​A handful of months before C19 changed our lives, the LORD transitioned the ministry from being mostly in person group sessions to instead being online ministry.  I started using Zoom in September of 2019 and started holding group prayer and meditation sessions that way.  Then in the Spring of 2020, after we were instructed to lock down, I felt urgency to reach people on a more day-to-day basis.  I felt very burdened about the emotional and mental state of believers and how to offer an easily accessible prayer resource people could do on their own time.  The result was the Monday through Friday podcast that offers interactive prayer exercises in less than 10 minutes per day.  

It's been about 2 years of online ministry.  And it's easy to wonder what difference I really make.  The whispers of God come to turn my thoughts away from needing to know and remind me of the simple call, "Feed my lambs.  Tend my sheep."

I've always felt that I've needed to be fed and tended to by God before I can pour out something that ministers to others.  So for each day, I'm first spending time with God in the Word and in prayer.  Then based upon inspiration from that time with God, I'm writing up the podcast session, and then recording and editing it for daily upload.  One of my least favorite activities is recording video messages for various social media sites.  It still feels so awkward for me to talk a little camera hole on my laptop or cell phone 😆.  I also type replies to prayer requests or posts, but am often limited to number of words for response.  So basically there is limited knowledge and interaction I have of what God is doing for the person on the other side of the screen or phone.  And as the days have turned into years, I have moments where ministry can get pretty lonely.  I often wonder who is listening, watching, reading, engaging, and what the Spirit is doing.  I really miss being face-to-face with people, hearing their voices, connecting before and after sessions, praying in person with people, getting in-person reaction.  But God has called me to surrender to the change, so I have learned to release the outcomes to Him and just keep obeying to the call, "Feed my lambs.  Tend to my sheep."

He knows just when to sustain me in weariness with a word, as Isaiah 50:4 prophesied that He would do!  He's sent words to encourage me over the last couple of weeks!  

Recently, a few people have taken extra effort to give me feedback, which has meant so much to me! I want to share it because it is for God's glory, and maybe their messages are meant to sustain you too! 

At the end of April, I got an email from a man named Doug.  He's been listening to the podcasts for awhile.  It was so kind and generous of him to encourage me! He has pressed in to know Jesus during his long and painful trial; and as a result, the LORD has strengthened him physically, mentally, and spiritually through regular listening of Peace Be Still!  You can read his words for yourself in the screenshot capture below! ⬇

Isn't his testimony so encouraging?!  I am so honored to be one small way God has reached in with His healing hands!  I believe God to do deeper levels of healing in Doug and to continue to give life to his mortal body through the Spirit of God who lives in him, Romans 8:11!

In addition to Doug's email, recently a podcast listener by the name of Peggy took extra steps to leave a comment on the blog.  ​

Woven into His very being.  We cling.  We abide.  We believe in Him, we develop our love relationship with God during the waiting.  It is the greatest commandment to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  In the waiting, we value our relationship with Him more than the "answer".  We root ourselves in the love of God.  We're going to spend eternity with Him!  It will be above and beyond all we ask or can imagine!   

But waiting, it's so hard....... wahhhhhhhhh!  I get it!

​In the long seasons of waiting, too many of us think whether consciously or unconsciously, "He didn't give me what I wanted, so I'm not interested in lingering with God."  Or, "He hasn't yet answered so I'm going to spend my time in other ways..  It's boring.  I run out of words.  I just keep repeating myself."

I've been there many times!  And in reflection, too many times I realize I've behaved like a petulant child not getting what she wanted. If I can't drive my agenda in my time with God, it has left to neglecting time in His presence.  

Waiting is a call to lift your eyes to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!  To accept His timing and in the waiting, practice His presence and linger with Him!  Now is the best time to deepen and enjoy waiting in His presence!

Psalm 27:14 tells us that waiting produces a strengthening of heart.  And to be strengthened, a courage is necessary!  A courage to believe God is good.  That He is in control!  That His timing is perfect and His ways of answering are part of his promise to complete the good work He began in us!  To continue to wait on the LORD!

Time with God doesn't have to be complicated.  It definitely doesn't have to be boring and miserable.  You don't have to have a ton of words.  Use His words.  His Word is living and active.  Learn to enjoy Him!  He rewards those who earnestly seek Him!

So press in for His presence and peace.  Be open and let Him know you want to deepen in trust and in the waiting.  His Spirit and Word does the work.   And in the process you shall be strengthened, strengthened to linger and wait with hope!
​
Where are you today in the waiting?  Practice His presence today!  Episode 519 is a Mellow Monday exercise using breath prayer to meditate and repeat Psalm 27:14.  

