In Exodus 32 the children of God cast off all restraints and indulged in complete revelry. They not only cast off their gold rings to make a golden calf "god", but also cast off the leadership of Moses, the man of God who was their covering.
The meaning of perseverance is much like endurance in the original language: hypo(under), mi no' (abide) - abide under, remain under. Moses was to remain under the covering of God. The people were to remain under the covering of their leader Moses. Moses at the time of their rebellion against all authority; was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God Almighty!
They chose to come out from under the covering of their authority, casting off all restraints! Their very place of holiness, health, harmony and help. We are no different today. Even on this side of Calvary, we somehow think casting off all restraints in the name of "freedom" is a good thing. In our pride and arrogance we think we are "free" but we are truly "slaves" to our flesh, opposing the spirit. God puts us in places where we are called to remain under so we will live holy, healthy, harmonious and helpful lives.
What authorities or restraints has God placed in your life that you are wanting to CAST OFF? Could it be Christ or the Word of God? The authority of those over you? Maybe a husband, wife, friend, boss, parent or teacher? Is it possible that you are casting off the authorities and people God has graciously placed in your life to help keep you accountable and living a life above reproach so you will have influence and impact for His glory?
Before you cast off your "restraints" better ask yourself this question: Am I willing to endure the consequences that will not only affect me but those who are under my influence by casting off what God means for my good and His glory?
Years ago while sitting in a carpool line, I heard James MacDonald say something to the affect of, We can do bible study after bible study but never truly know the Person of Jesus Christ. The bible is not our object of worship. We study the bible because it is in the Bible that we find Jesus Christ. Those were not his exact words but you get the point.
So, why do you read & study the Bible? The reason we should read and study the Bible is that it points us to Jesus Christ. Yes we learn His principles, but if all we ever do is attend bible study, learning all the principles of God's word but never come away different, then we have missed the Person of Christ! We simply become knowledge seekers and soakers instead of Christ followers.
We are warned in scripture that "knowledge puffs up" (I should say knowledge alone puffs up). One of the definitions for this is: to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up a) to puff up, make proud b) to be puffed up, to bear one's self loftily, be proud. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Again in I Corinthians 13:2- If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Jesus is the epitome of love! The scriptures also teach us that God is love and those who love (agape) know God and are His? It doesn't say those who attend bible study and have all knowledge are known by God and are His does it?
Jesus tells us in John 15:12- "This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you". I find it interesting that the Word of Life's word to His disciples was not, gain more knowledge about me. Become a "good bible study girl", or do it the right way. No!, He tells us to love (agape) one another as He loved us! Again in John 15:17 - "This I command you, that you love one another". So how on earth are we to learn what his commandments are? The Bible of course, but not just to learn them over and over. Not just to memorize them and get a sticker or badge on our vest or on a role in some one's classroom. Not just to fill our heads with knowledge and become "fat and happy". Not just to "know" them.
We are to read and study God's word in order that we may walk in the truth, as stated in 2 John 1:4-6 - " was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. " The Word of God is alive and active and the words of life are Jesus Christ the person.
We should study the scriptures because the words testify about Christ! From Genesis to Revelation scripture points us to Jesus Christ. Don't stop bible study but make it your aim to not just get more bible knowledge but make it your aim to know Him more fully, to be rooted and grounded in the Person of Jesus Christ not just in biblical principles!
Romans 8:1 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Over the past year God has been reminding me and has even used a friend to confirm that He doesn't use guilt or condemnation in the lives of His children. He doesn't manipulate their feelings or emotions. God is the God of ALL truth. Those who have been born again are not under condemnation.
John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The Lord does use the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us. He does speak to us in His Word and in prayer. But condemnation and guilt come from the enemy of our souls or man imposes guilt on us. Guilt is a tool of the enemy!
I am convinced that guilting (my word) others into "serving" Christ does NOT work! I have watched countless leaders, pastors, managers and might I add mothers (me included at times) use a form of guilt in order to move people to "do" what they deem is important or to move people to the rhythm of their drum beat (agenda). Not so with Christ. He never made anyone follow him. He simply said, "Follow Me." Did you see that period (.)? Period, follow Me and I will do this or I will do this in and through you. It's all about Jesus in us. His call to, "Follow Me" will also look different in the daily details of how that is lived out for each and every believer. Different but yet, the same call to all who will follow Christ. That our lives will glorify Him and we will be gospel bearers.
