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Prayer: Decision-Making

Hello Friends! We are nearing the end of November, my birth month. As promised, in celebration, I have been sharing daily posts instead of monthly posts. I pray that they have been a source of blessing and inspiration for you. For the final four days of the month, I will be sharing prayers selected from my prayer journals. May they bring results in your life as they have done in mine. Today’s prayer is one of supplication for sight as it pertains to decision-making.

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your word. Thank You for speaking to me even when I seem distracted. Help me to hear what Your spirit is saying to me and obey. Holy Spirit, please give me insight into Your words and how to apply them to my life.

Forgive me Father for every time that I have blamed You for problems and difficulties that I have brought upon myself. Forgive me for the times when I did not consult You first for directions, guidance, and instructions BEFORE I stepped out. Forgive me for the times when I found myself in difficulties and did not stop to inquire of You. Please help me to make Proverbs 3:5-6 the guiding principle by which I live: Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him and He SHALL direct thy paths.

Teach me Holy Spirit how to seek You and seek wisdom until I receive instructions from on high. Help me to learn how to wait, to wait patiently on the Lord. Lord God, please help me not to walk by my sight, but to walk by faith in Your words. Blind my eyes from the counterfeit of the enemy. I loose the hold of every Deception and Duplicity, every crafty scheme and cunning invention from my eyes and from the eyes of my understanding. I disarm these weapons and declare their potency to be neutralized in the name of Jesus. I declare that I walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

I will not cast away my confidence which hath great recompense of reward . I receive patience from the Holy Spirit now so that, after I have done the will of God, I might receive the promise. I declare and decree that yet a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. I am just and I shall live by faith. There is no drawing back in me (Hebrews 10:35-38).

I will not make decisions based on what the enemy wants me to see, think, and believe. I guard my mind and will with the precious blood of Jesus from the infiltration of the enemy. The good land (my body, marriage, family, community, ministry, country) that the Lord has given me will not be plundered by the enemy. The good ground of my heart, my husband’s and children’s hearts will not be turned into stony ground. The wells/springs of our spirits will not be stopped up. No godly fruit-bearing tree in our lives will be cut down. We invoke the power of the blood of Jesus around us for our protection this day.

Holy Spirit, cause us to dwell in the secret place of the Most High so that we can abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1). Cause us to seek after dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple (Psalms 27:4). Cause our desires to be continually FOR God.

Holy Spirit, please help me every day to be consistent and steadfast about seeking You and pressing into Your presence that You may guide me in my decisions. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

May the STRENGTH of God sustain you.
May the COMFORT of God console you.
May the LOVE of God lift you,
And may you experience ALL that YOU NEED Him to be TODAY.

With the magnitude of loss we all are experiencing globally as a result of this pandemic, there are many who might find it difficult to lift their hearts and voices in thanksgiving to God today. The prayer scripted above is a prayer from my heart to you.

On this designated and set aside day to be observed in giving thanks to the Heavenly Source of our earthly [and spiritual] blessings1, may you receive, most of all, the blessing of a grateful heart.

1 From “A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America” – Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Covered

I pray that the Lord will continue to cover us today. I pray that He will keep us as the apple of His eye and hide us under the shadow of His wings. – Psalms 17:8 (KJV)

Picture a giant bird with wings outstretched, hovering over us as we walk throughout the day. That covering provides protection from the “heat” of the day. It provides us refuge from the wind and rain assaulting us from the “storms” of life and shielding from the flying debris from the disasters around us.

As the bird moves, we move with him understanding that his role is not only to protect but to lead us to our expected end. He cover us with his feathers, and under his wings we trust (Psalms 91:4). As long as we trust him and stay under the shadow of his wings, we will be safe and be where we should be, when we should be there.

However, because our sight is limited to the ground beneath our feet, to just a short distance ahead and to the belly (underside) of that giant bird, we often become fearful not being able to see the way to assure ourselves that it is well.

This limited sight often incite us to voluntarily move away from under the shadow of his wings. So we move, only to find ourselves, not in open space where we can see more, but in a dark place where we can no longer see the traps and snares that have been set for us by our adversary. Unnecessary suffering, pain, and delay then enter our lives and we become discouraged. We have abandoned the shelter of His covering.

