As 2023 rolls in, let's keep talking about our time with God... and how it can be fruitful and fun! Let's start our year in a flow of His presence...
First we can give thanks and reflect that Jesus did all the hard work! We have very few valid excuses for not scheduling some special time with Him. We can make comparison to the ancient Israelites. Three times a year Israelites would travel to Jerusalem to appear before the LORD with sacrifices of atonement and worship. Depending upon where you lived, it may involve extended travel by foot and inclement weather to make the trip to the temple. It upended personal schedule. Your best offerings were required. Those sacrifices were mostly animal sacrifices. There were several other requirements, but will not detail them here. Men were required to make the trip 3 times per year. Women and children could, and would come. We see that Hannah went with her husband Elkanah, 1 Samuel 1:7. And that Mary and Jesus went with Joseph, Luke 2:41. Those 3 trips are no longer required. Jesus perfected the requirements of the law for us. It's great gift and so much easier to worship and serve and spend time with Him! Under the New Covenant, we no longer follow the Old Testament festivals, Colossians 2:16. As well, we know that the temple in which we now worship is our body in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19. And we gather much more than 3 times per year, we are to gather in corporate worship on the Lord's day. And increasingly so, as we see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:25. So for scheduled time with God... Are you back in person worshipping the LORD with other believers? Unless disabled or other great barrier, I greatly encourage you to break out of any habit of worshipping from home, and gather with other believers. May we surrender to that instruction for a greater measure of God's presence and peace. Please pray for believers who won't return. I'm discovering it's an area of stronghold in many believers. As one small example, before the holidays, I met with someone for prayer. She was really struggling over a decision, had confusion of mind, and great anxiety. I felt led to ask her if she had a church home. And then ensued a great wrestling match of wills 😌. She had strong feelings and thoughts against going back to church due to an offense she had experienced. She felt very justified. I was gentle, but urged her with all I could, to return to a church of some kind that was bible-based. She was missing regular communion, a time we are to examine ourselves before the LORD, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32. (Some of us are sick and weak and worse, because we are skipping communion, 1 Corinthians 11:29-30). She was missing worship, a time we are to be singing together with the saints, Ephesians 5:19. She was missing hearing the word of God which is how our faith grows, Romans 10:17. These are just a few foundational things, that when missing, can easily take us off path... leaving our emotions and thoughts in chaos. So for time with God... As 2023 begins, are you aligned with His instructions for worship, corporate fellowship, and maturing in Christ? And as a bonus, have you penciled in any time with God that is just between you and Him? The pictures above represent an adventure I dedicated to Him this past Monday. It involved stealing away and setting up by quiet waters. I imagined Jesus with me. We started out on the wrong foot because I became quite frustrated when my kindling didn't catch for the fire to start. I had to repent from pouting and complaining 😅😁. After, I got ahold of myself and didn't give up on the fire, and 30 minutes later, it was dancing happily. After that, everything fell into place and it was fun. It's fun to sit by the fire and read my Bible. It was fun to talk to Jesus as if He was sitting next to me. Fun to gaze upon the quiet waters, and feel the warmth of the winter sun on my face. Fun to watch the flames dance. Fun to keep the fire burning. Fun to barbecue asparagus and fish, and roast a couple of marshmallows. Fun to take some photos of His glory all around. Fun to walk by the lake edge, and repeat a few scriptures over and over for memorization and deeper meditation. Psalm 73:21-26 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. It was fun seeing him holding my hand as we walked and watched the sunset. I declared that He is guiding me with his counsel. He's coming back for me. He coming back for you. He will take us into His glory! Time with Jesus is fun! Make it fun! Ask God to help you! What do you enjoy? Take Him with you! Maybe a day painting a picture as you listen to worship and talk to the Great Artist? Maybe whittling a piece of wood into a cross and talking to Jesus about heart things? Maybe sitting by a fire and reading a book of the bible and making notes about what you learn about Jesus' personality? Maybe a long walk repeating a scripture for revelation and memorization? Oh that we would take extended time with God, not because we have to, but because we want to. ❤️🔥. BLESSINGS AND HIS FAVOR BE UPON YOU AS YOU SCHEDULE A DATE WITH YOUR SAVIOR!