If you feel guilty about something you have or haven't done ask the Lord to examine your heart. Get down on your knees in your private prayer closet ask him to show you if this is genuine conviction or genuine guilt. He will show you. The Lord wants us to be free to serve Him from a heart of authentic love for Him and desire to serve Him out of devotion not duty. Also, don't use guilt to beat and batter others into serving the Lord. We are not to be beaten into submission. Submission is the willing yielding of oneself to another either in authority over you like in marriage or as the word of God in Ephesians tells us to demonstrate love and unity in the body. In Ephesians 5:21 tells us, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." No one is to be Lord over their flock or those under their care. Christ is the Lord. His blood was shed for the church. He deserves our authentic worship. He and He alone is worthy of our devotion and dedication. If our hearts are made new in Christ we will desire to please Him above all else. Others may benefit from our obedience and service to the Lord but our motivation should be pure love for our Savior.
Guilt will only work for the short term but soon after resentment will kick in. You will be one of those people that others avoid like the plague. Why? Because we all need encouragement, we need grace, mercy, love and kindness. We need to know that we are being effective for the kingdom. Guilt and condemnation are two of Satan's chief tools. Guilt over our sin and disobedience is different, that my friend is called conviction from the Holy Spirit. Which leads us to repentance and then to freedom!
Think it over. Are you being used as an instrument of encouragement and edification? Or, are you being used as an instrument of condemnation and guilt which does the opposite of building up it tears down. Are you being effective for the kingdom of God in the lives of those He has placed under your care? Are you leading them to a life of repentance and freedom or to a life of being enslaved by guilt and condemnation?
Guilt and condemnation lead to a defeated life. Conviction and repentance lead to a life of freedom and victory!
I would definitely say I am a conservative. I typically vote Republican because 9 times out of 10 they seem to be the ones who support the traditional (biblical) family, are against the killing of innocent lives (abortion), etc. So, I'm not changing my conservative views. For years though, God has begun to open up my eyes to the world all around me; to those who don't see eye to eye with my convictions on so many serious matters of conscience and morality. There are moral absolutes I do believe in and there are things I don't believe in. Some of those moral absolutes or biblical truths are worth dying for some are not.
I have been blessed to be at home with our children since my son was three years old. Me and my husband decided that it would be in our children's best interest for me to be a full time stay at home Mother. During 15 of those years we have chosen to home school our children. There are things according to the Word of God I will not budge on in my beliefs. Example: Jesus Christ - the Jesus of the BIBLE not the Jesus man has re-invented to fit our mold; I believe according to the Word of God (God-breathed all of it) that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life and NO one can come to the Father except through believing (completely trusting, depending on and living for Jesus) in Him. I believe salvation can be found in no other but by the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe in the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. I have been saved by grace through faith - because God gave me the gift of faith to believe I can't even take credit for that! Faith is a gift - saving faith, sanctifying faith and faith to keep moving forward with the Lord until I see Jesus face to face.
I believe in the Family as God ordained the family to function. I believe in the Church (the Body of Christ) to function as God ordained it to function. I believe that government is put in place to protect it's citizens and communities from those who would want to hurt our nation. I have some very strong convictions. I believe in the right for a law abiding citizen to bear arms. I believe in the right for parents to decide what educational system is best for their children be it public school, private school or home school. I do believe we are to love our enemy and do good to those who persecute, abuse and use us. I do believe there is a time for peace and a time for war and all the rest. I do believe our nation has the right to protect our borders and people.
Let me tell you what I don't believe in. I don't believe that Marxism or Socialism or Communism is good for anyone!I don't believe that those who call themselves Christians or maybe a better word would be followers of Christ should be mean spirited. I don't believe disagreeing with someones lifestyle that goes against my convictions of faith should be grounds for someone to call me a "hater", I do believe we should love them anyway, because Christ loved me right where I was and am. I don't believe that true followers of Christ can ignore the cry of what my dear friend in Christ would call "the forgotten children" and believe me there are many. I don't believe we should be so "family" minded that we forget about those around us who aren't in a "family" atmosphere of any kind. I don't believe we as believers and followers of Jesus Christ should hurl insults at those who think differently than we do. I don't believe that "the church" should expect the lost to come through the doors of our churches just by knocking on their doors and shoving "heaven and hell" down their throats! I don't believe it's right for many of us to sit in our warm, cozy pews each and every week and think we are faithful because we have taught that class for 40 years and haven't walked next door to meet our neighbor. I don't believe it is alright to look down on others because they look different than I do or they don't dress their "Sunday Best".
