When U Pray

Don’t quit!

“Figs might not grow on the fig trees, and grapes might not grow on the vines. Olives might not grow on the olive trees, and food might not grow in the fields. There might not be any sheep in the pens or cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad in the Lord and rejoice in God my Savior.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-18‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/hab.3.17-18.erv

Don’t quit! No matter what it looks don’t quit. It’s kind of simple, there may be days when it seems impossible. Don’t quit! Think about this, you are undefeated in all the things that came to take you out. UNDEFEATED!

If you are reading this you survived that THING that came against you yesterday and the day before and the day before that. Don’t quit! You are built God Tough, built to withstand the tricks of the enemy, built to overcome adversity, built to live with the pain of your past, built to overcome grief, built to survive.

Today, we will rejoice that we survived and not just survived, we are thriving.

“In Christ we come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this because of our faith in Christ.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/eph.3.12.erv

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:31‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/rom.8.31.erv

“I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/eph.3.17.erv

“God, I praise you! Hear my prayer and do something!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭109:1‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/psa.109.1.erv

Do you ever feel like screaming at the world “DON’T YOU SEE I AM IN PAIN”? Do you ever wonder how they can be so blind to what you are going through? Yeah me too. Do you ever wonder why they are so willing to accept the lie? “I’M OK”? You know and they know you are not OK, you are just trying to make it.

Starting today, I’m going to stop suffering in silence. If my sister or my friend asks, I’m going to tell them. No, I’m not ok, but I will be. I’m going to ask for what I need, I’m not ok but can I have a hug? Or hey, I’m struggling can you give me a word of encouragement. Thanks for asking, if you would believe God with me for this (faith, healing etc.) it would make a difference in my life.

We often suffer in silence because we are silent when we are suffering. We have chosen the path of least resistance and closed ourselves off from feeling anything else. We have decided we are closed until further notice because we can’t handle one more thing. But we stop today, we are declaring the healing that comes from sharing, touching, agreeing, believing.. hallelujah we are done suffering alone.

“To say it another way, if two of you on earth agree on anything you pray for, my Father in heaven will do what you ask. Yes, if two or three people are together believing in me, I am there with them.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:19-20‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/mat.18.19-20.erv

“Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/gal.6.2.erv

“But encourage each other every day, while you still have something called “today. ” Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to change.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/heb.3.13.erv

Man, I’m sitting here rereading old posts and thinking “I was so intune with the spirit” and as I try and write now I’m stuck, blocked, uninspired and I’ve been torn up about it. I’ve been praying and trying to figure out why I don’t have anything to say and it hit me, I’M STILL GRIEVING!

I made this great speech about honoring my dads life and setting grief aside and moving forward knowing how much he loved life. It sounded about right. I’m not angry with God, I know we were born of a woman and we all have an appointment with death. I know my father loved God and thou he did not attend church he believed in the power of the Lord and I believe he is in heaven. I know my life has to continue but, I’M STILL GRIEVING.

So with that being said, I still love blogging, I still love finding a positive word to give to the people who have faithfully followed Whenupray for 7 years. But I would ask that you be patient with me. Don’t abandon us, just reread some of the old stuff, it’s still positive and uplifting. In the meantime, pray for me because when two people agree on earth about anything, God will honor it.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/eph.6.18.erv

Joy, joy, God’s great joy. Joy joy, down in my soul, sweet beautiful, soul saving joy….this song this song. Whenever the choir sings this I am on my feet singing all out. Fast forward, now I’m trying to live this same feeling.

Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ERV)

Living this joyful life means looking past your circumstances. When the bills are due, I have joy down in my soul. When my circumstances look insurmountable I have joy that if I go to God, if I trust him he will see me through. Joy, joy God’s great joy..I’m not saying my life is perfect, that I’m without fault or that I don’t mess up but I choose Joy! I keep trusting God because he keeps showing me that he has my back. I’m not saying I always understand or that he solves my issues in the blink of an eye, but when I look back over my life I’m amazed over and over because there was NO WAY it was me. BUT GOD, joy joy sweet beautiful soul saving joy. I’m so glad that as soon as I opened my heart and my soul to him he gave me real life.

I ask you today to choose Joy! When it’s crazy, shout for joy, when your scared shout for joy, when those bills come, have joy..and remember, weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.

Anybody else get excited when reading the word of God and see the words “And it came to pass”? I get excited and start praising God whenever I see those words. They create a feeling of joy inside of me because I know they reflect fulfillment of a promise.

These words are normally spoken after God has done what he said he would do. They are used to remind you that God is not a man that he should lie and a reminder that his word cannot return to him without doing it’s intended purpose.

I get excited when I see it..

