heal others through this ministry.
I don’t plan to promote the “type of ministry” because if used wrong it becomes a tool for the enemy. Instead I’m going to tell you that prayer in itself is key, so vital to our healing journey. Looking back I didn’t have the same attitude about prayer as I do now.
At that time I felt lead to investigate this and because I trusted my friend “E” she was a walking light for Him and had the fruit of His Spirit. She was also like a mother figure, she loved the Lord and loved to share His Word. She was our groups prayer warrior, I knew that God had her in my life for this reason. We prayed often together prior to this ministry.
I remember asking my pastor about this new prayer ministry and he didn’t know about it but encouraged me to be cautious. I even talked with another church member who was studying mental health at that time and she didn’t know about it either but again encouraged me to use caution.
Then I asked my husband who said that if I felt lead to try this that it should be ok. But the final authority is when Jesus says in Matt 18:18-20 when we are together in His name and we agree, He is in the midst.
This is when I said, “Lord, “E” is my sister in Christ, I can trust her because I know she serves and loves You, and I trust that You will bless and be there.”
What happened next is surreal and every time I share it, I still can’t believe I had the privilege of experiencing it.
We decided to meet up at her church one late afternoon, it was overcast and rainy.
She was given a room dedicated to this ministry, it was a little office space with a love seat and some other comfortable chairs, decorated with some soft effects like a lamp, throw blanket and a few pillows, box of Kleenex nearby.
The ministry rules suggest two to one ratio unless the person is a believer, “E” arranged to have a her friend who was also in the prayer ministry join us, however at the last minute she had to cancel because she wasn’t feeling well.
I remember “E” asking me if I wanted to reschedule.
I didn’t, I trusted God was in this moment and it would work it out as it should.
As we sat down “E” asked me what I wanted to pray about, I expressed everything about how I was feeling and I didn’t know why and I couldn’t shake it.
Then “E” says: Lets pray.
And She did, she gave thanks to the Lord for His mercy and grace for all that He is and all that He does. She asked forgiveness and then she began proclaiming the promises of His Word as she pleaded with Him on my behalf.
She asked Him to reveal to me what I needed to know about these feelings and especially about this cloud hanging over me. As she was petitioning Him on my behalf I was hearing her prayer and I was also asking the Lord for the same thing.
I was moved to tears because I felt in that moment a safe warm embrace of someone who cared and was beseeching the Heavenly Father on my behalf. And even though it was “E” I heard I knew it was actually The Holy Spirit interceding on my behalf through “E” prayer. And then I saw it.
While she was still praying aloud for me, clear as day, I saw what looked to be a picture perfect day. Blue sky with a field of lush green grass. But as I looked up, I saw a black chalk board which becomes a huge obstacle in the middle of that beautiful day.
I could not see around it, and it was a stark contrast to what I was wanting to see.
If you are from the older generation a “black board” was something a teacher would use to show lesson examples and used also to write the names of those who were not doing good that day.
I never liked the black board, my name was on it more then I care to remember.
As I was looking at this black board I realize written across it was everything I had ever done wrong in my life, it was completely covered from top to bottom.
The whole board listed every thing I was guilty of.
I remember thinking “wait.. I thought I was forgiven of all this and yet here it is, a reminder of what I had done.”
I sat there feeling worse then when we started.
Then “E” ends the prayer.
I was crying.
I told her what I saw and that it made perfect sense now, I had a cloud over me, and it was all my down falls.
Everything I did wrong.
She sat and listened, she didn’t counsel me, she just listened and then said: Let’s pray.
I closed my eyes and saw that vision again like it was just sitting there waiting for me.
I heard “E” praying and asking the Lord on my behalf what I needed to know about this. She prayed the passages of the Bible on repentances and forgiveness. She continued to to ask Him on my behalf and I asked ” Lord what do I do now?”
From the top side of the vision I see a hand come down out of the sky and in one swoop it grabbed that intimidating black board chalk full of all my trespasses and crumbled it up and next threw it out like a piece of paper, it was forever cast away never to be seen again.
I was so confused, I sat there stunned waiting for “E” to finish praying. My face must have said it all. She says “what.. what happened?”