​Script from today's podcast, episode 496-  To listen 👂🏽, access here on Apple Podcasts.

Honest hearts and open hands to receive are the basics of a healthy and thriving prayer life.  Let’s position that way before God today…

Hello and welcome to Peace Be Still!  Our interactive prayer and meditation exercises help you linger longer with God for peace and power.  Exercises are based upon God’s Word and promises!  I’m your host Gina Williamson and today being Friend Friday, we press in for His presence and His person for peace.

Jesus gives us some clear and simple direction on how to have a good relationship with God.  He tells the woman at the well in John 4, that true worshipers worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, that God seeks those type of worshipers.  He said it was imperative to worship this way, repeating himself in verses 24.  'God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirt and truth." 

The woman at the well didn’t realize who she was talking to and she approached her conversation with Jesus by taking on some areas of seemingly religious bitterness brewing in her heart.  Please reference her replies in John 4:9,12. 

Jesus turns the tables on her though and takes the conversation to one of personal revelation.  He told her that she has had 5 husbands and the man she now had was not her husband.  Jesus wanted honest heart dialogue about the real issues that brought her shame. 

And after giving her living water of personal revelation, He is clear that if anyone would be a worshiper of God, they must worship in the Spirit and in truth.  His Spirit at work in us to reveal heart issues.  We must admit and confess so we can then be forgiven, sanctified, and transformed. 

What might you be embarrassed to confess in front of Jesus?  The woman at the well was hiding her deepest area of sin and shame from Jesus, but He called it out and then invited her to drink from him in a way that satisfied her deepest soul thirst.  That invitation is also for you today. 

Let’s pray. 

"Lord you are sovereign over all things.  There is nothing we can hide from you.  You know our thoughts before they are on our lips.  We cannot hide our choices, thoughts, or feelings.  What do you want us to examine in your presence today?  Holy Spirit, with the tender touch of God, will you reveal truth to this one?  In agreement, say yes God, reveal truth.

(Wait.)

What thoughts are coming to mind?  Do you need to relieve your heart of burden in any area?  Simply admit to God what needs to be confessed.

(Take time to do this.)

Lord your grace is sufficient for us.  Your power is made perfect in our weakness.  Thank you for cleansing and freeing this one of burden, shame, and trouble within.  Thank you for your grace and relieving our soul of guilt.  Let this one feel your presence, your favor, your love, your Spirit breathing new life into their soul. 

Now spend time on your own, enjoying His presence.  "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus..."

The video above is of today's Friend Friday LIVE prayer time in our Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download private group.  If you'd like to join the group, please visit FB, search for the group by name, and ask to join!  Today's broadcast was about 5 minutes of context for set up in praying, and then I lead you in the prayer time that lasts about 10 minutes!

Our Savior felt strong feelings at the tomb of Lazarus.  Let’s enter the scene and meditate upon the what and why of those feelings.

In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he tells some curious disciples, “Come and see", John 1:39.  This in response to their inquiry of where he was staying.  Really, they wanted to spend more time with Him believing He could be the promised Messiah.  He invites them nearer, “Come and see”.  This begins a 3 year journey for them to follow and see Jesus reveal His true nature as the Son of God. 

In those 3 years, Jesus teaches with great authority and performs awesome signs and wonders.  For just a few examples, we know he exorcises demons, restores limbs, cures leprosy, opens the eyes of the blind, heals the deaf and mute, stills the seas to a whisper, walks on water, multiplies loaves and fishes twice for the multitudes, raises the dead.  He did these things as proof for His claim as the Messiah and to lead His people to believe in Him.  Jesus labored intently for people to believe that He was the Resurrection and the life.   

Fast forward to the end of His walk.  Let's look at Lazarus’ death, it’s near the end Christ's time on earth.  We learn in John 11:4-15 Jesus purposely delays going to Lazarus, telling his disciples 3 different ways that Lazarus would not sleep in death.  He would go and wake him up that they may believe.

As he draws near to Bethany, Jesus is met by Martha who tells him, “if you had just been here, my brother wouldn’t have died”.  He challenges her that whoever believes in Him will never die, asking her “do you believe this?”  Then He goes no further, instead telling Martha to fetch Mary.  She comes to him and says the same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus looks around and sees Jews who came along with her.  They are all weeping.  Here scripture records that Jesus is deeply moved and troubled.  

If you look deeper, you see these words mean that he groaned with indignation within, a deep sigh against them, a charge of admonition against their unbelief.  He didn't voice it, He contained it.

