I'm not proud of my old life. And I'm also not proud of some things in my life after Christ, even up unto the last several months. Things that cause us shame can be a continuous onslaught against the vitality Christ promises.

I don't discuss my shame with most others because I don't want to be associated with that part of my former life, or viewed by others through those past/current failures.

Being in ministry full-time, I have to give testimony. So I speak about my life experiences in general terms. I admit being in dangerous and abusive relationships, worshipping false idols, experiencing deep depression, being self-absorbed, trapped for too long in strongholds built by intimidating people that successfully coerced me to do their bidding through gaslighting tactics and deflecting their shame on me.

Life is messy.  The warfare is real.  The onslaught intense.  

Is this resonating? 

There have been many layers of shame to heal in me, and, for protection, I do hide those details from others.

But I don't hide them from Jesus.

From my experience, few others can be trusted to NOT use my shame against me.

But Christ CAN BE trusted to NEVER humiliate and expose me and heap abuses upon me.

He has a clear promise that those who look to Him, their faces are radiant✨. Their faces are NEVER covered in shame, Psalm 34:5.

What is this radiance the psalmist speaks of? It is likened to the dancing sheen of a flowing stream, i.e. the life forces of God flowing within, shining through you, beaming as an unquenchable light, reflecting like a sparkle, being cheerful.

Is this what you see when you catch your reflection unexpectedly?

Too many draw back or hide from God because they believe His gaze upon them is a microscopic view to magnify every flaw. Many feel dirty or unworthy, far from radiant.

What about you?

Do you feel the weight of guilt and shame at the mention of God? Afraid, the nearer you get to His presence, the heat of condemnation, the "ick" of sin will be a stench that rises?

Many feel this especially if in an active stronghold of sin. So to avoid perceived disappointment and expected chastisement from God, we wrongly reason that by staying away, the crippling feelings of shame will diminish. But, the opposite is true, it is only exacerbated.

Distance doesn't heal. Distance doesn't erase reality. Distance doesn't cover the skeletons in the closet of your soul that travel with you. Distance is death-knell to healing shame. It only perverts your perceptions of who He is.

"Who He is? Don't you mean who we are?"

No.

God's word reveals to us that shame is not healed by looking more closely at our flaws. Shame is healed by seeking Him, asking to be rescued, by taking our eyes off ourselves and looking at Him.

Psalm 34:4-5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Look to Him. Take your eyes off your shame and instead look at His. His?! YES!

Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He endured YOUR shame, walked out a sentence of humiliating exposure before God the Father and his enemies and casual observers and family and friends and followers. His shame trumps all other shame.

Yet He despised it, thinking little or nothing of it. His eye was on seeing you set free. Jesus was focused on the joy of you being healed, of His radiance✨ resting on your face!

So if trapped by shame, realize the path to freedom is drawing near to the face of Jesus and looking closely at the details of His sacrifice for you. He will heal you and set your free!

Click here to listen to Thoughtful Thursday's episode on Psalm 34:4-7.  Those who look to Him are radiant! 

Draw near! Practice His presence! Use the simple prayer exercises available Monday through Friday on PEACE BE STILL DAILY PRAYER DOWNLOAD to see Him more clearly. The podcast is found on all podcast and music apps! 80% of our listeners use Apple podcasts to listen, then Podbean, then Spotify! Blessings in His presence! 

#testimony #Shame #healingprayer #Jesus #faith #prayercloset #prayer #bibleverse #christianpodcast #christianity #Jesuslovesyou #psalms #christianpodcast #pray

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!

The picture above is part of my skinny pencil tree.  It's filled with olive wood ornaments from Jerusalem.  I wanted olive wood souvenirs when I went to Israel in 2015, but they were pricey, so I decided to get something when I got home. 

It took a couple of years to find something I wanted, but a few years ago, there was a huge lot of olive wood ornaments from a former shop owner for auction on Ebay; and I won the bid!  I got around 150 ornaments for $20 plus shipping.  :).  I love them!  They perfectly fill my 7' pencil tree!

There are various kinds of camels, shepherds, manger scenes, stars, candles, wise men, donkeys, angels, crosses, roosters, doves, Mary with Jesus.  Like a little girl can get lost staring into her miniature doll house world, I get lost in my tree.  They remind me of that trip, especially our time in Old Jerusalem & in the ancient olive grove just a Sabbath day's walk from the city.  The walk is about 3000 ft.   

Here is a picture from the photo journal I put together.  I'm looking at Jerusalem from within the grove, standing on the Mount of Olives.  ​

​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!

​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.  ​