As I receive comments, I would like to answer them publicly on the blog. Back in school, my teachers would also make me ask a question loud enough for everyone to hear...that way, everyone could learn from the answer.
The question that this person is struggling with is "Why does God save us? What have we done to earn this salvation?"
The answer comes from scripture:
Ephesians 2:7-9 (NKJV):
"that in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The simple answers are that God saves us because of the richness of who He is. He is full of love for us. We are saved because God allows us to be saved by giving us the free gift of salvation. We can do absolutely NOTHING to earn our salvation. However, works done by the Holy Spirit after salvation will be rewarded in heaven by God...but salvation is free because of the richness of God's kindness. That is why we give him ALL glory and honor, and not just some.
In scripture, it states:
1 John 14:15-17 (NKJV):
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he is in God. And we have known and believed the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
What is God's definition of love? Let's examine the Word:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NKJV):
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
God tells us why He saved us in John 3:16 (NKJV):
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Romans 3:23 (NKJV):
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
I hope this answer has helped many to clearly understand WHY God saved us, and WHAT we did to earn salvation....nothing. I hope it also helps readers to know who God is, and what He is....LOVE that never fails. I love all of you with the love of Christ, and I pray you have a blessed day! Give Him praise!
In His Love,
Sarah
ps...I once saw a bumper sticker that says "The next time the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future." Use these scriptures to acknowledge to God that you are indeed saved by His grace, to remind Satan that you do not have to earn your salvation, and you ARE forgiven for the sins of the past.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Enemy Attacks...Victory In Christ!
This morning, I woke up praising God. I am seeing that people are being touched through the work He is doing in me, and there is no greater joy than to continue. Because I am full of joy, and moving forward in my walk with Christ, and shining Light in many more places than before...I have to expect that my enemy is going to be upset. It is his goal to kill, steal and destroy every work that God will ever do, and to make us miserable in the process. Where God loves our soul, Satan and his workers HATE us. They hate everything good, and they are very active in trying to discourage and kill the joy of believers because they believe it will stop them from reaching any more people for Christ! God's Word tells a different story, with a different outcome! These demons already know that there ending is eternal destruction, so they are going to go out fighting all the way. God has given Satan dominion over the earth until His return, but He is with those of us who believe to "guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Satan is working overtime around the world to cause great deception, fear, discouragement, addictions, suicide, marriages, abortions, hatred, and a general lack of accountability for our actions. I could list tactic after tactic of our enemy that he uses to destroy the world, and the people in it.
On a personal note...last week, I joined up with an internet prophecy team to minister prophetically to people FREE online. The site address is http://www.personal-prophecy-free.net/. I have been ministering to complete strangers every day, and it has already been a great joy for me, and has been building my faith in God enormously by giving prophecy to complete strangers! God is showing me what He can do through me, and I am in awe of His greatness! I also had another great first this week.....after the Lord prompting me for quite some time, I finally acted in obedience and prayed for healing a young girl in the commissary (grocery store on base). It was public, which I usually don't do, but the Lord is growing me to be able to minister to anyone, anytime, without restraint or fear! Praise God!!!! The little girl is about 3 years old, and she did not say anything, but she told me I could pray for her. When I was done praying, she had a beautiful twinkle and brightness in her eyes. I knew that something had happened, and I believe the Lord healed her right there! Her mom's eyes were teary as she realized how much God loved her daughter...It was amazing...but then the enemy's attacks began.
My enemy does not like that I have really stepped out in faith this week. I have done two things I had never done before. I am no longer afraid to do either one of them. Well, to let you know the childish antics of my enemy...this is what happened after praying.
1.) My military ID was gone when I went to write a check.
2.) My debit card said I was not authorized to use it (even with money in my account).
3.) My credit card with available credit said I was not authorized to use it.
4.) My doors locked with my keys inside, and the car running.
5.) A lady laughed at me, when I simply asked her to use the phone.
All this happened within 15 minutes of praying for this girl. I had to leave my groceries in the store, admitting that I had no way to pay for them, without any possible way to pay. The frustrating part was that I knew it was just my enemy trying to punish me for praying publicly for this girl! I knew it would inconvienent and frustrating for me to have to "re-shop" for my groceries, and I was going to be late to get my daughter from school. I stopped in the parking lot of the commissary and PRAYED. I prayed out loud, and I prayed in tongues under my breath. I asked God to vindicate me with my enemies. I asked Him to help me immediately. I asked Him to send His angels to help me and protect me.
Then, God showed up and began to have victory! My husband showed up about 2 minutes after praying and let me back into my car. I drove home and there was a message on the answering machine within 5 minutes that said they had found my ID. They said my groceries had not been put back, and asked if I still wanted to buy them. I rushed back to the commissary, and bought my groceries with the exact same debit card that had failed 30 minutes earlier! I even got an apology from those working....their entire attitudes had changed from treating me like an idiot to being kind to me! I got my daughter from school on time. Later in the week, I saw the mother of that girl again, and she gave me a ride home in the rain. God is ALWAYS victorious. The joy in her face was not stolen by the enemy. It was all worth it. And I will begin to do it more and more as the Spirit prompts me. I believe the enemy was trying to scare me, or discourage me, from continuing to pray publicly. He should know better with me, if you make me mad, I am that much more driven to do it in the future. He made a big mistake in firing me up!
