Hitchhikers

Today's post comes from Starla at Keepin It Real

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  2 Peter 3:17

A few days ago on my way to work I saw 2 women hitchhiking on the freeway.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  They were actually sitting on a concrete divider in a construction zone near one of the on ramps.  People are already driving 35 to 40 mph at that point and increasing speed in preparation to enter traffic between 55 and 65 mph.  There is nowhere for a person to pick them up even if they wanted to.  My first thought was the potential danger they were in.  I immediately started praying for them that God would guide them and protect them.  They appeared to be in their mid to late 20's.

I'm assuming that they were desperate to get where they wanted to be.  It takes desperation to even hitchhike and I would say extreme desperation to be a "freeway hitchhiker".  Either way, you are purposefully putting your life at risk in more ways than one. 

As I talked to the Lord about these girls I began to think about how many times I have done something risky, or shall I say risque (risk-ay) to get somewhere or something?  Hitchhiking requires you to trust a stranger.  When I think of it this way, the same concept applies when you hire someone like a plumber or contractor to come and work on something in your home?  How about babysitters and child care either in your home or another location? 

There are many reasons that we have exercise trust in another human being but we don't have to freeway hitchhike.  You know, stick our thumb out and risk our own safety or the safety of our loved ones.  Choosing child care for my girls was one of the most difficult times of my life.  I'm so glad they are older now and no longer require constant adult supervision and I thank God for watching over them then and even now.  God will give you discernment in situations like this if you go to Him and ask for His direction and guidance.

Do you think those women asked God for discernment?  I'm thinking they chose their own route and I honestly can't stop thinking about them.  I hope they made it to their destination safely and I prayed that God would place someone on their path to lead them to Him.  And if they already know Him, I pray that He would speak to their hearts and they would listen to Him and know that with God, they never ever have to hitchhike on the freeway again.

As I write this, another thing that comes to mind is the hitchhiker of our soul.  The devil has many ways of doing this, no thumb necessary.  His minions have easy access by way of certain shows on TV, certain places, certain kinds of music, certain websites, etc........  You know what I'm talking about.  Most of it isn't even obvious and sometimes we don't even know they have hitched a ride until it's too late.

How can you be safe from the soul hitchhikers?  There is only one way that I know of and that is God through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit of my soul gives me discernment about certain situations and warns me when danger is near.  The Holy Spirit guards your soul with the "shield of faith" like the best anti-virus program available on a computer.  When something does try to sneak in, your anti-virus program aka shield of faith will automatically block entrance and warn you not to go there, an intruder is there attempting to hitchhike and destroy the network of safety that surrounds your soul.  Now, you know you can override the Holy Spirit just like you can override the anti-virus program on your computer and choose to go there anyway.  If you do, it can wreak havoc on your hard drive aka your soul.

The best way to avoid and defeat the tactics of the devil is to be on guard and ready for anything.  God's word is your weapon that provides you with many ways to fight off the "soul hitchhiker".  That's why it's so important to study His word and obey the boundaries that He has placed in our lives.  We need to avoid being "freeway hitchhikers" and protect ourselves from the "soul hitchhiker".  There is a free ride through Jesus Christ.

One person can make a difference

Today's post comes from Ursula at Coffee Time with God

 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16

We live in a world today where people are hurting everywhere. Just look around you and you might see a neighbor who just got divorced with 3 small children and she doesn't know where to get the next meal from. A co-worker who got locked out of her fiance's apartment after he left her for another woman. A family member who is stuck in an abusive relationship and desperately needs help and support or a close friend just got diagnosed with cancer. What can YOU do the help, what can YOU do to make a difference? How can YOU let YOUR light shine?

Everybody knows someone who is hurting but only a few will reach out. Those who don't do anything might think that they are not able to make a difference but you CAN make a big difference. I believe and the Bible tells us in Romans 5:18 "...just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people" that one person CAN make a difference. Especially being a Christian we should show love to everybody, especially to those around us. Showing love should be part of your lifestyle. "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" ~John 15:12 

To Love is a willingness to Do something for another person. 

