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When your situation seems impossible

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When there seems to be no escape, call on Jesus. Resist fear. Stand firm. Praise Him before you see victory. Maybe victory isn’t reserved for the end of the story.

There is a situation I’ve cried to the Lord about. I was powerless to change it and it was totally out of my control. At one point I just sobbed and said the name Jesus over and over. It was all I had. Thankfully, it’s all I need.

Today, that situation hasn’t fully resolved and been wrapped up in a pretty bow. But I’ve seen God perform miracles in the process. Some miracles are a one and done. Others are a step by step process.

Today I read Psalm 118 Thanksgiving for victory. Sometimes we need to remember victory isn’t always at the end. Sometimes victory is happening in the process. Celebrate Him.

Take His Word and pray it back to Him.

Lord, I give thanks to you for you are good, your faithful love endures forever. I called to you in my distress. You answered me and put me in a spacious place. Lord, you are for me. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? You are my Helper. Therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in you than to trust in man. This circumstance surrounded me. In the name of Yahweh I destroyed it. You helped me. You are my strength and song. I will shout with joy and victory from my home, “The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!” I will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done. You are my God, and I give you thanks. I exalt you. You are good and faithful. Your love endures forever. Amen

When you don’t know how or what to pray, start with His name. Open your Bible take His Words and turn them into your prayer. It’s powerful. It’s ? His will. It will change your heart and calm your fears.

Praying Prayers God Hears

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Heart Posture

There is a heart posture God looks for when we pray. Humility- the opposite of pride. Jesus is a picture of humility. Satan is a picture of pride. Pride was satan’s downfall. Humility was Jesus’s exaltation. Daniel shows us a beautiful picture of how to pray to be sure God listens to our prayers.

“While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sins and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before Yahweh my God concerning the holy mountain of my God-….” Daniel 9:20

Evidence of a humble heart

Daniel presents evidence of a humble heart. This giant of faith begins by confessing his sins and those of his people, recognizing our position before a holy God.

“… from the first day that you purposed to understand and humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.” Daniel 10:12

We come humble before our God and He tunes His ears to us. If this ruffles your feathers it’s an indication of a lack of true heart humility. A proud heart sets itself on equal footing with the Creator. A proud heart says why should I humble myself for God to hear me?

Prayers that start a battle

Our humble prayers ignite a holy war. We don’t see in the physical world, but in the spiritual world, a battle wages in fight for our prayers.

The angel Gabriel was sent on mission to fight for the cause of Daniel‘s prayer. Our prayers ignite war. Gabriel was withheld for 21 days fighting in the spiritual realm before he arrived to Daniel. Keep praying!

Let scripture interpret scripture. Where else do we see God incline to hear humble prayers?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14

 If, then statements

If you humble yourself, then God hears you and fights for you. If you remain in your pride, you become an enemy of God. 

“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

Do you have a humble heart? Not sure, ask God. If not, pray for Him to reshape your heart with His humility mold. It may hurt, but the pain brings gain.

 

Get Specific With God

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Embarrassed, and feeling rather silly, I had no answer for her simple question, “So what do you want to do with your writing?” At the time, the only thing I knew is that I wanted to use my gifts for His glory. Beyond that, what did I want? And what did that look like? Was I afraid to voice specifics to God fearing a no would lead to disappointment?

“There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Matthew 20:30

“Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes!” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.” Matthew 20:32-34

The blind men brought their broad need forward, but Jesus asked them to narrow their desire. When they saw the miracle of Jesus, how could they not follow Him? When we see God move in our lives in areas we’ve trusted to Him, our desire to follow Him strengthens.

While Jesus knows every thought, hope, and desire, He is a kind companion who wants us to get specific with Him because when we see Him perform the miracle, there is no denying His power and glory, which fills us with awe and wonder.

Dear God, help us trust You enough to boldly and specifically place our needs in Your compassionate hands. We want to see your miraculous work all around us. Amen.

What Controls Your Heart? A Conversation With God.