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he word that God put on my heart during today's exercise is "brave".
THIS IN RESPONSE TO THE BREATH PRAYER OF "WHAT DO I BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?" THE SPIRIT PUT ON MY HEART "HE'S BRAVE." So my meditation today, and this week, and throughout the year needs to be, "How will the bravery of Jesus affect my choices, my belief, my pursuit of His supernatural help?" BECAUSE HIS BRAVERY IS MY BRAVERY. JESUS IS NOT REQUIRING ME TO BE BRAVE. HE IS CALLING ME TO BELIEVE IN HIS BRAVERY THROUGH ME. RIVERS OF HIS BRAVERY FLOWING WITHIN ME... That one word can transform my year. I'm excited to take more time this afternoon to go deeper into what that will mean, to go deeper into the waters of the Spirit's revelation! How about you? What might the LORD put on your heart? Experiencing His promises begins with belief! Radical belief in Him. Belief on Jesus' terms goes beyond believing that He is real. Belief on His terms means commitment, unshakeable confidence, being FULLY persuaded. So when the Spirit put on my heart that I believe that Jesus is brave, that means I am deeply committed within that my Savior is brave! I have unshakeable confidence that Jesus is brave. I am fully persuaded that my God is brave! And that so resonates with me! I do deeply believe that Jesus is brave! Now what? How will that affect my thoughts, my actions? Because my year and my days are not supposed to be built upon what I believe about me. My year and my days are to be built upon what I believe about Him. Eyes off of ourselves. Eyes on Him. So take the challenge today and ask yourself what you believe about Jesus. Let the Spirit help and direct you. It can be a very challenging and encouraging question! What do you REALLY believe about Jesus? Sit with it. Breath and pray into it. Meditate. Write down what comes. Because what you really believe about Him will drive your actions; and be the foundation of what you believe is possible! He promises "Rivers of living water flowing within!" Where could His supply take you this year? BELIEVE! Here is today's exercise via browser access. OR CLICK ON PIC ABOVE TO LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS! Start your year with belief! What do you believe about Jesus? John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Today, we’ll go into ancient times and take a look at how children were viewed under Roman rule and why Jesus’ circumcision is an important detail not to skip over! Yesterday, those who receive emails from the ministry got a blog devotional about the "science" behind Jesus being circumcised on Day 8. It was also yesterday's podcast. (Scroll down our podcast page and listen to Wed 12/21 or find Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download on your favorite podcast app and listen there. 80% of our listeners use Apple podcasts!) Today, we continue where we began yesterday, taking notice of Luke 2:21 which says that He was officially named on the 8th day, the same day that he was circumcised. Big deal? Yes or no? Turns out that detail is pretty interesting and very important! Let's look more closely at ancient culture to understand. In the time of Jesus, the Romans ruled. And so we are to take note that Luke writes his account to Theophilus, Luke 1:3. He calls him “most excellent Theophilus”. In Roman culture, this implies a Roman title of respect and official importance. So we can make a strong assumption that Theophilus was an important Roman official. Luke also writes the book of Acts to Theophilus. See Acts 1:1. Luke is clear that his account is an orderly account, Luke 1:3. In his Gospel account to Theophilus, Luke carefully includes the decree issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. It is the reason Joseph and Mary go back to Bethlehem. They are to be “registered”. There is an official count happening of the entire world, Luke 2:1-5. To understand this better, I'm referencing an exhaustive work written by a man name O M Bakke. It’s called “When Children became people- The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity”. In it, he explores theological and social history of Greco-Roman and early Christians towards abortion and child prostitution, pedagogy, moral upbringing, and their value within society. It is a shocking and insightful read, especially considering the direction our world is now heading, or should I say reverting to. I highly recommend it. Related to birth, in the Roman way of life, Bakke notes the father was LEGALLY allowed to decide whether his newborn would live or die! Think of that in modern view. He was legally allowed to decide if the newborn would live or die after birth. He could do so within the first 8-9 days. So if he accepted the child as a family member, they would hold a ritual known as a day of purification. It was on this day that a child was given its name and LEGALLY REGISTERED. The ceremony for boys was held on the 8th day, and the ceremony for girls was on the 9th day. Under Roman law, the ceremony marked the child's social birth, as compared to biological birth. Read these 2 pages from Bakke's book below. Pretty upsetting right?