I believe if each of those true followers of Jesus Christ would not focus so much on our church buildings, budgets and beloved programs we could rock this world with the love of God Almighty. The problem is not with this world. The problem is with you and with me. We are so stuck in our programs, plans, visions that we miss everyday opportunities to be disciples and make disciples as we go along the way. We miss Jesus right in our midst. God forgive us for looking out on the crowds or the woman behind the check out counter at Wal-Mart and not seeing another person You made in Your image. Give us the courage, conviction and compassion to CARE more about people than we do our yearly church budgets & calendars. Help us to BE the Church not just Go to Church!
Prayers that go beyond, "God bless Charlie" or "God be with Susie". Prayers that are developed out of desperate and what seem like impossible situations. Prayers that are born out of the broken cries of our hearts. Prayers that move beyond the ceiling of our own desires or dreams. Prayers that are kingdom focused and will live on in eternity!
Hard prayers! Like for instance, "Dear Lord Jesus, please get a hold of ____________(you insert the name). Disturb their souls, to the point that they can't sleep, eat, party or even enjoy things until they turn back to You Oh Lord." Prayers like, "Dear Lord, whisper ___________(you insert name) name in their ear, continue to pursue them with a relentless pursuit of Your love Oh God." How about a prayer like, "Lord God, reveal the hidden sins (those under the carpet) in me and my family, eradicate the deadly sins that could damage our relationship with you and others, expose them so that we will fall on our faces in repentance and turn back to You Oh Lord." I'm talking hard prayers!
I would say that most of us have never prayed a "hard prayer" in our lives. Praying hard prayers begins when we have exhausted our own resources. When we are desperate for God's hand to move in the lives of our loved ones. Hard prayers are truly prayers of intercession. To intercede in prayer is to pray things that others can't pray for themselves. Intercessory prayer is hard work! Yes, prayer is a "good work", in my opinion the most important work we are called to do as followers of Christ Jesus. I was going to say, second only to sharing the gospel but it is not second but sharing the gospel and prayer go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other!
Over the past several years the Holy Spirit has been teaching me how to pray things I would have never prayed for before. Those hard prayers came from a place of desperation, dependency, devotion and determination to follow and pray in accordance with God's will! Many of those prayers have literally made me gasp for air after I have prayed them out loud to the Father. Prayers that are a little scary to pray for this Mom of four and grandchild of one. I say they are scary because of the One to Whom my prayers are directed. The Lord Strong and Mighty, the Creator and Keeper of All living things, the God of heaven and earth, The God who is Sovereign over ALL the Universe. We are to come into His presence with fear and trembling, not because He is waiting to punish us but because He is Holy, Righteous and the Judge of ALL the earth. That should be enough to cause us to fall on our faces before Him in Awe and wonder. The fact that this little woman so unworthy of even lifting up her head in His Holy presence can even talk to the Lord of the Universe is unbelievable! Thank You JESUS for access to the throne!
It's not that I'm trembling in fear of His wrath. I am a child of God. I have been saved by His grace through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. I was once dead in trespasses and sin but now have been made alive in Christ Jesus! The veil has been torn from top to bottom and because of His Son's death and resurrection on the Cross of Calvary I have access to the King. Not because of anything I have done, not because I have done anything deserving of His mercy and grace. Simply, because He loves me and I have been accepted in the "Beloved". What a blessing! What a privilege! A little girl who grew up with no Daddy, no security, always feeling invisible and inadequate am now a child of the King. My Daddy God (Abba Father) has adopted me into His family. I have a new name, a new position, a new family, a new kingdom to live for, a new way of talking part of that is a prayer language! Everything is being made "new", so why not my prayers? That is why I can come before the throne and pray hard prayers on behalf of others! Intercessory prayer is powerful! I have seen God answer some of those hard prayers and it has been amazing; not at all easy, but no less amazing! That God hears my cries truly is incredible! Not only hears them but also answers them!
