Wow! What a week we just had! One like most of us have never seen. It’s hard to believe some of what is occurring is even real. There are, what seems to be, very selfish people hoarding all the essentials while others whose businesses have shut down are making hand sanitizers, masks and other things that are needed to give away for free. There’s a lot generosity. There’s things happening that are confusing, concerning and crazy. The past few days were a great example of keeping our focus on Him. Without the Lord to look to everything would become so hopeless.
I will say I haven’t gotten into fear but I have gotten into confusion with the unknowns of the virus and what the government was doing. I spent some time interceding, speaking life for all who are sick and calling this virus dead. It truly has no right and as Believers we need to take our authority and bind this invisible enemy from infecting anyone else. Instead, most people don’t know how to take the authority given to them by God and all we hear is how many more people will die before it is over, how there will be a shortage of hospital beds in Colorado, how many months this will take to be gone. This power of words! The power of the media words going out into the air! This thing isn’t winning but the words being spoken are given it some power.
BUT greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. The power of Christian’s prayers as they come together in unity and authority binding and loosing what the Lord has given us the authority to do. President Trump calls it the invisible enemy. This invisible enemy can be dead and gone in a moment, people can be healed and there can be no more deaths just by our prayers and words of Life. It hasn’t happened exactly as I know it could but I have to believe our prayers have changed some of what could have happened and it can be gone sooner than the scientists think. I believe in science and I believe in doctors but I believe far more in my Creator. It was He who designed our bodies and knows exactly how it all works. He has told us to speak LIFE! “He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!” Matthew 17:20
Guess this has been my heart for this week – desiring to see Believers come together in all the love and authority we have in Him and make a difference in this world. It’s an opportunity like we’ve never had before in most of our lives. I had a few frustrating moments when the news was on and I would hear all the death being spoken into every home. In those times I had to take time to pray for my own heart that it didn’t get into condemnation and judgment. There’s a fine line between righteous anger and anger that isn’t righteous. What the Lord gave me this week was a few reminders of all He’s been showing me since the being of the year and then my devotional has spoken to me actually what I needed each day. It’s amazing how that happens.
As I looked back over my journal for this year I saw the Lord was preparing me. This isn’t His will, He didn’t create it but He knew what was coming. “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.” John 10:10 I saw everything He had spoken to me since the beginning of the year and it all helped me today.
One of the words the Lord gave me was preparation. A simple definition of prepare means: to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. Preparation is about preparing our hearts and I had many hours of time with Him dealing with the issues of my heart and one issue was fear. Fear of the unknown especially with Mom and Dave. But that helped me be prepared for this without having fear in my heart. I praise the Lord for that!
The Lord continued to speak to me to Be still and know I am God. Sometimes we focus more on just being still but we are to be still for a purpose – to know Him. I took time to rest and be in His presence. I have stilled my heart from the pressures of life and have let Him speak to me softly. I am so thankful I didn’t run from what He asked me to do.
One of the strongest words I got from Him was to have courage. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 These are some of my favorite verses and so powerful in my life.
Another amazing direction the Lord has spoken to us lately is the power of communion on a daily basis. That has made such a difference in my heart. Daily I take the bread and cup and “Do this in remembrance of Me”. It’s so powerful. I don’t know what has kept me from doing this before, probably just not understanding how vital it is for our lives. But He reminded me and I listened for such a time as this and I praise Him always for His love and guidance in my life.
“Behold—God is my salvation! I am confident, unafraid, and I will trust in you.
Yes! The Lord Yah is my might and my melody; he has become my salvation! With triumphant joy you will drink deeply from the wells of salvation. In that glorious day, you will say to one another, “Give thanks to the Lord and ask him for more! Tell the world about all that he does! Let them know how magnificent he is!”
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done marvelous wonders, and let his fame be known throughout the earth! Give out a shout of cheer; sing for joy, O people of Zion,
for great and mighty is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you!” Isaiah 12:2-6
I love these verses from Isaiah. He gave me these to meditate on in February. With triumphant joy you will drink deeply from the wells of salvation. Thank You, Jesus!!
Hope upon hope. This is the question I had on my heart one day, “How do you believe beyond belief?” “The Lord alone is our radiant hope and we trust in him with all our hearts. His wrap-around presence will strengthen us.” Psalm 33:20
This week I read in my devotion something that really touched my heart. It was about clinging to Him and not getting disillusioned. Sometimes when things don’t turn out the way we had thought they would or hoped they would we do become disillusioned. Then the enemy throws questions at us that he knows we cannot answer. One question he asked me this week was “Why aren’t your prayers working, what’s happening with all this in the world?” The enemy wants us to live uncomfortability of the unknowing. This virus is an unknown for most of us. But the Lord wants us to trust beyond what we understand. The Lord asked me if I can trust Him and not have to have answers to these tough questions if I don’t understand. The unknown is so hard for all of us. We like to be in control at least a little bit. He asked me to cling to Him and release the need to understand and His peace that passes all understanding would guard my heart. I want to see things from His perspective. All the questions in my heart, on all our minds are not important compared to His peace and His ways. When the news media, reports of the virus, death words of so many people are wreaking havoc with my peace He tells me to be still and rest in His presence. When the chaos of this past week wants to beat me up with confusion and doubt then I need to stop and take time to be with Him above everything else. Seeking the presence of the Lord must became my first instinct in times of crisis. We all need to take time to get alone with Him before we do anything else. We need to rest in His arms a few minutes before going back to the negatives of this world. As I quiet myself He pours His perfect peace upon me which is beyond my understanding. “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7
I don’t like what is happening, as does anyone. I understand being self-employed and I feel bad for the businesses that have to close. It has affected our family since almost everyone in our family are self-employed. But I delight in seeing so many people in this situation find hope and a way to make things better. A slower life? I’m believing every family will be able to step back and see what is really important. I pray families will find joy in this slower pace and connect in ways only He can connect them during this time together. I come against the fear that can hold people back from going forward in peace even in a time of crisis. I speak death to the virus and LIFE to every person. I thank the Lord for His love, His peace, His Word, His Life. I totally believe that all things work together for those that love God. This will change lives for the better if we let Him work. The enemy is not winning! We always win in Him!!! We continue to listen to the Spirit and let Him guide through all we do with ministry. We know “No weapon formed against us shall prosper” and we are rejoicing in Him and His love. We seek His wisdom and believe He is taking us deeper – We are definitely “off the deep end” in this situation and trusting Him!!!