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” Quote by John Wesley 

I love that quote, it's straight to the point to do good all the time as much and as long as you can. As Christians it is our responsibility to do good to everyone, to be Christ like, to be transferred in His image. And besides doing good to all we are also responsible to preach the Gospel and share the Word of God.

Sure we have our own problems, carry our own crosses, but that doesn't mean you should stop helping others. Instead reach out to someone who doesn't know God yet, be a light to them and talk about Jesus and what He has done for you in your life. Ask if you can pray for them, invite them to a Bible study or a Sunday worship service. When you do this God will bless you.

"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" ~ 1 Corinthians 9:19 ( Message) 

I recently moved back to the south of The Netherlands where I am originally from. There are not many Christians here. Most people are either Atheists, Catholic or worship other gods like Buddha. I was put to work in a government supported project with most people not knowing God and I would grumble and complain to the Lord about it but He said: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles" ~Isaiah 42:6

Now that I have been there for a few months I see how God has been using me there to listen to people who have been hurt and disappointed by loved ones. People who don't have hope anymore. In return I have shared testimony about what God has done for me in my life and that there is still hope. I have invited some people to come to church and the women's fellowship meetings. A couple of them have come to church already Praise God. I know this is the beginning of saving many more new souls.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" ~ Hebrews 10:24

So I would love for ALL of you to be encouragement. Look around you, see who needs prayer, see who needs a helping hand. Let's do it, full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. 

God bless always and stay Spiritually Well and Strong.

Much Love Ursula

On our spiritual journey: Keep calm and carry on

Today's post comes from Anita at Scattering the Stones

 

'The Lord went ahead of them.

He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud,

and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire...'

Exodus 13:21 NLT

On our spiritual journeys we walk hand in hand with faith and trust. We learn dependence on the One who gives us life, who directs and guards our path.

The closer we walk with Jesus, the stronger the pull; as we feel the strength, call, and direction of the Holy Spirit.

As the Lord spoke to Moses and the Israelites, and directed them on their road, we see a story of pain, fear, mercy, grace, trust, faithfulness, and victory.

What can we learn from the story of Moses and the Israelites, on their journey through the wilderness and the Red Sea?

1. Sometimes short cuts are not necessarily better

As the Israelites followed the guidance of the Lord, in His wisdom He knew that if they faced a battle they may be tempted to change their minds and go back to Egypt (Ex 13:17-18). Because He knew them so well, He brought them through the wilderness, the path less travelled. His protection guarded their footsteps. They did not know the way, so they had to fully trust and depend on the divine presence through the smoke by day and fire by night.

How often do we try to take the short cut, only to find that if we had listened to God, it would have been so much better, even if it had taken us longer?

2. In Him we find rest

Not only did God plan how He would direct His people, but He also pointed out places for them to rest! As we know on any journey, taking regular rest is one of the most important things we need in order to complete it.

We can be so focused on our time short tasks that we exhaust ourselves physically and mentally and either ignore the oasis that God provides for us because we 'must' finish a task, or we just don't see it.

Rest isn't just for the weak, it is recognising that we need it to keep us strong, in Him.

Have you spent time resting in God's presence lately?

3. He provides us with all that we need

The Lord provided everything that was necessary, considering their needs each step of the way; He provided a covering for His people to protect them from the day's heat, as well as providing light at night (Ps 105:3).

When we are looking to Him for His provision, it tests our faith. Do we really believe that God will provide all that we need? Let's place our trust in the Jehovah-­‐jireh - the Lord will provide!

4. God displays His glory through His perfect plan

In order for the Egyptians to see that He was indeed the LORD, His plan considered how best His message could be seen and heard through the path travelled by the Israelites. God hardened Pharaoh's and the rest of the official's hearts, and the force of their assault was huge, as they got ready to attack! Understandably, the Israelites were frightened, and questioned both Moses and God about this supposedly great plan that in their eyes didn't make any sense, for they didn't see the larger picture!

I think we can all relate to the confusion that the Israelites felt, confused by God's plan. The very essence of faith is by not leaning on our own understanding, but by placing our complete trust in God and His ways (Prov 3:5).

In their humanity and their fear, they pushed back against God's plan and complained, asking why they had been brought on this journey. Suddenly their familiar past (even though it was painful) seemed much more comfortable, than what they were facing.