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God’s Word truly is living and active. We serve a LIVING God! Join me inside the pages of my journal and quiet time with God…..
I opened to Colossians 3 and read verses 12-17.
Then I wrote in my journal:
“Lord, you are showing me ‘thanks’ ‘be thankful’.”
Col 3:15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were so called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.
“Lord, what controls my heart? Fear? Anxiety? Worry? You tell me to let Your peace control my heart.”
“How?” I ask God
“Be thankful,” He responds.
“Lord, is that the key? The key to your peace? You are so good, Lord.”
Vs 16-17 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Lord, 3 times you show some form of thankfulness:
Be thankful
With Gratitude
Giving thanks
1 is a state of being, 1 is a heart position, 1 is action.
Lord, thank you that you are a God who speaks to your people. I pray for a thankful heart ruled by your peace. Amen
At the end of my quiet time, I realized I had just had a “conversation” with God. Immediately I remembered reading something about how we pray and listen to God through His Word and Spirit. I concentrated hard willing my memory to bring to me the source.
It was in Josh McDowell’s book The Last Christian Generation.
“If they are to develop spiritually, relationally, and emotionally, they must become people of prayer. God speaks to us through his Word and his Holy Spirit. We speak to him in prayer.”
Yes, I just experienced this firsthand. And I found myself thankful.
May you allow His peace to control your heart today. Be thankful.

 

When God is Getting Your Attention

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A friend called me several days ago and wondered if I had any suggestions for small inexpensive devotions she could give to her team at a retreat she was hosting for her business.

A tiny little booklet I hadn’t thought of in years popped in my head. I first heard about this little gem from another friend and ended up buying 20 copies of it to keep on hand to offer out as the need arose.  Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles E. Hummel.

She stopped by and picked up the copies I had on hand. I thought to myself, “I should read it again.” But I laid it aside and went about my business.

Last night I hosted the final session of a Bible study I led in my home. We went through Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer.  Can I just pause and say, please do this study. Even if on your own. Good gracious, it will be the thing your soul thanks you for for the rest of your life!

At the end of the video, Priscilla referenced this tiny pamphlet I hadn’t thought of in years. I’ve never heard it mentioned by anyone other than my one friend years ago. And here I sit learning how to better hear God’s voice when she mentions something that has only days before come to my attention again.

My friend sat across the room. Our mouths dropped, we met each other’s gaze with silent gasps. He had both our attentions.

Sometimes God speaks in whispers. But sometimes it’s like a shout in the ear in the middle of the night. Startling.

I climbed into bed with a full heart last night. A Bible study completed that we all stuck to through the summer. Not an easy thing in today’s busy culture. But they showed up week after week. Hungry and thirsty.

I opened that little black book and began reading. I got to a sentence that made in inhale sharply.

“Many of us have experienced Christ’s deliverance from the penalty and power of sin in our lives. Are we also letting him free us from the tyranny of the urgent? In this message he points the way: “If you hold to my teaching.” This is the path to freedom, continuing day by day to meditate on the Scriptures and gain our Lord’s perspective.

P.T. Forsyth once said, “The worst sin is prayerlessness.” Does this statement surprise us? We usually think of murder and adultery as among the worst offenses against God and humanity. But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency – independence from the rule of God.”

I stopped reading immediately. I needed to sit with this. Sleep on it. Roll around in it. Wrestle it down to the ground.

I closed my eyes. The next morning I awoke. I felt the Lord calling me into an even quieter time with him this morning.

I went to my writing room. I left my phone upstairs. I kept the lights low and opened His Word. I prayed. I asked Him to speak to me and let me hear Him. After I sat in His Word, I opened another book I’ve been slowly reading through each morning for the 2nd read through. Prayer – Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller. Absolutely amazing book.

 

Y’all. The very page I was on this particular day said this:

“Prayer should be done regularly, persistently, resolutely, and tenaciously at least daily, whether we feel like it or not. ‘The worst sin is prayerlessness,’ wrote Peter T. Forsyth.”

God had a word for me. Pray.

Last week I told my husband I felt God telling me to get on my knees. Literally. Posture into submission.

One of my greatest struggles is self-sufficiency. I know in my head that God supplies the power I need to do everything I do. Yet, if I’m totally honest, I often get from Him a touch of what I need then race forward leaving Him behind.

He gently calls me back. Wooing me to Him. Tender and sweet.

He tells me to lay down my first born drive and simply surrender it all to Him. Rest. Cease striving. Be still and know that He is God.

Is He calling you to spend more time sitting at His feet? To stop racing to the urgent demands and tend to the most important instead?

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