Oh, but we are not done yet with the frustration. After posting yesterday about the revelation of God's plan for my family, and the exciting events in the future, the enemy is trying to steal this too. I never thought I would say this, but I have to pray that my husband WOULD go on deployment. The enemy is trying to steal my credibility as a witness to God. Any of you who know law, know that if you take away a witness's credibility, that person is useless in court. The enemy is trying to do that. He is trying to openly put me to shame, so no one will want to listen to the words coming from God through me. But He forgot one thing, God NEVER lets His children be put to shame! God is planning to use me MORE in the future, and it is not over now.
The critics are going to say, well, couldn't you have been wrong? The humble answer is YES, and I would be willing to accept that if it were true. This is not about pride, this is about hearing through my intimate relationship with God what He was going to do, and the enemy trying to muck it up. My flesh would not want to be away from my husband, but the things happening in our lives are much bigger than my fleshly wants, the Spirit in me is confirming that my husband NEEDS to go. I am not in a position to fight God, nor would I want to. His plan simply is better.
So today, I will be interceding for my husband, and doing spiritual warfare asking God to break down these attacks of the enemy and send my husband to Iraq. Bottom line is, God is victorious!!!! He will do what is right if we trust Him. He will make our paths straight, regardless of any attack that occurs. He is walking by our side! And when God achieves victory in this situation, I will gladly make my boast in Him! I will tell of His victories all the days of my life. Praise the Lord, for He is Mighty, He is my Defender, my Rock, my Fortress, my Salvation...and I love him.
Let's let the Word speak for itself:
John 10:10 (NKJV):
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NKJV):
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV):
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NKJV):
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And you are exalted as head over all."
1 John 5:4 (NKJV):
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV):
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places."
Knowing that there is a spiritual war going on in the heavenlies, and on earth, take heart if you are in Christ Jesus. Jesus has overcome these dark powers, and very soon will take His rightful place on the throne, and rule forevermore! If you are not in Christ Jesus, you are a son of the devil, and your place will be in hell with them.
Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV):
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So what are we told to do to fight this battle, and remain in Him? Put on the Armor of God, and be ready to fight for our Lord:
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV):
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:13-20 (NKJV):
"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in that evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having feet shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all the saints--and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
If you in are in Christ, you are in the battle....period. There is not one Christian who is not part of the Lord's army and is expected to fight alongside Christ and one another. If you are not fighting this battle...you might want to ask yourself if you are in Christ? This scripture is not just for prayer warriors and intercessors, preachers, and men of mighty faith.....it is for every Christian to pray over themselves and their lives. It tells us to be ready for the day of evil. We are currently in dark days, and we need people who will stand up and fight with Christ to release others from the bondage of sin, and free them from captivity of our enemy! Come and fight with me alongside the Lord by praying this, and taking up your sword (the Word of God) and taking the land the God has promised us by force, driving out all enemies, just as the Isrealites did when they took possession of Israel. No one has been able to drive them out! We need to take our promised land, and stand, refusing to back down to an enemy who wants to see us destroyed! Stand with me and the Lord today!
Let us pray:
Lord,
You are a mighty warrior, and more than a conquerer. It is Your great might and power that allows us to take hold of strongholds and tear them down in Your name. I praise You Father! I praise You that You not only came to save us from the enemy, but You have given us the armor of God to take a stand in this dark world. You have commissioned us into your army, and commanded us to fight for righteousness! Please let your Holy Spirit fall upon these readers today, and commission them to fight alongside you, with the eternal reward of the salvation of their souls. Break down the strongholds in their lives of fear, discouragement, deception, and apathy! Show them that they are valuable to You and You need them to come alongside You and FIGHT with the sword of the Spirit (The Word of God). We need You Lord to lead us into battle and to be our Banner. We know that this is not our battle, but Yours alone, but we want to do everything we can to be part of your great plan. Help us to be more diligent in our study of your Word, and give us the strength and wisdom to stand....when everything is crashing down around us! Give us the boldness to preach the gospel to a lost and dying world, FEARLESSLY! Put the words in our mouths that you wish to speak, and give us the humility to surrender completely to Your will. Forgive us this day for our weakness, and shower meekness into our lives! We come before you in a Spirit of thanksgiving and praise, asking only that You continue what You started in us, and give us victory in our lives by Your Spirit. Help us to know You better, and want to spend more time intimately communing with You. I praise you that these things are in your will, and will be done when we ask and believe! I believe these things I have asked are done in the name of Jesus! I pray that your Spirit would go with each reader, believer and unbeliever alike, and that all would come to the knowledge of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ! I pray to you in Jesus' name, Amen.
His mighty princess warrior,
Sarah
On a personal note...last week, I joined up with an internet prophecy team to minister prophetically to people FREE online. The site address is http://www.personal-prophecy-free.net/. I have been ministering to complete strangers every day, and it has already been a great joy for me, and has been building my faith in God enormously by giving prophecy to complete strangers! God is showing me what He can do through me, and I am in awe of His greatness! I also had another great first this week.....after the Lord prompting me for quite some time, I finally acted in obedience and prayed for healing a young girl in the commissary (grocery store on base). It was public, which I usually don't do, but the Lord is growing me to be able to minister to anyone, anytime, without restraint or fear! Praise God!!!! The little girl is about 3 years old, and she did not say anything, but she told me I could pray for her. When I was done praying, she had a beautiful twinkle and brightness in her eyes. I knew that something had happened, and I believe the Lord healed her right there! Her mom's eyes were teary as she realized how much God loved her daughter...It was amazing...but then the enemy's attacks began.
