When U Pray

We often hear people reciting parables and sermons about looking  in the rear view mirror vs the windshield, today my brain was like yeah… 

I was riding down the road and I was looking in the rear view mirror while waiting in the turning lane. I looked ahead and then looked back again trying to make sure no one ran into the back of me and almost missed my ability to turn left. That’s when I had my awakening. 

The Bible says:

“So don’t remember what happened in earlier times. Don’t think about what happened a long time ago, because I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true. I will even make a road in the desert, and rivers will flow through that dry land.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.43.18-19.ERV

I kept looking behind me trying to make sure no one ran into me and really, I should have been looking for a way to keep moving forward. The people behind me were blowing and waiting on me to move out of their way. Isn’t that funny? Even in life this can be a thing. 

Imagine your family can’t move forward because you are busy looking behind you at what happened, how things worked out and reliving what cannot be changed. 

Imagine your life is stuck and if you just looked up into the windshield you would see an opening in your life letting you know it’s your turn to move. 

So imagine this, God told you to move, he cleared the way for you, moved every obstacle out the way and you miss your turn because you were looking behind you. That’s not to say your turn won’t come back but you missed that one and possibly caused someone else to miss thier turn. 

I said all that to say, the rear view mirror is for reflection, learning and clarity. The windshield is about ten times the size of the rear view mirror because that is where your possibilities are.  Keep moving forward, keep looking for ways to learn and grow. We already survived the worst the world has sent so far, and with God, we are still standing. We may be bruised but not broken, we may be bent over, but we can still stand. 

Hang on … 

“I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you. The sun cannot harm you during the day, and the moon cannot harm you at night. The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. The Lord will protect you as you come and go, both now and forever!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.121.1-8.ERV

Dear readers, today I am offering a prayer for the children who are back in school or starting in the coming days. Please believe with me that they will be healthy, mentally wealthy and safe this year.

“Children are a gift from the Lord, a reward from a mother’s womb.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127‬:‭3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.127.3.ERV

“Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/pro.22.6.ERV

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you standing in the gap for our children. Lord, as we send our children to these schools be with them. Lord, be with every administrator who makes decisions for our children, give them knowledge that man can’t understand so our children will continue to walk the path you have chosen for them. 

Allow them to have the  knowledge and the skills to teach our children so they will be prepared for the life you have prepared for them. 

Lord, bless every door handle, as our children touch the door, remind them that if they knock on the door to unlock knowledge, you will answer. Remind them that no door is closed for them, no good thing will be withheld from them because they are walking in your power. 

Lord, protect them from bullies, protect them from bullets and any other thing that would cause them harm. 

Lord, as they take steps down the hallway, order their steps for we know the steps of a righteous man are ordered by you. 

Lord as they open their books, prepare their hearts and mind to learn, allow the blood to flow in such a way that it opens new channels in their brains for learning, comprehension and application skills.  

Lord prepare the teachers to enhance the minds of our children. Be the strength teachers need to ensure another day, remind them that they don’t need to be strong, they just need to trust you. Lord be the patients they need to continue even when they are frustrated and tired. Lord be the discernment they need to help every child you present to them. Lord these teachers need you in new ways and I know that you can and will provide them what is needed. 

Lord I offer this prayer in Faith, the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Amen 

“The Lord God is our protector and glorious king. He blesses us with kindness and honor. The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right.”

Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.84.11.ERV

““Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.7.7.ERV

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.37.23.NKJV

“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.121.3.NKJV

I woke up this morning (a praise goes there) and this title was the first conscious thought of the day. I’ve tried to determine what God wanted me to say and I’ve started three times. After much contemplation and many erased words I think this is what I needed to tell you this morning. If you do nothing, if you stand by and watch and don’t act your life will get shattered.  You will be living a life where you are shattered, the pieces of your life are held in place and it looks life a whole life but your heart and soul are shattered. I looked at the words Mordecai said to Esther concerning the Jewish people and  I’m going to make this personal for me and my family. I would ask that if you agree, you will make it personal too. Add your name to the text .. write it down. 

