Claire's Prayer

Sometimes spiritual warfare doesn’t look at all like we think it should. Certainly, it cannot be based on my feelings! When sharp words come against me, injustice threatens to overtake me, and unfairness hovers, my very first reaction is one of anger, my fists come up and I’m ready to fight! Sound familiar? 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲?

This is where moving in the opposite spirit comes in. When we search God’s Word we are told to:

𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖,

𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕧𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕥,

𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕣,

𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕕,

𝕞𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕕𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟.

An upside-down gospel for sure! Our wounded hearts would like to do one thing but God whispers, “ℕ𝕠 – 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕒𝕪!”

Whenever we move in unity, in peace, in love, or in forgiveness we strike a wounding blow to the enemy!

Like Caleb, we are called to have a ‘𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝑶𝑹𝑫 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒚.’ (Numbers 14:24). And like Caleb, when we walk this way, we will see everything God has planned for us, 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱!

A very wise Pastor once gave me a life-changing piece of advice, “𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣, 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕦𝕡 𝕚𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕨𝕠 𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘.”

This incredible guidance has been one that has stuck with me for well over a decade and is literally the best piece of advice I have ever had. You see when I wait my anger dissipates, confusion clears, the fog of my frustration disappears and I see things so differently. 𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻.

Talk about moving in the opposite spirit, using prayer and waiting on the LORD as incredibly effective weapons in this spiritual battle that we wage every day!

Perhaps you too can take this piece of advice to heart, when next anger rises and you are ready to react – wait two days! 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹.

𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟?

Waiting for a door to open or the tide to turn?

Have you been praying for something and waiting to see the fruit of your prayers?

I love this picture and quote – “𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗺!” While you sit in limbo waiting for an answer, praise him!

This is exactly what Paul and Silas did in prison – “𝑨𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒚𝒎𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑺𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒌𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇𝒇!” Acts 16:25-26

𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱!

In stunning and powerful fashion, just as He always does. Not only were Paul and Silas set free but so was EVERY prisoner! Every person in their current sphere of influence!

Today, if you are waiting for an answer, for a door to open, I encourage you to begin to praise Him. Praise Him in the hallway! 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲.

“𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕆ℝ𝔻’𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕤, 𝕨𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕦𝕞𝕖𝕕, 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕝 𝕟𝕠𝕥. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘; 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤.”

These are the glorious and poetic words of Jeremiah the weeping prophet. The nation of Judah was crumbling and Jeremiah, only a child when he was called, was sent to give Judah one last warning.

He cried tears of great sadness, knowing that God’s people would not listen.

They had stopped putting God first.

Jeremiah felt alone, full of grief and sorrow.

During her incarceration at Ravensbruck, a horrific Nazi prison camp during World War II, Corrie ten Boom spoke these truth-filled words; “𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕡𝕚𝕥 𝕤𝕠 𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔾𝕠𝕕’𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝.”

Both Jeremiah and Corrie ten Boom knew the marvelous truth of the love and faithfulness of our heavenly Father. 𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰.

When you look back upon your life, you will see God’s faithfulness woven like a golden thread through the tapestry of your days.

Today let’s take a moment to look back and find that thread that reminds you of His faithfulness, the one that reminds you of His goodness, the thread that reminds you of His love, knowing that because we serve a God who never changes – it is a constant, a golden thread that will always be there.

I often have great intentions, but the busyness of life, procrastination on my part, and the squirrels in my head, (oh those squirrels! ) often distract me from my destination. But I am learning, and one of those things that I have learned is that nothing about being in relationship with our Eternal God is passive. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮, 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

“But they that 🆆🅸🆃 upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31

“🆃🆂🆃🅴 🅽🅳 🆂🅴🅴 that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

“🅻🅴🆃 🅷🅸🅼 kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Songs 1:2

“🅳🆁🆆 🅽🅴🆁 to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous 🆁🆄🅽 🆃 🅸🆃 and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

“But you, O man of God, 🅵🅻🅴🅴 these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 🅵🅸🅶🅷🆃 the good fight of faith, 🅻🆈 🅷🅻🅳 on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:11-12

So many verbs. So many action words.

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁!

𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗲.

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗺.

𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗿.

𝗥𝘂𝗻!

𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲!

𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁!

Much of the Word of God requires action on our part. We cannot just sit, doing nothing, and expect to grow in the knowledge of our God. Good intentions and good ideas don’t get us anywhere! That’s why I love the consistency of our Abba Father and why I so want to be like Him. If I consistently wait, consistently taste, consistently draw near, I will get to know my LORD. This has become the cry of my heart, “𝕃𝕆ℝ𝔻 – 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖, 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕗𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕦𝕚𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝕋𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟!”

Recently I listened to a song and the lyrics went, “𝕀𝕗 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝔾𝕠𝕕’𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕪𝕖𝕥!” and a light went off inside my head. Yes, that’s so true. God is always working for the good of those who love Him! God will do a miracle, He will answer my prayers, my part is to keep seeking Him, keep praying, keep believing, and simply wait for the goodness to come.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹!

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱!

Because He is always true to His Word and that’s what the Word of God says.

Are you waiting for a miracle today? I pray that today you will have that revelation that your glorious Father is working so very hard on your behalf, He has your best interests at heart. Keep praying and seeking Him because He is indeed “𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕜 ℍ𝕚𝕞!”

Peace. We all long for it and yet at times it seems that as soon as we have it, it slips away once more.

