Philippians 4:5-8 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I am learning this almost on a weekly basis!
Have you ever been stuck in those "what ifs" moments? Where you find yourself continually thinking well, "what if" i was wrong, "what if" this could work out, "what if" it just wasn't the right time, "what if" I just give it a little more time, "what if" I heard from the Lord wrong? Do you know how destructive that can be? This type of thinking will bring doubt and confusion. It will even at times cause you to stay in a situation because you are waiting for the doubt and confusion to clear. Well, let me just say this....The doubt and confusion will stay as long as you don't remove yourself from that situation. And believe me when I say God will remove you if you are willing. When you choose to look at it from God's perspective then you will clearly see the truth. If you look at your situation through scripture you will see what God's perspective is. Does how the situation affect you build you up or tear you down. Does it lift you up and bring life, strength and growth to you? Or does it just bring confusion and discouragement?
The enemy has come to kill, steal and destroy your life. He has no rules. It doesn't matter what the situation is or what it looks like. He will cause you to think you are in the wrong and bring you to the point where you continue to stay in the situation and thus holding back your freedom and destiny.
I will, for the most part, look for the growth and/or learning opportunity in just about every circumstance. It drives some people nuts....lol But I completely believe that what I go through is meant to be passed on so others can learn from it and not have to go through it themselves. The Lord told me one time that what He has given me is not for my benefit, but for the benefit for others. So when I experience trials and tribulations I know that what God is doing in me through that is to bring healing and freedom for others. What God has given me I will not allow the enemy to steal. I completely believe that when you do not feel the peace of God, then you need to remember back to where you lost it. Even in hard times you can and will sense the peace of God. It never leaves.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will now the truth and the truth will set you free.- John 8:31,32
So why do I pray about everything? Because the Word tells me to.
From my heart to yours,
Sandy
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Prayer? Really?
You know there are so many times that i just don't feel like praying. But then i have to realize that what the church has defined as prayer is....actually a religious view point. Do you know how many times i have been so frustrated over how the church has placed prayer so far down the list of the things they want to do? It's grieving. Not only that but the prayer ministry and most of all the intercessors have been pushed to the back and made to be in the back ground that sometimes it's even hard to know if there is prayer taking place in the church. I know this to be true. They have labeled intercessors as weird and kooky (granted there are some) that they have become so discouraged they have come off the wall! What happens when the watchman are no longer on the wall? The enemy can come in without being detected! You wonder why the Bride of Christ is being so attack? They have placed more emphasis on how many people they can get into their church than they do on prayer.
Isaiah 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
If I could define prayer in my own words it would be this: The amazing conversations that you have between you and the Lord with no one else involved.
How we have made this such a religious act that no one even wants to pray or spend time with the Lord. They think reading their bible every now and again and going to church on Wednesdays and Sundays is enough. What they don't understand is that in prayer, wether you are worshipping the Lord, reading the Word or in intercession...it brings great joy! There is a refreshing that happens as well as a intimacy with the Lord that you can't get doing anything else. The Lord doesn't want to hear a list of requests from you, He wants to talk to you. One on one. You and Him! My mind can't even begin to comprehend that Jesus wants to talk to me! And spend time with me!
When we choose to spend more time trying to build our own "kingdoms" we leave God out completely. We leave no room for Him. Now I'm not a theologian...I'm a very simple person....So even I understand that if you don't spend time with someone you really don't who they are...You have to spend time with someone in order to truly know who they are and what their hearts desire is. You will also know if there is something you can help them achieve and/or attain. This is the same with spending time with the Lord. Sure we know His heart by reading the Word, but how will you know how to bring reformation to a region without getting to know Jesus' heart ticks? What I mean is only He can give you that revelation through revealing His heart to you and He isn't going to reveal or intrust you with His heart if you don't have a relationship with Him. Prayer is the key that unlocks the door of His heart to yours.
One thing that I like to remind people is God wants us way more than we could ever want Him! He is God and He is perfect! His emotions are perfect where ours have faults. He wants you! Are you willing to cultivate a relationship with Him? And not just to know how to bring reformation but just because you want to know Him?
From my heart to yours,
Sandy
Isaiah 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
If I could define prayer in my own words it would be this: The amazing conversations that you have between you and the Lord with no one else involved.
How we have made this such a religious act that no one even wants to pray or spend time with the Lord. They think reading their bible every now and again and going to church on Wednesdays and Sundays is enough. What they don't understand is that in prayer, wether you are worshipping the Lord, reading the Word or in intercession...it brings great joy! There is a refreshing that happens as well as a intimacy with the Lord that you can't get doing anything else. The Lord doesn't want to hear a list of requests from you, He wants to talk to you. One on one. You and Him! My mind can't even begin to comprehend that Jesus wants to talk to me! And spend time with me!