My enemy does not like that I have really stepped out in faith this week. I have done two things I had never done before. I am no longer afraid to do either one of them. Well, to let you know the childish antics of my enemy...this is what happened after praying.
1.) My military ID was gone when I went to write a check.
2.) My debit card said I was not authorized to use it (even with money in my account).
3.) My credit card with available credit said I was not authorized to use it.
4.) My doors locked with my keys inside, and the car running.
5.) A lady laughed at me, when I simply asked her to use the phone.
All this happened within 15 minutes of praying for this girl. I had to leave my groceries in the store, admitting that I had no way to pay for them, without any possible way to pay. The frustrating part was that I knew it was just my enemy trying to punish me for praying publicly for this girl! I knew it would inconvienent and frustrating for me to have to "re-shop" for my groceries, and I was going to be late to get my daughter from school. I stopped in the parking lot of the commissary and PRAYED. I prayed out loud, and I prayed in tongues under my breath. I asked God to vindicate me with my enemies. I asked Him to help me immediately. I asked Him to send His angels to help me and protect me.
Then, God showed up and began to have victory! My husband showed up about 2 minutes after praying and let me back into my car. I drove home and there was a message on the answering machine within 5 minutes that said they had found my ID. They said my groceries had not been put back, and asked if I still wanted to buy them. I rushed back to the commissary, and bought my groceries with the exact same debit card that had failed 30 minutes earlier! I even got an apology from those working....their entire attitudes had changed from treating me like an idiot to being kind to me! I got my daughter from school on time. Later in the week, I saw the mother of that girl again, and she gave me a ride home in the rain. God is ALWAYS victorious. The joy in her face was not stolen by the enemy. It was all worth it. And I will begin to do it more and more as the Spirit prompts me. I believe the enemy was trying to scare me, or discourage me, from continuing to pray publicly. He should know better with me, if you make me mad, I am that much more driven to do it in the future. He made a big mistake in firing me up!
Oh, but we are not done yet with the frustration. After posting yesterday about the revelation of God's plan for my family, and the exciting events in the future, the enemy is trying to steal this too. I never thought I would say this, but I have to pray that my husband WOULD go on deployment. The enemy is trying to steal my credibility as a witness to God. Any of you who know law, know that if you take away a witness's credibility, that person is useless in court. The enemy is trying to do that. He is trying to openly put me to shame, so no one will want to listen to the words coming from God through me. But He forgot one thing, God NEVER lets His children be put to shame! God is planning to use me MORE in the future, and it is not over now.
The critics are going to say, well, couldn't you have been wrong? The humble answer is YES, and I would be willing to accept that if it were true. This is not about pride, this is about hearing through my intimate relationship with God what He was going to do, and the enemy trying to muck it up. My flesh would not want to be away from my husband, but the things happening in our lives are much bigger than my fleshly wants, the Spirit in me is confirming that my husband NEEDS to go. I am not in a position to fight God, nor would I want to. His plan simply is better.
So today, I will be interceding for my husband, and doing spiritual warfare asking God to break down these attacks of the enemy and send my husband to Iraq. Bottom line is, God is victorious!!!! He will do what is right if we trust Him. He will make our paths straight, regardless of any attack that occurs. He is walking by our side! And when God achieves victory in this situation, I will gladly make my boast in Him! I will tell of His victories all the days of my life. Praise the Lord, for He is Mighty, He is my Defender, my Rock, my Fortress, my Salvation...and I love him.
Let's let the Word speak for itself:
John 10:10 (NKJV):
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NKJV):
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV):
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NKJV):
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And you are exalted as head over all."
1 John 5:4 (NKJV):
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV):
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places."
Knowing that there is a spiritual war going on in the heavenlies, and on earth, take heart if you are in Christ Jesus. Jesus has overcome these dark powers, and very soon will take His rightful place on the throne, and rule forevermore! If you are not in Christ Jesus, you are a son of the devil, and your place will be in hell with them.
Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV):
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So what are we told to do to fight this battle, and remain in Him? Put on the Armor of God, and be ready to fight for our Lord:
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV):
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:13-20 (NKJV):
"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in that evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having feet shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all the saints--and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
If you in are in Christ, you are in the battle....period. There is not one Christian who is not part of the Lord's army and is expected to fight alongside Christ and one another. If you are not fighting this battle...you might want to ask yourself if you are in Christ? This scripture is not just for prayer warriors and intercessors, preachers, and men of mighty faith.....it is for every Christian to pray over themselves and their lives. It tells us to be ready for the day of evil. We are currently in dark days, and we need people who will stand up and fight with Christ to release others from the bondage of sin, and free them from captivity of our enemy! Come and fight with me alongside the Lord by praying this, and taking up your sword (the Word of God) and taking the land the God has promised us by force, driving out all enemies, just as the Isrealites did when they took possession of Israel. No one has been able to drive them out! We need to take our promised land, and stand, refusing to back down to an enemy who wants to see us destroyed! Stand with me and the Lord today!