With Roman rule in mind, re-read Luke 2:21 again- And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Luke is making it clear that Jesus was officially counted in a worldwide census! As a Roman official, Theophilus could check the record! Can you hear him ordering the Bethlehem census be brought to him? And just think about this detail as it relates to the many arguments that Jesus never existed. "Jesus is a fictional figure. Jesus is a fairy tale." No. He was real and counted in Caesar Augustus' worldwide census! The promise of Good News for all was included in a worldwide census! The most important One to ever be counted and included in a census! How awesome is it that we have this holy record! That Luke wrote his account to a Roman official, including significant details that validate Christ, not just under Jewish covenant of circumcision, but along with Roman mandate of legal registration! How awesome that he lets Theophilus know the words of the Angel to Mary… Luke 1:31-33- 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” This might cause quite a stir within Theophilus don’t you think? If you were a highly influential government official today and received word of a king being born whose kingdom would have no end, would you take a closer look at the careful details shared about him? May this stir you to notice the tiny details in scripture that maybe you gloss over, skip over, or dismiss off-handedly. Meditate on scripture. The revelation of Luke’s intent to highlight Jesus being officially registered came as a result of digging deeper and wrestling with scripture. Dig deeper to uncover the hidden treasure!!! NEXT STEP: Consider how thousands of years before Roman rule of 8 days for males to be official and socially registered, God picked the 8th day for males to be circumcised. This brought them under the holy covenant given to Abraham and his descendants! Read about the covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17! As a believer, you are included under that covenant. How does it affect you? Do you know by memory what it includes before reading it again? We are so blessed to live in a time of solid biblical resources. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you to Spirit filled revelation! May you and yours have a blessed day of celebrating our eternal King and His coming Kingdom! The greatest gift of all! (It's year-end. Does this ministry bless you? Will you consider a year end donation? Click the donate button above to give through PayPal. Thank you so much for saying a prayer for the ministry’s reach and impact by the power of the Holy Spirit!) This week I had a few conversations with people who suffer from anxiety. In one situation I was praying with a woman who has been struggling with heaviness and feeling overwhelmed by anxious moments.
The LORD put Proverbs 12:25 on my heart. As I began praying over her, thoughts started coming to share with her, about the power of kind words; and also what happens when we are NOT COVERED in kind words. It was a revelational moment for both of us about anxiety and the power of good words to heal. Truly God is Wonderful Counselor! She is someone who, from childhood, has been subjected to harsh, critical words and family who have abused, betrayed, and abandoned. It is just over the last year that she has made a cut from those ties. I felt like the LORD was putting on my heart that her anxiety will go away as she is healed by the kind words of the LORD. The LORD was encouraging her to rest and to take time to mourn. He emphasized rest and letting go of control, to trust Him to provide. To allow herself to rest and be regenerated in His presence. He repeatedly emphasized REST! She has been pushing herself in many ways and striving. God was calling that out and calling her in to His presence for kind words that cheer her heart! This brought her real relief; the Spirit helped her stop holding her breath. She was able to release some emotion too. God's kind words to her helped her breathe and rest in His arms. Her countenance was completely different by the end of our time compared to the heaviness of the beginning. (Note: if you would like to inquire about a similar type of session, my Prayer Coaching email is gina@selahprayer.com) In another situation this week a woman was reflecting on her childhood experience that was similar and was thinking she may have ADHD as a result and be clinically anxious forever. Again the LORD brought up Proverbs 12:25. The message to her was the same. She has been under the weight of others negative feelings and thoughts since childhood. It has created great anxiety that weighs down. I felt God wanted her to know she should not categorize herself with a mental diagnosis. He is instead calling her to come closer and be healed by His kind words that will be hope filled and comforting. His kind words speak life and cheer burdened hearts. We think in terms of human diagnosis. God