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
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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! 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. I received a few responses from the last email I sent out! Thank you! And see pic above for one! It really encouraged me! I greatly appreciate hearing from you and getting a little glimpse into how this ministry is impacting you. It's an honor to go into the presence of the LORD with you!
Note that in her message to me, she shared her word of "PRESENCE"! What a great word! It is a different way to say the word I shared, "Rivers of Living Water"! God wants us. He longs for time with us. He will supernaturally transform us as we go deeper with Him. C.M asked if I had a few scriptures to share with her. Here is one of a few I sent... Psalm 42:2- My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? There is a thirst within. Jesus designed us this way. Our soul thirsts. His presence is everything. Living water sustains us. He has a supernatural supply and flow to pour into us, that it may also pour out through us! What scriptures would you think of to share with C.M? Send me an email! I'll forward to her! And I'd still love to hear your "word" or "theme" for 2023! Reply to this email and let me know! For going into 2023, we'll kick off with prayer inspiration around rivers of living water as the theme for exercises and meditations! And as we enter the New Year, here is a prayer for you. Agree with me. Pray it out loud changing any language that aligns with your heart. Let it challenge you to go deeper, to cry out, to express longing for more of Him! LORD God, I’ve wondered about some things that have happened this year and the whisper that eventually came after a couple of months of wrestling was, “I am the author of your faith.” That word settled me. It helped me let go and trust you more. You allow things to take us deeper. I pray that this one can see their confusion in the light of your hand intervening to author their faith. ("Yes God help me see.") May they see each challenge as opportunity to deepen in trust with you. ("Yes God help me see.") I pray for them to be able to see the highs and lows of their year in terms of your divine intervention, even when it is so hard to perceive. ("Yes God, help me see.") You are jealous for us God. You establish our boundaries. You bring cleansing, correction, assistance, comfort and help. You see what is a hindrance to our growth. You want to reveal our hearts to ourselves. You see us clearly. We do not see ourselves clearly. You have to reveal our own hearts to us. You show us hard things. May we admit what you are showing us. May we not resist the cleansing and sanctifying work you are doing. May we surrender. You show us our faith. May we follow your voice and be willing to go deeper with you. Help us rejoice when we see that when push comes to shove, we choose YOU over the lesser things. You allow cuts in relationships. May we trust you in that process and cling to you, knowing you are jealous for us; and no one is to take prominence over you. Help us keep you in the right place LORD, not letting children or spouse or pets or career or others or ourselves, take precedence over you being first in our hearts. May we be willing to take bold stands when necessary and not buckle under pressure to people-please. You protect us from things we aren’t aware are dangerous. Thank you for intervening when we can’t see or perceive clearly. Be with us in our life decisions and re-direct us. You've been faithful. You've provided. We have so many reasons to reflect and be thankful. We've had victories. Help this one reflect and see your Hand and Supply. As we head into the coming year, help us hear your call to come higher. You want more of us. You want us to let go of fleshly things. You want us to take initiative. Your word encourages us to humble ourselves. May we do so. May we consider starting the year in a fast. Let us lay fear and excuse aside. You will supernaturally sustain us. Less of us Jesus. More of you. Take us deeper into the flow… rivers of living water within. We want refreshing of your life within us, a supply that pours out so that others too may drink. Be with this one. Establish them. Lead and guide them into new life, new beginnings, new hope each and every day of 2023. Amen. 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 is how Christmas hits my spirit now. For Advent, I think of the sights and sounds of that trip, and enter in, as much as possible, the ancient scene of my promised King's arrival. I meditate upon possible feelings and thoughts of my ancient family. For today, I was thinking about Joseph's mental wrestling after learning that Mary was pregnant.
It's the inspiration for today's Friend Friday Advent exercise! Note--- Advent exercises started on Monday. I hope you follow along to listen to all! You can read below to get most of today's devotional and exercise. And then listen to it, so you can participate in the the prayer and processing not included below, click here- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friend-fri-advent-ancient-prophecy-and-prayer-of-wisdom/id1506101286?i=1000588516738 (And if this ministry blesses you, will you consider a year end donation? Link at the bottom! Thank you so much!) --------------------- Joseph had relationship problems. As do we. Joseph reasoned on what to do. So do we. He went through the scenarios in his mind and came up with a plan. So do we. But God intervened. Scripture is clear that Joseph honored God and the laws of God, Matthew 1:19. God intervened in his thoughts. If we honor God and follow Jesus, God will intervene in our thoughts too! God sent an Angel of the LORD to cast down the arguments wrestling around in Joseph’s mind. The Angel came with a message to hold his thoughts captive to Christ. He told him, it wasn’t what he thought it was with Mary. He let him know that he was intricately woven into a 700-year old prophecy about the Messiah. Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” That is found in Isaiah 7:14. You too are part of an ancient prophecy spoken of by Moses in Deuteronomy 33:3. “Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,” It is you being spoken of in this ancient passage! You are included in those who bow down at His feet to receive instruction! Tell people you are in the bible and then show them this passage! He loves you. He is holding you in His hand! The Angel of the LORD also affirmed Joseph as a son of the royal line of David. The Spirit of the LORD affirms to us that we are God’s child.- Romans 8:16. The Angel of the LORD told Joseph, “Do not be afraid…” The LORD is telling us, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” The Angel reframed Joseph’s thoughts. He told him to take Mary as his wife, because the baby in her womb was conceived through the Holy Spirit. He told him that she would give birth to a Son with a capital "S". And that Joseph was to name Him Jesus, because Jesus would save His people from their sins. He saves all who call upon His Name, who by faith, believe. He can reframe your thoughts today and give you that wisdom you need! James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Let’s pray... (for this part, listen to the podcast!) 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 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! 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. What a gift to know that people are experiencing God's joy because of the prayer times in the podcast!
And another podcast listener named Stacy searched me out recently on Instagram. She says she looks forward to the podcast every day and that she loves being prayed over in the sessions! Despite our interactions becoming increasingly digital, our relational needs still must be met! We need to know we are not alone! We are healed and helped through the prayers of the saints! Hearing prayer, practicing prayer, receiving prayer, proclaiming God's Word as true, and agreeing in prayer are all part of experiencing spiritual breakthrough! Are you practicing? Are you receiving the prayers being prayed over you in the podcasts? Are you agreeing? Are you meditating on the promises of God? Are you proclaiming His Word as true in your prayer language? Listen to the podcast! Let me know how they are helping you! And for those who take the time to come back around to thank God for the ministry, I believe they shall receive extra blessing! With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you! A good measure pressed down and running over shall be poured into your lap, Luke 6:38! So thank you again for any of you who would write a podcast review, send an email, leave a blog comment, or engage with me on social media! And if any of you want to let us know you appreciate this ministry by making a donation, that would also be warmly received! The podcast has enough volume now that we could monetize, but the LORD has told me not to do so at this point. I don't know if that would every change. But for now, the podcast is a listening experience that is not interrupted or disturbed by commercials. Being commercial free protects your listening experience and your time with God. Help us keep the podcast commercial free! Your donations go towards ever increasing costs of ministry. We have monthly software costs for podcast, music use, website, images, equipment upgrades, advertising, etc. Last year one generous donor invested in our podcast technology so you could experience a more professional sound and pleasant listener experience. It is only through your donations that we can reach more and continue improving the prayer resources we offer! Thank you for considering it! Be blessed in His presence! |
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