Moses replied -

'Don't be afraid.

Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today.

The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.

The LORD himself will fight for you.

Just stay calm.'

Exodus 13:11-14 NLT

5. He will protects us from our enemies

Our enemies may try to harm us, but we belong to the Lord; as His Spirit dwells in us.

God's glory shone brightly as He sheltered the Israelites from their enemy at night (Ex 14: 19-20) and twisted the Egyptians chariot wheels to stop them in their tracks -

' "Let's get out of here - away from the Israelites!"

the Egyptians shouted.

"The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt." '

Exodus 14:25 NLT

As God protected the Israelites from their enemies, He will do the same for us, as He is our strength and shield (Ps 28:7).

6. The Lord's great plan can never be defeated.

Moses was required to stand in faith and follow the instructions given to him by God; to pick up his staff and divide the sea for the Israelites to walk through on dry ground (Ex 14:16) !

This journey was not an easy path to take. Yes the Lord had faithfully guided, protected, and provided for His people each step of the way through the wilderness, but when it came to stepping out in faith again into what seemed impossible, fear started to dig deep and creep into their hearts.

We may look at this story through familiar eyes, be in awe of God's glory and how He used Moses and provided for His people, but we need to remember how God does the same for us daily.

As God said to Moses -

'I have planned this in order to display my glory...'

Exodus 4:4 NLT

As Jesus brought us from a place of death to everlasting life. Our lives display the glory of God, by what He has done for us.

As we depend on God for His strength for whatever we are going through, we can place our trust in the footsteps already trodden by the One who goes before us; the King of Kings.

As Moses was used to divide the waters, and the Lord directed and protected the Israelites on their journey, everyone saw God's power and that His plan could not be stopped, so they believed that He was the LORD, and placed their faith in Him (Ex14:31).

Let's remember together

Whatever we are facing today - whether we are struggling in a valley moment, or praising Him on top of the mountain, we have a God who turns the impossible into the possible (Lk 1:37); who commands the seas to divide and moves mountains, who defeats our enemies and guards our path.

For our journeys display the glory of God! So let us remain calm, for the LORD will rescue us and is fighting for us!

Just as He took care of the Israelites, He will guide us along the best path for our life, as He advises us and watches over us (Ps 32:8), because He loves us! :)

Let's pray

Lord we are in awe of your Majesty!

We praise you for your great purpose and plan.

We thank you for your great love, mercy, provision and protection.

We come before you, asking for your rest and refreshment for the journey you have called us on.

Help us to remain in you, placing our complete trust in you for all that we need.

May our hearts be willing to hear your calling.

May our lives glorify you today!

May your love shine brightly through us, so that all may see that you are the King of Kings.

In Jesus' name

Amen

Anita x

....................

I hope today's devotion has blessed you.

If you would like a copy of the above image as a free PDF, please visit my blog :)

Seeing The Brush Strokes

Today's post comes from Kassie at Guiding Light From His Word

 TODAY IN HIS WORD COMES FROM

(Isaiah 40:12-14 NKJV)
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span
 and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scale and the hills in a balance?
 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him?
 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?

THOUGHT TO PONDER:Sometimes in our rush to see the finished picture, we miss seeing the very essence of God as He loving holds the paintbrush, and mixes all the colors and tenderly, but with precision, applies the brush strokes to the canvas of our lives.

TODAY’S INSIGHT INTO HIS WORD:Yesterday my day didn't go at all according to original plan. It started out the way I had intended, but was quickly altered when my oldest son called and asked if I would like for him to buy us breakfast. Now I had a lot of work to do-- in fact I was in the middle of writing-- but when your 18 year old son calls and would like to spend time with you.... things can change very quickly.

I never made it to the office, I never finished what I had planned to do for the day... and I never did get back to writing. BUT what I did wind up doing, I now see as a moment from God. You see, I wound up not at my tree, but a different place I sometimes go to pray that is a little closer to home. I had also taken with me my yellow tablets from the past 2 years that I have journaled and have written out the sightings of God's hands pints in my life.