thinks in terms of His love never failing. How are you processing your anxiety? As a diagnosis or as something that God wants to heal? After I had those moments with both women, I realized that I myself needed that counsel. There's an encounter I've been processing and indeed it has weighed heavy. God used that scripture to show me how hurtful words were causing me great heaviness. He was calling me into His presence for kind words to comfort me and lift my spirits. It worked! In addition, the Reflective Writing Meditation event held on October 29th was time with God in the same way. 14 people ended up signing up, so that was great! The time with God in the session was a time of breath prayer, active listening, meditating on promises of His love, visualizing some moments with Jesus, and writing down messages of love from Him to each one! He does write a love letter upon our hearts! We must position to hear and receive it! God's kind words heal. They cheer weary hearts. They reframe thoughts. They overcome lies. They comfort and hold. They strengthen and bless. Are you positioning to hear the kind words of the LORD? Do you need help with this? Are you able to hear God speak His promises to you? Practice time with Him by doing the prayer exercises within the podcast! Practice hearing from God by talking with Him! If the podcast episodes bless you, please take time to leave a review also! Reviews help people decide whether or not to listen! For me personally, one of the most insightful questions Jesus ever asks in the scriptures is, "Do you want to get well?" In other words, are you resolved to pursue healing? Are you determined? Is it a real desire? He asks this of the man who had been an invalid for 38 years, John 5:1-14. "Do you want to get well?" Verse 7- “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” He didn't directly answer Jesus' question. It's hard to say why he answers like this. He was probably forlorn, i.e. feeling sad, lonely, abandoned, deserted, helpless. When people say they have no one to help them, often they are communicating loneliness and longing for someone to help. A closer look at the pool tells us that he would have needed help. The KJV of the account says that it was only the first one into the troubled waters that would be healed. He didn't have good odds of being first into the pool on his own. The account says there were a great multitude of blind, lame, and crippled. Clearly many waiting there did not have good odds of getting into the water first. And then there was the issue of size and depth of the pool. Scripture records there were 5 porches. That implies a HUGE pool. How deep was this pool? In 2015, I was able to tour the Bethesda pool that John 5 references! It was excavated in the late 19th century! It indeed has 5 porches! It is a HUGE pool and VERY deep. Here is picture of it that I found on the internet that gives you perspective. So when you see the depth of the waters, you have to think it would be scary to jump in, since only the first one got healed.
You would need some assistance. “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” What about the others? How did the blind see the waters stir? How did the lame make it down the steps in a rush in order to be first? How did the crippled maneuver their way into the pool and then not drown? More than likely many were terrified of an attempt; and so would find themselves staying close to the waters, but not attempting to get in. Isaiah prophesied, "Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:3-6. Your God will come... Jesus has come; and He demonstrated that He is the manifestation of Isaiah's wild prophecy. In John 5:1-14, He picked out one invalid at the pool to show He is after the one. His eye is on the sparrow. He sees the lonely one. He sees the oppressed one and broken one. The one who is ashamed, crippled, blind but will respond when He tells them to do things that make no sense, like, "Get up. Pick up your mat and walk." He sees faith in people, Luke 5:20. He knows who will respond to Him. And if that is you today, He is still asking, "Do you want to get well?" There is a prayer class coming up on Saturday, October 29th at 9:30am EST. It is a positioning to experience the love of God. It's based upon the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:19! "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Visit the home page and sign up!Sign up for the session by clicking on the image about the event above God is so good! I’ve been waiting to share, but haven't, because the testimony isn’t complete yet, but will share in part. Recently, I received a HUGE and unexpected blessing! Someone who wants to remain anonymous gave me a check for $30K to go get a new vehicle!!! So generous and kind!!! And he had no idea about how precious and touching the timing was related to a deep heartache I recently experienced. I burst into tears when he offered the gift .