“Sheveze if you keep quiet now, help and freedom for your family will come from another place. But you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, maybe you have been chosen to be the queen for such a time as this.””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/est.4.14.ERV

“Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: “Mordecai, go and get all the Jews in Susa together, and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my women servants will fast too. After we fast, I will go to the king. I know it is against the law to go to the king if he didn’t call me, but I will do it anyway. If I die, I die.””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/est.4.15-16.ERV

Two important things happened here that can make the difference for me and my family AND you and your family.

1. Make a decision to act. I know it’s scary but listen to the word of God that is in your heart and make the move.
2. Fast and pray. Don’t do it alone, grab your loved ones and do it together. There is power in prayer and we all know when two or more agree.. yeah 

So quick recap and I mean quick, you should go read the book, it’s tantalizing. Esther was a young girl who was groomed to be with the king, she was Jewish. When she was selected she went to the harem and her uncle Mordecai worked for the king but was set up by a man in the kingdom. That man tricked the king into agreeing to kill all the Jews in the land. He asked Esther to intervene on the behalf of the Jews and she was scared but he reminded her she was Jewish too. Esther agreed and she got all of her people to fast and pray and she went to the King. All of the things that were planned for the Jews happened to the people who plotted against them. 

Ok I said all that to say this.. give it to God! If you are feeling as if you are in pieces, struggling to understand which way to go, pray with your people and believe with them. I don’t know what God has told you to do for your family, I’m not sure what he is doing in your life but I know you need to do it. 

It all matters..  it’s like the song says from Bishop Paul Morton:

Now let me prophesy for a minute

I see you in the future

And you look better

I see you walking in favor and prosperity too

Let me encourage you

Let me speak life to you

You can depend on God to see you through

You can depend on me to pray for you

I’ll pray for you

You pray for me

And watch God change things

“He heals their broken hearts and bandages their wounds. Our Lord is great and powerful. There is no limit to what he knows.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬, ‭5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.147.5.ERV

“My dear friend, I know that you are doing well spiritually. So I pray that everything else is going well with you and that you are enjoying good health.”

‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/3jn.1.2.ERV

 Be well my friends even in the face of a mountain, be well. Our God created the mountains and have you the ability to speak to it, tell it to move. All you need is faith. 

I know your thing is big and scary but our God is bigger. 

It’s easy for me to sit here and tell you to trust a God you cannot see. It’s easy for me to tell you to believe in the unbelievable. It’s easy for me to quote scripture and think your life will be immediately changed. I can hear the thoughts in your head telling me that I just don’t understand, I probably don’t get it. Each one of us has a different path to walk and different struggles to overcome but that does not mean what I am saying isn’t real. 

I was never a church person, I actually didn’t like church or the people who tried to tell me about church. I loved God but church people were mean, unforgiving, judgmental and restrictive. I kept thinking, if God is as petty as these people are, I’m good. But I’ll quote a little gospel song that sums it up for me.

“You weren’t there the night Jesus found me

You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped his loving arms around me and you don’t know the cost of the oil Oh, you don’t know the cost of my praise you don’t know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box”

When he found me sitting on a pew I was mentally broken. My marriage was in shambles and I didn’t know how I was going to keep holding myself together. A friend invited me to friends and family day at his church. That was about 27 years ago and I’m still there and still excited about God. God sent his people to tell me to hold on, God sent his people to hug me when I was broken, God sent his people to remind me that he was bigger than anything I was going through and if I would just believe, he would fix it. 

So now I’m one of God’s people and I’m telling you, hold on. I’m telling you that God loves you and wants you to be at peace. I’m telling you that Jesus heals. I’m telling you when I see you, hugs “On Sight” because God loves you and wants what is best for you and that is truth. The hug is from me because sometimes, it’s all you need. 

