When U Pray

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

I was riding down the street this morning and looked over at a closed factory, the building was torn down but the concrete parking lots were left in place. I’m not sure why they tore down the building but left everything else.

Looking over at the space it showed tress in various sizes growing up through the concrete. The little trees looked just like the big trees that were near. I was reminded in that moment that the living God called all these trees into being.

”And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.“

Genesis 1:11-12 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.1.11-12.KJV

I said all that to remind you that what God has ordained cannot be stopped. These trees are growing up through the concrete.

1. You will go through something, but have no fear, the Lord you serve is able to allow you to grow and prosper despite the heaviness of life.

2. We know that anything planted into good soil will prosper, but even if you cannot see the soil, the Lord we serve made the soil and will allow you to grow anywhere you find yourself.

”But some of the seed fell on good ground. There it grew and made grain. Some plants made 100 times more grain, some 60 times more, and some 30 times more.“

Matthew 13:8 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.13.8.

No matter what you are faced with, remember our God is able. Those concrete things in your life can be overcome. If God does not remove the concrete in your life he will allow you to grow through it. But that’s just half the story, the other part is you will be fruitful and make new fruit .. hallelujah those trees that broke through, created new trees after their own kind and now those trees are making trees too.

If you think I’m talking about trees, you missed the point.

Hallelujah

There is not one person I know in this world who has lead a calm, easy, smooth sailing, drama free life. Each one of us face giants and demons that we call problems or situations. I am not sure what your demon is, it could be so many things it becomes too hard to name them. It could be your health, your children, your marriage, wanting to be loved, desiring to be married, managing your income, lack of income, lack of necessary resources, drug and or alcohol addiction, sex addiction, shopping addiction, lying, cheating , loneliness, rejection or a combination of them all and let’s not forget the ones I didn’t name.

Life throws so many things at you, sometimes all at once, that I am not sure how people make it without Jesus. I am not saying that with Jesus you don’t have problems, that would be a lie. But I am saying we fight differently with him on our side.

”“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”“

John 16:33 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.16.33.ERV

”We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments,“

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/2co.10.3-4.ERV

I am sending you this note as a reminder that “It is written”, you will have troubles, problems, demons, or whatever you name them while you walk this earth, but that is not the end of the story. If you have faith, trust The Lord and walk in the power you have been given, you can successfully survive anything this old world throws at you. You have to know in your heart and believe with your soul in your ability to win, don’t doubt yourself and don’t doubt God and his ability. Speak to that thing that tries to destroy you and remind it that it has no power over you, tell it to be removed from your life. I don’t know what your IT is, but you HAVE the power in Jesus Christ to win.

”Then the followers came to Jesus alone. They said, “We tried to force the demon out of the boy, but we could not. Why were we not able to make the demon go out?” Jesus answered, “You were not able to make the demon go out, because your faith is too small. Believe me when I tell you, if your faith is only as big as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. You will be able to do anything.”“

Matthew 17:19-20 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.17.20.ERV

Nothing is impossible for you if you just believe. Look, this is not a fairy tale so just trusting and believing will not make everything smooth and easy. There is no easy button, no magic wand that will be waved and everything gets easy. Nope, it means you will trust in the Lord, you will lay your problems at his feet and rest in the knowledge that it is done. You will wait, watch and see the Power of The Lord take care of things in ways you could not imagine. Use your prayers to change the direction of your life. Give all your problems to the Lord and he will give you peace while he works them out.

That’s it, that’s all. TRUST IN THE LORD!

Hallelujah is a word often used to exalt the Lord, to praise him and today I say it because I too want to praise the Lord.

Defined as:

The phrase “hallelujah” translates to “praise Jah/Yah”, though it carries a deeper meaning as the word halel in Hebrew means a joyous praise in song, to boast in God. The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH, and is a shortened form of his name “God, Jah, or Jehovah”.

Do you ever read a scripture for the 100th time and this time it grabs you, holds onto you and makes you feel the words in your heart. Yeah me too. This word right here is a reminder of Gods love, grace and his tender mercies toward us. As I read it, I was convicted by the hope it instills, by the promise it reinforced. Read it with me and be blessed.

”For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“

Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.3.14-21.NKJV

I added the easy to read version below because I love that version it speaks to my heart.

”So I bow in prayer before the Father. Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 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. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.“

Ephesians 3:14-21 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/eph.3.14-21.ERV

This my friends is a scripture prayer, every word is from the Bible and meant to show our love and admiration for the lord. Praise him with me.

”Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.“”He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.“”Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.“”Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.“”I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.“”Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!“”Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.“”I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.“”So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.“”Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.“

Dear Heavenly Father

As we enter the second quarter of 2024 I would ask for your continued grace and mercy.

