By nature I am one that loves to plan everything out. I have been known to spend hours preparing and plotting out courses of action for future success. I have lived by the motto, "to fail to plan is to plan to fail". Oh how untrue and incorrect this saying is.
Through time spent in fellowship with the Lord, I have learned (through trial and lots of error I might add) that all the natural planning in the world is pointless without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is very easy to lay out a map to success, but if Jesus is not in the driver's seat there is no guarantee we'll end up at God's desired location. And let's face it, if we are not aiming for God's desired location then what's the point of the trip?
We often say to God, "Lord, I'll go where you want me to go. I'll do what you want me to do." Well what if He wants to you to go to a remote country and devote yourself totally to mission work? Are you willing to go? What if He wants you to quit your job and devote yourself to ministering to the homeless? Are you willing to do it? Are you willing to abandon ALL of your plans for God's plans?
When I was first asked this question, I could not readily answer it. Not because my heart did not want to do the will of the Father, but because I have recently gained a deeper understanding of what that means. It is easy to say yes Lord when we only have a surface level of understanding as to what He is calling for, but what about when we gain a deeper level of understanding? Remember, in all of our getting, we are to get an understanding.
For me, saying "Yes Lord" means laying down my every desire, hope, and dream for the future. The home I've dreamed about since I was a teenager. The career that is literally at my fingertips. The "good life" we see here on Earth. It means going to God DAILY and laying those things down. It means turning down opportunities that the Father says turn down. It means moving to a place I had no desire to move to so that He could be glorified through my service. It means serving the people with no hope or expectation of anything in return. It means forgoing my favorite movies and television programs to spend time alone with him. It means doing the hard things he presses upon my heart to do. It means making the conscience choice to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It means literally burying ALL of my plans, and asking the Father to impregnate me with His. I am no longer my own. I have been made new by the Father, and it is my prayer that He will continually make me over until I look like Him.
Because my view of the future is limited, I cannot make the BEST decision concerning my future. Me planning my future is like a person attempting to draw a strip map to a location to which they have never been. God however, in His infinite wisdom is all knowing, and all seeing. He sees what lays ahead, so when draws the strip map, He takes me directly to the location He has called me to. When he leads, I will never make a wrong turn, and I will reach His desired location in His perfect timing!
What about my plans? I ripped them up. When I reviewed them in better lighting I saw mistakes all over the blueprints. They were worthless. I have adopted Heavenly blueprints, and though I can not see or even understand every phase, I know the result will be a beautiful masterpiece for I know the Master's thoughts toward me. He has thoughts of peace towards me and He desires to give me an expected end! (Jeremiah 29:11)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Not Seeing A Change?.... What are you Praying?
During a recent conversation the Lord gave me a question to ask the person I was speaking to. Have you asked God to help your husband yield to the Holy Spirit? A simple question, however, I could tell by the person's response that the idea of asking God to help the individual yield had never crossed this woman's mind. Often times when we are married to an unbelieving spouse or a spouse that is young in the Lord, we spend most of our time praying and/or rejoicing over our spouse's salvation, but we neglect to ask God to assist them in the yielding process. The Lord gave me very specific instructions to share that I believe will be of benefit to anyone praying for the salvation of a loved one.
1. Pray that God draws the individual by His Spirit.
No one comes to the God unless God draws them in. Just as Jesus pricked each of our hearts, it will take that same prick for the next unbeliever to come into the knowledge of Christ.
2. Pray that God tills the ground of the individual's heart. (Mark 4:3-20)
Just as soil must be tilled and/or prepped before it is ready for seed, so is the ground of our hearts. Often times when we are in church (the place most of us hear the Word being preached) our hearts and minds are focused on other things. The cares of the world, the daily "to do" list, past hurts and scars, sports, etc. When our hearts and minds are focusing on these things, we are not in a place to receive and digest the Word of God. Those of us that are more mature understand the need to cast down imaginations and everything high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, but an unbeliever does not understand this concept for they have not been taught. This is why many come to the church building Sunday after Sunday and leave the same. Their bodies are there, but the soil of their hearts have not been made ready for the seed.