He’s about to go to the cross.  His time is almost up.  He loves them deeply, yet here they are still trapped in unbelief and this distresses him greatly.

John 11:35- Jesus wept. 

They incorrectly think his weeping is a sign of how much he loved Lazarus.  Yes He loved Lazarus deeply, but what's really going on in this account is that He was distressed by their unbelief. 

And even as He wept, the blame kept coming.  "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Think about Jesus having to hear their snide remarks at the point.  He is about to suffer an inhumane death, to be abandoned by everyone.   And still they do not believe, despite all they've witnessed of His inexplicable power.

Think on that.  Consider the feelings and distress of Jesus here.

John 11:38 records that once again Jesus is deeply moved, i.e. with indignation, as he came to the tomb of Lazarus.

Consider his feelings again as He is deeply moved a 2nd time.  Do you wonder if he was perhaps having flashes of his own impending death coming into his thoughts as He sees Lazarus' tomb? 

He tells them to roll the stone away.  Martha argues against it, reminding Jesus it has been 4 days since Lazarus died and there will now be a bad odor.

He challenges Martha again, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

As they take away the stone Jesus prays, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

He calls Lazarus out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man comes out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Can you see this scene in your mind's eye?  Can you see Mary and Martha, the unbelieving crowd, the mourners watching Lazarus walk out of the tomb wrapped in grave clothes?  Can you imagine their amazement as they unwrap him?  As he takes his first breath of fresh air?  The amazement?  The rejoicing?  The wonder?  The laughter? 

How many of them do you think felt deep conviction that their unbelief had limited their ability to see Jesus for who He was?  It limited them, but it didn’t limit Jesus.

This is the mercy in this passage.  Their unbelief didn’t limit what Jesus was willing to do and had planned to do all along.  At this point with him, they were being tested by their Savior.

He will do the same with us.  He will bring us to the brink of our belief.  Consider:

• Do you need to confess any unbelief today?
• Are you blaming Him in any way for not being there in your timing?
• Do you pray the way Jesus prayed?  Practice it. “Father I know you have heard me.  I know you always hear me.”  
• Do you experience peace and confidence to speak that way in His presence?  Push through any unbelief or discomfort.   Pray boldly in His presence.
• Do you hear Him calling you out of any bondage?  Hear Him calling your name, "(insert name), come out!"  Declare that He is the resurrection and the life.  
• Unburden by confessing what the Spirit brings to mind; and then pray, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” 

He will be merciful to help you! 

I pray that by faith, you pray bigger prayers for His glory to be revealed in inexplicable ways!  He does not change!  He is still a God of signs, miracles, and wonders!

If you want to listen to the audio version of this devotional, listen to today's Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download episode-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/470-tranquil-tues-meditate-on-the-feelings-of-jesus/id1506101286?i=1000550460960 

  💥Here is the best planning advice anyone could give you. You aren’t meant to lead. Some will take that with offense, but others will feel the relief it is meant to bring! ...YOU AREN'T MEANT TO LEAD.

You are meant to be led, by someone, partnered with Someone who carries the burden. There is an easy yoke involved...

Today being Tranquil Tues in Peace Be Still's podcast, we use an image from scripture to spend time in His presence.

Our image today comes from Matthew 11:28-30. Many of you may know these verses by heart. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These are words of Jesus. A yoke was a common reference to people in the 1st century. Their economy was largely based upon agricultural trade. The land had to be worked and prepared for the seed. Heavy cargo also needed to be carried into the marketplace. So oxen and other burden bearing animals were paired together with a wooden beam to labor together. The wooden beam joining the animals is the yoke.

This is the visual Jesus wants us to reflect on when he says, “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This makes sense when you consider how the animals were paired up. Seasoned and strong burden bearers were paired with less experienced, weaker laborers. The weight of the yoke was mostly carried by the stronger among the two, therefore easing the burden of the weaker, coaching and leading the way.

Jesus is obviously revealing Himself as the strong One who bears the burden for you. He is sooooooooooooo much stronger than you. He will faithfully lead and guide you!

This is revelation for soul rest. You aren't to go it alone. Jesus is telling us we are to pair up, to partner with Him. This is inspiration for today's visual. Jesus is telling us He will bear the burden of our souls. He is telling us to come to Him and learn from Him. He’ll shift the weight on to himself and carry it for you. He is gentle and humble in heart, leading you to rest.

Let’s pray.