If your prayer life is dull and weak. Maybe it's because your prayers are hitting the ceiling of your own hopes, dreams and desires. Ask God to give you a new perspective on prayer. Do you know that the prayers of the saints are eternal! Go read it for yourself in chapter 8 of the book of Revelation - When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. "2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might [a]add it to the prayers of all the [b]saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.4 And the smoke of the incense, [c]with the prayers of the [d]saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.5 Then the angel [e]took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake." WOW! Prayers of the saints are eternal!
So what type of prayers are you praying? How is our prayer life? Is it stale, dull or possibly dead? Why not, ask the Lord of heaven and earth to revive your heart, get into His Word and begin praying God's Word back to Him. When we sit at the feet of Christ Jesus and are teachable, the Holy Spirit will show up and teach us how to pray those "fervent prayers of a righteous man that will avail much."
I don't know about you but I don't want to spend my time in prayer asking for things that are temporary (although, we can). I want to be so close to my Father's heart that I am praying His will and His way and His word to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I challenge you today to ask God to revive your heart, to renew your mind in the Word of God and ask Him to teach you how to pray in ways that will bless His heart and benefit the kingdom of God. God bless you as you endeavor to grow closer to the Lord through His Word and through praying hard prayers at the feet of Jesus.
A gentle nudge in the night....As if to say, "Come away with me my daughter for a sweet time of communion." That's what I sense at 3:15 about once a week now. I told a prayer warrior friend of mine just the other day (we were both awake at the same time one early morning) it's as if the Lord walks by your bed and gives you a gentle nudge. I am in a deep sleep and for no "apparent" reason my eyes are opened and I head down stairs to my favorite spot, bible opened, fresh journal page ready and waiting for the Lord to speak to my heart. Me and the Lord in sweet communion. It is something I now look forward to. A precious and priceless time of intercessory prayer.
It was about 7 years ago when God began to wake me up in the middle of the night always around the 3:00 am hour. At first, I didn't realize it was the Lord. I would wake up and look around the room, pull the covers over my head and fall back to sleep. Overtime though, I began to realize it was the Lord gently nudging me to come away and spend time in prayer.
As my children grew older and were "making their way in this world" my heart would grow heavy and I would feel burdened to pray during those early morning hours for their very souls. I would pray for their protection, choices, hearts to be softened by the Holy Spirit. I remember many nights being so overcome with a desperation for God to move in their lives that I was as Beth Moore calls it, "nose to carpet", prostrate on the floor crying out to the only One who could make a difference in their lives. On those nights it wasn't always with such a gentle nudge but with an alarming alertness to drop to my knees and begin interceding on behalf of my children or anyone else the Lord laid on my heart. I will never know this side of eternity how those hours in intercessory prayer kept one of them from the evil one; the one who like a roaring lion is roaming to and fro looking for someone to devour. Only God knows those things. I am grateful for that.
For several months it was really a discipline to overcome sleep and be obedient to get up and pray. Now, I am simply devoted to respond to those gentle nudges of the Lord. I have learned that God will show up and if I don't get up I will miss out on what He is wanting to show me or share with me. I don't want to miss a thing! It's through those times on my face before His throne or sitting in my favorite quiet time spot with bible opened, pen in hand and journal ready and waiting I have learned to sit at the Savior's feet. I have learned how to hear the Shepherd's voice. I have been as Andrew Murray calls it, "in the school of prayer" and I am still there. Always learning, desperate to hear from my Adonai'. I am learning how to trust the Lord with ALL my life. I am learning what it truly means to "love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength." I am always learning at the feet of Jesus. It's a great place to be!
I am learning how to persevere in prayer. To pray without doubting but in faith. To pray back God's Word to Him in every situation or circumstance. To just praise Him through His Word. To simply spend time calling out His greatness and goodness. I am learning to pray privately what I can't pray publicly. To pray hard things. For example: "God reveal the hidden sins in my family tree, grant us the gift of repentance and the fruit from repentance so You Oh Lord can re-landscape our family tree for the next generation and those that follow after us." I have seen God answer over the past few years in ways that made me gasp for air. Things that have made me desperate for more of God's presence, promises and peace! There have been some answers to prayer that truthfully, at first I said to myself, "Oh, why did I pray such a thing" because He showed up and revealed things that hurt down to the core of my heart, yet in the end it is a good thing. God promises to do good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes ~ Romans 8:28-30.