I told her what just happened then I said “it’s gone, what does this mean, now what am I supposed to do? ” ( still upset ~ crying)
She repeated it slowly. “it’s…. gone…?”
I said ” yea.. like it never existed, it’s not there anymore.. it’s gone, the hand took it and threw it out like it was never there, what do I do now? ” ( yes, I’m still crying..it hasn’t registered yet..)
She smiles and says again ” it’s… gone..?”
Her smile lights up her eyes and I finally see the answer.
It’s gone.
He took this from me because He loves me.
He has forgiven me and paid dearly for the privilege of crumbling up my sins and sending them away to set me free.
Of course you know what “E” did next.. “Let’s pray”.
She gave thanks. Oh boy! did She give thanks.
I sat there and yes I cried and thanked Him too.
I told Him I would never forget this and would tell everyone what He did. As we said Amen, she looked at me and said “girl I have never witnessed this happen so fast.. what a privilege to be apart of this, I am amazed, what a testimony!? Wow! ”
That was the last day I had the cloud of my past hanging over my head. It was a rainy day and there were a lot of tears but the sun was shining and the sky was blue in my mind.
Never had to deal with this cloud issue again.
Friends, if you are struggling with this, look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to His Word.
Look purposely to the promises that were written in love for you.
The Word is a love letter about how much God wants to save His children.
Look up “help or heal or grief” or whatever words you need to read about, Jesus will meet YOU there.
Ask Him to show you the fullness of His love towards you. Pray and remember with repentance, having forgiveness towards those who hurt you also. This is not for them, it’s for you. You don’t have to like what they did or even trust them, you just need to realize we are all guilty and sinful, falling very short of the glory of God.
He is wanting to heal you and He will take care of what’s given to Him. Take hold of His promises.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12
This devotional post today is about a journal entry I wrote five years ago.
I was prompted to share by a gift of envelopes with the words “Open When you want a devotional prompt..” so when I opened it up and it read:
“How my spiritual life was 5 years ago compared to now and what changed ? “
What a great question and as you will soon learn timely also.
I hoped to be able to look back at my journaling to find something recorded. I went in search of my old journals and found one dated January of 2021. Truthfully I got excited because I wasn’t to sure I was actually writing during this time.
It gets more interesting, I had only done 14 days of entries that month and the the next entry was in March 21, 2021. So now I’m very curious what was going on then.
And here’s what I learned, it was the day I started writing and didn’t put it back down again for any stretch of time.
It was actually the year I picked up the sword “the infallible Word of God.” and started working with it to cut away fears and doubts of my faith. He became my shield because I purposely through prayer and study started to trust Him.
The Lord walked with me through many paths of uncertainty and here’s what I wrote about that started it all.
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All over the map..
You wake me with the words “Pray..pray.. “
I heed Your voice looking to say that which is pleasing and You provided the Word, reminding me that:
“No weapon formed against you will prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the hertiage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me. says the Lord.” … And their righteousness is from Me.”
I watch my kids drive all over the map(on Life 360)
I pray for their safety every day. For the Lord God their Father to protect and guard them from harms way. Your Word gives me comfort to know You will and have!
I pray for protection against the evil and harm the enemy seeks to do – and know that this is only possible if it is Your will Lord – but also there comes a time according to Your Word where Your arms are shorten because we choose to turn away, Numbers 11:23 :( – I seek to change this !!!
Even now You provide my own hearts cry?!
I find a note from my daughter stuck inside my bible just for this moment. THANK YOU!
Psalms 13:5 ” But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Please be near Hunter..
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I just shared with you the very intimate moment when I realized I didn’t want to shorten the Fathers arms towards me any longer. Because we have “free will” this happens as a result, not because He doesn’t’ hold out His arms, No, it’s because we limit Him with our free will.
We struggle and try to do everything ourselves and even at our best this is a pride and sin problem.
This is why Jesus said dying on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” because we continually live in sin and don’t even know it.
He has always provided for my needs, He knows my hearts desires. He will never leave nor forsake me, I may be all over the map but He is not.
He is the only right direction giver, He is the true North.
Pray continuously for the Lords leading – give Him first place every day, while you walk, when you sit or lie down – take hold of His hand and let Him lead you all the way.