Now the way I journal, is first it has to be on a yellow tablet. Don't know why, for me it just does. My prayer book and everything else can be on something different, but these moments I have seen God, has to be written on yellow. Second, anything pertaining to God's handprint is written in purple. This can be an event I realized could have only been by God, or a verse that some how was brought to my attention that spoke volumes, a devotional that seemed to answer prayer... just whatever it is that I know God has shown me that He was there. Sometimes I will also use a red pen to journal the events leading up to my sighting... but the actual answer, or whatever God did, I write in purple. I then use a blue pen to journal my thoughts and prayers about this sighting God has given me.

So anyway there I sat yesterday at this spot. I prayed for a little bit, and then I picked up the notepads and started reading through the purple passages. I smiled at some, took a deep breath over others, and rejoiced at the ones I had completely forgotten. You see for one, it is important that we create memory stones to have that will remind us of God's Work, and Word He has spoken to us. It is also equally important that we go back and visit the memories, otherwise in the day to day life, we forget things. For instance, on January 3rd, 2010, I had written in purple, 1 Peter 2:2 "May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure." And in my notes I had written: "My question to you the other night; 'What is full measure-- what does that mean?"  You see a few days before, I had the strongest impression during my quiet time of "full measure." And since this was not a phrase I use, I knew it was from God, I just had no idea what it meant or why this was so strong in my heart. But a few days later, this verse was brought to my attention, and upon doing a deeper study of it, I found that what God was telling me was "COMPLETELY." That what He was working in me and for me, will be in the fullest measure-- it will be completely finished. God will not leave His promises to me done only half way. That though it may be taking a very long time, it will be done COMPLETELY and in the fullest measure.

For me this moment WAS a God moment I will be able to journal, because He used this time to remind of things I had forgotten, that I very much needed to be reminded of. After I went through the tablets, I sat in quietness and was looking out at the sky. From where I was sitting, it was beautiful. The color of blue was the prettiest shade, and looking around, there was not a cloud in the sky, except for the one directly in front of me. However it wasn't really a cloud, there was white but in a stroke like fashion. Basically what I mean is, it wasn't a solid white cloud. It looked as if someone had taken a paintbrush and wiped it off on a blue sheet. You could see blue through the white, and it really appeared as if you could see the brush strokes in it.

I sat there for the longest time in appreciation for God's design, and thought about what I had just read. It occurred to me that, though I had not had a "Word Spoken" in my life or in my circumstances that moved mountains, or crumbled walls.... God has been with me the whole time. He has been walking with me. And it was a reminder of a verse I highlighted in my Bible a while back: I will walk with you and be your God, and you will be my people. (Lev. 26:12 NCV) Again, looking up at the sky and the stroke of white, I reminded myself that the same God whose hand can span the heavens, is big enough to topple mountains when it is time. But in the meantime, I have these reminders that God has given me quiet nods of His head to show me that He is there, and has been listening, and walking with me.

This has made me think about the giftbaskets I use to make. I knew what the finished basket was suppose to look like, because I already had a picture of it in my mind. So I could go about designing it in just the right way-- because I was the designer. I was the creator, and knew what pieces it needed and what had to go in first, in order for the basket to come out the way I intended for the customer. In the same way, God knows what His painting of my life is suppose to look like, and because HE IS THE ARTIST-- not me-- He knows in what way to mix the colors and paint the canvas in such a way (and in order) that it  will look like the way HE has intended for it to be. And though He has given me glimpses of what it will look like, I have to wait until He is ready to unveil the finished picture, before seeing how all this is all going to come together.

One final note about yesterday... as I got ready to leave my space, I turned on the car and got ready to drive away, and on the radio was the end of a song I didn't recognize but the voice was singing, "I see now, You've been with me all along...." I had to smile. If I hadn't been certain that my quiet time was orchestrated by God already, this would be the confirmation that I was in the right place, and spending time that was needed.

