Glimpses of a personal knowledge of God learned through a lifetime with Him…shared in love with joy.
When my breath is heavy from life, You cradle my love and bring that breath close to You. I feel the softness of Your presence and hear whispers of Your love My tears fall to the hem of Your Holiness. You take them and write them in a book. It does not matter what You wrote. For what matters is being here resting. In Your love, You are my treasured love and I am Yours. Take me deeper into Your presence. For your name is within me for all eternity. I will worship You.
Two nights ago the Holy Spirit burdened my heart for my youngest daughter and her family. They went to another state to move my oldest granddaughter’s things from her college dorm. This “shelter in place” happened while she was home for spring break.
The Holy Spirit that lives within me, burdened my heart for my youngest daughter and family. I did begin praying that evening and continued to pray when I woke from sleeping in the early morning. Then I prayed a couple of times during the day.
In the afternoon I prayed a couple of times before receiving a text from my daughter. She said they were driving in heavy rain and a semi-truck hit a pothole and the semi jumped into their lane. They were beside the truck when it jumped into their lane. They were fine and the truck briefly kissed their car and trailer. The truck took off their mirror and dented the trailer they were pulling. The semi did not realize that anything happened. Because of the weather they could not stop on the road since visibility was so low.
My question is, “What would have happened if I had not prayed.” I do not understand the workings of this kind of prayer. I do know, that when the Holy Spirit says you need to pray…..you need to pray
If a burden is placed in your heart by the Holy Spirit, please pray. Pray as if their life depends on your prayer.
Have you ever noticed how in the scriptures men are always going up into the mountains to commune with the Lord? Yet in the scriptures, we hardly ever hear of women going to the mountains, and we know why — right? Because the women were too busy keeping life going; they couldn’t abandon babies, meals, homes, fires, gardens, and a thousand responsibilities to make the climb into the mountains! I was talking to a friend the other day, saying that as modern woman I feel like I’m never “free” enough from my responsibilities, never in a quiet enough, or holy enough spot to have the type of communion I want with God. Her response floored me, “That is why God comes to women. Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women where ever they are.” I have been pondering on her words for weeks and have searched my scriptures to see that what she said is true. God does in deed come to women where they are, when they are doing their ordinary, everyday work. He meets them at the wells where they draw water for their families, in their homes, in their kitchens, in their gardens. He comes to them as they sit beside sickbeds, as they give birth, care for the elderly, and perform necessary mourning and burial rites. Even at the empty tomb, Mary was the first to witness Christ’s resurrection, She was there because she was doing the womanly chore of properly preparing Christ’s body for burial. In these seemingly mundane and ordinary tasks, these women of the scriptures found themselves face to face with divinity. So if — like me — you ever start to bemoan the fact that you don’t have as much time to spend in the mountains with God as you would like. Remember, God comes to women. He knows where we are and the burdens we carry. He sees us, and if we open our eyes and our hearts we will see Him, even in the most ordinary places and in the most ordinary things. He lives. Original Author: Heather Farrel
It is easier for a woman to learn to pray without ceasing. We need Jesus in every thing we do. For example, clothing with stains. This list is endless.
Beloved, we need to pray about all things. We need to walk in the Spirit. The home is the center of our lives. To care for our home, the Holy Spirit must be the center of our being. That begins with worship early in the morning.
Men are busy making a living and making decisions concerning their job. Their mind is divided. It is with our love, we are to take up the slack until they can go up the mountain.
Elijah was God’s hands, feet, and spokesperson. The people worshiped Baal and there were 450 prophets that led the people in the worship of Baal. There were satanic demons behind this worship. Out of God’s mercy and love for His people, God wanted to show them that He was greater than all things. God showed them that he was “the mighty God.” God took all the power of the demons away while He showed His people His power.
Jezebel was not pleased when she heard what happened (Read I Kings 18). She sent Elijah a message She threatened to kill him in 24 hours. Elijah became terrified.
Elijah had just witnessed the power of God. He knew that God had made the demons powerless. Elijah, like Christans, who overcame in an intense spiritual battle, felt a reaction. He became weak physically, mentally and even spiritually. One needs to be prayerful after a victory in order to be prepared for temptations and attacks after a mighty work. Tenth Avenue North has a song that says that our fear has to face God. Those words touched my soul.
Out of fear, Elijah ran for his life. He left his servant in Beersheba and he went a day’s journey into the wildness. He rested under a juniper tree. Elijah was afraid and depressed to the point that he wanted God to take his life. He did not rest in God at this time. He had for 3 1/2 years before this time. Don’t judge Christians when they become fearful and discouraged. All of us at times see the circumstances instead of resting in God.
God understood Elijah’s complete exhaustion and lovingly shows His care for him in a practical way. God sent an angel to care for Elijah.
An angel prepared freshly baked bread, which was warm with plenty of water. He woke Elijah and told him to eat. Then Elijah went back to sleep.
After Elijah slept, the angel woke him again. The angel urged Elijah to eat again because Elijah’s journey would be long.
God waited until Elijah was refreshed by the food and sleep. Elijah traveled for 40 days and nights. Elijah wondered because he was still afraid and depressed, but he went to the same mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses. Elijah found a cave and went into it. The Lord began to reveal Himself to Elijah. God began by asking a question so that Elijah would speak to Him. God never wants His children to repress questions or feelings. God desires that we pour them out in prayer to Him.
Elijah, once again felt fear. He told God that he was the only one left that worshiped Him. He felt like a failure. God did not put Elijah down. God only showed Elijah His power out side the cave. God did not speak to Elijah until he returned to the cave. Then he heard that gentle whisper in the same way we hear God as Christians. Be still and be confident that God is with you.
