Claire's Prayer

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!!

Many years ago while going through a tough time, when fear continually raised its ugly head, the LORD gave me the scripture “𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕.” 2 Cor 10:5.

Daily when fear would arise and my thoughts would spiral I would repeat this scripture over and over in my head until I had stopped spiraling downwards. Sometimes I had to repeat this scripture 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆. 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲. 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿!

Four of these words are very interesting – 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝔾𝕠𝕕. What is your knowledge of God?

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝘄𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗳. 𝗪𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗺! 𝗪𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿!

That’s the knowledge of God right there! When we meditate on these things then all those anxious thoughts will come into captivity!

In the book of Luke, nestled in amongst the stories of the most incredible healings are two short verses.  When I first read them, I wondered why they were there, they seemed of such little consequence.  But knowing what an amazing God we serve; He would not put these two verses in His Word without thought or for no reason.  

“𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑷𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆’𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓.  𝑺𝒐 𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓.  𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.” Luke 4:38-39

These verses tell us that Jesus came to Peter’s house, Peter was married, and this was his mother-in-law.  There were no crowds in this house, Jesus didn’t heal Peter’s mother-in-law to show off His credentials or to spread the word.  𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹.

These two beautiful verses show us that Jesus cares about even the smallest of problems in our lives.  This was simply a fever, not leprosy, not blindness, but 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱.  He reached out and touched her hand, healing her.  No problem, no sickness, no pain is too small that we cannot take it to the LORD.  He cares about every hair on our head and His thoughts toward us are more numerous than the grains of sand upon the beach!  

More importantly, what should we do about these two verses?  How do they speak to us?  How do they change us?  Luke tells us that “𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”  After a touch from the LORD our response should be to serve Him!  When Jesus brings healing and restoration into our lives, our desire should be to serve Jesus.  𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁!

Praying for your healing in every area today.

Early in the spring of 1905, Civilla Martin and her husband met Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle.  Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for 20 years and her husband was confined to a wheelchair.  Despite being so afflicted they bought comfort, inspiration, and encouragement to all they met.  One day Mrs. Doolittle was asked the secret to her bright hopefulness and her response was, “𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆.”  This simple, beautiful expression of great faith inspired the hymn, “𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.”

He watches me!  He watches you!  How incredibly comforting are those three unassuming words.  Wherever you are, no matter what you are doing, the Father is watching you. 

In John 1:48 Nathanael enquires of Jesus, “𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆?”  𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎, “𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒑 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”  𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂!  I saw you praying under your fig tree.  I’m watching you.  I saw you as you picked up groceries.  I saw you when that tear slipped down your cheek in the car.  I saw you in that meeting, talking with your friend, driving to work.  In every situation 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂! I see you.  My eye is upon you.  I’m watching you.

Your loving Father sees you in all your wonderful potential.  Washed clean and beautiful by the blood of Jesus.  He sees you in your good moments and in your bad.  You are never invisible or too small and insignificant – the ever-watchful eyes of your Savior are upon you!  He sees you.

“𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐; 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆.”Psalm 32:8 

When I first read this scripture, I wondered to myself, “How does someone guide you with their eye?”  I chuckled to myself as I tried to imagine it!  Wouldn’t you have to be looking at that person to see which way the eye was indicating? When I think of the LORD guiding me, I think of Him taking me by the hand and leading me down the pathway, the LORD in front and me behind and sometimes He does do that!  But then, I began to imagine something else: 

A huge, lavish banquet is being held by the most important man in the land – His Majesty, the King.  Every dignitary and significant person in the country is seated around a glorious table; there are roses, crystal glasses and delicacies of every kind!  And you, why you are His Majesty’s right-hand man!  You stand to attention off to the side and intently watch your King’s every move.  At a strategic point during the evening, the King raises His head and looks in your direction. Immediately, you know that it’s time to bring in the entertainment!  𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲!

At times, I can look deep into my husband’s eyes, and I know just what he is thinking.  There is a profound connection that has developed over the years.  We know each other so well – not only can we finish each other’s sentences, but we can communicate without words.  Isn’t that the LORD’s desire for us, that we draw so close to Him, that we seek such intimacy with Him, that we see our reflection in His eyes?  That we get to know Him so well that no words are needed – we will know what He is thinking and with just a slight movement of His beautiful eyes, we will be instructed to go to the left or to the right. 