PRAYING IN FAITH;
      Father God, I come before You in thanksgiving of Your time I had with You yesterday. Lord, Thank You for the reminder that You have been walking with me. Thank You for Your faithfulness in showing me what I had forgotten. Lord I praise You as the everlasting God, and that Your hand does span the heavens and measures out the sea and everything in our lives. Lord, You alone are God, no one needs to give You direction or understanding. You do not ask or need our counsel but it is we that need You. And You will make Your Will know, if we but spend time to ask, and then listen.
     Lord, I lift up this reader with me today. Lord, I ask that You watch over them and protect them. Lord, I ask You to guard their steps and lead them in the way YOU would have them to go. Lord, I ask You to go before them and clear the path for them. I also pray that they will be able to look back at today and see the traces of Your handprints, and see You have been there all along.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

My friend, have a wonderful and blessed day,

Kassie

Love heals your heart

Today's post comes from Salina at State of the Heart

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” NIV

In the words of Third Day; 'you may feel like your life is shattered with no way to be fixed again, but at a time you least expect it, love heals your heart.'

The longer I live here on earth, the more convinced I am of how much God truly loves me. If that were not so He wouldn't feel the need to constantly place so many new and unexpected gifts along my path. One of the biggest gifts He has given me is the ability to give and receive love.

For humans, love is much more than just a basic need; in fact, our need for love is so strong we’re willing to do almost anything to achieve and maintain it.

Everyone needs to know how much they’re loved; even the Bible says that love is one of three things that will not only endure, but is also the greatest of them. (1 Corinthians 13:13).

There have been many instances in my life when I had to rely on love to carry me through a hard time. Pain, hurt, and rejection are impossible to hide from and even harder to understand, but with love we are able to find an escape; a reprieve from those feelings.

When a painful event occurs that tries to disrupt our love, we might feel as though our hearts have been broken into so many pieces they might never be put back together. When this happens, we need to choose not to believe the lies our enemy puts in our minds; instead we need to turn to the truth found only in God’s unending and enduring Word and love.

God’s love is different from the everyday love we are exposed to. His kind of love never asks for anything in return. It’s compassionate, merciful, and unconditional. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). We truly are blessed when God’s mercy covers us, even if we feel as though we don’t deserve it.

I recently found myself looking back and reflecting on all the instances in my life where I was deeply hurt. Some of the pain was caused by normal life occurrences, the rest were inflicted through human influence. All of the pain produced lasting scars and at the same time left me feeling as though I might never recover.

I know the future will hold more pain for me, but it gives me great courage to know I have God in my life to rely on, to help me through whatever may come. I also know I could never survive without my husband, family and best friends. They rescue me over and over again, and are currently helping me put all those broken pieces of my heart back into place. In short, they are the very glue that holds my heart together and I thank God for them daily.

For those of you who feel as though you can’t go on, believe me when I say there is a way through it. It may be hard to see for all of your pain, but if you trust in the Lord and wait on His timing, you will be delivered. There is no better safety net than knowing if you fall it will be straight into His loving arms. His arms are big enough to cover every hurt in your life, they are strong enough to hold you for as long as you need to be held, and they are loving enough to wipe away every tear you've ever cried.

Please pray with me:

Dear Lord;

Our hearts are so tender and easily broken, and sometimes we just don't know how to react in situations that hurt us. The easiest, safest way is to hide from all the pain and withdraw into our shell, but when we do that we have the tendency to miss out on so many lovely treasures.

I praise You for allowing me the time to work through all the hurts in my life, and for always being there by my side, even if at times I wasn't able to see it. Father, I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have You or the support system You provide for me daily. I pray that if there’s anyone out there reading this who feels trapped, alone, or is dealing with a broken heart Your words will give them hope and healing.

Pour Your love out on them and help them to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Use me to help them in any way You see fit.

In Your name I pray, Amen

I'd love to offer you the option of having someone to talk to without judgment or fear.  Please feel free to contact me through my blog link.  You are loved.

Love Heals Your Heart, Third Day, from the album Wherever You Are, 2005, lyrics by Brad Avery

Jesus, say a prayer for me...

Today's post comes from Toya at Faith.Hope.Love - Inspiration for Life's Journey

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. ” (Luke 22:31, 32 NLT)

Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out...(Luke 22:32 MSG)

Have you ever felt that your faith was failing? That you've prayed, fasted and praised yourself into a "holy tizzy" but you still find yourself discouraged and faithless? Or that you've grown so tired of waiting on God that you no longer pray, dropped out of your bible study and would rather spend Sunday lying on the couch than going to the house of worship? 
 
