Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Day 12 - Waging War
As I was walking this morning, my knee was bothering me a lot. It has been hurting for a few days now, almost a week. I thought maybe it was a pulled muscle, but it just lingered. Every day when I walk, I pray, and it is a really great time of just the Lord and I. Lily goes with me in her stroller, and this morning she was exceptionally content and quiet so I didn't have to give her any of my attention. I really began to focus my prayer, but my knee was distracting me. I began to claim the healing scripture from 1 Peter 2:24 that says "by His [Jesus's] wounds we are healed". The pain continued. I talked to the Lord for a few minutes, and told Him how I believed He could do anything...ANYTHING! I have so much faith in God, so much faith is His power and His ability. He is all powerful, and I know there is nothing impossible for Him. But I also know that there must be a reason that when I ask Him to heal (or do anything according to his word for that matter), there must be a reason why sometimes it just doesn't happen right then and there. I examined my life, and didn't feel like there was anything for which I needed to repent. So I began to really press into the Lord and pray that he would reveal to me what was holding back the answers to this and many other prayers. Immediately, I heard the words, "prince of Persia". Not completely understanding, but believing I had heard from God, I began to pray and take authority over the prince of Persia, to which I felt was some sort of spirit that was hindering my healing and breakthrough in so many areas. Immediately, the pain left my knee. I mean it was instantaneous. I kept walking and praying until I reached my house. When I got home, I looked up the phrase "prince of Persia". To my surprise, it lead me to Daniel 10. More specifically to verses 12-13 where a messenger angel comes to Daniel and says, "Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia." I have read and heard this passage several times, but I had completely forgotten that it was the demonic realm of the prince of Persia that detained God's message and answer to Daniel's prayer. It reminded my how there is a constant war in the heavenlies between the angels and demons. It's not just some cartoon with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, although that picture is actually not too far fetched either! I felt that there was more that God wanted to teach me, so I went back to Daniel 9 to see what it was that Daniel had prayed for, and that made the demonic realm feel so threatened. It was a prayer of repentance for the city of Jerusalem (God's people) who had rebelled and sinned against God and was in desolation. It was a prayer for mercy and restoration. Daniel, who was upright in the eyes of God, was still effected by the sins, rebellion and consequences of a rebellious, stiff-necked people. He was crying out for God to hear his repentance and forgive the sins of a nation and heal their land and people. Obviously, a restored people of God is a threat to the devil and the demonic realm. Satan loves to keep God's people down and under his thumb-enslaved, really. I believe it gives him that feeling of control that he desired so much when he first turned against God and fell from heaven. Satan also knows that a desolate, sick, weak people can not walk in authority and forgets its' place in the kingdom of God. No wonder there was such a fight to keep the angel from coming to Daniel to answer the cry for freedom for God's people. If we, as people of God realized how much authority has been given to us by God, our lives would be transformed. I am not saying that all sickness and problems of the world are directly related to this idea, but I do believe that some are, and they go unhealed and unsolved because we are unaware of the power that God has given to us as his children. The other lesson I took from this passage is how God hears our prayers, but the war that is waged over gaining victory through that prayer is sometimes a fierce battle in the heavenly realm. Even though God is all powerful, he has delegated his authority and control to his angels and his people on the earth. He has also given satan the name "the prince of the power of the air" which gives him a measure of authority, allbeit temporary, over things on the earth. God gives us the keys to fight against satan's authority in the earth, but unless we use those keys, we stay down and enslaved to satan's power. One of my prayers as I walk is that God reveals Himself more and more to me, so that I can really know Him, move in His power and anointing, and allow Him to use me to touch others. It is a deep desire of my heart, and I believe that He is answering that prayer, step by step.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Park pictures
While Josh was at his sock hop, I took Jonathan and Lily to the park. It was a perfect day, getting cooler, and leaves changing color. Fall is so pretty here in Belton!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Day 6 - Habits
After pouring my Ezequiel 4:9 Cereal, (yes, that is actually the name of the cereal, purchased at my local supermarket, one of the very few that qualifies for this fast, it tastes somewhat like grape nuts, and I think it's growing on me), I inadvertantly reached for the gallon of milk. As I went to pour, I gasped, put the cover back on, returned the gallon to the fridge, and grabbed my unsweetened almond milk. (After Sunday's slip up with 4 candy corns, where I completely forgot about the no sugar allowed until after they were consumed, I need to be paying more attention to what I am doing!)