Let us pray:
Lord,
You are a mighty warrior, and more than a conquerer. It is Your great might and power that allows us to take hold of strongholds and tear them down in Your name. I praise You Father! I praise You that You not only came to save us from the enemy, but You have given us the armor of God to take a stand in this dark world. You have commissioned us into your army, and commanded us to fight for righteousness! Please let your Holy Spirit fall upon these readers today, and commission them to fight alongside you, with the eternal reward of the salvation of their souls. Break down the strongholds in their lives of fear, discouragement, deception, and apathy! Show them that they are valuable to You and You need them to come alongside You and FIGHT with the sword of the Spirit (The Word of God). We need You Lord to lead us into battle and to be our Banner. We know that this is not our battle, but Yours alone, but we want to do everything we can to be part of your great plan. Help us to be more diligent in our study of your Word, and give us the strength and wisdom to stand....when everything is crashing down around us! Give us the boldness to preach the gospel to a lost and dying world, FEARLESSLY! Put the words in our mouths that you wish to speak, and give us the humility to surrender completely to Your will. Forgive us this day for our weakness, and shower meekness into our lives! We come before you in a Spirit of thanksgiving and praise, asking only that You continue what You started in us, and give us victory in our lives by Your Spirit. Help us to know You better, and want to spend more time intimately communing with You. I praise you that these things are in your will, and will be done when we ask and believe! I believe these things I have asked are done in the name of Jesus! I pray that your Spirit would go with each reader, believer and unbeliever alike, and that all would come to the knowledge of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ! I pray to you in Jesus' name, Amen.
His mighty princess warrior,
Sarah
Friday, October 17, 2008
God Speaks and Confirms His Will
My faithful readers, I am so happy to be sharing some exciting news with you this morning. The exciting news is that God is moving again in my life, and the waiting season is coming to an end! Praise the Lord, waiting is so hard to do! A few days ago, my husband was presented with the task of taking a deployment to Iraq....again. This deployment came out of nowhere for him because he was set to deploy in January, but the military requires that you have enough time left in your tour to cover the deployment without extending. This requires for him to extend his term in the military and our assignment to Guam for just a couple of months. Since there are rules that would allow him to opt out of this assignment, we had to ask God what would be the right decision. However, following God can include assembling a variety of small puzzle pieces that God gives one at a time to get the larger picture of where you are headed. I have been hearing recently that I would be returning to my hometown to minister to those who knew me before I met Christ. God even showed me a church that He wants us to attend. Meanwhile, I have been praying for us to be debt-free, and pleading with God to help us financially to achieve this goal once and for all. I have been praying to be closer to my family, both spiritually and eventually physically, and I have always wanted my children to know where I grew up. I had recieved prophetic words from others that were leading in the direction of returning to my hometown in Colorado and being with my family, while ministering to those in the community. All this was being spoken while the Lord was saying "WAIT." My husband was having trouble with his retraining process, and it was seeming to stall.
And then, all of a sudden, the heavens opened up and God started to show us what was next. My husband would take this deployment (which would help us financially) and we can file for early return of dependents (meaning we leave Guam early) and we can return to my hometown for 6-8 months to do exactly what God had shown us. I can be with my family, join the church He showed me, and minister in the community where I came from. My husband will have time alone with God to grow spiritually, and even though there is danger where he is headed, I know the Lord will send His angels to protect him. He has great plans for my husband, and they do not end in Iraq. So...I believe the wait will definitely be worth what God has planned. Will I miss my husband? YES. Will it be difficult? YES. Will it be full of joy in doing God's work? YES, YES, YES! You see, in any major decision, God will provide ample confirmation of the right decision to be made. We are told to humble ourselves before the Lord, seek His face, and He will guide us in a straight path.
Right now, my husband says, "This is not a for sure thing..." If it was ordained by God, it will happen. Period. The details will be worked out by Him alone. We have trusted the Lord, and He is moving us in the direction He has for us. I am overjoyed that I have delighted myself in the Lord, and He is giving me the desires of my heart. Isn't that what His Word says? He is proving Himself once again. Many people don't realize that all of our days are ordained for us before we are even conceived. We have the free will to choose to accept Christ and His ways, but that does not mean that He does not already know the choice we are going to make. Did He make the choice for us, as in predestination to hell, NO. The Word says that is God's will that all come to repentance and be saved. But He is omnisicient (all-knowing) and knows which decisions we are going to make before we make them. That is one reason why prophecy, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom are still very much real in the church today. God is able to speak through His Holy Spirit in a member of the body of Christ with these giftings to encourage someone about the coming events of their own lives. Is this fortune-telling or divination, NO, but it can be if it is done by the wrong spirit or does not line up with God's Word. Every word spoken by a prophet should be tested against the Word of God, and the spirit which is speaking should be discerned by the hearers of the prophecy. If it lines up with God's Word and is spoken by the Spirit of God, we can expect in faith that it will be fulfilled.
This is one reason it is very disheartening that so many people believe the gift of prophecy has ceased in the church today. They say the Word of God is complete revelation and nothing more is needed, yet they go against God's own scriptures to make this claim. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He spoke by His Spirit through prophecy in the Old Testament, He spoke through Jesus in the New Testament, and the apostles, and He is still speaking to those in the church today who are willing to humble themselves and listen. And even after one has received a word from God, it will continue to be confirmed day after day by ongoing events in that person's life. It will edify the body, and grow the faith of that person, and those around him/her given that he/she gives ample testimony to God's work. The Lord has granted me the gift of prophecy, and if you would like to be prophesied over by a member of the body of Christ with this gifting (or myself) please go to this website and request a personal prophecy. All the prophets on this site have been checked in their gifting and are working to serve you for FREE. If you would like a prophecy from myself, please make a note in your request, and Matthew Payne (the founder and leader) will forward the request to me. It seems roundabout, but I feel that it is correct in God's eyes to route it through the site.