To tell you the truth; I am always amazed that the maker of heaven and of earth hears the cries of this woman's heart. I am utterly amazed that He cares about the details of my life but He does and I am forever thankful and grateful for that. I am His and He is mine because of the "blood of Christ Jesus".
To sum it all up, to be a student and a disciple of Christ is an honor and a privilege. There is no place I would rather be at 3:15 am than in sweet communion with My Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
So, when you feel a gentle nudge in the night don't ignore it. Get up and go away with the Savior for a sweet time of fellowship. You will be filled with more Jesus, more love and more of God's presence, promises, peace and power! Don't sleep when the Shepherd of your soul asks you to come and pray!
I have one child who is much less talkative than the others in her family. Most people who don't know her tag her as being shy. With a world full of "look at me" and a performance based atmosphere in most of our churches, I guess I can see why some would call her shy. After all, she is quiet, observant, a good listener and most of those are seen as "shy". The truth is she was born this way. It was part of her personality from the beginning. From the time she was born, we began to discover the personality of this wonderful little girl that God had given to our family. She was a quiet and content child from birth. She wasn't a fussy or hard to please baby. She was not demanding in her toddler years just the opposite, she was quite compliant and easy to raise. She has for the most part been an obedient teen and tries to honor her parents. Even when she disagrees with our stand on things, she voices her complaints in a way that is well received. She is not the type to take center stage in any conversation and doesn't desire to be one of the "noticed" ones. I've always admired that about her. I love her personality. She is peaceful and easy to be around. She can't stand "girl drama". Has always been mature for her age, a hard worker and just an all around great kid! I mean as with all "normal" young adults there have been times but they have been short lived.
I think we could use more like her in the world and in the church today. While I appreciate all the different personalities within the body of Christ, it is nice when you get to spend time with someone who isn't moving 100 miles an hour and running so far ahead of you that you can't keep up. I am married to a wonderful man, my best friend and we are complete opposites and it seems to work well that way. He is project oriented, and a servant at heart and I thank God for him. He sees a need in people's lives and in the church and is already 10 steps ahead of me. I feel like I'm always playing, "catch me if you can." When we do have time to sit and talk on any given day I just need to get out my steno pad and take notes. There is so much running through his brain! It's all good and directed towards ministry and his family but still, whew! God made him that way for a reason and I love that he can work circles around me. He can get more done in 24 hours than most people I know. It gives him great satisfaction to work hard especially if it's benefiting someone who really needs it. I love that about him. I'm not against working hard I also get great joy and satisfaction from working hard at something I love. We are just different in our personalities and our spiritual gifts. God did that on purpose. He also did that on purpose in the Body of Christ. We all need each other. No one is better than the other or more necessary than the other. Whether you are cleaning the church, maintaining the building and grounds, teaching a bible study, serving food or working in the nursery we are all needed and have a place of value in God's kingdom.
Sometimes though, those of us who are always "on". Always on the go, running 0 to 90, need to slow down, sit still, silence our minds and mouths and open our ears. Those quiet people God has placed in our lives; those thinkers, those who do more observing and listening also have much to bring to the table. We all need each other that's how God made and desires the Body of Christ to function. I truly appreciate and admire visionaries, especially because I am not a visionary at heart. Although, God gives me vision from time to time in my personal life about ministry. We need visionaries or like the word of God says, "people without vision perish". We don't want to become stagnant and perish! So we need the movers and shakers, those who are driven in their leading. But, we also need those who are the observers, the listeners, those who take it all in, those who are a little more cautious and prayerful in the decisions needed to be made in our families and churches. Both are valuable.
I guess what I'm trying to say without seeming critical is that we can all learn from one another. Don't dismiss someone and tag them as "shy" because they are quiet. You may very well miss a huge piece of the puzzle in the vision God is casting for your family, church, ministry or workplace. I remember when I was introduced to Anne Graham Lotz, through a bible study method she developed. I heard her speak once at a conference and she shared how she was somewhat of an introvert. She told us about when God called her to a teaching ministry and she thought, "God, you have the wrong girl!" Look at what God has done in and through the ministry that He birthed from her time in the word! Don't dismiss those in your ministry circles who are the shy, quiet types. You never know what God is cultivating and birthing in their lives.