"Father, thank you for Jesus, our burden bearer. Thank you for sending us a gentle Shepherd to lead and guide us to rest. Jesus, we look to you to teach us your ways. Lord help us let go of striving. Holy Spirit help this one see any area of their life where they are laboring and burdened, going it alone. Shift the weight Holy One, carrying it for us so that our soul may rest. Amen."

What are you attempting to carry in your own power? See yourself setting it down, walking away from it.

In your mind’s eye, come near to Jesus.

See that He is welcoming you, His gentle ways encouraging you closer.

What does it look like to collapse near him, completely letting go? Feel the relief of letting everything go...
​
(to complete this visualization, listen to today's exercise found here.

The Dawn will visit us from on high... Luke 1:78 Berean Study Bible
Today visualize the light of Christ piercing your darkness.  It’s why He has come.

Zechariah called him the Dawn who would visit us from on high. 

That language is part of his prophetic praise found in Luke 1:68-80.

To review the account of Zechariah in full, and his part in the birth story of Jesus, read Luke 1:5-25 and verses 57-80. 

Part of this account is that Zechariah was muted for 9 months during the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth.  This happened because he didn’t believe in the angel Gabriel’s message of a promised son as answer to his prayers. 

Consider... How many of us are muted in some way because we refuse to believe in promises of God, in the miracle working power of God? 

Is your faith bigger than your limitations?  Are you believing in the whispers of His holy Word?

We know that Zechariah didn’t stay muted.  After John the Baptist was born, Zechariah’s tongue was set free, and he began to speak praising God. 

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the One coming who would redeem his people in order to forgive, set free, rescue, remember His holy covenant, enable God’s people to serve him without fear.  He prophesied how Zechariah's son John, would prepare the way for the Most High.

And here is how his prophesy ends…

Luke 1:78-79 ...Because of our God’s deep compassion,
    the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
     to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
        to guide us on the path of peace.”

In the Berean translation, Jesus is the Dawn with a capital D.  Other translations say “day spring”, the Sunrise with a capital “S”, the morning light. Christ confirmed these truths by boldly proclaiming that yes, He was the light of the world, John 8:12.  

John 1:4-5 says that "in him was life and that life was the light of ALL of mankind.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:9 says Christ is the true light that gives light to all men and he was coming into the world.

To give light to those sitting in darkness... Where are you sitting in darkness?

Darkness in both verses from John 1 and Luke 1 is shadiness, obscurity, blindness, ignorance of divine things, ungodliness, immorality, a spiritual state where darkness becomes visible and holds sway.

Are you blinded by unbelief?  Is your faith muted because of unbelief?  What is the last step of faith you took beyond your own ability and resources?  Is your vision shrouded by confusion, despair, hopelessness?  What is the darkness you are dwelling in, sitting in today?  

Because of his deep compassion, the Dawn from Heaven breaks upon you, to give you light, to guide you in a path of peace.

Let’s pray.  Christ our true light, the Dawn who came to visit us from on high, pierce this one’s darkness with your marvelous light.  Lord, because of your tender mercy, flood their heart with light from on high.  

(Pause- By faith, see His light flooding your heart and mind.)  

Pray, "grant me vision Jesus." 

"Give light to my eyes.  I admit ignorance about divine things.  Pierce my darkness.  Give light to my darkness.  Rescue me from the shadow of death, thoughts that are hopeless, choices that are dead ends, feelings that snuff out life and faith.  Forgive my unbelief.  Cleanse me of ungodly thoughts and ways.  Purify me with your light.  Guide my feet into your path of peace."

Now take a few minutes and still yourself in His presence.  See the Dawn from on high coming from on high, His light surrounding you like a shield, lighting a pathway of peace before you.  Rest in his holy light.

This season give thanks for the Dawn who descended from on high.  Do not be silent.  Speak about Him.  Take steps of faith believing His life is your guiding light in the darkness.

And pray for someone you love or know that needs Christ's light to pierce their darkness.  Ask Jesus to surround them with His holy light.  Take the time to envision His light descending and giving light to their darkness, guiding them into the way of peace.

Did you enjoy this reflection?  If so, take a listen to more Advent reflections on our podcast that began on December 1st.  Visit the podcast tab to listen or find PEACE BE STILL DAILY PRAYER DOWNLOAD on your podcast provider!

Immanuel.  With us is God.

​What is the last thing the LORD brought to mind that He wanted to talk to you about, address, or call you to surrender?

If you don't have an answer for that, it should give you pause.  It should challenge you to press in for a touchpoint with Immanuel.

God with us.  With us is God.