When we choose to spend more time trying to build our own "kingdoms" we leave God out completely. We leave no room for Him. Now I'm not a theologian...I'm a very simple person....So even I understand that if you don't spend time with someone you really don't who they are...You have to spend time with someone in order to truly know who they are and what their hearts desire is. You will also know if there is something you can help them achieve and/or attain. This is the same with spending time with the Lord. Sure we know His heart by reading the Word, but how will you know how to bring reformation to a region without getting to know Jesus' heart ticks? What I mean is only He can give you that revelation through revealing His heart to you and He isn't going to reveal or intrust you with His heart if you don't have a relationship with Him. Prayer is the key that unlocks the door of His heart to yours.
One thing that I like to remind people is God wants us way more than we could ever want Him! He is God and He is perfect! His emotions are perfect where ours have faults. He wants you! Are you willing to cultivate a relationship with Him? And not just to know how to bring reformation but just because you want to know Him?
From my heart to yours,
Sandy
Friday, March 23, 2012
Seasons come and seasons go......
Let's be real....One thing you will find consistently over and over on my blog is I will be ruefully honest...And I don't mind if you don't agree with me...That's part of what the family of God is all about...The difference in how each one of us works and how we together make a whole body. One of the most amazing things is how God made us so different from each other because He knew what one person had is exactly what we would need to accomplish a task He has called us to do. We need each other so that we can bring transformation to a generation, a nation, and ultimately change history! We can't do it alone. God never intended us to do it alone either.
Sometimes we get into these seasons where we look around and think, "my gosh what on earth am i doing here and how in the world Lord are you going to get me to where I am supposed to be?" Now I know I am not the only one that has thought that in certain seasons of my life. I remember thinking I would never be in youth ministry....low and behold that is exactly where God started me! I always thought God had a sense of humor and when that happened I knew He did! But this is the thing....I learned so much about leadership in that time. I saw some of the greatest healings (emotionally) come to some of the youth that I still talk about them to this day and that has been over 6 years ago now. We have to learn never to despise the season that we are in. We may not always understand what God wants us to learn in some of them...and sometimes we don't see what we learned until after we have entered into the next season. But know this....God has always had a plan and a destiny for your life. No matter where you come from...No matter your age....God ALWAYS has a plan. I also know how hard it is to sit still sometimes, especially when you want to do every ministry that comes your way. But God says just sit and be still. That is so much easier said than done. Then there are those seasons where it seems all you do is ministry and you think...I asked for this but didn't realize I wouldn't have time for family and friends....or even to get to know someone in order to start a family! lol I have been there too! (still am!) But know this....God has always had a plan and even though you think you have no idea how some things will come about, God knows and you can rest in knowing He has it all under control. And in each season He is making us into His image, Praise the Lord! So when you don't know what to do, who to turn to, or maybe you can't even see the way out of a season, just rest in Him! We have all been there. Just remember seasons come and season go. Try to enjoy each one you are in. Have I always enjoyed them? Absolutely not! But now? Yes I do! Even the hard ones because I know when James 1:2-4 says: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
This is the real word of God! It rings true in every facet of life.
So what season am I in right now? Well I guess you would say I am right where I am supposed to be! Praise Jesus! Do I know God's complete plan for my life? Absolutely not and I am okay with that because I know that He has amazing things in store for me. My hearts cry is to know Him! To know the very heart beat of God.
From my heart to yours,
Sandy
Sometimes we get into these seasons where we look around and think, "my gosh what on earth am i doing here and how in the world Lord are you going to get me to where I am supposed to be?" Now I know I am not the only one that has thought that in certain seasons of my life. I remember thinking I would never be in youth ministry....low and behold that is exactly where God started me! I always thought God had a sense of humor and when that happened I knew He did! But this is the thing....I learned so much about leadership in that time. I saw some of the greatest healings (emotionally) come to some of the youth that I still talk about them to this day and that has been over 6 years ago now. We have to learn never to despise the season that we are in. We may not always understand what God wants us to learn in some of them...and sometimes we don't see what we learned until after we have entered into the next season. But know this....God has always had a plan and a destiny for your life. No matter where you come from...No matter your age....God ALWAYS has a plan. I also know how hard it is to sit still sometimes, especially when you want to do every ministry that comes your way. But God says just sit and be still. That is so much easier said than done. Then there are those seasons where it seems all you do is ministry and you think...I asked for this but didn't realize I wouldn't have time for family and friends....or even to get to know someone in order to start a family! lol I have been there too! (still am!) But know this....God has always had a plan and even though you think you have no idea how some things will come about, God knows and you can rest in knowing He has it all under control. And in each season He is making us into His image, Praise the Lord! So when you don't know what to do, who to turn to, or maybe you can't even see the way out of a season, just rest in Him! We have all been there. Just remember seasons come and season go. Try to enjoy each one you are in. Have I always enjoyed them? Absolutely not! But now? Yes I do! Even the hard ones because I know when James 1:2-4 says: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
This is the real word of God! It rings true in every facet of life.
So what season am I in right now? Well I guess you would say I am right where I am supposed to be! Praise Jesus! Do I know God's complete plan for my life? Absolutely not and I am okay with that because I know that He has amazing things in store for me. My hearts cry is to know Him! To know the very heart beat of God.
From my heart to yours,
Sandy
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