Lord in the beginning of this year we made some resolutions, we made some commitments and we declared we would stand on your word. Be our strength as we embark on this journey with you, be our guide and our strong tower. Help us to continue to grow in your word and in our obedience. Help us to understand your plan and help us to do the work, lead us on the path you have prepared for us so we can be successful.

Lord your peace has been promised to us and today we ask that it be made manifest in our hearts. We need your peace as we go about doing your will. Your peace will keep us when we get tired, when we get frustrated and when the world begins to be too heavy. Allow us to rest in your arms as you go about doing your will.

Lord be our ever present help during times of trouble. We cannot walk this journey without you by our side.

I ask this prayer in faith, in the name of Jesus.

Amen

”Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.“
‭‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/2th.3.16.NKJV

I often see people asking for prayer on social media and wonder if the responders really pray for them?

Some people believe they have to know all the details of what the person is going through to pray for them. I believe you can pray for anyone at anytime because our Father knows what they have need of.

”“And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.“

Matthew 6:7-8 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.6.8.ERV

The way I understand the word of God may be different than what you understand and that’s ok. I believe the word of God is able to heal, is able to help, is able to change and is able to grow, so when someone asks me to pray, I believe what I am saying will be done. I believe it with everything in me. I’ve bet my entire life on this truth.

”Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind.“

James 1:5-6 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jas.1.5-6.ERV

If I ask you to pray for me, I’m asking you to believe God with me. I know if two or more agree on anything in the earth, God will be with us and hear our cry. Feel free to ask him to hear my cry and attend unto my need, that’s more than enough.

”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://bible.com/bible/406/mat.18.19-20.ERV

”Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.“

Psalms 61:1-3 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.61.2-3.NKJV

When you commit to pray for someone, do it, they will be blessed and so will you. You cannot go before the throne of grace and not be blessed.

”Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.“

Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.6.7-10.NKJV

I come before you this day lord trusting and believing you for peace. Lord because we belong to Jesus Christ we know that our thoughts and minds are protected by the peace of God.

Lord your word tells us not to worry about anything but to come to you in prayer and ask for what we need and you will provide it. So I come asking as a believer that you will allow us to be at peace as you work out the things in our lives that seem to be holding us bound. I ask that you will work out our finances God, and there will be no lack in your people not physical, mental or financial. Lord I am trusting in your word that says anything we ask in the name of Jesus, you will do it.

Lord it is hard these days with the world in chaos. Prices have increased for our daily needs such as food, fuel and housing but we are standing on your word that says you know what we have need of and you will take care of us.

Lord as we stand on your word, stand guard over our hearts and minds. The enemy is busy but we don’t care what he does, we don’t serve him. We serve a living God, the king of kings, the I Am that I Am, the Rose of Sharen, the Prince of Peace.. hallelujah we serve you in spirit and in truth.

I ask this prayer in Faith, in Jesus name.

Hallelujah and amen

”Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.“

Philippians 4:6 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/php.4.6.ERV

”And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.“

Philippians 4:7 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/php.4.7.ERV

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

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/2th.3.16.ERV

”“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things.“

Matthew 6:31-32 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.6.31-32.ERV

Lord, I am looking to you because looking at my situation is frustrating me. Father you created me and you know me, help me to find a way to manage the tasks you have set before me.

You created processes and process functionality so you can help me understand it. Lord you created leadership by being our leader, allow me to lead with your heart, with your mind and with your spirit. Lord help me to hear for understanding and not for waiting to talk, lord help me understand your people so that I can lead and develop them in a way that brings satisfaction to my employees and to my company. Lord allow me to be your hands and feet to show love and encouragement.

Father I submit my will to you, I surrender my leadership to you, I submit my pain and frustration to you and I bind those things on earth knowing they will be bound in heaven and I loose joy, unspeakable joy. I look forward to molding the next generation of leaders with great expectations. I release peace over my responsibilities knowing that you are in the midst. I speak life over every situation that is trying to play dead in my life, in the name of Jesus. I ask it all on the promise made by the blood. Amen

Today I am speaking to the wives!

During my reading of the Bible I stumbled across a verse, a well known verse indeed. Let me set the stage, God had created Day and Night, Streams and Rivers, Fish and Birds, trees and plants, Large mammals and insects and decides to create man, in his image and likeness. That’s the short of it and now you are caught up to this point.

”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

https://bible.com/bible/406/gen.2.18.ERV

💥 BOOM 💥 a Godly idea takes flesh!

W O M A N!

The answer to the very first problem of mankind, loneliness.

”That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. In this way two people become one. The man and his wife were naked, but they were not ashamed.“

Genesis 2:24-25 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/gen.2.24-25.ERV

Naked but not ashamed … they are as one.

Here is where humans get in the way, they overthink it. When a man marries a woman, she becomes a part of him and no matter how mad he gets, how frustrated he gets, how mad his momma is, or his baby momma is, you are his WIFE! Wives are not called to the same life as a girlfriend. No matter what situation you face, you are in it together.