It came to pass!

“In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do. “So you will go out from there with joy. You will be led out in peace. When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing. All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:11-12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/isa.55.11-12.erv

We had a very strong conversation about prayer at bible study and it really made me think.

To sum it up someone was saying that you have to pray a certain way to get the most out of your prayer. I immediately felt like “would God be that petty”? Would he be so petty that he wouldn’t listen if the prayer was not uttered correctly? I began to think of Jesus and what I believed about him and it just felt wrong. I prayed and asked Jesus to help me understand prayer and to help me know if he would hear the sincere prayer of someone who needed him. I couldn’t sleep, it was worrying me. As I tried to sleep the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus told us all what to do.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:7-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/1/mat.6.7-13.kjv

And my mind is now at ease.

The holidays are coming quickly. As we travel from place to place or receive visitors please remember one thing. Be kind. I know family dynamics can be tough and cause you grief but don’t give in to that, allow your loving kindness to shine through.

: “Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want. Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/2pe.1.3-7.erv

to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/2pe.1.3-7.erv

It’s hard when people say they don’t believe in God anymore, it literally breaks my ❤️ heart.

When I find people who quit the church or fell out of love with God and Jesus I ask myself, what could have happened so bad that you refused to allow God to heal you from it. Who hurt you?

If you doubt your belief, ask God to help you, ask him to make it clear. God can handle your anger and your doubt.

“God, you showed that I was innocent. You gave me relief from all my troubles. So listen to me now when I call to you for help. Be kind to me and hear my prayer.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.4.1.erv

God wants you to come to him and he will help you. I know the world says there is no God. It if you once believed you know what he can and will do for you.

“Lord, show me your right way of living, and make it easy for me to follow. People are looking for my weaknesses, so show me how you want me to live.

But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name. Lord, when you bless good people, you surround them with your love, like a large shield that protects them.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:8, 11-12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.5.8,11-12.erv

Don’t give up, keep the faith. Remember who God is and what his character is and come back, not for me but for you.

“Lord, be kind to me. I am sick and weak. Heal me, Lord! My bones are shaking. I am trembling all over. Lord, how long until you heal me? Lord, come back and make me strong again. Save me because you are so loyal and kind.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭6:2-4‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.6.2-4.erv

“I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be good to you and give you peace.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/gal.1.3.erv

Meet EVE!

Eve is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 2:21-25.

Eve was a solution to the very first problem of creation.

“Then the Lord God said, “I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.18.erv

Eve’s relationship to Adam was so important that God did not create her from dust as he did Adam, no he used Adam to create his helpmeet. He used the very bones of man to create his woman so that nothing could separate them. In my spiritual eye God knew that a man needed someone who would love him as he oved himself.

“The Lord God used the rib from the man to make a woman. Then he brought the woman to the man. And the man said, “Finally! One like me, with bones from my bones and a body from my body. She was taken out of a man, so I will call her ‘woman.’””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:22-23‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.22-23.erv

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. In this way two people become one.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.2.24.erv

Eve is the mother of every human being.

“Adam named his wife Eve. He gave her this name because Eve would be the mother of everyone who ever lived.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.3.20.erv

Eve created the next problem in creation:

“The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat. She also liked the idea that it would make her wise. So she took some of the fruit from the tree and ate it. Her husband was there with her, so she gave him some of the fruit, and he ate it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭ERV‬‬

http://bible.com/406/gen.3.6.erv

We know that was a problem because the Lord had told them they could eat everything in the garden except fruit from that tree. I see a few problems here:

0. Willful disobedience- Eve knew that she was not to eat of that tree, she even told the serpent when he suggested it. He may have been able to eat of the tree but she couldn’t and she knew it. She willfully disobeyed God.

0. Lack of trust- Eve did not trust that God knew what was best for her. Eve walked and talked with God on a daily basis and was still able to be tricked into believing a lie. She had the ultimate relationship with God.

0. Mans carelessness, Adam left his woman uncovered and allowed another to get into her ear and cause trouble, and when confronted with the evilness, the Bible did not indicate that he tried to convince her to trust God but was a willing participant.

What we know: Eve was created to solve the problem of man being alone but she also created a problem by not trusting God. We know Eve is the mother of all.

But how can we be mad at Eve?

We know that because of Eve women were cursed in child birth but because of Eve we are here and we have our children and Grandchildren.

Eve was the first woman and because of her we are here. Don’t judge Eve to harshly because how often have you been Eve? Willfully disobedient? Lacking trust? How many of us have been in a great relationship with God yet still made a mistake? I dare say that Eve is both the best of us and the worst of us.