I’ll leave you with this because it helps me.

“So I tell you to ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours. When you are praying and you remember that you are angry with another person about something, forgive that person. Forgive them so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ERV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/406/mrk.11.24-25.ERV

Have you ever had something so tragic happen to you that your soul was shaken? So hurt that you were lost in the pain?

As I dealt with a pain like that the little girl in me balled up, she slunk into herself and tried to hide from the pain. She told herself she was worthless, that this pain was her just reward for not being perfect. She tried to hide from her inadequacy and her supposed sin.

The little girl in me is easily hurt, easily distracted and has no expectations for others. The little girl in me hides from the pain and hides behind a fake smile and a nod, it’s easy to do and she has learned it’s socially acceptable to hide because no one wants to deal with her pain.

One day the little girls cries were so loud they could not be ignored.

The woman had to stop, take time to recognize that she was in pain. She turned inward to the little girl and said to her, fear not .. did our God not remind us:

“I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you.”

Psalms 121:1-2, 4-5 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.121.1-5.ERV

When we are tired:

““Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.11.28.ERV

When we doubt and don’t understand what’s happening we turn to God:

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jer.29.11.ERV

Baby girl, it is written:

“Then Jesus said to the man, “Stand up! You can go. You were healed because you believed.””

Luke 17:19 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/luk.17.19.ERV

My prayer for you:

“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://bible.com/bible/406/rom.15.13.ERV

The woman continues to encourage the little girl, she reminds her that only by the word of God can they be healed and grown. She hugs her tight and whispers into her spirit:

All is Well!

When I proclaim my love for God and all of his goodness, all of his grace and all of his mercy, it is not for me. I am not bragging or being boastful, I am sharing with you that God is able.

When I tell you he saved my marriage from hell, I am not bragging about my goodness but his. I had messed it all up trying to solve the problems on my own. If he had left it in our hands, we would be divorced. No lies, we had messed it up. But God! God came in and put us to work, not on the problem, that was his, he made us do the work on ourselves. He helped us to heal from the pains of our past, he allowed us to heal from our bad decisions. He allowed us to heal from life. Then and only then did he start to work on the marriage. It was hell, but he already conquered hell so we survived. I’m not telling you my marriage is perfect now, I’m telling you we are still together because he is still God and we are still doing the work.

When I tell you he healed my daughter, it’s not to brag. She is not 100% well and she is still fighting every day. We proclaim she is healed, we don’t care what it looks like, we know God.

I’m telling you these things because I need you to know that there is nothing in your life that God can’t handle. I don’t need to know all the things you are dealing with, he already knows and loves you anyway. There is nothing that he has done for me and all the people who love him that he won’t do for you. If you are still struggling with giving him your life, stop struggling, take a break and give it to him. All you have to do is say the words of salvation and it is finished.

I believe your Son died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead, and because of this I will enter into heaven when I die. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I willingly give you my life. Now, Father, help me do your will.

I’m not saying he will twinkle his nose and solve everything, neither will he snap his fingers and fix it, but he will be your strength. He will be your healer, he will be your way out of the middle of a mess. He will be your mind regulator and your heart fixed. Sounds wild and crazy doesn’t it? It is .. you have to try him and then you will see for yourself.

“I have something from the Lord to tell you. I warn you: Don’t continue living like those who don’t believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking.”

Ephesians 4:17, 23 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/eph.4.17-23.ERV

I woke up this morning praising God out of my sleep, it’s been that kind of week for me. So, in true Godly fashion he share a message with me. No, he did not speak out of a bush to me like he did with Moses. No, he did not stop the earth’s rotation for me like he did for Joshua but he still gets his messages to me. I will say that many of you have been his mouthpiece for me. Sometimes it’s a woman at the grocery store or a friend and/or associate who shares something helps me with what I am dealing with. I know the message had to come from God because I had not told anyone else.