The little babe in a manger, Jesus.  Our radical warrior King.  He grew up to go there, to the darkest places, to endure the greatest suffering ever known, to pour out His life unto death.  To have victory in every area and impart that victory to you.

He grew up to go there with you, to your darkest places, to be with you in your suffering, to pour His life into your dead places.  Immanuel, God with us, addressing what we tend to gloss over or dismiss.  The loneliness.  The mourning.  The past.  The pain.  The vices.  Our selfish motives.  Our lukewarm faith.   Unbelief.  

He prompted me to a scripture the other day that made me consider a motive, a destructive pattern of thinking.  He's catching me before I make a decision about something.  He's wanting me to see the danger before I follow my destructive thinking which involves a lack of trust in Him.  He's fulfilling His promise to not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear.  I wasn't really awakened to it before He took me to a scripture, and as I began meditating on it, what was hidden from my view came to light.  I made the connection on what He was addressing.  I saw that He's providing a way out, so that I can endure the temptation and choose His way, not my own.  

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)- 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Do you let God alert you to blind spots in yourself?  Do you let others be messengers of those type of blind spots?  

Immanuel.  God with us, in us, to be in the trenches to rescue and deliver us. 

Are we with Him?

"Okay God, you can be with me, just not too close."

And that is where many of us are stuck.

But good news is that is where many of us have huge opportunities for breakthrough!

When you open up and let the LORD start to touch those untouchable places, those areas locked up and under-wrap, miracles can happen. You can experience real breakthrough, the freedom He promises!

But often we hold back.  We avoid.  We dismiss.  We just keep going along as we always have because we are comfortable with our ways.  When the little whispers, prompts, or convictions come, often we pretend we didn't hear God.  We quickly move on and become busy with something and dismiss acknowledging what Immanuel is addressing.

Welcome to the danger zone.  This is where pride and unbelief and willful ways keep Him out.

He's still with us, but we aren't with Him.

People wonder where God is, when really they've been keeping Him distant, busy putting up walls and mastering avoidance tactics.

So He gets increasingly silent.  He's willing to take the backseat until we press in.  It's sad; but often desperation is our greatest motivator for a renewed prayer life.

We are stubborn.  We like status quo.  "Let's not rock the boat.  I'm good.  Things are manageable."

Yet it's a lie.  The truth is lots of us have faith that is stagnant.  Lots of us have relationships with others that haven't really grown much, despite our call to love more deeply.  We've hit barriers; and one or the other (or both) have shut down in our human relationships.  And we become okay with that, it is a new normal.   

There is this unspoken agreement we make.  "I won't challenge them, so that they don't challenge me." Or "I don't want them upset with me, so I will remain quiet." Or "I don't like to deal with hard things, so I'll stuff my feelings".  Or "I've done nothing wrong, they need to deal with it." Or "I'll tell myself this story, and believe it to settle it in my mind so I don't have to wrestle with the fact that I am part of the problem."  Or "Relationships are too much work and I'm fine with just me and God." 

And here is a big piece that is missing in our prayer lives and faith walks.  We need to hear from God to know what the truth really is, about ourselves, about how we are to respond to others. 

God saw this barrier in our broken natures.  He crossed the barrier of time and space and sin.  The Word of God became flesh and dwelt here on earth among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, full of grace and truth.- John 1:14.

Consider today- Are you hearing from God?  Are you willing to let Him examine what's happening within?  Are you willing to reflect on relationships and be vulnerable, to press for in for deeper connection with God and others?  Are you taking risks for closer fellowship, especially in conflict?  

I feel something awakening in me to be more vulnerable.  To not pretend things are okay.  To address my former words and behaviors that hurt others.  To let friends know if I've been hurt and challenge them to go deeper with me. 

I want to risk, because freedom and joy are on the other side. I trust God to weed relationships out, or cause relationships to flourish.  I want to live in His power, not my own!  How about you?

As we get ready to enter a new year, what are your relationship goals?  Not where do you want to excel in career or fitness or finances or health or travel or personal goals, but where do you want to win in relationships? 

Start with Jesus.  

Immanuel.  You are with the downcast Lord.  You are with the broken.  You are with the lonely.  You are with the poor in Spirit.  You are with those in bondages of their own making.  You set free.  You repair.  You awaken.  You raise the dead.  You bless.  You heal.  You make all things new.

"Be with me God.  Be with me to take risks that lead to freedom.  Help me open up and let you in.  Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear.  Help me surrender.  Help me invest in the relationships and people you place in my path.  Help me be vulnerable and love courageously.  Transform me, Word of God!"