Igniting the spark
I Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
I think all of us can relate to loosing our spark at some point in time. Some can call it a desert experience or a dry spell. Something you enjoyed so much went into hibernation, but you know it’s a gift from the Lord and somehow was needed to fan the flame once again.
Consider Elijah: after conquering the false prophets of Baal, he was off into the desert wanting to die. The Lord did not kill him as he asked. Instead, he was taken care of until it was his time to get up and move. During this time, he did not look like the prophet who just had a huge victory, instead he was going through a dry spell, depression, or desert experience.
In all of this, he moved on and continued his work in the Lord.
I have found out that saying no to the Lord is not an option. When there is a call, there is a call, period. I believe that Elijah wanted to call it quits, but the Lord would not let him.
Desert experiences or dry spells are necessary for testing the heart and growth, as difficult as they may be. We may not always understand what happens during this time, but that’s not important. What is important is the time spent in faithfulness to the Lord, and not letting the enemy take advantage of it. . The result of the dry spell: less of me, more of you Lord.
While we may feel He is not with us in the desert, He really is, and what He is really waiting for is for you to finish crossing over into the plans and purposes that He has for your life.
Are you ready to have your spark ignited once again? Come to the Lord in prayer, ask Him to remove the heaviness that is upon you and receive His refreshing touch in your life.
Stepping out of your comfort zone
Judges 6:15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Was something ever asked of you and felt unqualified for the job? Perhaps you thought they asked the wrong person, but it wasn’t so, it was you they asked.
I was approached recently to teach a large group of people and I felt unqualified, even though the subject was one that I loved. I made excuses on why I should not take the assignment. It would be a very long committment, I was not capable, I fumble often when I need to teach in Spanish, and the excuses kept coming. But the Lord confirmed to me that I should go ahead and do this, and to be honest, I did so out of honor and duty, not because I felt capable.
What happened surprised me. I gave the first teaching to the students, word got out and now there are more signing up. I continued to pray for the class and students, and the Lord began to give me teaching tactics, games and ideas for the group.
I know it’s not because I am capable, for I felt the least of the clan and knew there were others more qualified than I, but because I stepped out in faith and honor to the Lord, He has met me and encouraged me.
There have been times that certain things were asked of me, and have denied them because I felt incapable. What did I miss, what blessing did I miss out by not stepping out in faith?
I almost missed a blessing here for not teaching this class. The Lord desires to have us grow spiritually, and the only way to do that is to step out of our comfort zone and into His blessing.
What blessings have you turned down recently? Don’t make the same mistake I have many times. When you are challenged, take that step of faith and He will meet you and guide you.
In all things give thanks
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
In the book of Job, the first chapter, we read how satan presents himself to God after roaming the earth. God mentions Job to satan and tells him how there is no other like him, upright and how he shuns evil. Satan knows that there is a hedge protecting him, and challenges God to remove it, and how afterwards Job will curse God. God responds “ all that he has is in your power. ”
Of course Satan quickly obeys this command, and in a moment all Job’s wealth was removed.
One by one Job’s servants came to tell him the bad news.
First the Sabeans raided the oxen, took them away and killed the servants. Next we have fire that came down from heaven, burned up the sheep and servants. Then the Chaldeans came, raided the camels and took them and killed the servants as well.
If that was not enough, the final blow came to Job. A great wind came where his sons and daughters were eating, the house collapsed and they all died.
Jobs’ reaction to all of this? He arose, fell to the ground and worshipped the Lord.
Think about it in today’s terms. You just lost a loved one, a child perhaps, your business is not going well and are at risk of loosing everything. Maybe there is sickness in your life or the life of a loved one, a lost job, financial strain and perhaps a strain on your marriage. Are you capable of bowing to the ground to worship the Lord?
We have been through some economic difficulties in our 27 years of marriage, and to be honest I did not always worship the Lord. In fact, I found ways to blame something or someone for why this was happening to us.
So what can we learn from Job, how was it possible for him to even worship the Lord? The answer is found in the scripture. Job feared God, which means he had respect and honor for God.
Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, the best thing we can do is to worship the Lord, even when we don’t feel like it. Worship is an act of obedience, not feeling. Worship is an act of honor and reverence.