Someone shared a message on social media and I won’t speak his video word for word for one I don’t remember it and for two, maybe you will look it up but here is my paraphrase:

A basketball in my hands is worth the cost of the ball, but in the hands of Lebron James it’s worth about 50 million dollars. A football in my hands is worth the cost of the ball but in Peyton Mannings hand it is worth yup, about 50 Million dollars. A golf club in my hand is worthless but in the hands of tiger woods, oh yeah about 80 million dollars. Now take that same principle and apply it to life. A loaf of bread and some fish in my hand feeds me and maybe a family member, but in the hands of Jesus, about 5,000 people are fed with leftovers. A slingshot in my hand is a scrap of fabric but in the hand of King David it is a giant slayer. If you are like me , this message already did its work. Imagine this, if your problems are held in your hands all you get are bad nerves, sleepless nights and stress but put those same problems in God’s Hands, and you will receive peace.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

A shout goes right there. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

So I shared this story to remind you that the success of anything depends on the hands you put it in. I would declare today that if you put it all in God’s hand you will see major changes in your life.

I don’t have a clue what you are dealing with, but glory be to God, He does. Give it to him and allow him to heal you and order your steps.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Good morning lord

I come to you today praying and believing that you will do what no other power can do.

“I know that when l call for help, my enemies will turn and run. I know that because God is with me!”

Lord believing that you will heal the sick, not just those sick in their body but those sick in the spirit and sick in their hearts.

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Lord believing that you will set the captives free, free from demonic possession, free from the hateful comments of the enemies, free from oppression both mental and physical. Free from the sins of the past because we know that whom the son sets free is free indeed.

Lord I pray that you will provide for your people in new ways. Your word tells us that you will supply all of our needs according to your richness and glory. We know that you whole the world in your hand and you will not withhold one good thing from your people.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Lord I am praying that you will continue to provide rest for the weary. This world is complex and the enemy is busy. Lord remove the impact of the enemy from our lives and continue to be our place of peace.

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Lord I am believing that you will continue the work you have begun in us. That your word will continue to rest, rule and abide in our hearts and be manifested in our thoughts, our deeds and our actions.

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

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

In Jesus name, Amen

Are you ready?

Are you ready to forgive and forget? Ready to be whole again? Do you want to live free?

“and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.8.32.KJV

I know some of us have been wronged by the people we love and trust. Some people have been done so wrong it’s the feel as if they can’t recover, they allow the experience to make them bitter, angry and unwilling to love again. The saddest part about this kind of hurt is , it’s normally our own people. It’s often parents, grandparents and siblings who know you enough to deliver a death blow to your heart. Next up on the pain scale is your choice of a lover/spouse/ significant other. They learn all about your inner most fears and thoughts and when things go bad, they use those things you shared in confidence to beat you down. It’s a natural reflex that hurt people, hurt people.

Be the change you want to see. Stop the cycle in your life by asking God to heal those places of pain and shame inside of you so no one can use them against you. Once you can speak to your stuff, it can be healed.

“So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.”

James 5:16 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jas.5.16.ERV

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

Psalms 30:2 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.30.2.ERV

“My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” If you continue hurting each other and tearing each other apart, be careful, or you will completely destroy each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/gal.5.13-15.ERV

This seems to be a season of mourning for many families. Often when people call to inform you of the death of a loved one you don’t have any idea what to say, if you are like me, you are stumped. We don’t know what that death feels like to them, regardless to how many deaths we have faced. Each person experiences death differently every time.

We often issue platitudes like God knows what’s best, or God needed them more than you did, or one of my favorites, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I dare to say, they are probably not ready for that conversation yet.

I have been trying something new to me, but probably not new to you. I allow them to talk to me and tell me whatever it is they need to say. Sometimes they are talkative and want to tell you how much that person meant to them or how the death is affecting them, sometimes they are speechless. I then ask how can I best support them? I had to start asking what they needed because my normal response would be to so a bunch of things, because things is a safe place right? We do things to show our love but what if they don’t need things? Just ask.

