Your hope is not dead, just asleep

In the book of Mark chapter 5, we read where Jesus cast out a demon from the man from the country of the Gadarenes. This man lived in the tombs and the people were afraid of him. When Jesus cast the spirit out, they went into a heard of pigs. When they saw the man in his right mind, the people asked Jesus to leave because of fear.

In arriving at a new town, Jesus was surrounded by a great multitude.

A ruler of the synagogue names Jarius came to Jesus, fell at his feet and asked him to heal his daughter, as she was at the point of death. He asked Jesus to come to his house and lay hands on her, and she would be healed.

Right away we see Jarius’ faith at work.  

Jesus went with Jarius, but there was the crowd, and he was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood.

When the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus, he began asking who touched him, as he felt power coming out of him.

The discussion began amongst his disciples, stating because of the crowd, many have touched him.  Once the woman came forward and confessed to being the one touching him, Jesus took time with her and proclaimed that her faith has made her well.

By now, Jarius’ daughter had died, but Jesus told Jarius to not be afraid, only believe. When Jesus arrived at the house, he said the child is not dead but sleeping.

The child is not dead but sleeping.

I read that line several times, and it hit me. I have felt that our dreams, hopes, and future are dead, as we are still in the waiting period and we don´t see signs of life.

But our dreams and visions are only sleeping, they are not dead!

Have you felt your prayer requests are dead, forgotten? Be encouraged, they are only asleep!

In reading this passage, the Lord is assuring me that my prayers are not dead, what I have decreed are not lost. Just because I don’t see the fruit of my prayers, it does not mean God is not at work, He is. It´s just not the right time.

Like the woman with the issue of blood and Jarius, all I need to do is believe, have faith and in God´s perfect timing, everything prayed for will spring to life.

Scripture reading Mark 5: 21-43

 

Being set free after 18 years

In Luke Chapter 13, we read about the account of Jesus healing a woman bound for 18 years, while He was teaching in the synagogue.

This woman had a spirit of infirmity, and in a moment, she was made whole.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

This unnamed woman did not seek Jesus out, but he laid hands on her and said, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.

This was a spirit of infirmity that Jesus encountered, while in the Synagogue!  This illness she had was not because of sin, it was a demon attacking her.  

The ruler of the synagogue was upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and confronted Him about it.  Jesus always having the best answer replied, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

Their Sabbath traditions actually placed a higher value on animals than on people in distress.  

Legalism can keep you from the blessings of God.

Jesus rebuked the official of the synagogue, stating this woman was a daughter of Abraham, meaning she was Jewish, a daughter of the promise. 

A few things I picked up.

The Lord can come to us when we least expect it and bless us.

The number 18 means abundant life.  Her healing was in God’s perfect timing.  

We too are sons and daughters of the promise.  In a surprise moment, Jesus can come to us and say, Son, Daughter, you are loosed from ________ (fill in the blanks) and our sufferings will end.

Where we once looked down because of despair, distress, depression, and sadness, suddenly we will be called out, a hand will touch us and someone say a few words from the spirit of God and we will be looking up, praising God and walking in abundant life.

Scripture reading, Luke 13: 10-17

The Lion Roars at his enemy

During my journaling time with the Lord, I began thanking Him for our blessings, our plans, and thanking Him that our desires and prayer request are at the door.  

I was actually encouraging myself in the Lord with music and gratitude when I was surprised by the following statement.

Image by Ian Lindsay from Pixabay

Roar your promises.

What?

Roar your promises. So I began to list the promises and prayer request we are believing for, keeping silent.

I paused and meditated on what I heard.

I was not to pray them in, I was to roar them in. 

“The LORD roars from Zion… and the heavens and the earth tremble.” (Joel 3:16)

I really did not know or understand what this meant, so I did a search and came across this teaching here.

We watched the teaching, read the handout and hubby and I roared together.

In one particular exercise, we both had the exact same communication from the Lord, the others were very similar.