Here is the address:
http://www.personal-prophecy-free.net/
Here are some scriptures to think about for today's message:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV):
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Amos 3:7 (NKJV):
"Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His Secret to His servants the prophets."
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV):
"Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV):
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
John 16:13 (NKJV):
"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever he hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
1 John 4:1 (NKJV):
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV):
"And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh: Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
Jeremiah 1:4-6 (NKJV):
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Psalm 37:23 (NKJV):
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in His way."
Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV):
"For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in the secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them."
Trust in the Lord, delight yourself in Him, and He will order your steps.
Lord,
I thank you today for the peace that comes from Your Word. I know that You have ordered our coming steps, and have been with us in our prior steps as well. I know that you have a plan for us that you are currently carrying out. I thank you for the work you are doing in our lives, and ask that you give my family peace as we get ready to move again. Work out the details for us. We know we can just relax and rest in You, and You will be faithful to complete what You have started in us. I pray for each reader today that they too would ask for their steps to be ordered by You. Give each one PEACE above all else, and show them how to let you be Lord of their life. Even when things are not easily understood about your plan, we can trust that You have it all right! Help those who are struggling with anxiety in their lives that comes from not knowing the path ahead of them, and not trusting in You. Please forgive them, for they know not what they do. Have mercy upon them, and show them the way everlasting! I pray this in the precious and glorious name of Christ, Amen.
In His Peace,
Sarah
And then, all of a sudden, the heavens opened up and God started to show us what was next. My husband would take this deployment (which would help us financially) and we can file for early return of dependents (meaning we leave Guam early) and we can return to my hometown for 6-8 months to do exactly what God had shown us. I can be with my family, join the church He showed me, and minister in the community where I came from. My husband will have time alone with God to grow spiritually, and even though there is danger where he is headed, I know the Lord will send His angels to protect him. He has great plans for my husband, and they do not end in Iraq. So...I believe the wait will definitely be worth what God has planned. Will I miss my husband? YES. Will it be difficult? YES. Will it be full of joy in doing God's work? YES, YES, YES! You see, in any major decision, God will provide ample confirmation of the right decision to be made. We are told to humble ourselves before the Lord, seek His face, and He will guide us in a straight path.
Right now, my husband says, "This is not a for sure thing..." If it was ordained by God, it will happen. Period. The details will be worked out by Him alone. We have trusted the Lord, and He is moving us in the direction He has for us. I am overjoyed that I have delighted myself in the Lord, and He is giving me the desires of my heart. Isn't that what His Word says? He is proving Himself once again. Many people don't realize that all of our days are ordained for us before we are even conceived. We have the free will to choose to accept Christ and His ways, but that does not mean that He does not already know the choice we are going to make. Did He make the choice for us, as in predestination to hell, NO. The Word says that is God's will that all come to repentance and be saved. But He is omnisicient (all-knowing) and knows which decisions we are going to make before we make them. That is one reason why prophecy, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom are still very much real in the church today. God is able to speak through His Holy Spirit in a member of the body of Christ with these giftings to encourage someone about the coming events of their own lives. Is this fortune-telling or divination, NO, but it can be if it is done by the wrong spirit or does not line up with God's Word. Every word spoken by a prophet should be tested against the Word of God, and the spirit which is speaking should be discerned by the hearers of the prophecy. If it lines up with God's Word and is spoken by the Spirit of God, we can expect in faith that it will be fulfilled.
This is one reason it is very disheartening that so many people believe the gift of prophecy has ceased in the church today. They say the Word of God is complete revelation and nothing more is needed, yet they go against God's own scriptures to make this claim. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He spoke by His Spirit through prophecy in the Old Testament, He spoke through Jesus in the New Testament, and the apostles, and He is still speaking to those in the church today who are willing to humble themselves and listen. And even after one has received a word from God, it will continue to be confirmed day after day by ongoing events in that person's life. It will edify the body, and grow the faith of that person, and those around him/her given that he/she gives ample testimony to God's work. The Lord has granted me the gift of prophecy, and if you would like to be prophesied over by a member of the body of Christ with this gifting (or myself) please go to this website and request a personal prophecy. All the prophets on this site have been checked in their gifting and are working to serve you for FREE. If you would like a prophecy from myself, please make a note in your request, and Matthew Payne (the founder and leader) will forward the request to me. It seems roundabout, but I feel that it is correct in God's eyes to route it through the site.
Here is the address:
http://www.personal-prophecy-free.net/
Here are some scriptures to think about for today's message:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV):
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Amos 3:7 (NKJV):
"Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His Secret to His servants the prophets."
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV):
"Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV):
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
John 16:13 (NKJV):
"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever he hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
1 John 4:1 (NKJV):
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV):
"And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh: Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
Jeremiah 1:4-6 (NKJV):
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Psalm 37:23 (NKJV):
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in His way."
Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV):
"For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in the secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them."