Habits are hard to change. Maybe it's because after so long of repeating the same thing, we have convinced our mind it's the right way. Maybe it's because we have never seen it done any other way. Or maybe, we are just stubborn. Our life is really a compilation of habits, some good, some not so good. The way we eat, sleep, get dressed, brush our teeth, even the way we deal with our relationships. All habits. When Luis and I were first married, we had a clash of habits, and boy was it messy! When the things I really admired about Luis prior to marriage began to take up mutual residence after marriage, they somehow lost their glamour and glitter. I'm sure he would say the same, and maybe more. When we both finally decided that change was necessary, and we were determined that nothing and no one was going to tear us apart, we had a life-changing shift in our mindsets and habits. It didn't happen all of a sudden, but it was a process that still, even after fifteen years of marriage, continues to evolve. Now, when I look at the picture in my mind's eye of my life, Luis is right there with me. That wasn't always the case. But each day, we both choose to see the other in our life's picture. We have to purposely set our minds on what is right. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is". Consequently the first thing I have to get in submission to God and His purpose and plan for my life is my mind. So, for my habits to change for the better, I must to first change the mental picture that I study daily. I have to start seeing myself in that new, good habit, before my will and emotions can follow. Thankfully, it is not left up to me and my own feeble will-power to do so. We have the Holy Spirit, living on the inside of us, who continually fills us if we ask, and empowers us to change. Habits can be broken in our own strength if given enough consistancy and time. Habits that are brought into the submission of the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us can be changed much quicker. Such good news for a weakling like me...I can find my strength in the One who is all powerful!
Habits are hard to change. Maybe it's because after so long of repeating the same thing, we have convinced our mind it's the right way. Maybe it's because we have never seen it done any other way. Or maybe, we are just stubborn. Our life is really a compilation of habits, some good, some not so good. The way we eat, sleep, get dressed, brush our teeth, even the way we deal with our relationships. All habits. When Luis and I were first married, we had a clash of habits, and boy was it messy! When the things I really admired about Luis prior to marriage began to take up mutual residence after marriage, they somehow lost their glamour and glitter. I'm sure he would say the same, and maybe more. When we both finally decided that change was necessary, and we were determined that nothing and no one was going to tear us apart, we had a life-changing shift in our mindsets and habits. It didn't happen all of a sudden, but it was a process that still, even after fifteen years of marriage, continues to evolve. Now, when I look at the picture in my mind's eye of my life, Luis is right there with me. That wasn't always the case. But each day, we both choose to see the other in our life's picture. We have to purposely set our minds on what is right. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is". Consequently the first thing I have to get in submission to God and His purpose and plan for my life is my mind. So, for my habits to change for the better, I must to first change the mental picture that I study daily. I have to start seeing myself in that new, good habit, before my will and emotions can follow. Thankfully, it is not left up to me and my own feeble will-power to do so. We have the Holy Spirit, living on the inside of us, who continually fills us if we ask, and empowers us to change. Habits can be broken in our own strength if given enough consistancy and time. Habits that are brought into the submission of the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us can be changed much quicker. Such good news for a weakling like me...I can find my strength in the One who is all powerful!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Day 5 - Alert
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. Ephesians 1:17-21 (AMP)
I made a comment to Luis last night about how clear my mind seemed after only 4 short days of this fast and meditating on the Lord and His word. I feel like my mind is alert, and sharp. I feel great physically...strong and energetic...but the real difference is how I feel inside my spirit. Like everything has been heightened. When I read my Bible, the words feel like they pierce me greater than before. Maybe it's because I have a greater expectation for what the Lord is doing and will do. After all, expectation keeps our eyes focused and our ears tuned. Whatever the explanation, I like the way I feel!
This scripture was in my reading today. I have been using the reading plan at Bible Gateway for some time now. I love it because I can choose the version and even switch the language if I want. I usually read in the Amplified version as it does just what the name implies. In particular, my eyes caught the part of scripture that says,
"He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."
How amazing is it that? We, as mortal men and women, can have spiritual insight to the mysteries and secrets of God. It's like a secret club with private access to God himself. How? Reading on, it says,
"By having the eyes of our heart flooded with light."
Flooded. Not just a flicker or a spark, but FLOODED with light. Being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Word is how the eyes of our heart can be flooded with the light. Light that disperses all darkness and reveals all truth to us. When the eyes of our heart are flooded with light, darkness has no place to hide.
Then, the scripture goes on to give three results to having our hearts flooded with light.
1. You can know and understand the hope to which He has called you.
2. You can know how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints.
3. [So that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe.
I love that God invites us to enter in to a deeper dimension with Him, but he doesn't just throw it out there. There is a cost...a price to pay. He desires us to seek Him and pursue Him daily. The more we seek Him, the more He reveals Himself to us, which makes us even more excited to seek Him at a deeper level. I am convinced that God is so awesome and powerful, so great that no matter how much we seek Him, there is no limit to how much we can know Him. And, if we continue to seek Him we will know Him more and more every day until He returns again.
Thank you, Lord, for revealing yourself to us as we seek you. Thank you for making us alert as we flood the eyes of our heart with your Spirit and your Word. Thank you for giving us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we can continue to know you deeper each day.
I made a comment to Luis last night about how clear my mind seemed after only 4 short days of this fast and meditating on the Lord and His word. I feel like my mind is alert, and sharp. I feel great physically...strong and energetic...but the real difference is how I feel inside my spirit. Like everything has been heightened. When I read my Bible, the words feel like they pierce me greater than before. Maybe it's because I have a greater expectation for what the Lord is doing and will do. After all, expectation keeps our eyes focused and our ears tuned. Whatever the explanation, I like the way I feel!