“Dear friends, we have these promises from God. So we should make ourselves pure—free from anything that makes our body or our soul unclean. Our respect for God should make us try to be completely holy in the way we live.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:1‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/2co.7.1.erv

I love this, it’s nothing like living free. Free to be yourself before the pain, before the hurt and before the “Thing”.

All of us have had things happen to us, made bad decisions, made good decisions that went bad or just got beaten up by life. The beauty of the word of God is it does not matter what happened to you, it still applies. If the word said be anxious for nothing, don’t worry.

This scripture reminds us to let the way we live reflect the love of God in our lives. Be Holy does not just mean act holy around people, it means be Holy in the way you think, the way you act and the way you live. Living free is honoring God. Living your life trusting in the word, is honoring him, and if you treat people with respect, that honors him too.

“So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord YAH you have a place of safety forever.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:4‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/isa.26.4.erv

“Lord my God, I prayed to you, and you healed me.”

“I said, “What good is it if I die and go down to the grave? The dead just lie in the dirt. They cannot praise you. They cannot tell anyone how faithful you are. Lord, hear my prayer, and be kind to me. Lord, help me!””

‭‭“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

‭“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

‭“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

‭“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name.”

“I love you, Lord! You are my strength.”

Amen

Man, I was going to post a deep and insightful post about how you can really tell a persons character by what they post and what they respond to. I was ready to say a whole lot about the character of people who claim to love God and who are mean and petty. Guess what happened? Yup the Holy Spirit immediately said Yup, you sure can. I was like huh?

“Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Mind your own business, and earn your own living, as we told you before. If you do these things, then those who are not believers will respect the way you live. And you will not have to depend on others for what you need.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/1th.4.11-12.erv

Huh, mind my own business? YES, that is the answer.

So know I realize the answer is this, be responsible for what you do because God is certainly never going to judge you by what someone else does only what you do.

So I’m minding my own business and remembering to love people the way they want to be loved, not the way I want to be loved. I have to remember that I have no way to forgive anyone nor a way to condemn them. I have chosen to be me, flawed but in love with Jesus. I hope you can join me on the journey of love and acceptance.

“Yes, if you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, then your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongs.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/mat.6.14.erv

“So we will wait for the Lord. He helps us and protects us.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:20‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.33.20.erv

There is nothing like having to wait. It’s frustrating and oftentimes appears to be a waste of precious time. I hate waiting for anything, I want my food to be fresh and good, and then I complain because of the time it takes to cook so if can be fresh and warm when I get it.

I want my body to be healed and restored but I am angry at the process of healing, the therapy and the pain and the frustration of waiting.

I want my marriage to be healed but I get frustrated at how long it’s taking God to heal me from my past, to heal my husband from his past and the time it’s taking for us to become one.

Any of those sound familiar? Yeah me too but I keep hearing the Lord say Wait! Trust in me and wait.. trust the process and wait.

Waiting patiently is about trusting God, it’s trusting that even as you wait he is working things out for your good. That as you wait he is perfecting you for what he is preparing for you. So think of this scripture :

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/rom.15.13.erv

“Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be happy! Let the sea and everything in it shout for joy!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/406/psa.96.11.erv

Make a joyful noise! I take this so serious. I sing in the shower, in the car and on my way into work, I ain’t at my desk, in the hallway and basically wherever I am. Don’t take this to mean I have a Whitney Houston voice or even Bon Jovi .. but I don’t seem to care how terrible it sounds to my ears, I’m singing to the Lord.

I’m singing to the Lord because my soul is happy. No, everything in my life is not going well, no my health isn’t the best, no my finances are not all lined up in order but who cares, those things will take care of themselves, I’m singing because my God is Able! Hallelujah

He is able to change my situation in a heartbeat, instantly, right now, in the morning after the late in the midnight hour stuff, In the noonday, in the evening.. and I’m glad about it.

Make a joyful noise until the Lord, let everything that has breathe, praise the Lord.

Now sing with me, Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Let everything that has breaaaathe (hold that note nice and long) praise the Lord, for his mighty acts and his wonderous works praise the Lord Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord.. everlasting Father, Hosana the Prince of peace, Alpha and Omega beginning and the ending..

Now doesn’t that feel good, my soul said yes.. y’all sounded real good.

Just off the top of my head and my heart today I am saying be blessed. Be blessed whoever you go and in whatever you do. Remember the blessing is in your ability to understand how God works, understand his character and his ways. If he told you something, it’s going to happen, it may not be next week or next month but it’s coming. The word says God’s word cannot return to him without doing it’s intended purpose so use his word in what you need.

If you need money, use his word that says owe man nothing but to love him.. or he will supply all of your needs.. use the word that applies to what you need.