One of the reasons why I have backed off using the tried and true Christian sayings is because I know the character of God. I know that he does not make mistakes, I know that he holds our loved ones in his hands. I know he will be with us, I know time heals, I can’t say all wounds anymore because some wounds never really heal but God allows us to prosper in spite of them. I know the power of intercession… praying for them when they can’t pray for themself.

”Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.“

Matthew 5:4 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.4.KJV

”I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.“

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/2co.12.9.ERV

But let’s not act like we only mourn people who died. I have had the distinct honor of mourning people who still live. People who have played dead in my life, who went missing or absent or whose actions created an insurmountable barrier to our relationship. I know as a Christian I am to forgive, it is written..

”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

It is not written that forgiveness also gives unlimited access. There are times when it is best for everyone to sever the relationship to maintain your peace. Sometimes the relationship fades away with no wrong doing because the purpose for that relationship has been met. Either way things end and it hurts. God still shows up in those situations too. If you must offer comfort to someone grieving a living person or thing, do the same. Ask how you can support them.

I would offer to pray with them if and when they are ready. But even if they are not ready you can pray for them. My favorite prayer during this time is a prayer for peace.

Here is a scripture prayer you could use :

”God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.“

”When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. I trust God, so I am not afraid of what people can do to me! I praise God for his promise to me.“

”Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.“

”“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.“

”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.“

”We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.“

”Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.“

”We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.“

in Jesus name, Amen

Keep moving forward, I know looking at the past can provide some foundation for your future but don’t get stuck.

When God took the people from Egypt they stood at the Red Sea and felt all was lost. I can’t imagine the terror of finally being released from bondage, picking up everything you owned and leaving the only life you’ve known. You find yourself being chased by the enemy and you run for your life, you, your vulnerable adults, your helpless children and all the food you can carry. You are stumbling along blindly looking for safety and you find yourself standing in front of the Red Sea, a seemingly insurmountable barrier. The enemy at your back and no where to go. I can’t imagine hearing the enemy behind you screaming, the chariot wheels banging on the ground, the horses neighing and breathing heavy from the hard ride and the soldiers taunting voice’s. The people were terrified and the sane faith that helped them escape was at risk. This is the scene.

”We told you this would happen! In Egypt we said, ‘Please don’t bother us. Let us stay and serve the Egyptians.’ It would have been better for us to stay and be slaves than to come out here and die in the desert.” But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid! Don’t run away! Stand where you are and watch the Lord save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again. You will not have to do anything but stay calm. The Lord will do the fighting for you.”“

Exodus 14:12-14 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/exo.14.12-14.ERV

And the Bible says

”Raise the walking stick in your hand over the Red Sea, and the sea will split. Then the people can go across on dry land. I have made the Egyptians brave, so they will chase you. But I will show you that I am more powerful than Pharaoh and all of his horses and chariots.“

Exodus 14:16-17 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/exo.14.16-17.ERV

Now, I won’t copy and paste the entire story here but in the end, they won.

Yup just like your story, in the end, they were rescued because God will make a way for you to escape every situation. Whether it is your past, drug and alcohol addictions, wrong relationships, bad career choices, abusive situations, poor health choices even poor money management, if it is a barrier God can remove it. When you are faced with temptations to stay in a bad situation or to go back to one because going forward seems too hard, remember this.

”The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.“

1 Corinthians 10:13 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/1co.10.13.ERV

You will have a Red Sea experience, but remember, the sea parted for you to escape. But also remember every one or everything that tried to take you back, it didn’t end so well for them. Stay the course.

”Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.“

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.58.KJV

This is a repost from years ago, but still relevant.

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 loved 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

“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.

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.

”The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”“

Luke 4:9-11 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.4.9-11.NIV

I have read this passage time and again but today it was revealed to me that the devil was quoting scripture. He was tempting Jesus with the word of the Lord.