3. Pray that God strengthens the individual in his/her innerman that he/she will be able to yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Because God has given man free will, He will not force us to obey Him. He comes and makes impressions upon our hearts and it is up to us to trade our fleshly desires for His heavenly ones. Often times individuals hear the voice of the Lord, but the flesh is so strong that they are not able or willing to yield to what the Lord is saying. In order to defeat the flesh, we must feed our spirit. When praying for those that have not yet come into the knowledge of Christ I often ask the Lord to give him/her the grace to say yes to Him, and to strengthen their innerman that they may be able to yield. While we may think we yield of our own accord, if God does not strengthen us, none of us would be able to yield.
When praying for someone that has not come into the knowledge of Christ is it important to begin to "see" that individual the way God sees them. Again, this can not be done without the help of the Holy Spirit, so I often ask God to help me see people the way He sees them. I don't want to see with my natural eye because then all I would ever see is the imperfections of our humanity. Instead, I ask God to show me what he sees. God sees the condition of our hearts. When you begin to see that unbeliever from God's eye, it will be so much easier to love them into the Body. This is a perfect example of God helping us to yield. God commands us to love one another, yet it is difficult because we see with our natural eyes. Our humanity wants to rebuff that which it does not like or understand. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can begin to see the hearts of men and women making it easier to yield when the Holy Spirit says, "Go love on that drunkard".
Yielding to the Holy Spirit is a day by day, step by step process. As we grow in the knowledge of Christ and deeper in relationship with Him, yielding becomes as second nature. Even when God asks us to do the seemingly hard thing that we may sometimes wrestle with, if our heart's desire is to please the Lord, we eventually yield and move closer to the Lord. For an individual that is just coming into relationship with the Lord yielding is still a foreign concept. We all crawled before we walked. Praying that the Lord helps the babes and unbelievers to yield may be the very thing that pushes that individual out of wrestling and into yielding! Remember, Jesus Himself (when wrapped in humanity) needed help in yielding even though He already knew the will of the Father (Luke 22:42-44)
I pray that this post helps you in your intercession for the babes and unbelievers around you. Those of us that are stronger should bear the infirmities of the weak (Romans 15:1). Let's carry this burden of prayer as the Lord leads that more will be able to come into the knowledge of Christ. May God richly bless you!
1. Pray that God draws the individual by His Spirit.
No one comes to the God unless God draws them in. Just as Jesus pricked each of our hearts, it will take that same prick for the next unbeliever to come into the knowledge of Christ.
2. Pray that God tills the ground of the individual's heart. (Mark 4:3-20)
Just as soil must be tilled and/or prepped before it is ready for seed, so is the ground of our hearts. Often times when we are in church (the place most of us hear the Word being preached) our hearts and minds are focused on other things. The cares of the world, the daily "to do" list, past hurts and scars, sports, etc. When our hearts and minds are focusing on these things, we are not in a place to receive and digest the Word of God. Those of us that are more mature understand the need to cast down imaginations and everything high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, but an unbeliever does not understand this concept for they have not been taught. This is why many come to the church building Sunday after Sunday and leave the same. Their bodies are there, but the soil of their hearts have not been made ready for the seed.
3. Pray that God strengthens the individual in his/her innerman that he/she will be able to yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Because God has given man free will, He will not force us to obey Him. He comes and makes impressions upon our hearts and it is up to us to trade our fleshly desires for His heavenly ones. Often times individuals hear the voice of the Lord, but the flesh is so strong that they are not able or willing to yield to what the Lord is saying. In order to defeat the flesh, we must feed our spirit. When praying for those that have not yet come into the knowledge of Christ I often ask the Lord to give him/her the grace to say yes to Him, and to strengthen their innerman that they may be able to yield. While we may think we yield of our own accord, if God does not strengthen us, none of us would be able to yield.