You can trust Jesus, He is the Son of God and all power and dominion was given to Him, He is The Alpha and Omega, The Word and The Final Authority over all things. This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No other like HIM.
While you learn to abide in Him – your life will never be the same.
He will reveal to you all truth – you will learn to trust Him.
He will never leave you nor forsake you – He is able to do more then you could ever ask or imagine.
He is the only way – to eternal life. No other way but Jesus Christ.
Friends take action today, give Him your life completely. This is where I was five years ago today, uncertain and scared. Today I have this hope that burns within my heart, hope in the coming of the Lord I am loved by Him and I am assured of His promises. Friends one day soon He will come again and He wants to know you and receive you into His Kingdom. But the choice is yours.
In Christ love, Amen
( The words in the picture) 5 years ago ..I started to journal about God’s Word. I have written many days of pages getting to know who He is and what I needed to do to be in one accord with Him.. today He reveals the reality of this walk with Him and His great LOVE.
I received this testimony from a loved one and I know she will not mind if I share it.
As she was getting ready for church, she was reflecting on how pleased she was with her choices over the past week. She purposed to not spend any extra funds this college quarter/semester on coffee runs; mindless eating out or stress shopping. However she had a gift card, and thought to treat herself that morning to her favorite drink before going to the campuses young adult church.
Here’s where it gets interesting, she attends church on the 7th day Sabbath. It was how she was raised and while its natural to think “well if I don’t work, it’s all good” however more recently she also purposed to honor what God asked better, so while preparing to leave her room these words came to mind “you have six days in which to labor, buy or sell, but on the 7th day remember the Lord set it aside as a day of rest to be kept Holy..” as she considered this she knew she had a choice, I may not be working but I would be asking another to work”. This thought did not sit well with her. She decided right then to leave her card in her room and wait. Feeling good about her decision she headed to church.
When she arrived to church the scripture of the service was :
Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12
She realized those earlier thoughts were divinely inspired.
As she listened to the testimony of the speaker she felt certain that the Lord was making a call on her heart, her new found devotion towards Him was calling her to recommit her life to His will. A new place at 20 years old, knowing that at 14 when she was first baptized it was a different time, but now she knew things were different. The speaker was wrapping up the service and began making an alter call.
He was pleading for the hearts of those there to come to Jesus completely, after a few more minutes he said he would count to three but continued persistently asking those there to come forward as the Lord was calling them.
Praying the Holy Spirit would move on the hearts that needed to rededicate their lives to the Lord. She says at this point only one person went forward, she sat there “feeling the pull” but not wanting to go forward, she didn’t want to be the center of attention. She knew the invitation was for her, she felt it strongly, but she was waiting for the speaker to say three, it was so intense she was physically shaking. Her friend next to her notices and ask if she was ok, she tells her friend she was thinking about going forward. She knew she should go forward but was scared. She sat there hoping the speaker would count to three soon, and it would be over. Resisting the urge to stand up and go forward in front of the crowd. The speaker says again, “I know there’s someone here who needs to do this, the Lord is near and is waiting to see you stand up and walk with Him.”
At this point she is pleading for him to say three and it will be over but instead then she hears these words inside her mind “go..go..go..” and it was then she stood up and walked forward.
The room starts clapping in praise to God and as she went forward five more stood up to join her.
Later she sends her mom a text message “so I guess I’m getting re baptized..” If I’m right in the recount of this story that’s a perfect 7 that came forward on the 7th day, Sabbath to give their lives to Christ, regardless, it was a special day for this young lady.
And here’s why the power of prayer really is needed and works.
Her mother has been prayerfully asking the Lord to place a desire in her daughters heart ~ to walk more closely with the Lord, that He would reveal Himself to her in the same way He did in her own life 32 years ago. That He would provide for her daughter the experience only He could in His transforming power of love.
And that He would send her a man, who loves and serves God and would love her too.
This is where I tell you .. I am that praying mother.
And while I am watching from the side lines cheering on the team of Jesus, I know that my prayers matter and are heard, I sit in amazement of the wonders of His love. To God by the Glory!
Yesterday Jesus walked in to her heart, took her hand and is leading her to love and serve the Heavenly Father as we all should.
That’s the man I prayed for and that’s why she will always have what she needs and be loved forevermore.