There are certain situations and times in our life where we will be discouraged. Discouragement is a tool of the enemy to get us to give up on God and get distracted from our purpose. In my own life I've seen Satan use what I refer to as the the "triple threat" to weaken my faith : Doubt, Fear and Anxiety. 
 
Doubt: Anytime you've been believing God for something and there's been no breakthrough or change in a situation doubt can easily creep in. While you still may keep the request on your prayer list and make your petitions known to God and others, that doesn't always stop thoughts like "can God really fix it?" or "whats the point in praying?" to take over and chip away at your faith. I often hear people say "Well I believe God CAN do anything but I just don't believe he will do it for MY situation". Sound familiar, huh? I've come to learn that kind of thinking is a trick of the enemy. If not dealt with quickly, doubt can become a hindrance to the very prayer we are already "wishy washy" about. 
 
Fear: Once Satan has planted a seed of doubt into our mind, fear is usually the next culprit to strike. Satan wants us to become fearful that our situations won't turn around and our prayers will never be answered. Having fear of what your future holds instead of hopeful expectations can be a recipe for disaster. When you operate out of fear you can begin to think the surest way to get your desired outcome is by manipulating people and situations to take control. If we are controlling a situation, this leaves no room for God to work a miracle, which is exactly what our enemy wants to happen. While fear is a common feeling we all have, we don't have to give in to our fears to the point where they hinder our faith. We have to confront our fears and fight back with an unshakeable confidence that trusts in Gods perfect plan. I love how Joyce Meyer says it: "Fear is a dead end but Faith always has a future" 
 
Anxiety: Now that the enemy has us doubting Gods power and fearful of the future he uses feelings of anxiety to completely wear us down! The root meaning of the word anxiety is: 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress. So even if there is no REAL danger, stress or threat anxiety can still come up on us (it's all in our mind!) 

Playing out all the "what if" scenarios only lead to worry, dread, uneasiness and depression. We can getso caught up in worry about things that may or may not happen that we lose focus on what's happening in our life now!

Matthew 6:34 MSG translation says : "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Worrying about the future will not accomplish anything or make your prayers get answered faster. We have to trust God and his timing, he will give us all we need to persevere through any pain. 
 
At some point, most of us will be hit with the "triple threat". However, isn't it encouraging to know that we have a savior who is interceding for us? The same way he did for Peter we have to believe that he can and will do the same for us. If the enemy is attacking you with doubt, fear and anxiety, I invite you to say this simple prayer: 
 
Jesus, I come to you asking you to replace my doubts with belief (Mark 9:23, 24) and help me confront my fears with hopeful expectations that you have a perfect plan for my life (Jer 29:11). When I begin to worry and be anxious about circumstances beyond my control help me to be content with my portion and seek your peace that passes all understanding so that my faith will remain strong. (Philippians 4:6,7) Lord I trust you with my whole heart and I'm grateful that you know just what I need. Thank you for covering me in your love. 
Amen 

Seek Wisdom

Today's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” 1 Kings 3:9-14

As a single mom I am the head of the household. I make all the decisions, do all the discipline, and take care of all the finances, the nurturing, the teaching and the guiding. I have come to realize I am a shepherd leading her flock. I have also realized in order to lead my flock I need guidance as well as wisdom. 

When I first became pregnant I can't tell you how often I heard, "Babies don't come with a manual." But in actuality, they do. We all do and it’s called The B-I-B-L-E. It is God's living word, our handbook for life and it is the truth because God cannot lie. It is living because what it says applies to us today as it did to those thousands of years ago. God will speak to us through His word and He will reveal things to us as we need to know them. He will give us the wisdom we need to make the right decisions. He will give us an understanding heart and discernment to know what is right and wrong. 

Just as Solomon asked for wisdom we should do the same in all things, whether it is for our family, our ministry, our enemies or our own lives. Seek wisdom by asking the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to interpret His Word enabling us to understand it. We then must apply this wisdom in our daily lives and be obedient to what the Lord is telling us.  

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

God not only gave Solomon wisdom, he also blessed him with things he never even asked for! God even went on to tell Solomon if he follows and obeys Him, He will bless him even more with a long life. 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

So dear friends, today let us seek and ask God for wisdom for He will make our paths straight!