Psalm 17:8 says this: “𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆; 𝑯𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.” We are the “𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲,” literally translated in Hebrew to mean, ‘little man of the eye’. It is that reflection you see of yourself in someone’s eye when you are really close to them.  The Father is watching you so closely and so intently, you are the apple of His eye, and all He sees is you!  

𝕀𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕠𝕕.  Knowing the character of God.  Knowing that He is a God who gives liberally, openly and with sincerity, not for one moment thinking of reminding you of just how unworthy you are.  The Father weaves wisdom into your life until it is an inexplicable part of who you are.  He braids in knowledge of both things human and supernatural and folds in understanding.  He gives you the gift of having a “word in season” and teaches you how to impart Christian truth to encourage and strengthen the one who is struggling.  He pours out intelligence upon you and lavishes you with the knowledge of how to live a Godly life.  𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆!  Not simply a “help me make the right choice,” but so much more!   

James 1:5-8 tells us; “𝑰𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒅𝒐𝒎, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎.  𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅.  𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅; 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆–𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔.”

We need to ask for this wisdom, and we need to ask in faith.  Not wavering between the hope that He will give it to us and the fear that He won’t!  We need faith, simple faith in the One who gave us life, salvation, and redemption.  Faith that Jesus Christ is who He says He is. Faith in His Word and in the character of God, in His goodness, in His kindness, and in His love for us.  𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱.  It is not the quantity of your faith that matters; it is the object of your faith. Who do you put your faith in?  Just trust, just believe, and rest in who God is believing He will give you abundant wisdom!

Joshua 6:20 says, “𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒅; 𝒔𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚.”

Can you imagine the Israelite army being given this absurd order to march around the mighty city of Jericho without saying a word? I wonder what was going through their heads… For some, it was probably, “This is silly,” or “I feel stupid.” But for others, it was certainly, “We are going to do this! We are going to take this city!” The more they walked, the more their confidence grew. Perhaps some of them, looking forward to that final day, were thinking, “𝗜’𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱, 𝘀𝗼 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗗!” Faith was stirring within their hearts, and the expectation that God was going to do something great was getting bigger and bigger.

Imagine for a moment the sound of the trumpets and that huge, loud roar going up from the army on that final day. The volume of noise coming from thousands and thousands of men must have been so loud and intense that it shook the very ground they were walking on. The New King James Bible tells us, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁! Walls that had seemed high and insurmountable flattened at one loud shout! The Israeli army totally destroyed Jericho; nothing was left.

The Canaanites that lived in Jericho would have been a serious threat to Israel’s spiritual welfare. They were steeped in idolatry and immorality. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱! 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. I know that in my own life there are Jericho’s that are holding me back. Huge walls that may seem insurmountable, chains that seem too big to be broken. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹! What is it that is holding us back? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭!

𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤! They pop up like so many unwanted interruptions throughout our day! I don’t know about you but the minute I settle down, with a cup of hot tea, and hour of my time, and a determination to spend that with the Father, a million distractions will fall from the ceiling!

Facebook, a phone call, what’s for dinner, I wonder what my daughter is doing today, don’t forget the taxes! On and on like ping pong balls bouncing off the walls! Somedays anxiety creeps in as a distraction – those ‘what happens if’ thoughts! Before I know it half an hour has passed as I spun endlessly down the rabbit hole.

Jesus tells us a story in Matthew all about soil. An interesting story and right in the heart of it is a verse about distractions. “𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍.” ( Matthew 13:22).

The farmer sowed good seed, but some fell among the thorns and the thorns strangled the seeds. Distractions, like thorns, will choke us and cause us to be unfruitful! The cares of the world, anxiety about the future, worry about success, the amount of money earned, will all be diversions from our goal. Drawing nearer to our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.

How do we stop the ping pong balls from falling? The distractions from sucking up our time? Perhaps we simply need to turn our phone off, take every thought captive when it comes again and again, perhaps a worship song will ground us. Often I speak my prayers out loud as it seems when they are spoken in my head those squirrels will invade!

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? I would love to hear them as my desire is to be fruitful and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in those precious times with Him!