Gentle reminder, get to know God for yourself. Develop a relationship with God because if you don’t, you leave yourself open to deception. Once I realized or should I say fully came to understand this passage, the enemy really tried it. The enemy was telling Jesus what God could do. This is a reminder that he knows Gods word and he knows it can’t return void, He basically said, if you are truly the son of God, jump down and let the angels catch you. You know your Father will command them to catch you. On the surface that statement might seem innocent and you may not think there is anything wrong with that. But why do you have to prove anything to the enemy? IF you are the son of God? What do you mean IF? When you know who you are, when you understand the love God has for you, you don’t have to prove it to anyone. The only person you should be listening to is God.

”And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”“

John 10:4-5 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.10.4-5.NKJV

Devil we don’t know you! We don’t serve you! Your commands have no power on us, for we serve a living God. A God who cares for us and loves us. And I don’t have time to deal with you, I’m too busy praising the God I serve.

”No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.“

I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.10.13.NKJV

”“When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world.“

John 16:21 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.16.21.ERV

As Mothers we bear the pain of birth and the pain of life. We watch our children struggle to take thier first breath, grow their first tooth, learn to roll over and then learn to crawl. We hold our breath as they take their first step, as they learn to walk and then to run. We hold their hand for the first day of day care or kindergarten, we stand in the hallway waiting to see if they need us, when really, it’s us struggling to let go. We take joy in their friendships and we cry real tears at their pain.

We are Mothers

We mother the children of our bodies and the children of our heart, because we are mothers.

Today we celebrate the Mother in you, even if you did not birth them out of your body, you chose to Mother them anyway and they needed that.

We may not always appreciate our Mother as we are growing up, but as we live and grow, as we have our own children, we learn to appreciate her sacrifice.

”She is a strong person, and people respect her. She looks to the future with confidence. Grace and beauty can fool you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.“

Proverbs 31:25, 30 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/pro.31.25-30.ERV

With all that is in me I believe that every situation we face is to bring glory to God. He wants to use use your experience to show people you can endure tough times and come out victorious on the other side. Testimony is just a test told to help someone else. I can tell you that there is hope for your marriage because when my marriage was failing, I turned to Jesus and he found me sitting on a pew, broken, heart torn into pieces and my marriage in shambles. I cried out to the Lord and he heard my cry. He didn’t wave a magic wand but he taught me to seek his face, taught me to trust his peace and one battle at a time the war was won. Hallelujah

When my daughter was sick and they told me she had a blood clot the entire length of her right leg and she could not survive, I said the devil is a lie, she was 17 and we were terrified. I shut that hospital room door and called on the name of Jesus, I prayed and believed that he would find a way and indeed he did. The next day a doctor came in and said he had a procedure he could try that could give her some time for her body to help. She is now 41 turning 42 soon. Was it easy? Absolutely not but she yet lives and she has a full life with her children.

When my mama was addicted to drugs and our parental/child relationship was destroyed, torn apart and filled with anger and pain, I gave our relationship to the Lord. My mother did not get off all drugs, but we found a way to love each other through it and when she died, I could say we were good. I was at peace with our relationship and we healed together and I learned more about her and her struggle in the process. I learned to appreciate all of the things my mother sacrificed for me any my brother and the love she had for us. I had to learn to love her for in spite of what I saw as her weakness.

I could go on and on and on but I think you get my point. Trust the Lord with whatever you are going through, he will be with you, he will mold you, teach you and grow you and he will never leave you the same way he found you.

But I declare this for me..

”“But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”“

Joshua 24:15 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jos.24.15.ERV

”But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.“

2 Corinthians 12:9 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/2co.12.9.ERV

”I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.”“

Psalms 91:2 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.91.2.ERV

”God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord YAH you have a place of safety forever.“

Isaiah 26:3-4 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.26.3-4.ERV

”I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was!“

Psalms 139:14 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.139.14.ERV