I have been around and ministered under some awesome movers and shakers who I know were seeking God's word, will and way. I have learned so much under their leadership. Visionaries are used by God in great ways to further His kingdom. I love them and have learned to appreciate their talkative, fast paced, "tell it to me in 10 words or less" personalities. They tend to be drawn to people like them because they are productive individuals and can see how this one or that person can help the ministry that God has given them the vision for. Sometimes though, I have witnessed as they have overlooked those in their midst who could be great assets to their team or ministries because they have a hard time seeing past what they deem as "shy" are really people who are thinkers, maybe a little more cautious in personality not fearful but thoughtful. People who ponder a little slower than others maybe? Those in our midst who are "shy" are sometimes the very ones we ignore. They don't want a stage or a platform ministry but can be great shepherds of small groups, disciple makers, bible study teachers or a heart to minister and glorify God through music. Not everyone has a dynamic personality, but all can have a dynamic ministry when God is in it and the one leading them. Just remember quiet doesn't always mean shy!
In the past year I have seen God answer prayer after prayer in the lives of my family and friends. Specific answers to specific prayers. It has been such an awesome encouragement to me as a mother. Prayers I have prayed for literally years I am seeing answered and the fruit of sleepless nights on my knees in tears over the conditions of the hearts (including mine) in our home. Even now I know God is working behind the scenes calling people to Himself, to salvation, obedience and surrender each and every day.
Since January, we have been in a new church and have a new church family. It has been hard, good, joyful, painful, exciting, exhausting all at the same time. Family relationships usually are you know? God has been transforming my husband giving him a hunger and thirst for His Word like never before. In the Spring, we began to tithe out of obedience to God's Word and have been faithful in that for the first time in years. He has been changing my heart and moving my hands and feet to follow His lead in submitting to the leadership of my husband; after all, he is the covering God has placed over me as a wife and mother. We are now having time in the word as a family and in prayer all at my husband's leading. AMAZING! It has been so sweet.
So, with all the good stuff happening in and around us, why would I title this post, Broken Appliances, Termites, Fleas Oh My ? Because, in the midst of God's goodness, grace and transformation we been faced with irritations, aggravations, and problems each and every day for an entire year. It began with a refrigerator that almost caught on fire. In the middle of the night I woke up feeling like something wasn't right and went into the kitchen opened up our freezer and saw a red glowing light and heard popping sounds. Thank God the Holy Spirit alerted me to get up and go check things out! There would have been a fire in our wall. At any rate, the refrigerator was "toast"! A month later our microwave over our stove went out and our Bunn coffee pot died. Next, our dishwasher quit working. To top all that off, we had a water leak from the air condition unit which came ran from upstairs between the wall in the stairwell to my daughter's room. So, the air unit downstairs was dead! Then a few months later we discovered we had termites! Now, we are dealing with fleas which are probably the most aggravating for me. We have bombed, used powder on all our carpets and will be bombing again this week! Just one thing after another. It seems like everyday it gets harder and harder, little in comparison to eternity but nonetheless, still aggravating and irritating!
This past month we went to a meeting on a mission trip being planned for Haiti and our hearts were stirred to put our "yes on the table" as our pastor says. Since then, it has intensified. Second round of fleas, still working on termite problem and this week someone broke into my husband's work truck and stole his work laptop and t.v. It just keeps coming!
I know the source of these attacks, the principalities and powers of the enemies arsenal. What God allowed me to see this week is how God has strengthened us in the way we have chosen to respond to these pesky problems. Through prayer, on our knees together me and my husband who at one time were spiritually independent of one another have begun to take this battle to the Lord. To the foot of the Cross. We have become interdependent on one another and DEPENDENT on our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ! I am forever grateful for the trials, problems, irritations, frustrations, aggravations because "what the enemy meant for evil, God has turned into good". He always does if we will recognize where the attacks are coming from. Drop to our knees in utter dependence on Christ. Depend on Him to get you through and get up and do what He tells us to do!
Several years ago, while attending a Beth Moore conference she did something I will never forget. It is seared in my memory. She was talking about taking back territory that the enemy had stolen in the lives of others. She walked across the stage that was dark, and the lighting crew placed spot lights where her feet touched. As she stepped forward they would light up that area until every place she placed her foot was lit up with white light! She turned to the audience and reminded us with a scene from Lord of the Rings - where the princess cuts off the enemies head and says, "I'm No man", that warfare is indeed real and when we get serious about the souls and lives of those around us and begin to through prayer, fasting and repentance begin to engage in the battle the enemy would be angry and the warfare would INTENSIFY!