This scripture was in my reading today. I have been using the reading plan at Bible Gateway for some time now. I love it because I can choose the version and even switch the language if I want. I usually read in the Amplified version as it does just what the name implies. In particular, my eyes caught the part of scripture that says,
"He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."
How amazing is it that? We, as mortal men and women, can have spiritual insight to the mysteries and secrets of God. It's like a secret club with private access to God himself. How? Reading on, it says,
"By having the eyes of our heart flooded with light."
Flooded. Not just a flicker or a spark, but FLOODED with light. Being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Word is how the eyes of our heart can be flooded with the light. Light that disperses all darkness and reveals all truth to us. When the eyes of our heart are flooded with light, darkness has no place to hide.
Then, the scripture goes on to give three results to having our hearts flooded with light.
1. You can know and understand the hope to which He has called you.
2. You can know how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints.
3. [So that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe.
I love that God invites us to enter in to a deeper dimension with Him, but he doesn't just throw it out there. There is a cost...a price to pay. He desires us to seek Him and pursue Him daily. The more we seek Him, the more He reveals Himself to us, which makes us even more excited to seek Him at a deeper level. I am convinced that God is so awesome and powerful, so great that no matter how much we seek Him, there is no limit to how much we can know Him. And, if we continue to seek Him we will know Him more and more every day until He returns again.
Thank you, Lord, for revealing yourself to us as we seek you. Thank you for making us alert as we flood the eyes of our heart with your Spirit and your Word. Thank you for giving us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we can continue to know you deeper each day.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Day 4-Heart Condition
"Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience. Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life." Galatians 6:1-8 (The Message)
Not only have we been given a physical heart that we must take care of, we have also been given a spiritual heart that requires just as much, if not more daily scrutiny and care. This fast, along with my walking, is oh so good for my heart in both realms. So many times in scripture God reminds us how he is much more interested in the condition of our spiritual heart than anything else. When the prophet Samuel arrived at Jesse's house, seeking to anoint the new king of Israel, he was reminded by God that the chosen one wasn't going to be who everyone would obviously pick by judging outward appearance. Time after time, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for having a holy, righteous outward appearance, yet filthy, rotten, judgemental hearts.
Have you ever tried to drive straight while being distracted by something behind you? Where ever your eyes lead, the rest of you will follow. It's impossible to stay on our own path if our focus is on another. We all have been guilty of this at one time of another, but if we truly grab hold of this idea of staying focused on God and His path for us, what freedom!! It is so easy for us to take our eyes off of our own life, our goals, and our divine path, and compare our life to that of someone else. I am convinced that all the devil needs to do to render us ineffective is to just distracts us from our purpose and plan of God for our life. He doesn't have to make us fall into deep sin or renounce God, but just get us off course ever so slightly, and take our eye off the prize, which is running the race that God has set before for us!
I want my physical heart to become strong! Even more so, I want my spiritual heart to beat with passion and zeal for all that God has planned for my life, whatever that might be. My life will not look like anyone else's life. No one else will be as excited about my life and my purpose than me. The purpose and plan God has for my life can not be fulfilled by anyone else but me, and no one else's life will ever satisfy me more than my own. That, my friend, is real freedom!
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience. Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life." Galatians 6:1-8 (The Message)
Not only have we been given a physical heart that we must take care of, we have also been given a spiritual heart that requires just as much, if not more daily scrutiny and care. This fast, along with my walking, is oh so good for my heart in both realms. So many times in scripture God reminds us how he is much more interested in the condition of our spiritual heart than anything else. When the prophet Samuel arrived at Jesse's house, seeking to anoint the new king of Israel, he was reminded by God that the chosen one wasn't going to be who everyone would obviously pick by judging outward appearance. Time after time, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for having a holy, righteous outward appearance, yet filthy, rotten, judgemental hearts.
Have you ever tried to drive straight while being distracted by something behind you? Where ever your eyes lead, the rest of you will follow. It's impossible to stay on our own path if our focus is on another. We all have been guilty of this at one time of another, but if we truly grab hold of this idea of staying focused on God and His path for us, what freedom!! It is so easy for us to take our eyes off of our own life, our goals, and our divine path, and compare our life to that of someone else. I am convinced that all the devil needs to do to render us ineffective is to just distracts us from our purpose and plan of God for our life. He doesn't have to make us fall into deep sin or renounce God, but just get us off course ever so slightly, and take our eye off the prize, which is running the race that God has set before for us!
I want my physical heart to become strong! Even more so, I want my spiritual heart to beat with passion and zeal for all that God has planned for my life, whatever that might be. My life will not look like anyone else's life. No one else will be as excited about my life and my purpose than me. The purpose and plan God has for my life can not be fulfilled by anyone else but me, and no one else's life will ever satisfy me more than my own. That, my friend, is real freedom!
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