As I pray and these thoughts fill my mind, I am reminded of a poem I read when I was a little girl. I am encouraged to take my eyes off of the rough and negatives that I am seeing and keep my trust on His unfailing love for me. I am encouraged to stay under his covering, this place of safety, regardless of what I see.

Read this poem with me and allow it to pour into you like it did me.

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned. – (Author Unknown)

Heavenly Father, thank You for covering us today and always. Help us to go today knowing that we are covered and, as such, have no need to fear the heat, the wind, the rain, nor the debris of life. May we trust in the shadow of Your wings. AMEN!!

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Sent from God

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. – John 1:6 – 7 (KJV)

More and more, I am learning that my time here on earth is about my assignment – the mission – what I was sent to do. Like John, I am a “man” sent from God, one who has come for a witness, to bear witness of that Light. I am an ambassador provided with various platforms to speak boldly as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:20). My marriage is a platform. My family is a platform. My career/occupation is a platform. My ministry is a platform.

Father God, I pray that utterance would be given to me, that I might open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the gospel (good news); that I might speak boldly and courageously as I ought to; that through these various platforms I would honor You and cause You to be glorified. Father, please imprint this truth – that I am sent from God – upon my heart and my mind.

Holy Spirit, as I wake and rise help be to be reminded of the fact and declare that “Today, I am here to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. Today I must shine in my world , so that they can behold Your glory.

That is what God has been teaching me, through His Holy Spirit, during my time of sojourn in the USA. He has taught me that life is not about a ministerial title. It is not about holding a microphone. It is not even about being a part of a particular church. Rather my being here is about fulfilling my assignment – mission. Every breath that I take, every day I am granted on this land of the living, is about my assignment.

Holy Spirit, please energize me. Grant me power to be a witness. Grant me power to fulfill my assignment. And Lord, Grant me focus, steadfastness, and determination to stay the course, Knowing that I am not mine own, but I have been sent from God.

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Prayer of Thanksgiving

It is a new day! A day of thanksgiving and rejoicing. A day when I take my eyes off of who I am, what I have done, my state, AND I lift my eyes to God the Father to gaze at and wonder/ponder on who He is, what He has done, and His changeless state.

Today I am reminded that “His promise still stands; great is His faithfulness. I am still in His hands and this is my confidence.” Today I am reminded that He is “my Promise Keeper. He will never fail. His love is true.“

I am thankful for every time that I was down and He lifted me up. For every time He spoke to the storm – the wind and the waves in my life – and commanded, “Peace, Be still!” – (Mark 4:39)

I am thankful for His choosing me and for giving me power to become His child, a child of God (John 1:12).

I am thankful for His love that He poured on me and in me (Romans 5: 5).

I am thankful for His thinking of me AND for acting on those thoughts, working on my behalf ( Jeremiah 29:11; Psalms 92:5).

I am thankful for every assistance that He has given/sent to my life: angels, people, favor, a hedge, Christ’s intercession, His Holy Spirit – my Master, Teacher and Guide.

I am thankful for the knowledge and understanding that He gives to me daily; for the revelation of His will.

I am thankful for how He designed me and built me AND for the assignment/mission that He has assigned to me here on earth.

I now know that my assignment (my various ministries) is not external of me. It is part and parcel of who I am. As I grow, develop, and mature, so does my assignment within me. As I move, so does my assignment. I am daily living out my assignment. My assignment is not something I am waiting on but, it is already part of who I am.

I was not waiting to be a wife when my husband found me. He found a wife (Proverbs 18:22). I was already a wife. I didn’t become a mother when I gave birth to my first child. I am a woman, mother of all living. Similarly, I was not a teacher when I received certification nor a pastor when I was ordained (1 Samuel 16:1 ). I had/have been carrying these ministries inside of me all along.

Time and growth facilitate the manifestation of what I am carrying inside of me: my assignment, my ministries. Now today – 11/23/2020 – we see and know (who we are) in part but, then – in the process of time – we will see and know, even as we are seen and known by God (1 Corinthians 13:12). Thank you God for this revelation and thank you for being God!