The timing of the gift was a clear message to me, that God sees me and is with me and He is my provider! I'm guessing most of you know that I am in ministry full-time. Many may not know however, that I live by faith in terms of financial provision. I could post screenshots of the 8 or so texts that I have received from my bank with alerts of balances below $50 over the past year. Yet, I have NEVER been without and God ALWAYS provides! Over the last 6 years of ministry God has moved in various people to gift me money at various times!!! People suddenly step in and have taken care of things. It has happened over and over at just the right time. But in the midst of it, there have been real times of stretching my faith and trusting in very humbling moments. In it, God has taught me to be content in all circumstances. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV When I started ministry 6 years ago, my church covered my mortgage for a month and paid for me to get my car fixed. At the same time, a leader told me to just do ministry as a hobby and go get a job. There were real moments of challenge to buckle under human reasoning and critics. Or I could choose to believe in God’s promises and step out in faith. God led me to work part-time (2 days a week) and do ministry as main focus. After 4 years of working part-time, He moved me to believe in full support and within 2 weeks of that decision, the donations were there! In first years, the part-time job and donations did not support my needs. So God sent people who came to me saying, “God told me to give this to you” and gave me money. And over all years, others have come and taken care of house things… buying me new windows, a lawnmower, a humidifier, a dishwasher (hand-washed for 2 years), new gutters, electric work, new kitchen and bath fixtures, plumbing repair, etc. One very special person has cared about my work/rest balance and arranged for me to get away 2 times this year and also been beyond generous with sudden blessings! God has gifted me with faithful monthly donors, all of whom I am so thankful! Some have been donating monthly for 6 years! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR EACH ONE WHO SUPPORTS THIS MINISTRY AS A MONTHLY OR YEARLY DONOR! For the one who gives $10 a month up to the one who gives above and beyond the others, I am so very thankful! This is a boast in His provision and faithfulness, not that He owes me anything at all! It’s always been evidence of His promise that I do not provide for myself; He provides for me. I am just to keep Him first and serve Him as led. Walking this way has been so humbling and amazing!!! His favor and kindnesses have always been perfect timing and supernatural expression of the promise of Matthew 6:33. I pray that you will consider the promise of Matthew 6:33 if you have not. (Many of you have your own testimony of this provision. If you would like to tell me your story, I would love to hear it! My email is gina@intothewaters.com.) Some people are about to go into tough times and will need to know where hope will come from. We have just hit 2 successive quarters of negative GDP growth, i.e. recession. God promises to provide as you trust in Him and walk with Him. Remember Psalm 23:1 and read Hebrews 13:5 above again. In my research on how to buy a vehicle yesterday, I learned that car repossessions are already at 2.2 million for first 6 months of 2022. Compared with the previous 12 months of 1.8 million. Predictions are for auto prices and home prices to start major correction. Some will be upside down soon on car loans and mortgages. Layoffs are beginning and inflation continues with interest rates rising. Times are setting up for many to call on the Name of the LORD to be rescued. He can help you. He wants you to ask for Him for wisdom and help. As practical example of asking for wisdom... for a vehicle purchase, God has been putting on my heart to “wait”. I didn’t understand why until I stopped looking and started researching what was happening in the auto industry. Now, I understand that the market is about to be flooded with repossessions and dealers will be desperate to sell. I had been hearing "wait", but stopped looking when God stopped me from making a wrong purchase last week. I prayed on the way over to a dealership that if He didn’t want me to buy the vehicle I was interested in, that He would intervene. When I got to the dealership, I could not get the key out of my Jeep ignition, neither could the sales manager or the sales person. This meant my battery would drain while I was there. So I could not focus and left. When I got home, my key came right out! And so this weekend I took time to learn more, and saw the bubble is about to pop. So I will heed God’s good counsel and wait. I share this as evidence that when you ask God for wisdom, He answers. See James 1:5-8. I could insist on my own way, but have learned (the hard way at times) to heed the whispers (mostly ). Where do you need God’s help today? In what areas of your life do you need supernatural provision and wisdom? Ask to know Jesus in these ways. He is not a vending machine or a genie though. He is a Savior who forgives, rescues, redeems, sets free, heals, and supplies beyond what you deserve. I pray that you ask Him for what your soul needs today. “Lord Jesus, I lift this one up to you. I pray for their heart to be open and receptive to your grace and truth. Move upon the waters of their heart and soften them towards your ways. Flood their soul with light, the light of Christ. Prompt them in the direction of your will. Humble them to surrender and trust in any area of self-sufficiency. Lead them into fellowship in the Body of Christ, to safe relationships and bible filled counsel. Thank you for being merciful to this one. Thank you God for gifting all who call upon your Name with a supply of life and power that we do not deserve. We are not worthy of such kindnesses, but that is who you are. May we know you this way and so seek first the kingdom of God. Then all that we need shall be given to us. Amen.” Hope this encouraged you! Please forward to a friend who needs to hear of God's faithfulness! This morning right before Cheryl and I went LIVE on Facebook for Friend Friday in our Peace Be Still group, the LORD put on my heart "sober your minds". We were praying as we always do, before we go LIVE in the group. It really struck me, because there was a tone of real authority and seriousness that came with it.