In the end, we felt our list of prayer petitions was moved forward. This is new to me, to us and it is from God because I could not make this up.

Many times we may not understand everything, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can be assured that God has our best interest at heart.

I am excited to see how things will move in our favor and will be sure to let you know.

 

 

How to irritate a king

In the book of Exodus, we read where the king of Egypt gave a direct order to the hebrew midwives to kill all male children and allow the female children to live.   The king was in fear of the multiplication of the Hebrews, and in the event of war, they would lose.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

There was something the king did not count on. The midwives feared God, or had reverence for God more than the king, and thus protected the male children from sure death. Also, he was telling them to kill their own people.

There are times in our lives where we need to draw the line and obey God more than man, especially when it goes against the word of God. Satan wanted the extinction of the Messianic line, but it did not happen.

Two women had the courage to go against the kings’ order.  Think about that, two women said no.   In that culture, women did not say no. I thought to myself, do I have that type of courage to say no, when a directive given to me goes against my beliefs, will I be strong enough to stand my ground, how about you?

In further reflection of this passage and the story as a whole, Moses´ life was spared and became the deliverer of the Israelites.

What the king desired for the Hebrew children, he and his people paid with their firstborn son.

He thought they would lose in time of war, instead, they received plagues and death to their livestock.

He refused to let them leave, and the men and chariots ended up at the bottom of the sea.

The decree against the Jewish people was no match for God and for two women.

For the two women that saved the life of Moses and countless other children, the Lord provided households. In other words, the Lord not only provided an actual house but a family.

In the end, it pays to obey the Lord and He will not disappoint you.

Bible reading, Exodus 1:15-22

 

It´s time to change your focus

We have all seen children or adults in wheelchairs, whether they are there since birth or from an accident we don´t know.  One thing we do know, their legs are not working. 

Sometimes the legs can be thin, no muscle mass and they are atrophied.

Image by Wolfgang van de Rydt from Pixabay

Now imagine the beggar at the gate beautiful.  Lame since birth, his only way to make a living was by begging at the entrance of the temple. This man had never ever stood on his feet.

When Peter and John are about to go into the Temple for their prayer time, they see this beggar at the gate and Peter says,  “Look at us.”

This was not to draw attention to themselves, but they needed the full attention of this beggar for the miracle Jesus was about to perform.

There have been times in my life where I needed to stop and pay attention, as I can get easily distracted.

Peters next words are all too familiar to us.  “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

How could he rise up, he is lame?  The word says, but then he was lifted up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He received his strength as he rose. He needed to put some action into his healing.

I have found out in order to receive what I am believing for, I need to act upon it in faith.

In summary:

• Fix our eyes on Jesus, don´t be distracted. This beggar asked for money, instead received a new pair of legs. We never know how God will surprise us.
• The man sat at the same place, every day taken there by some family member. Perhaps its time to change your focus from asking to receiving in faith.
• When we can´t stand on our own, reach out for that helping hand with gratitude and your strength will return to you.

Bible reading Acts 3:1-9

 

His promises are yes and amen

Ephesians 1:17-18   that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Recently I have been going through a time of waiting upon the Lord. Waiting for His promises, praying, believing, declaring, and fasting.

Nothing.

There are times where the thought goes through my mind that these words spoken over us are just not going to pass, so I better do something.

I think Abraham had the same thought, and made a mess of things.

After my pity party, I went back to what I do best, prayer and journal. I share this with you in case anyone reading is going through a time of waiting.

Where there is hope, your eyes are enlightened and will see the glory of my inheritance.

You see me and have held on to the promise I have given you. Your hope does not fade away, neither do I. My promises are yes and amen, and my word will not fall to the ground, but it will bear fruit and flourish.

I had to get back to what lies ahead of me, get back to the vision, the promises, and that way I will not perish.

Get back to what was promised you, believe it and see it. Don´t let it die, fight for it, and you will receive your reward.