Now to some of you reading this, your battles have been much larger than ours, maybe cancer or death has invaded your life. Maybe a wayward child (I know about that one), maybe financial disaster has hit your home. Maybe our "little" irritations seem small and they are in light of eternity, so we can bear it and move on forward with a kingdom focus, knowing this too shall pass. But, this I know, it doesn't seem "little" when you are the one walking through it. No matter the size, no matter the form the attacks come in, they are hard.
I don't know what is coming next, but My GOD does. If I don't depend on Him and hold His hand tightly as I am passing through this life I will miss out on His purposes, plans and promises. I will not get to experience all He has for me this side of heaven. I don't want to miss a thing. I want to be kingdom focused and live intentionally each and every day. Listening to His voice above all the other voices clamoring for my ear. So here, we go down the "yellow brick road" of our faith in Christ. Down the path the Master Planner has marked out for me and my family. Trusting Him one step at a time. One day at a time. Some days, moment by moment. The abundant life is just that. Those who are serious about intercessory prayer are like the servants who got to see Jesus at the wedding in Cana, we will get to see Jesus turn the water into wine!
I wrote this to encourage someone out there who might be experiencing difficult days. Maybe not cancer or death or what we consider BIG events, life changing events but for those who are in the thick of the battle and feel the intensity. KEEP ON PRAYING, DON'T GIVE UP! The enemy of our souls wants us to quit. Keep making disciples, keep teaching that class, keep loving those sheep hardest to love. Keep praying for the lost, keep praying for that marriage or that child. ALL by His might and His power NOT our own.
Broken appliances, termites, fleas.... SO WHAT! My God is greater, stronger and ABLE to help me jump over a wall, to run when I am weary, to not faint. He will uphold those who love and fear Him, who are His treasured possession!
Are you feeling overwhelmed, over-worked and over-run?
We all go through seasons like this in our lives. This year in 2013 I want to be overwhelmed by my God and Savior Jesus Christ! I want to be over-worked for Jesus Christ and His kingdom! It is not my desire to be over-run in my daily life or my calendar by "good" things and miss out on God's "best"! Oh, how I desire to be overwhelmed by God's grace, goodness, love and mercy. To serve Him from a place of devotion not duty! That is my heart's cry in 2013.
According to Merriam-Webster's definition, overwhelm means to: 1 : upset, overthrow : to cover over completely : submerge : to overcome by superior force or numbers : to overpower in thought or feeling.
I want to be covered over, overpowered & drained by doing God's will in my life not following someone else's plan and becoming overwhelmed - upset, overcome by someone forcing their will and plan onto my plate! I want to be an over comer in Christ not one who is overcome by the pressure and force of another person's plans.
While it does cost to be a disciple and to pour out your time, money, resources, energy out into the lives of others. That is a good cost! I'm talking about those who put pressure on you. Assume you are on board with the plans God has laid out for their lives. For me, when I experience this type of pushing, prodding and plotting I immediately want out! I become what I once thought was a little rebellious but have since learned is not rebellion at all. It is a resistance from the Holy Spirit. He is my teacher, my comforter, my leader. I want to walk in cadence with the Holy Spirit in my life. I am not called to walk to someone else's drum beat!
So, when people come to you with their plans be sure you bathe it in prayer, seek God's will for your involvement before putting your "yes on the table." He knows the plans He has for you. Ask Him, seek Him and knock. He will answer. If you have developed a godly habit of praying, seeking and listening for His direction. He will confirm it in His word. In my life I have noticed that the Holy Spirit seems to whisper or send me little nudges before I move forward in any direction. There is usually something on my "radar" that connects with where He is leading me. If I have had no nudges, no whispers, nothing in the Word of God leading me to become involved in this or that I should stop and not move forward with one more step.
Being confident in Christ sometimes means saying, no. It is not allowing others to pressure me and overwhelm me with their plans no matter how good the plan may seem. If it is not of God and is not bathed in prayer and led by The Lord I dare not jump on board. The results are usually resentment, anger and depression.
When the Lord lays something on your plate, when He orchestrates your life and fills your calendar with His plans while it is not easy, there is peace, joy and tremendous satisfaction in being obedient to His leading.
Ask God to overwhelm you with His presence, promises, plans and peace in 2013 You will be amazed!