We talked about fasting in the session this morning. Fasting in observance and remembrance of Pentecost which falls on June 5th this year. Also to fast as an act of faith that God still has more to pour into His people. Also to fast in obedience to Jesus' instruction of "when you fast...". He says this 2 times in succession in Matthew 6, verses 16 and 17. Not "if you fast", but "when you fast". 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. NOTICE the promise of REWARD. He says the same thing about giving and praying. Doing these things in secret and promising to openly reward "when" we do these things. The word "fast" here has a Greek concordance reference, and means to abstain from food as a religious exercise (pursuit of God) from food and drink. We do not enter in a time of denying our flesh in our own power or strength, but humbly. We are dependent on His Spirit to sustain us and feed us with manna from Heaven, Matthew 4:4. Jesus' response to Satan in Matthew 4:4 was His same Word to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:3. He was making it clear that we are not sustained by food alone... but we are sustained; we live; we prosper and are renewed and saved by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Jesus modeled fasting in the wilderness. The Matthew 4 account tells us that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. In Deuteronomy 8:2-3, we are told that the wilderness is a place to be humbled, a place of testing in order to know what is in our hearts about God, to see if we keep to His ways. There is purpose in causing His people to hunger and then feeding us with manna. He intends to teach us that the sustaining nourishment we truly need is His Word and dependence upon Him as our supernatural supply. He (the Word of God) is the life to our bones and health to our flesh, Proverbs 4:20-22. Life to your bones, health to your flesh. Do you believe? On human terms, saying "no" to the flesh in a period of denying yourself food is counterintuitive. But indeed fasting renews the flesh. We mere humans have discovered that denying yourself of food and drinking only water does indeed allow cells in your body to regenerate and be made new! It does allow your body to renew itself. Science right there in Proverbs 4:20-22. But that is a benefit only and not to be the main reason we fast. Denying ourselves food and drinking only water is to be combined with a pressing in for more of God. We pray and seek Him and praise Him and read His word and ask for more in the time we would normally be filling our bellies. Our heart's position to fast should always be to draw nearer to the heart of God. The outcomes will be supernatural, including renewal of our flesh! When is the last time that you fasted? When is the last time that you pressed in for more of Him, less of you? Some of us started a fast today in remembrance of Pentecost. We are pressing in to more of what God has for us. To ask God to humble us. To ask God to heal and renew. For revival in the nation and world. To persevere in prayer and ask for more of the good gifts of the Holy Spirit as Jesus told us to do, Luke 11:9-13. He still pours out from on high to those who position with childlike faith and believe! Some are doing one day of water only, and 2 days of fruit and vegetables. Some are doing no leaven. Ask God to lead you to what it might look like for you! BELIEVE! Sober your mind with fasting! “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 Notice the instruction to put oil on your head. In the KJV and Geneva version, this is translated as "anoint your head"... So while in part Jesus was referencing to wash your face and enter in to the fast with your face shining and joyful, not making it obvious to others that you are fasting, there is also reference to the anointing of the Spirit upon believers. On Facebook this morning and on TikTok, I encouraged people to start a fast by anointing their head while proclaiming the promise of 2 Corinthians 1:21-22: Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. If you want to follow along with that anointing, you can watch the Facebook Live. The anointing and time of prayer are at the end, starting at the 25:30minute mark, with the time of prayer going to the end at 35 minutes. So that portion lasts 10 minutes. You can also listen to today's podcast. Click the image at the top of the email to listen there. And for the Live from FB today, click on the image below to be directed to a link from our host! Blessings! And we hope you join! Wait on the LORD! Anticipate more! Ask for more! Seek Him in fasting! Knock and ask for more good gifts of the Holy Spirit! 👆 🎧 (Click image above to listen.). Today's podcast was a spontaneous prayer prayed over you.