When praying for someone that has not come into the knowledge of Christ is it important to begin to "see" that individual the way God sees them. Again, this can not be done without the help of the Holy Spirit, so I often ask God to help me see people the way He sees them. I don't want to see with my natural eye because then all I would ever see is the imperfections of our humanity. Instead, I ask God to show me what he sees. God sees the condition of our hearts. When you begin to see that unbeliever from God's eye, it will be so much easier to love them into the Body. This is a perfect example of God helping us to yield. God commands us to love one another, yet it is difficult because we see with our natural eyes. Our humanity wants to rebuff that which it does not like or understand. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can begin to see the hearts of men and women making it easier to yield when the Holy Spirit says, "Go love on that drunkard".
Yielding to the Holy Spirit is a day by day, step by step process. As we grow in the knowledge of Christ and deeper in relationship with Him, yielding becomes as second nature. Even when God asks us to do the seemingly hard thing that we may sometimes wrestle with, if our heart's desire is to please the Lord, we eventually yield and move closer to the Lord. For an individual that is just coming into relationship with the Lord yielding is still a foreign concept. We all crawled before we walked. Praying that the Lord helps the babes and unbelievers to yield may be the very thing that pushes that individual out of wrestling and into yielding! Remember, Jesus Himself (when wrapped in humanity) needed help in yielding even though He already knew the will of the Father (Luke 22:42-44)
I pray that this post helps you in your intercession for the babes and unbelievers around you. Those of us that are stronger should bear the infirmities of the weak (Romans 15:1). Let's carry this burden of prayer as the Lord leads that more will be able to come into the knowledge of Christ. May God richly bless you!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wearing the Garment of Praise
"To console all those who mourn in Zion. To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."- Isaiah 61:3
A couple of months ago I learned a family member of mine had been killed instantly in a car accident. I hadn't seen or spoken to this family member in years, yet grief gripped me within moments of hearing the news. Within half an hour I was curled up in a ball in my husbands arms crying until I felt I had no tears left to cry. The grief and heaviness crippled me nearly the entire day. The plans I had made to spend quality time with my husband and children were traded for hours spent in bed. While grief is a very real and normal part of life, it puzzled me that this particular incident had rendered me nonfunctional for the better part of a day. Death is not new to me. I have been losing family members since the age of 8, and until this most recent death, I was under the impression that I handled death well. It wasn't until I woke the following morning and had to will myself out of bed that I realized something very different was going on with me. It went much deeper than the death of a loved one. I knew God was showing me something in the midst of my pain.
Eager to grasp an understanding of what the Father was trying to show me, I went to Him and asked for clarity. I admitted the depth of my pain to Him and asked Him to not only heal me, but also give me an understanding as to why I was unable to shake the pain. It was in that moment that the Lord reminded me of Isaiah 61:3; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
God has given each of us a garment of praise. What we do with that garment is up to us. When I made the decision to put on my garment of praise, immediately the spirit of heaviness left and I felt whole again. The reality of the loss is still very present with me, but the grief and heaviness that were holding me captive released the moment I began to praise God. I danced, sang, and shouted all by myself in a tiny room giving God all of the praise I had from the inner most parts of me. It was to date one of the single most freeing experiences I have had the honor of experiencing. The revelation of the power of praise has once again changed my life forever.
It wasn't that I didn't know to praise God. Actually, it was quite the opposite. I've always believed in praising God no matter what. Sadly though I would often carry the burdens and pains of life until I was able to get to church to release it. After moving around with the military and being in numerous situations where my house was "the church" I have learned to put on my garment of praise immediately. There is no need to carry pain and sadness simply because we are waiting on a church service. Anyone can praise God through pain in the midst of a Spirit filled service, but can you put on that garment when it's just you and Jesus and that pain is fresh? I've learned and I am still learning that the greatest measure of my walk of faith is not what goes on when others are around (my husband and children included), it is what goes on when it is just me and Jesus! Those are the moments that determine who I really am. When faced with hurt and pain, do I wallow in it, or do I go directly into praising my King?
The enemy does not deserve a single moment of my time or attention. With that knowledge I chose to wear my garment of praise continuously. I will not give the enemy an inch. In my praise, God destroys things. My praise is a weapon that shakes the very foundations of the kingdom of darkness for when I praise, Jesus shows up! My praise creates an atmosphere for God to dwell. When He steps on the scene, everything else has to bow!
