Claire's Prayer

Goliath from Gath stood close to 9 feet tall and carried over 150 pounds of weapons and armour!  For forty days, Goliath ridiculed the Israelite army and exposed them all as cowards. “𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅.” (1 Sa 17:11) This was exactly what Goliath wanted, the very reason he mocked and provoked Israel. He wanted them to be afraid! Goliath knew that if he instilled enough fear in their hearts, the battle was already won. 𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿. Teasing and taunting, he twists our thoughts until we too are dreadfully afraid.

After 40 days, a young shepherd boy walked into the camp of Israel, but this was no ordinary shepherd, this was David! David had done the lowliest of jobs, but the Great I Am had equipped David for this very time. He had killed lions and bears, being sure to never lose a lamb!

When David saw this Philistine mocking the armies of the Living God, he swore that he would go out and kill this enemy! I love this next part of the story! “𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆.” (1 Sa 17:48) Did you see that? D̲a̲v̲i̲d̲ ̲r̲a̲n̲ ̲t̲o̲w̲a̲r̲d̲s̲ ̲t̲h̲i̲s̲ ̲g̲i̲a̲n̲t̲, this monster that had terrorized the army of the Living God! We all know how it ended, one of those small stones embedded itself in Goliath of Gath’s forehead and he fell on his face to the earth. David took the Philistine’s sword and cut off his head! To quote William Blaikie, “𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, “𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝗴, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺,” 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, “𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝗴, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺.”

We all have huge giants in our lives that are facing us, the enemy himself is whispering in our ear. Sometimes these giants look so big, insurmountable, overwhelming. Fear begins to set in, and we start to believe those lies. But know this, God has already equipped you for this battle, He has already set you up so that you can win! Look at your giant and know that it is so big that you cannot miss and take off running towards it with boldness, knowing that the God of Angel Armies runs right alongside you!

As I sat and pondered this scripture I realized that there is so much truth to it. “𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆.” Prov 23:7a.

Social media tells us that all our ‘friends’ live wonderful lives, but is that who they are in their hearts. What we see on the outside is not the same as that on the inside. What you think deeply inside your heart about yourself is who you are!

𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖, 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖.

𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕠𝕟’𝕥.

𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕟, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖.

Recently I’ve had some problems with the food I eat, I can’t eat this or can’t drink that. As I was listening to a podcast I heard the quote, “Don’t focus on what you can’t have but on what you can. Don’t focus on what you don’t have but on what you have.”

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣, 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕!

Today I pray that you will remember that you CAN, and not you can’t. I pray that you will know that everything is possible BECAUSE you have a life with Jesus Christ. Because He has given you that power. He is the key between the possible and the impossible. Between the can and can’t. He is your strength when you are weak, your shelter when the storms blow the hardest.

Remember, the present is always subject to change, base your thoughts, your decisions, your beliefs on something solid and permanent – The Word of God. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳!

𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕠𝕣 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣. 𝕊𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. 𝔹𝕒𝕓𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡𝕤.

Did you ever hear the expression –’𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑫𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔?’ When I hear that quote I think of the huge, heavy doors of an old church building, the kind that squeaks when you pull it open. That immense, thick, wooden door swings open on a tiny metal hinge like any other door.

𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀.

Think of Esther, as Mordecai talked her through her fears, a decision was made, and a nation was saved. An enormous door was flung wide open on the hinge of Esther’s decision to go to the king. Agreed, this was no small decision, but a decision nonetheless. This decision threw Esther into action, a time of fasting was set in place, a God-centered plan was enacted.

𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴.

I’m sure all this was for Esther, the knowledge that walking into the throne room of the King could be the very last thing she did. But Esther threw fear aside and walked through the door of her decision into the favor of the LORD.

Are there decisions that you are facing this week?

Small decisions?

Big decisions?

Is it time to take a baby step into changing your future or even perhaps the future of others?

Remember that God has placed you where you are because He has a plan. A glorious plan, not just for you but for those around you. As you pray and take those steps, always remember, ‘𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑫𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔!’ As the LORD threw the doors open wide for Esther, the God that is the same yesterday, today, and forever, will do the same for you.

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!