When is the last time you asked someone to pray for you? When is the last time you were covered in a prayer? This should be something you experience regularly. Very often lately in social media prayer requests, requests are prefaced this way, "I don't ever ask for prayer but..." This is evidence of someone carrying something for too long and now the pressure of the situation is too much, and they are breaking and finally asking for prayer. Asking for prayer should be a habit we develop. It revitalizes us. It comforts us. It encourages us. The Spirit is present to do what only God can do. It is a blessing to be prayed for. And did you know that for relational issues, answered prayers are often obtained through prayers of agreement? Read Matthew 18:15-20. We are to share our burdens with Christ and carry each other's burdens. The Apostle Paul shared one of his prayer requests this way: Romans 15: 30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. He says, "Join me in my struggle..." Are you asking anyone to join you in your struggle? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you believe as Paul did that prayers of others and the Spirit of Christ is your way of deliverance? Philippians 1:19- for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. God has a way for you. He has victory. He has answers. He has supernatural assist. Ask for prayer. These are days to be pressing in. These are days to be covered in prayer. Many Friend Fridays are episodes where I cover you in prayer. Make it a habit to want to be prayed for, to want to be covered in prayer. Go to church on Sunday and ask someone to pray for you. Listen to the podcast and receive the prayers often prayed over you in the sessions. Click on the image above to be connected to today's Friend Friday prayer over you! And read the review below for encouragement on the power of prayer! And if you didn't see Doug's letter from the last email I sent out, he has a very encouraging message on persevering and pressing in to the gift of prayer! This ministry is part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Please consider a donation so that we can disciple more! Blessings! 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!
The world and its chaos just keeps coming. The visuals and accounts we hear of the Ukrainian's fleeing and fighting for their lives is overwhelming. Many of us can easily see ourselves in their faces, in their circumstances.
Why is it allowed? Why do the reports get worse? Why does evil prosper? These are big questions and God knows we have them. But what do we do with them? This week I was wrestling with how evil is prospering in many different nations, in many different ways. Wicked agendas are being executed with lightning speed. It seems like there is no justice in sight. These thoughts woke me in the night this week, and I wasted time reading bad reports and fretting, feeling stunted in my prayer language. I finally got back to sleep, and the LORD's whisper met me upon waking. I felt the Spirit prompting me to read and pray Psalm 10. He was there with me through the night, seeing the upset in my heart and directing me to process the righteous anger, confusion, dismay, and burden through His word. It brought great relief. I found great comfort in expressing my grief and upset through the words of King David. It gave me words for feelings and thoughts I am having trouble transforming into prayer. Sometimes the lyrics (verses) penned by the psalmists are much more intense than what I would ever give myself permission to pray or think had I not read them first expressed in God's Word. It really helps me to see the hearts of ancient believers and connect with them through their feelings and thoughts... all inspired by the Holy Spirit, 2 Timothy 3:16. Try it right now. See if it helps you connect with suppressed feeling and thoughts that make it hard to pray and express yourself. Talk to God through His word using Psalm 10: “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. So he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength. He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.” Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.” But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none. The Lord is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.” Psalms 10:1-18 NKJV How did it feel to pour your upset through the sentiment of King David? Did it help you? HIs Word is manna to our soul in so many ways! His word is great inspiration for our prayer closets! Here are some other Psalms you could use to pray regarding upset against evil agenda and wicked schemes-
Use those psalms to unburden with God. He will transform your upsetting feelings and thoughts in His presence. Ask Him to still and calm you. Release outcomes to Him. "Vengeance is mine", says the LORD. We can rest assured that He WILL have the final word on evil. Believing this, we are to rest in Him, waiting patiently (expectantly, with hope). Believe that God is taking what the enemy means for evil and turning to good even as we speak. Revival in the hearts of men and women persecuted in Ukraine, revival in my heart and yours. Believe. Press in and rest. He is in control! And finally, if you'd like try some interactive podcast exercises to process with God and press in for His comforts, check us out on Apple podcasts here. Or you can find Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download on your app provider! Blessings! |
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