Since this situation, I have found myself going into praise so much faster now, and that alone has saved me so much emotional stress and frustration. It is liberating to focus on God rather than the situation. I have also found my resolutions come much faster, and even if the manifestation is delayed, I rest in the knowledge that Jesus heard my cry and it's only a matter of time before I will see natural results! I have learned to ask God to help me see the situation from His perspective. God never allows anything to happen to us without purpose. If I grasp a glimpse of purpose, it is all worth it, for I know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to glory that will be revealed in us! To God be the glory!
Women of God, be encouraged. Wear your garment of praise like it's your favorite and only suit! Never take it off, not even to clean it.... in His presence we are made clean anyway!
God bless you, and as always, leave a comment if you desire!
A couple of months ago I learned a family member of mine had been killed instantly in a car accident. I hadn't seen or spoken to this family member in years, yet grief gripped me within moments of hearing the news. Within half an hour I was curled up in a ball in my husbands arms crying until I felt I had no tears left to cry. The grief and heaviness crippled me nearly the entire day. The plans I had made to spend quality time with my husband and children were traded for hours spent in bed. While grief is a very real and normal part of life, it puzzled me that this particular incident had rendered me nonfunctional for the better part of a day. Death is not new to me. I have been losing family members since the age of 8, and until this most recent death, I was under the impression that I handled death well. It wasn't until I woke the following morning and had to will myself out of bed that I realized something very different was going on with me. It went much deeper than the death of a loved one. I knew God was showing me something in the midst of my pain.
Eager to grasp an understanding of what the Father was trying to show me, I went to Him and asked for clarity. I admitted the depth of my pain to Him and asked Him to not only heal me, but also give me an understanding as to why I was unable to shake the pain. It was in that moment that the Lord reminded me of Isaiah 61:3; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
God has given each of us a garment of praise. What we do with that garment is up to us. When I made the decision to put on my garment of praise, immediately the spirit of heaviness left and I felt whole again. The reality of the loss is still very present with me, but the grief and heaviness that were holding me captive released the moment I began to praise God. I danced, sang, and shouted all by myself in a tiny room giving God all of the praise I had from the inner most parts of me. It was to date one of the single most freeing experiences I have had the honor of experiencing. The revelation of the power of praise has once again changed my life forever.
It wasn't that I didn't know to praise God. Actually, it was quite the opposite. I've always believed in praising God no matter what. Sadly though I would often carry the burdens and pains of life until I was able to get to church to release it. After moving around with the military and being in numerous situations where my house was "the church" I have learned to put on my garment of praise immediately. There is no need to carry pain and sadness simply because we are waiting on a church service. Anyone can praise God through pain in the midst of a Spirit filled service, but can you put on that garment when it's just you and Jesus and that pain is fresh? I've learned and I am still learning that the greatest measure of my walk of faith is not what goes on when others are around (my husband and children included), it is what goes on when it is just me and Jesus! Those are the moments that determine who I really am. When faced with hurt and pain, do I wallow in it, or do I go directly into praising my King?
The enemy does not deserve a single moment of my time or attention. With that knowledge I chose to wear my garment of praise continuously. I will not give the enemy an inch. In my praise, God destroys things. My praise is a weapon that shakes the very foundations of the kingdom of darkness for when I praise, Jesus shows up! My praise creates an atmosphere for God to dwell. When He steps on the scene, everything else has to bow!
Since this situation, I have found myself going into praise so much faster now, and that alone has saved me so much emotional stress and frustration. It is liberating to focus on God rather than the situation. I have also found my resolutions come much faster, and even if the manifestation is delayed, I rest in the knowledge that Jesus heard my cry and it's only a matter of time before I will see natural results! I have learned to ask God to help me see the situation from His perspective. God never allows anything to happen to us without purpose. If I grasp a glimpse of purpose, it is all worth it, for I know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to glory that will be revealed in us! To God be the glory!
Women of God, be encouraged. Wear your garment of praise like it's your favorite and only suit! Never take it off, not even to clean it.... in His presence we are made clean anyway!
God bless you, and as always, leave a comment if you desire!
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