I go forth today with Your love and this knowledge that I am what I am, by the grace of God ( 1 Corinthians 15:10). I am not going to be but, in this moment, I am. With Your grace assisting me, all will see and be blessed by who You have made me to be. May my life honor You by expressing Your will, Your thoughts, Your intentions, and Your ideas to this world. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

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Positioned for Revelation

I awoke out of sleep hearing these words:

If I speak less, then I will hear more.
If I hear more, then I will see more.
If I see or perceive more, then I will understand more.
If I understand more, then I will be converted and healed.

This came as a result of me meditating on this passage of Scripture before I went to sleep.

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear – Matthew 13:15-16.

I had encountered these verses along with others in Matthew 13 during my time with the Lord yesterday and the Holy Spirit was impressing on me the need to be correctly positioned so that He can reveal truth to me; truth that will bring change and healing. If I am going to discover and unveil more of who God says I am, who He designed me to be, my ears must be positioned to hear and my eyes to see.

As I lay in bed, the Holy Spirit brought these other verses of Scripture to mind so that I could understand what He was teaching.

And He said to them, To you has been entrusted the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]; but for those outside [of our circle] everything becomes a parable, …. [Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known. If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.” – Mark 4: 11, 22-25 (AMPC)

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving – James 1:19 (AMP)

My dear sisters, my prayer for us is that, on this journey of self-discovery, we will always maintain the position that produces revelation; – a careful and thoughtful listener – and that our revelation will propel us to more effectively fulfill our various assignments in our Father’s kingdom. Go forth this day giving thought and study to what you have heard in your private time with the Lord and may your eyes perceive, your ears hear, and transformation follow.

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He is ascended!

“Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” – John 20:15 (NIV)

Mary Magdalene walked with Jesus during His time of ministry on earth. She was listed among His travel partners, who went with Him “through towns and villages” witnessing Him preaching and bringing the good news/gospel of the kingdom of God to them. She did not just travel as an observer but was an active participant in his ministry. The writer of the gospel of Luke states that she was one of the women who ministered to and provided for Jesus and His twelve disciples, out of their property and personal belongings (Luke 8: 1-3 AMPC).

In addition, Mary was also a recipient of, a testimony to, his healing and delivering power. She had been delivered from the possession and bondage of 7 demons. (Imagine that! She was a woman of wealth but still bound.) She, who once had no control over her own life but was led by forces of darkness, was now in her right of mind.
– NO MORE cutting of herself!
– NO MORE pain and shame!
– NO MORE being tossed and driven!
She was free; free to make her own choices and, she chose to “serve” the Christ.

Mary knew what bondage felt like and she also knew what freedom felt like. She was grateful for what Jesus had done for her and chose to be one of His disciples. In the time of our key verse, Mary, along with numerous women, had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, ministering to Him. They were witnesses at His crucifixion, looking on from a distance. They observed where the body of Jesus was laid. NOTE: her ministry to Jesus was not confined only to when He was alive, when He was popular, or when He was being mobbed by the crowd.

Even in and after His death, she still desired to minister to Him. Because of the Sabbath, she was not able to minister as she wanted to but, after the Sabbath was passed, she and 2 other women bought sweet smelling spices that they might go and anoint Jesus’ body. The writer of the gospel told us that they left out while it was still dark and came to the tomb but, His body was not there.

Mary became distraught because, like the other disciples. she had not yet understood the Scripture and His teachings about His rising from the dead. (Isn’t it amazing how someone can love the Lord, be devoted to Him, and still lack understanding of the Scriptures, the deep things of God?) So Mary was distressed and upset. After Peter and the other disciples left, she looked into the tomb for herself and was asked by the angels, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus (vs. 13-14).

Then Mary heard that question asked of her a second time, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him (vs. 15).” Unbeknownst to Mary, today was the happiest day of her life, yet she was in despair. She wanted Jesus. She was satisfied with having just the dead body of Jesus to anoint it for the burial. She just wanted to know where they had transferred the body to that she might take it away. She sought Jesus and had found Him but did not recognize Him.

“Woman, why are you crying so? Who is it you are looking for?” Whatever/whomever you are seeking you will not find in the place of the dead. Walk away from this place of the dead, wipe your eyes, and go carry a message to my brothers. Tell them that “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” This was good news that changed Mary’s mindset and her posture. She returned to the others with the news, “He has ascended!”

