Posts tagged perseverance

Missed Opportunities

A couple of months ago in church, God told me to pray for someone.  He even told me what to pray for—specifically.  I thought “ok, as soon as this (whatever this was) is over I will do it”  I really don’t have a problem praying for people anymore.  I used to.  I used to be scared.  I used to think “what are they gonna think about me? They’re gonna think I am like a Jesus fanatic” Well, after a couple of times of praying for people and them breaking down into pure tears before God, I was ok with it.  I still get nervous, but I am pretty obedient now.  Ok, anyway, back to my story.  Well, after whatever was going on ended, church was out.  She walked right by me.  I could’ve stopped her and asked her if I could pray for her…..but I didn’t.  I let her walk out.  That was the last time she came to church (and she was a regular).  No she didn’t die.   She left her husband.  She left her family. She is now living in the world and of the world and her family is torn into pieces.

So now.  I wonder what would have happened if I would have prayed for her?  Do I think that it is me who changes things? NO WAY!  It is totally God! What would God have said to her if I had prayed for her? Would she had been receptive? I don’t know the answers to these questions.  I do know that I can’t let it consume me.  I do know that I have to let it go and not dwell on it.  I do know that I have to be assured that God is still in control, no matter what I do. I do know that I will not miss an opportunity again if I can help it. 

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Spring Cleaning?

Oh yes my friends, it is that time of year.  We clean out all the stuff, clean all the dust away, bring out the summer wear and start dieting so we can fit into them :) Uh-huh, don’t even act like you don’t!!!  :)   But, what about our spiritual junk?  We need to get rid of that too!  You have to walk away from the bad and walk into the good.  You have to let the baggage go and walk into what God has called you to.  There is work to be done, and we are the ones to do it!  We can’t do it with mess in our spirits.  So, while you are doing your spring cleaning on the outside, pray and seek God so that He can help you clean up the inside.  Remember, you are called for such a time as this and if you are called He WILL equip!  Get rid of that junk and get on with the Father’s business!!!! 

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Stressed?

Today, I am stressed.  This week has been a very trying week for me.  There has been one thing after another after another.  School, work, illness, money woes, teens….well I could go on, but I won’t bore you.  I find myself longing for bed time each night.  Have you ever had a week like that?  What kind of human would I be if I never admitted I had a bad week?  I wouldn’t be a normal human for sure. It can’t be all doves and roses all the time.  We all have bad days, weeks, months.  It’s what we do with them that matters.  It’s how we react.  Here’s the thing. Satan CANNOT read your mind!  He is not omniscient, omnipresent, or all knowing.  To be so would mean that he is on the same wavelength as God.  We all know that is not so.  So, what does Satan “go” by?  Many times, he goes by our reactions.  Something happens to us and Satan (or one of his do-boys LOL) are sitting there waiting to see “how is she gonna take this?” He wants to know where our faith is.  Are we going to claim the word of God over our lives or are we going to poor me…….WHY GOD????  WHY ME????  I sadly, have done both.  This is when knowing the word of God comes in.  If the word is hidden in our hearts…..at the perfect time it will come forth.  We will know that Jesus is there, in our most stressful week, saying “peace, be still.”  I love the song that says “sometimes he calms the storm and other times he calms His child”.  There are times we have to go through things.  Not around them….the Bible says “though I go THROUGH the valley…” Sometimes there is no other way but through.  It is in those times, though, that my faith has grown.  It has been in the hard times that I have planted my feet and declared that no matter what, I will serve the Lord.  I will see the battle through…..I WILL simply trust.  That’s what it comes down to….trust.  Do we trust Him to bring us through the bad weeks?  Do we trust that no matter how it ends, it is all for His glory?  Do we trust that He loves us enough that He always, always has our best interest at heart? If we do, then the bad weeks, the stressful days, well they won’t seem quite as bad.  Psalm 85:8 says “I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to His people, His saints.” I think that’s enough said. 
Here’s wishing you a stress free God filled rest of the week…….

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The Past is Past

Your Past Needs to Stay Your Past

Have you ever been going through your Christian life smoothly and then—BAM!!!—something happens that in turn brings up something from your past that you really wanted to forget for good and never think of again??? Well, of course you have, especially if you are a Christian. This is the enemies number one plot against us. He loves to make us remember times that we have hurt people or times we have done something so bad it makes us want to vomit to think that we are capable of such things.  He loves to bring to our remembrance things we have said and done that would make us seem so inadequate as a Christian that we can’t fully accept God’s love or His plan of redemption.
But I have good news for you…..this is not what Jesus has called you to be, feel, or do. When you accept Christ as your personal savior, all of that is wiped clean. His word says he was make us as white as freshly fallen snow. That is not to say that people forget what you were or things you did.  However, they can see you as the new creation you are. They will probably doubt for a while that you have really changed, and that’s ok. Just keep living for God–they’ll see the change.
Leave your past in the past where it belongs…..except for when it is being used by God to bring honor and glory to His name. Times when you can share what you used to be to and things you used to do to bring honor to God (and God will open chances for you to do that). He has cleansed you, saved you, and loves you more than you could ever imagine. Don’t allow the enemy a chance to come in and remind you of your mistakes to make you feel bad…..instead remind him that the Word of God says that God uses all things that the enemy meant for destruction and uses it for good, remind him that Christ says He makes all things new—and that includes you…

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