Trust in the Lord, delight yourself in Him, and He will order your steps.
Lord,
I thank you today for the peace that comes from Your Word. I know that You have ordered our coming steps, and have been with us in our prior steps as well. I know that you have a plan for us that you are currently carrying out. I thank you for the work you are doing in our lives, and ask that you give my family peace as we get ready to move again. Work out the details for us. We know we can just relax and rest in You, and You will be faithful to complete what You have started in us. I pray for each reader today that they too would ask for their steps to be ordered by You. Give each one PEACE above all else, and show them how to let you be Lord of their life. Even when things are not easily understood about your plan, we can trust that You have it all right! Help those who are struggling with anxiety in their lives that comes from not knowing the path ahead of them, and not trusting in You. Please forgive them, for they know not what they do. Have mercy upon them, and show them the way everlasting! I pray this in the precious and glorious name of Christ, Amen.
In His Peace,
Sarah
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A Sinful Past--A Hopeful Future
It was revealed to me recently by God that someone I know very closely is harboring guilt over a sin that was committed many years ago. This person is sure that the current state of life is a direct result of the sin that was committed, and ultimately confessed and forgiven by God...many years ago. So today, I would like to say a word about self-condemnation, apart from God's own judgment, that holds many Christians captive by the enemy. I will be the first to admit that I have suffered from recurring thoughts and memories over sins I have committed that have long been washed away in the blood of Jesus. I feel sorry that I keep bringing them to mind, knowing that my gracious Lord has already CHOSEN to forget them. This is yet another tactic of our great enemy Satan to keep Christians from growing and flourishing in their walks with Christ. If he can convince them that they are not really forgiven, and their current situation in life is because of their past sin, he can keep them from moving forward...they remain in captivity. This is why knowing the truth of God's forgiveness is crucially important to a growing walk with Christ. In this person's case, the sin committed was adultery and subsequently divorce. It is the belief of this person that all the suffering henceforth has been because of this sinful action. I have no knowledge of this being truth, except that God revealed it to me by His Spirit. I am sharing it openly without any specifics because the truth of the situation applies to many different people who might be reading this blog. Let me make my case that this person is indeed forgiven, and the current suffering that is being endured (and has been already) is simply a result of others needing to come to Christ, not a lifelong curse for disobedience, although it has spurred this person to walk away from the goodness of God's Word, and from His presence and continue to sin, which IS a reason for the current tribulations that are being faced. If this person would be able to let go of the sins that God has already forgiven, and move forward in his/her walk with Christ, then the peace and blessings of God would follow. The tide would turn, and this person would begin to experience God's Presence, his favor, and begin to know the ultimate plan for his/her life.
Does it seem as though I am talking directly to you? God is. He is telling you to let go of the past, and look forward, confess your sins since that day, and receive the love and forgiveness of God. Seek out His Word and His Presence, and go back to fellowship with other believers that you so desperately long for. The rest of all part of God's plan to bring others to repentance and salvation around you....let God handle that. Pray.
Read Psalm 51 and PRAY (read aloud) it back to God. Believe when you are done praying that God has forgiven you, and watch what he begins to do in your life. This prayer is in regards to the current sin in your life, for neglecting to remain in God's Word and in a relationship with Him, and for allowing the worries of the world to overtake you. The sin you committed long ago has long been forgotten by God. Do not allow it to hinder you anymore. Tell the devil "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus for trying to keep me from Him."
Here are some scriptures for encouragement:
Ephesians 5:5-15 (NKJV):
"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore, he says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.' See then you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise."
I encourage you all today to stop looking to past, and stop allowing the enemy who wants to destroy you to weigh you down with guilt over sins in the past that have been confessed, and forgiven! If you have not confessed your sins, you need to admit you have sinned to God, ask for His forgiveness, and possibly ask Christ to be your Lord and Savior, if you never have.
The Word of God says:
Psalm 103:12 (NKJV):
"As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Isaiah 43:18 (NKJV):
"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; Now it will spring forth; Shall you know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert."
God is simply telling us to not focus too much on what is behind us, but to look toward what He will do today and tomorrow. We can be thankful for the forgiveness and mercy He has extended to us, and even share it with others, but we should not be so focused on the past that we do not move forward in our walk with Him. He is also showing in this scripture how He will make a way out of any place or situation, like making a road in the wilderness or a river in the desert. He will lead us home from wherever we are lost! In the scriptures, Jesus told a Parable of the Lost Sheep, and this is what it said:
Luke 15:4-7 (NKJV):
"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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
The man is Jesus, and we are the sheep. When we are lost, and then found because we repent, there is JOY in heaven over our return. Amazing. I thank God today for his great mercy and compassion on those of us who have been lost, and returned to His loving arms. I thank Him that He is still seeking out those who are still lost and wandering hopelessly. I pray that He take away deception in the lives of these readers, and that He open their eyes to whether they are in Him, or lost. I pray that each of you would examine yourselves, to know if you are in the faith, and I pray for your repentance and salvation if you are not. God will accept you whether it is your first time admitting your sin, or your millionth time. If you have been lost, God will rejoice when you return to Him. So go home into the arms of the loving God today, just tell Him that you are sorry and turn from your sin, accepting His forgiveness! I pray for peace in each of your lives by the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Redeemed from a sinful past,
Sarah
Does it seem as though I am talking directly to you? God is. He is telling you to let go of the past, and look forward, confess your sins since that day, and receive the love and forgiveness of God. Seek out His Word and His Presence, and go back to fellowship with other believers that you so desperately long for. The rest of all part of God's plan to bring others to repentance and salvation around you....let God handle that. Pray.