  1. Because He is ascended, He is now at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us (Romans 8:34).
  2. Because He is ascended, death no longer has a sting for me, the grave no longer conquers (1 Corinthians 15:55).
  3. Because He is ascended, He has a name that is above every other name; every knee must bow in heaven, in earth, and under the earth He is victor. (Ephesians 1:18-21; Philippians 2:9-11)
  4. Because He ascended, one day I too will ascend (1 Thessalonian 4:16-18).

Friends, Mary learned something that morning that we need to learn as well. There is no need for tears. There is no need to grieve as those who are without hope. Because He has ascended, we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Friends, grab a hold of this message of hope that Jesus gave Mary – “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Why are you weeping so? He has ascended.

Holy Spirit, help this understanding of that message to become truth in my life. Cause me to live a life as one who knows that He has ascended. AMEN!!

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Sela Hammahlekoth

Meanwhile, David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the desert south of Jeshimon. Saul and his men arrived and began their search. When David heard of it, he went south to Rock Mountain, camping out in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard where he was and set off for the wilderness of Maon in pursuit. Saul was on one side of the mountain, David and his men on the other. David was in full retreat, running, with Saul and his men closing in, about to get him. Just then a messenger came to Saul and said, “Hurry! Come back! The Philistines have just attacked the country!” So Saul called off his pursuit of David and went back to deal with the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth [Rock of Escape; Narrow Escape]. – 1 Samuel 23: 24-28 (MSG, NIV)

No matter how valiant and skillful in war we are, there comes a time in our lives when we find ourselves surrounded, surrounded by our adversaries, and/or surrounded by troubles in life. Not only are we surrounded but we find ourselves at the verge of being overcome. Then, out of no where just in the nick of time, we witness the hand of God as He strategizes our deliverance.

This was David’s situation detailed in 1 Samuel 23. Saul had been pursuing David for some time, with the intent to end his life. It seemed that today Saul’s pursuit would come to an end because, by day’s end, David would be in his grasp. What Saul did not know was that, although there was no visible evidence of it, God was working on David’s behalf. At the last minute, Saul got a message that brought David’s deliverance.

When I read this passage of Scripture and got to the end – That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth [Rock of Escape] – I had to pause and thank God for the many Sela Hammahlekoth moments in my life; moments where I narrowly escaped being extinguished; I narrowly escaped fainting; I narrowly escaped capture by the enemy of my soul. I paused …. I stopped and began writing this prayer in my journal:

Dear Lord, Thank You for being my present help in the time of trouble. Thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning and for Your grace that is available to me in our time of need. Thank You for the sufficiency that lies in Your grace. Thank You for the strength, Your strength, that is available to me through Your grace.

Thank You Lord for every “Sela Hammahlekoth” moment that You have wrought in my life. Thank You for providing a Rock of Escape and also making a way to escape every temptation so that I may be able to bear it. Holy Spirit, please go with me today and cause us to be aware of the traps/snares of the enemy. When the enemy closes in, when he comes in like a flood, Holy Spirit please raise up a standard against him. Command victories for me this day and cause rocks of escape to be positioned in every area of my life. AMEN!!

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Profitable Losses

Have you, like me, had experiences where you prayed to the Lord about a situation, felt like you clearly heard and understood His directive, yet when you followed through on it you experienced loss instead of profit? In this account of the battle between the children of Israel and the children of Benjamin, we are introduced to a concept that I call Profitable Loss.

Judges 21:25 states that “in those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Yet we read of an account in Judges 20 where the children of Israel “arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God” (vs.18). It seemed right in their eyes to know the mind of God concerning the decision that they had made to wage war against the children of Benjamin.

The children of Israel asked God, “Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first” (vs.18). So they obeyed God and went up against the children of Benjamin with 400,000 men. In their obedience, they suffered loss: the death of 22,000 men. The children of Benjamin had defeated them.

We are told in the next verse that “the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day” (vs.22). But first they went up before the Lord and again asked counsel of Him, “Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him” (vs.23). They obeyed God a second time and suffered loss a second time: the death of 18,000 men. The children of Benjamin defeated them again.

“Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.  And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days….” They asked God, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?”