Naked and unashamed means you get to love each other without worrying about all the stuff of mankind, you can forgive your spouse when they are moody, when they don’t get it right, even if they cheat. Yes I said it, I know in 2024 the trend is to leave when things don’t go right, I didn’t say you had to stay, I said you can forgive them. Read it again, yup I said forgive, I can’t and won’t suggest anyone do anything they are not comfortable with. I would ask you to look at your spouse and forgive them. Naked and unashamed means you know me, you know where I am messed up at, you know my faults, my bad thoughts, my bad deeds and all the places I need forgiveness and you love me anyway. That’s the love that is possible, naked and unashamed.

IT IS WRITTEN!

”If you find a wife, you have found something good. She shows that the Lord is happy with you.“

Proverbs 18:22 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/pro.18.22.ERV

”But when God made the world, ‘he made people male and female.’ ‘That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two people will become one.’ So they are no longer two, but one. God has joined them together, so no one should separate them.”“

Mark 10:6-9 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mrk.10.6-9.ERV

I’m not going to add another line or verse. Just know this!

You are WOMAN, mission accomplished.

”Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.“

Psalms 34:3-4 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.34.3-4.NKJV

There are times in your life when you have to just stop and take inventory of your life. Times when you have to look over the situations in your life and remember the past, remember your decisions and measure your success and or failures.

I have sat back and inventoried my own life and I realize my best decision was to turn my life over to Jesus. Prior to that decision my life was in shambles and everything I touched turned to crap. One bad decision after the next, I was on the verge of losing my marriage, my child was spiraling out of control, my job was just a place to go and the ends were not meeting. A friend invited me to family day at his church and I have never left. Hallelujah, Jesus found me sitting in that pew mentally and physically exhausted, spiritually empty and barely functioning. I felt his spirit enter my heart and my soul sighed. I felt a peace that I had never known. My life did not get better that day but as I learned about his life and his kindness, about his forgiveness and his mercy my mind and heart got better. My circumstances did not change but I did. The more I trusted God the better my decision making became and then, things started to change.

That was not the story I started out writing this morning, my plan was to ask you to exalt the Lord with me today because he is good, because he is worthy, because he is God! But God, someone needed to know that he is able to do exceedingly above what you can believe. Someone needed to know that nothing is impossible to those who believe. Marriages can be saved. Children can be healed. Families can be restored. I am the living proof that God has mercy because he has restored me, mentally, physicians spiritually over and over again.

Some come and exalt the Lord with me.. sing praises to his great name.

”Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings you praise everywhere in heaven.“

Psalms 8:1 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.8.1.ERV

”Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before you and look to you for help. And every morning you hear my prayers.“

Psalms 5:3 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.5.3.ERV

”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 5:11-12 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.5.11-12.ERV

”“I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and he continues to love me. In the same way, if you obey my commands, I will continue to love you. I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends.“

John 15:9-13 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jhn.15.9-13.ERV

There are times in your life when God is using your circumstances to bless others. There are times when he tests you openly so your testimony will be believed without question. There are times that God will show up like a flood in your life and sweep everything clean in front of everyone. Our tests are not always just for us, God uses our test to help others but this test, the fight you are in right now, it’s not for them, not right now it’s not. Who knows if they will ever know, but this is not for them.

”But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.“

Matthew 6:6 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.6.6.ERV

The situation you are facing right now feels lonely. I am sure you feel isolated and unloved. Have you picked up the phone to tell a friend about your struggle and they did not answer? Or they answered and you couldn’t find the words? Because this test is for you. There are times in your faith walk where you have to grow in your trust. You can’t do that if everything is always sunshine and rainbows. It’s during the testing of your faith that you learn who God is for you. Do something for me, look back at the times you thought were the worst times of your life, now look again and see how the living God kept you. A shout goes right there, well it does for me. Hallelujah!!! In my darkest hours, I met God face to face and he showed me who he was and who I was, in him. It’s during those times that he removed everybody who would have taken credit for my growth. He removed everything that hindered me from seeing him and I’m so much better for the gift of his love. God knows the plans he has for each one of us and because he knows the working of this old world he moves things and circumstances to work for our good.

I know this is a lonely time, I know you may feel broken and lost but imagine this, God is right there with you in the depths of your despair holding you, keeping you and preparing you for what he has prepared for you. He is making you ready for the Yes he promised.

”My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.“

James 1:2-4 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jas.1.4.ERV

”But you, dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up even stronger. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves safe in God’s love, as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life. Help those who have doubts.“

Jude 1:20-22 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/jud.1.20-22.ERV

”But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.“

Isaiah 40:31 ERV

https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.40.31.ERV