Read Psalm 51 and PRAY (read aloud) it back to God. Believe when you are done praying that God has forgiven you, and watch what he begins to do in your life. This prayer is in regards to the current sin in your life, for neglecting to remain in God's Word and in a relationship with Him, and for allowing the worries of the world to overtake you. The sin you committed long ago has long been forgotten by God. Do not allow it to hinder you anymore. Tell the devil "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus for trying to keep me from Him."
Here are some scriptures for encouragement:
Ephesians 5:5-15 (NKJV):
"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore, he says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.' See then you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise."
I encourage you all today to stop looking to past, and stop allowing the enemy who wants to destroy you to weigh you down with guilt over sins in the past that have been confessed, and forgiven! If you have not confessed your sins, you need to admit you have sinned to God, ask for His forgiveness, and possibly ask Christ to be your Lord and Savior, if you never have.
The Word of God says:
Psalm 103:12 (NKJV):
"As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Isaiah 43:18 (NKJV):
"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; Now it will spring forth; Shall you know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert."
God is simply telling us to not focus too much on what is behind us, but to look toward what He will do today and tomorrow. We can be thankful for the forgiveness and mercy He has extended to us, and even share it with others, but we should not be so focused on the past that we do not move forward in our walk with Him. He is also showing in this scripture how He will make a way out of any place or situation, like making a road in the wilderness or a river in the desert. He will lead us home from wherever we are lost! In the scriptures, Jesus told a Parable of the Lost Sheep, and this is what it said:
Luke 15:4-7 (NKJV):
"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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
The man is Jesus, and we are the sheep. When we are lost, and then found because we repent, there is JOY in heaven over our return. Amazing. I thank God today for his great mercy and compassion on those of us who have been lost, and returned to His loving arms. I thank Him that He is still seeking out those who are still lost and wandering hopelessly. I pray that He take away deception in the lives of these readers, and that He open their eyes to whether they are in Him, or lost. I pray that each of you would examine yourselves, to know if you are in the faith, and I pray for your repentance and salvation if you are not. God will accept you whether it is your first time admitting your sin, or your millionth time. If you have been lost, God will rejoice when you return to Him. So go home into the arms of the loving God today, just tell Him that you are sorry and turn from your sin, accepting His forgiveness! I pray for peace in each of your lives by the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Redeemed from a sinful past,
Sarah
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Heavenly Promise...
Today is just a wonderful day. From the moment I woke up until now, it has been full of peace, love, quality time with my kids, and JOY. The Lord has blessed me today. I am so thankful to be on my way to heaven to spend eternity in peace, much like today (but greater). Today, I had a powerful thought of what heaven will be like, and how eternity never ends. Once we arrive, we will never again have another worry, or fear, or tears, or stress. There will be no more struggle with sin, or the flesh, or wickedness in the world. There will be no more war, no more bloodshed, and no more heinous crimes. And to think...it just continues on like that FOREVER. I believe God's Word that gives me hope that this IS my eternal destination because I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. He changed me the day I prayed for salvation, making me a new creation, and He has been changing me every day since. Someone close to me once said "People don't just change overnight!" I can honestly say that I did the day I first believed (with my heart, not my head) in the Lord. God has given us so many amazing promises in His Word, and it is a shame that so many have no idea what they are missing. Here are some scriptures for encouragement today:
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV):
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
John 14:2 (NKJV):
"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV):
"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Luke 10:19-21 (NKJV):
"Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Finally, in the book of Revelation, God speaks of the New Jerusalem that descends from heaven as Christ begins to reign over earth for 1,000 years. This is how it is described...
Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV):
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever."
What a MIGHTY and WONDERFUL promise of God! I Praise you Father for your greatness and the magnificence of the your glory! There is none worthy besides you!
Lord,
I thank you for the wonderful descriptions you have given us in your Word of your promises and what lies in store for those who believe that Jesus died for their sins, and accept His sacrifice on the cross. I thank you that you have given us a great hope and a future that we can hold onto, even in the most dire circumstances. I pray that you would gather even more people to your name this day, and save their souls from the eternal destination of hell and separation from You. Lord, open their ears and hearts to your Word, and allow your Word to penetrate, teaching them that the way, truth and life only exists in following You. Thank you for the great rewards you have in store for those who love you, and that you are coming back soon to take us with you. I thank you for the place you are preparing for me, and for those who love you. I pray right now that you would have mercy upon the nations, and give them more time and opportunities to accept You before Your imminent return. I know that you are being patient, so that many more will come to repentance and be saved, and I thank you for that! I praise your holy name for the blessed promise of salvation, and the work of sanctification in the lives of believers! May your honor and glory be exalted above all else, and Your name be known throughout the world as the One who is called Beautiful. Praise you with all my heart and soul this day. Giving you honor and glory, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Looking to a blessed assurance in Jesus Christ,
Sarah
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV):
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
John 14:2 (NKJV):
"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV):
"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Luke 10:19-21 (NKJV):
"Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Finally, in the book of Revelation, God speaks of the New Jerusalem that descends from heaven as Christ begins to reign over earth for 1,000 years. This is how it is described...
Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV):
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever."
What a MIGHTY and WONDERFUL promise of God! I Praise you Father for your greatness and the magnificence of the your glory! There is none worthy besides you!
Lord,
I thank you for the wonderful descriptions you have given us in your Word of your promises and what lies in store for those who believe that Jesus died for their sins, and accept His sacrifice on the cross. I thank you that you have given us a great hope and a future that we can hold onto, even in the most dire circumstances. I pray that you would gather even more people to your name this day, and save their souls from the eternal destination of hell and separation from You. Lord, open their ears and hearts to your Word, and allow your Word to penetrate, teaching them that the way, truth and life only exists in following You. Thank you for the great rewards you have in store for those who love you, and that you are coming back soon to take us with you. I thank you for the place you are preparing for me, and for those who love you. I pray right now that you would have mercy upon the nations, and give them more time and opportunities to accept You before Your imminent return. I know that you are being patient, so that many more will come to repentance and be saved, and I thank you for that! I praise your holy name for the blessed promise of salvation, and the work of sanctification in the lives of believers! May your honor and glory be exalted above all else, and Your name be known throughout the world as the One who is called Beautiful. Praise you with all my heart and soul this day. Giving you honor and glory, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Looking to a blessed assurance in Jesus Christ,
Sarah
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Commit Your Way To the Lord...
Psalm 37:4-6 (NKJV)
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday."
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday."
This was the scripture that God placed on my heart this morning. I am in a season of waiting upon the Lord, and trusting Him to work out the details of my life. I still have opportunities to minister, and I am attending Bible studies, and going to church...but everything seems to be very still. I will openly confess that I need the Lord's help in the area of patience. That is one part of the fruit of the Spirit where I have not yet matured very much! The only thing the Lord seems to tell me is....WAIT, BE STILL, TRUST ME...and then His voice falls silent again. I have been slowly maturing lately in my ability to be still and wait upon the Lord. In fact, there have been times when I have wondered if I have wandered off track. I am an active, doer type person. I love to be in the middle of the action, and being going a hundred miles an hour. Being still is difficult for me, and always has been. But I know, in my heart, that this time of waiting could not come at a better time in our lives. We will be moving off the island of Guam in seven months, and it is not the time to start anything new. We are waiting upon orders, retraining information for my husband, waiting to have another child, and waiting to know what church the Lord will place us in, and what he has for us NEXT. My husband is also learning about patience this season, and has learned how NOT to become frustrated when things seem to be stalling. There is no such thing as stalling in God's plan, it is all perfectly designed....we just have trouble when we do not know what is going on! As said before, I have been struggling with laziness, apathy, discouragement, and anxiety. Knowing that I cannot start anything new makes me not want to do anything! But as the scripture stated, this is the time to "delight yourself in the Lord."
I have realized over the past few months that I had become so busy, I had not spent as much time in prayer with the Lord. I was encouraged by my pastor to just "sit and listen to what the Lord is saying." He encouraged me, along with others, to be still. The Lord showed me through scripture that I had become too busy, and forgotten my first love in Him. He told me to return to the things which I did at first. I am still getting there....but really the answer is simple. The answer is to be still, delight myself in Him, and commit my way to the Lord. If I do these things, He will give me the desires of my heart, and He will bring forth my righteousness (in Him) as the light, and my justice. Long story short, He is going to bring the revelation of His plan in His time, not mine. He will show us where to go, what we will do there, and every step along the way if we just delight ourselves in Him and trust Him.
The Lord revealed to me that I have been hanging on to anxiety for so long, it felt like a normal part of me. I was probably a bit afraid for Him to take it away, because it means I have to learn to be still. But like a Band-Aid, the Lord has ripped it away from me. Even if it seems painful, He is forcing me to wait and become more patient. He is sanctifying me.
We often get so attached to the sin in our lives that we do not even realize it exists. I believe this is a tactic of the enemy to keep us from growing in our walk with Christ. The enemy hides our sin, and makes us believe that it is just "part of who we are." Christ wants to cut away those sinful areas of your life, so you can experience a fuller, more abundant life. The deception of the enemy keeps us bound. Please take a moment to pray this scripture and ask God is there is any sinful way in you that He can take away! Simply pray to God and repeat this scripture TO Him, and watch how he will answer you!
Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Lord,
I thank you Lord that you know me better than I know myself. You know my lying down and my rising up (Psalm 139) and you see everything I do, everywhere I go, and every time I sin against you. I thank you that you forgive me when I confess my sins to you. I thank you for your awesome presence, even when I cannot physically feel you, your Word promises that you are with me always. I thank you for working in the lives of each one of these readers, and for opening their hearts and ears to the hearing of your Word. Please bless them with faith upon hearing your Word, and I pray that they might receive salvation through grace by this faith in You. I pray that you would bless them with peace and understanding, and a greater knowledge of You and your Word. I pray that you would keep them in health and safety, and encourage them to commit their own ways to You, so you might make their righteousness as the light. I pray that you bring them justice in their daily lives and vindication with their enemies. I pray You would give them Your heart, and Your mind, and bless them with security in their salvation. I love you Lord, and I praise you with all my heart! I pray in the beautiful name of Jesus, Amen.
Walking in His Ways,
Sarah
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