1 Thessalonians says 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In giving all praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, we give no room to the enemy and our circumstances will turn around for good. The Lord will make a crooked path straight.
Sometimes we just need to worship ourselves out of a terrible situation. Give glory to God and see how the tables are turned on the enemy. Once we begin to worship Him, our focus and energy is on the maker of heaven and earth and off your present situation, and He will lift the burden from your shoulders and give you peace where the is no peace.
Worship Him today, for He is worthy of your praise.
Blessings in His name
Healing in Jesus Name
1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Recently I have been studying the topic of healing which has brought quite a bit of clarity on the subject for me.
Many years ago I requested prayer for healing. The people praying for me made me feel guilty for having surgery scheduled, and that I should trust God for my healing and not go through with the operation. I did anyway.
Needless to say, this incorrect type of prayer brought guilt and the lie that God did not want to heal me. This lie stayed with me for many years.
Throughout the years, I had asked the Lord for other types of healings, but in the back of my mind I always heard that it wasn’t for me. God can heal other people, but not me. I understand now that this mindset actually hindered the Lord in working on my behalf.
I now understand that the prayer I received many years ago was incorrect. They were not praying for me, but making me feel guilty. God does not operate in guilt, but in faith, hope and love.
My misunderstanding about healing was caused by many factors and not just one. I had lack of teaching, I did not understand the scriptures correctly, I believed the lie that it wasn’t for me and many more.
With healing, God is not the problem. His word is true and will never return void. Since then I have come to understand several truths about healing. Healing is for today and it is for every believer that calls on the name of Jesus.
Jesus heals all and in various ways. We may have a delayed healing or an instantaneous healing. Healing may come through the hands of a doctor, through surgery and medication. The word says that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
God is the originator of everything, and He is the one that originated the science of medicine.
It is important to have the mind of Christ and speak that over ourselves. I also came to understand how God views sickness. Here is what I discovered:
- Bondage- Luke 13:16
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath - Enemy 1 Cor 15:26
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. - Evil Psalm 41:8
“An evil disease,” they say,clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.” - Oppression Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
I am sure there are many more.
Jesus meets us where we are. If we need surgery, then have the surgery. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights. Hospitals, doctors and aspirin fall into that category.
The scriptures tells us there are different ways people received their healing. There is no set pattern with God. We are not to limit God on how He will heal, but He always does.
I have come to realize that when I pray for healing, sickness has been destroyed because of the cross and God is glorified. Appropriate that truth and declare it when praying for others and respond in faith and love. The word says in John 10:10 I have come to give you life and life abundantly.
Let’s walk in abundance of life, because death has been defeated.
He came to Seek and Save the Lost
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
A few weeks ago Dancer gave birth to seven puppies. As they became more active, I was able to reach in the dog house and take a few puppies to admire them. Of course the mother was always close at hand.
A few days would go by, and once again I would reach in to pick up a puppy, with Dancer always watching carefully. I then took one of the pups out and brought it into the home. I was not sure if Dancer would follow, but she did. She left her six other pups to follow the one that I had in the house to make sure it would be ok.
The verse above came to me.
The word lost in this scripture could have several meanings. It could be that the person is lost in his walk with the Lord because of the influence of the world, or perhaps lost within himself not knowing his purpose in life. Maybe they are in rebellion and not only strayed from the Lord, but also family members and have taken up habits to fill the void within. In any case, this person is lost which can lead to destruction.
Jesus is willing to leave the other 99 sheep in the wilderness where they are at risk to rescue that one lost sheep. That is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Once Jesus finds him, He goes even further and lays that person on His shoulders. He continues to carry their burden, shame and guilt until they are fully restored and healed.
If you know someone who is lost, claim this promise in Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Notice the wording in the passage above, it says “was lost.” They may be lost now, but in calling those things that are not as though they are, will only result in victory and that person establishing himself once again on the true foundation of Jesus Christ.
May you be richly blessed this day.
Who cares, God cares!
2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
The last few years we have seen a rapid change in the world’s economy and spiritual decline. To say that both of these are in fast forward is an understatement.