NOTE: This would now be the third time that they would be launching an attack. They had already lost the battle twice before and lost a total of 40,000 men; this loss occurred after trusting/believing God’s word and encouraging themselves because of it. I can imagine their thoughts: maybe Phinehas the priest had missed God. Maybe he hadn’t heard correctly. Maybe we should “cease” going forward with this warfare. They sat there at the house of God, fasting and waiting. Then the Lord answered, “Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand” (vs. 26-28).

A third time they obeyed God and “the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day 25, 100 (of their 26,700) men” (vs.35). This time around 30 men of the children of Israel lost their lives but, the men of Israel won the battle.

Friends, when we choose to obey and trust God, prepare to experience some loss. Loss is not evidence of ultimate defeat for one who is obeying (1) “Go up”, (2) “Go up again”, and (3) “Go up again.” Encourage yourself with the counsel of God. This time, the 3rd time, after you have wept, sat and waited on God, fasted, given offerings, and inquired of the Lord, you will experience the victory that outweighs your loss. NOTE: Israel lost 40,030/400,000 men….about a fraction over 10% of their army. But Benjamin lost 25,000/26,700 …. about a little over 90% of their army. Israel experienced a profitable loss.

Dear Holy Spirit, please help me to be prepared for the loss that is necessary for me to experience victory i.e. the defeat of the enemy in this battle. Prepare me for the test, the trial, the probation that comes through the loss of the 40 (18 + 22). Prepare me for the 3-day wait in the belly of the whale/earth. Help me to hang in there, encouraged, until my 3rd day when I will rise again.

Holy Spirit, teach me how to weep and help me in my infirmities: for I do not know what I should pray for as I ought to pray (Romans 8:26). Dear Holy Spirit, teach me how to just sit there and wait in Your Presence. Help me to fast the fast that you have chosen (Isaiah 58). Show me what offerings I need to give and, help me not to stop inquiring of You), even if I have to do it through Phinehas – the set man of God for Your house.

As I go this day, Holy Spirit, please keep speaking and revealing more of Your word to me and more of You to me so that I will not do according to what is right in my eyes. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!

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Be Encouraged!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

I am sitting at my dining table preparing my notes for the Bible Study teaching tonight. My husband comes downstairs and excitedly exclaims, “Did you see it?”

“See what?”, I asked.

“We are at 102,” he replied.

…I grabbed my phone and texted in the family chat: Good morning. More good news! ezerwatchers has just passed the 100 subscribers mark. As of today, we are at 102 subscribers and counting. Thank you Lord!!!

Later that morning, one of my “daughters” asked, “Are you going to write a celebratory post?….100 is a milestone.” I gave it some thought and while thinking on it, my mind went to one of my journal entries from July 2019. It reads as follows:

I am somewhat disappointed this morning. I am displeased because ezerwatchers.com has not been receiving the responses I had expected or hoped for. I expected that it would be supported by my family and friends, if by no one else. But last week, it only received 1 view total.

However, in my reading this morning, I read Nehemiah 5:16a – “Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall….” This passage spoke about how Nehemiah invested in himself and continued in his assignment. Unlike the other governors before him, he was not going to trust in or rely on the people. Instead he was going to shoulder his burdens and apply himself (that is, devote himself) to the work of the wall.

Like Nehemiah, I need to look away from man’s help, from my expectations from family and friends, and continue to invest in the work that God has assigned me – ezerwatchers. I need to keep at it! Be faithful!

Dear Father, You are my support so, I look to You for support. Help me to keep my eyes focused on the assignment and not look to the arm of flesh. Help me to value Your approval more than the approval of man and above everything else. Lord, help me to remember that as long as I am obeying You, then I am successful and prosperous. I thank you for your encouragement. I will wait on You and be of good courage. Amen!

Friends, that morning I went into prayer with the weight of disappointment weighing me down but, by the time I left my place of prayer, I was encouraged. I want to share that same encouragement with you. I want to encourage you regarding those times when it seems like what God has asked you to do is not bearing any fruit. Do not allow disappointment to pull you apart from your God-assigned task. Know that all God requires of you is faithfulness. It is His responsibility to add as needed. Just as you were a part of making this milestone possible for ezerwatchers, even so God is raising up people to help make your milestone possible.

THANK YOU TO ALL MY SUBSCRIBERS!!

Know that the Lord Your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness  – Deuteronomy 2:7 (NIV).

My love and prayers are with you all!