God’s Word tells us that we can indeed have the peace that we fervently desire. “𝑩𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒅; 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔.” (Phil 4:6-7)

We all know this scripture, in fact, Amazon released data stating this is the most highlighted passage of scripture in the Kindle Bible!

I don’t need to point out the obvious, that we need to pray about everything, raising our voices in thanksgiving to the God of the Universe, to the One who deserves all our thanks, I know you know that. But there is something in this scripture that speaks loudly to me. “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈.” As we pray and seek the LORD with thanksgiving, w̲e̲ ̲m̲u̲s̲t̲ ̲r̲e̲l̲i̲n̲q̲u̲i̲s̲h̲ ̲o̲u̲r̲ ̲r̲i̲g̲h̲t̲ ̲t̲o̲ ̲u̲n̲d̲e̲r̲s̲t̲a̲n̲d̲, release our questions to Him and give up our need to understand it all, acknowledging that we don’t need to understand, just trust.

Then peace will rise above and surpass our need to understand and guard our hearts and minds! Herein lies the secret to peace, praying, seeking God, thanksgiving, and giving up the right to understand.

My prayer for you today is that you would be able to trust and find God’s peace, and with that peace would come joy, overwhelming thanksgiving, that you would indeed be like the trees of the field clapping their hand in praise to our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ! 

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. It is where our identity begins, foundational to knowing who we are in Christ. As I was praying into this scripture, I could see a tree with deep roots. The soil was saturated in love. Beautiful, fertile soil. Then I saw one little root grow off to the side, rooting itself in unforgiveness, poisoning the whole tree. I could see a root grounded in hate. Pride. Judgment. Malice. Gossip.

This picture made me think and ask myself the question, what am I grounded in? 𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲?

If we are grounded in love, we will grow in love, blossom, and bloom in love. Our tree will be fruitful and the flowers fragrant, a sweet-smelling fragrance.

If we are rooted in unforgiveness, our tree will become stunted and twisted, only bearing the hard fruit of bitterness. Or hate, will we allow our roots to drink of the waters of hate where violence and anger rage, where resentment and wrath are produced? Or perhaps pride, bringing forth envy and arrogance – resulting in loneliness?

What scares me most is that we will be rooted in fear, producing a tree that won’t grow at all, whose leaves will be paralyzed, and whose fruit will be depression, anxiety, and sickness.

Perhaps it is time to take stock of our roots, Matshona Dhliwayo says it well, “𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

“𝕃𝕆ℝ𝔻, 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕒 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕠 𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕣𝕪. 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕. ℍ𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕞𝕖 𝕦𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 Y𝕠𝕦!”

The detail that the LORD put into His Word is astounding. The way we are loved by our God is so overwhelming. Let’s take a look at God’s glorious promise to us in the Jewish wedding ceremony.

The groom would go with his father to the bridegroom’s family, a contract would be drawn up and the father would give his son a glass of wine, he would drink and then pass the cup to the one he had chosen, with the words, “this cup I offer to you.” The essence of what he was saying was, “I’m offering you my life, will you marry me!” If she accepted his offer, she would take the cup and drink, offering her love and life in return.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕕.

ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇᴛʀᴏᴛʜᴇᴅ.

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱.

Only a divorce could separate them now.

The groom would then leave to prepare a place for his beloved bride, often taking a year or more to do this. The groom would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the day of their glorious reunion, a great wedding feast, and much rejoicing.

Now let’s look at Passover, the LORD’s supper. During Passover, 4 cups of wine are offered. Jesus offered the 3rd cup, The Cup of Redemption or the Cup of Salvation. As He offered the cup to His disciples He said, “𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕.”

“I am giving you my life, will you take it, will you marry me?”

Then the words, “𝑰 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒐𝒎.”(Matt 26:29)

The promise that He has gone to prepare a place for us, the promise that He will return for us bringing us to that final banquet, that wedding feast in His Father’s kingdom! Every time we take communion, we drink of that cup, it is the one offered by Jesus, our bridegroom. Each time we drink we are saying Yes! Yes, LORD, I will marry you, I will wait for you, I give you my life in return!

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕕.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴇᴛʀᴏᴛʜᴇᴅ.

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱!

James 4:7 tells us, “𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕞𝕚𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕤, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟, 𝕥𝕠 𝔾𝕠𝕕. ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕝, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕝𝕖𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕪𝕠𝕦.” If we want to take authority over the enemy and his evil schemes to rob, steal, and destroy we first have to submit.

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝.

Allow our Abba Father to have control of our lives.

In every area.

That’s what gets me sometimes, I am submitted to my LORD, joyfully. He is my God and I am His. He is LORD of my life, I have accepted Jesus, and said Yes LORD! You are my Saviour, Redeemer, the love of my life, I accept the gift you have given me and offer you all of me in return.

𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲?

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Sometimes I allow worry to overtake me, I worry about my Mum and Dad, my children, work situations, money! Oh dear, that list can be endless. I need to submit every situation, every concern to the God who cares, the God who works on my behalf, and let Him lead and guide. Just trust.

Then there are those things that suck up my time, Netflix, my phone, I love a good show! I know you all hear me!! . But am I submitted in this area to God, less phone = more seeking His face. Help me Abba!

Our Father desires total submission, total trust, the knowledge that He knows what’s best and has everything under control. We need to let Him take the steering wheel of our lives and sit in the driver’s seat. Relinquish control, submit to our God who is so good.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 we can resist the devil, move in the authority we have in Christ, the authority given to us as daughters of the King of kings, and He will have to flee!!