We have become very grateful for our Lord in directing our move to Central America. For now, we seem to enjoy a low poverty and unemployment rate, and overall life is good. While we don’t live a life of luxury, we have peace here and don’t see the decline as rapidly as the States and other nations. Because of this I had developed an indifferent attitude, but the Lord corrected me! As believers we should not think like this, and we should care for His church and people in other nations.
I have seen the verse quoted above quite frequently on the internet. The Lord is waking up his church and calling for prayer, repentance and fasting.
When the children of Israel disobeyed the Lord, they would come before Him in repentance, turn from their sin and direct their hearts to the Lord. It is then that the Lord would come in and provide miracles for them. Who is to say that the same thing cannot happen today?
I have always believed that as we come closer to the coming of our Lord, that His anointing and Spirit will increase and we will flow in His power unlike before.
I have read several prophecies regarding revival in the States, and I believe them to be true. But for revival to come, one must be prepared in their hearts and it starts with repentance.
I had to repent of my I don’t care attitude. The Lord is saddened at the turn of events. I also know that certain things must take place to prepare for the second coming of Christ. As Christians, we have a responsibility to pray as we are led to pray by the Spirit.
It’s time to believe for the God of miracles to come with his mighty right hand and perform signs among His people. I am ready for this, are you?
Blessings!
Passing the Lord’s Test
Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
The scripture quoted above caused me to pause and meditate. The Lord is telling Moses that He led the Israelites in the desert all those years to humble them and to test their faith.
Have you ever thought that the experiences we go through in life is a test of faith, and possibly to humble us in a certain area of our lives? It is during these times that I find myself in a desert!
We often hear believers going through the desert, others call it the wilderness experience. Whatever it is that you call it, ask yourself these questions; What is God trying to show me, what is He trying to accomplish and what needs maturing in my life?
It is during these time that two things can happen. We can grow bitter and become angry because of the circumstance we find ourselves in and turn our back on the Lord, or we can become stronger and grow in our faith and maturity.
I have witnessed both of these circumstances. I have seen believers go through a rough time, but yet never waver in their faith. They see it as an opportunity to come out victorious. When they have crossed over into their promised land, it’s as if they have acquired additional spiritual gifts and they flow in His power unlike ever before.
Others that grow bitter, become frustrated individuals full of excuses, blaming God for every wrong thing that happens in their life.
Do we ever stop going through the desert? I think not! The Lord wants us to grow and mature in Him continually, and with each experience we should embrace it. Understand that once we pass our test, we will bear greater fruit, become stronger and mature believers, ready to take on the next battle that comes our way.
May you be abundantly blessed.
Worship Him
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
There have been times in my life that I don’t feel like worshiping the Lord. Things go wrong, problems arise and singing songs of praise seems to be the last thing on my mind.
I am good at making excuses on why I don’t feel like worshiping. But in studying this subject, I have discovered that it’s not about feeling, but in obedience to our Lord
We have all read the verse in Heb 13:15 where we are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God, giving thanks to His name.
But most of us are not really about sacrifice. When the money is not coming in, when things go wrong and the bills are past due , worship is not on our mind.
Why do we worship? Because the scripture commands us to.
Psalm 45:11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him
Isa 43:21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise
Great men of God worshiped in the midst of their affliction.
- Job loosing everything, continued to worship the Lord
- Abraham worshiped the Lord even though he believed that it would cost him his son
- David worshiped the Lord after the death of his son with Bathsheeba.
- Jesus prayed and worshiped the Lord while hanging on a tree.
- Paul worshipped the Lord while bound in chains in a prison cell
There is no excuse to not worship the Lord. He is our Abba Father, He gave us His only Son so that you and I can have life eternal and live abundantly.
He is our deliverer, the Mighty One, our Strength, the God of the Covenant, Mighty Rock, Mighty Counselor, Lord of Host!
After bringing in a sacrifice of praise, something wonderful happens. We are edified, we feel full of His power and Spirit, and suddenly the cloud is removed from our eyes, we see clearly, the chains are removed and we praise Him even more.
The enemy wants to hinder us from offering praise to Him. Let’s not focus on our problems, but set our sight on our mighty and awesome God, and offer that praise that is due Him.
May you be abundantly blessed this day.
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- John 1:12-13“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”
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