Be blessed.

Powerful keys to unlock your destiny

Sometime back I received a prophetic word which stated the many things I have prayed for will come to pass, but in order to receive them, I would need to use my keys.

The word was specific as to the things I had been praying for, and it was not a generic God knows the desires of your heart word.

Image by Mabel Amber, still incognito… from Pixabay

This encouraged me greatly, and I thanked the Lord in my prayers that what I was sensing in the spirit was right.

I tucked the word away and forgot about it.  A few days ago I kept hearing the still small voice of the Lord saying, use your keys, and I was reminded of this word. 

I dug it up, re-read it and understood.  In this particular word, I needed to use my keys which represent authority,  to obtain my promise.

What are those keys, anyway?  I had to do some serious meditation to get my answers.

I have found these following keys that I or anyone can work with:

• Praise and worship
• Prayer. Not praying out of fear, but out of faith
• Using the name of Jesus in my prayer time. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
• Fasting. There are many books and teachings on fasting, but to give you the short answer, your flesh comes under the submission of the Lord. Isa 58:6  “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
• Obedience. Obey those in leadership, your pastor and obey the word of the Lord for your life.
• Serve. Jesus came to serve, and we should do the same
• Rest. Rest in the Lord and believe.
• Right heart attitude, make sure your heart is right in each action you take.

What can cause your keys to not work?

• Ignore you have keys, which is what I did until I was reminded
• Unbelief and doubt, not believing the word of God, or that He even cares about you.
• Laziness. Not using your time wisely in meditation of the scripture and prayer
• No placing the Lord first in your life

Have I received my desires?  Not all of them. I am still waiting, and even while I wait, I know God is at work in me and through me and for me. 

Waiting increases faith, and to be honest, can be difficult, but as the song goes, I trust and obey.

What other keys have you discovered? Share them in the comments below.

Praying for my prodigal

Our son will be 30 years old this month of August.  As a mother, I always envisioned him going off to the University, but instead, he has chosen to become a mixologist. We attended church as a family, he was in Sunday school, he shared Christ and even went on a short term mission trip. But like many parents out there, their children and my son have decided to follow the world.

Image by Scott Webb from Pixabay

I have been praying for his return to his first love for many years, and it is easy to get discouraged and give up.  But there is something that keeps me going, and that is the promise I have received from God that yes, he will return and yes, he belongs to Jesus.

My journal times with the Lord are precious. It is here I receive comfort and vision to pray in His promises over my son, and I also pray the same for nieces and nephews that have gone astray.

So what do we do in the meantime?

• We love him
• We call him
• Invite him for lunch or dinner
• Casually share how God is moving in our lives
• Challenge him
• Give thanks
• Keep praying

Through the years I have come across prayers and have even made up a few of my own, and I would like to share a few with you.

I ask you Lord to place (child’s name)  in a hedge of thorns, so that he may not sin against you, and that he may not continue his path towards deception, lust and evil, and wickedness, and he will turn back to Jesus with all his heart, soul and mind.  Hosea 2;6

We are mindful of the seeds that we have planted in (child’s name), we declare that these seeds will be watered by our love and your love Father, and bring a great increase in every area of (Child´s name) life.   May he/she increase in heavenly wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. Matt 13.23

(Child´s name)  has been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.  He stands holy and blameless before God in love, because of what Christ did on the cross.

John 10:28 -29  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Lord, bring (child’s name) back to his first love, and may he/she be miserable in their sin. I received this prayer from a pastor. His son came back and is now a preacher!

One thing I have learned from praying these and other prayers is to cooperate with the word of God, pray it like you mean it and believe. God´s word will not return void!

To be honest, it can get weary at times and I falter. The word of God sustains me, and I get back to praying and declaring blessings over his life. I know the Lord hears my and other parents prayers. I have resolved to not give up, and I know all the years of intercession will bear fruit.