I left many things out of this post. Please read I Kings 18 and 19.
Many questions are being tossed around about God and why He is allowing this virus. Some ask, “Why my loved one?”
We do not have the mind of God. So how can we judge Him? We did not create all that is. It is not our place to be angry with the Creator. In Romans 8:22, it says, ” For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth together until now”]. Also, in Matthew 5:45B. Jesus says, “in order that you may be Sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Adam sinned after creation and caused all mankind to suffer. God can not look upon sin. God did come to earth to die and allow His blood to cover us. My mind has a problem trying to grasp why God chose to save us in this way. But He did and I should respond to his sacrifice with love.
The one thing I believe about this virus is that it will make us stronger. Also, God may have allowed this to happen in order to protect people from a future filled with whatever, Or God may have wanted them home so they could be near Him to love them in heaven. We are in two wars. One that President Trump mentioned. He said we are at war with something we can not see. He was talking about this virus. Also, we are in a spiritual war. Another one we can not see.
This may be birth pains as mentioned in Matthew 24. I do believe this is what we are experiencing. After this period we will begin Revelation, chapter 4 to the end of our time.
You may ask why., You will find that answer in Ephesians 6:10-12. Ephesians 3:10 tells about our warfare and that we are proving to the angels. Angels do not have the Holy Spirit within them so they do not understand how we can love Jesus and not see Him and still love Him when bad things happen to them. This is why our reward will be great. May the Lord give you the strength to endure
Allow the Holy Spirit to bring comfort to you. Pray Psalm 91. Spend time in prayer. The mature Christian is to guide and help baby Christians. In times like these, the mature Christian is being watched. It is important to react to suffering in a way that brings peace and comfort to others. We need to bring understanding and help others to grow. This is a time to help others see and feel the presence of God in each others lives.
Beloved, you are set apart for times like these. You are endowed with the Spirit of God to show peace and love in times like we now face. It is especially important for us to reflect Christ. For you are being watched to see how you react to our own crisis. It is a time to speak boldly about Jesus in all circumstances. Be in prayer and ask God to breathe on your words. Ask God to increase your wisdom so you can be confident in your guiding words and for them to flourish.
I will be praying for all who read my post. I appreciate your prayers too. I have autoimmune problems. I do have to go to my cancer doctor this week for a shot. My husband went to work this morning, so that is in the mix of things. I have a daughter that is a nurse practitioner. They closed her clinic and is having her to go to another town to test people for this virus. My list goes on just like all of you. My Beloved Ones, bathe in God’s glory and be prayerful.
I thank each one of you for your prayers. I had an EKG which showed an abnormal result. A chemical stress test showed the same. It was thought to be from a blockage. So, a heart cath was scheduled.
After the heart cath was completed, the doctor came into my room and said, “I don’t know what you will die from, but it will not be from a heart attack or heart disease.” The doctor did take into account, my age. I will be 74 this month. I figured that he thought I did not have enough time left to develop heart disease or clogged arteries.
I did not tell the doctor that I planned on being alive when Jesus came back. My youngest daughter says she will take care of everyone and she sees me constantly praying. How marvelous will that life be for me.
In an instant, everything changes. You run to God and fall to your knees while a roaring thunder rolls with pain throughout your whole being. If you do not know God, your tears and words may fall to the ground and be void before God. Those who have knelt before the cross of Jesus and has His blood fall from the cross to cover them., then you are not alone because you have the Holy Spirit within you. Yes your soul will ache, The pain keeps your words all jumbled up inside of you. Beloved, God is already there. The Holy Spirit will take your tears to God who puts them in a bottle. The Holy Spirit will speak to Jesus about what is happening.
I have been there my friends. The pain is unbearable. Sometimes I have heard the Holy Spirit speak on my behalf. I may not know exactly what word was being said word by word, but I knew the meaning of each sentence.
The closer you are to God, the closer His presence can be felt by you. God knows you need Him, He will bring you comfort. As to how fast this comfort comes depends on your relationship with God. God does heal you spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Don’t hide from God and only come to Him when you are hurting. Have a relationship with God so you can enter His throne room in an instant.
I use Psalm 100:4 as a guide in my approach to God. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him: bless His name.” (NAS).
But before we can enter His gates to the abode of God, we must have Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is the key to unlock the gate to the realm of God. This holy place can only be entered by someone made holy. The Holy Spirit is your guide in this place. Stay at the gate to examine yourself, and confessing sin. If my heart is not prepared to go through this gate, I can feel pressure around my heart. It is as if the Holy Spirit is holding me back and saying, “Not yet.”
With sin forgiven and washed by the blood of Jesus, one can now enter the gate. I enter the gate thanking God for what He did for me that day. One needs to stand in the open gate giving thanks to the Lord God, waiting until the Holy Spirit to draw you to God’s court.
Remember Moses and how he waited for God. One needs to stay in the court praising God until the Holy Spirit says you can enter the throne room of God.
It is then that one can have the confidence to enter into the presence of God. Hebrew 4:16 says, “Let us, therefore, draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 10:19. In I John 3:21, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. Dear Ones, if one approaches God through the blood of Jesus with His holiness in mind through worship, one can approach His throne with confidence. It is here, humbled at the feet of God, one can ask for help and the desires of one’s heart. The Holy Spirit will guide you in praying in His will. Again, if you start to pray out of the will of God, the Holy Spirit will put pressure on your heart. Let me warn you now, that when you are at the feet of the living God, touching the hem of His Holiness, your request may seem so unimportant. What you are experiencing and seeing more clearly are the attributes of God. It is there that you realize that you are but “dirty rags” and only want to praise and worship God with the giving thanks for Jesus and the work He did in order to save you and bring you to His feet. As Moses did, we are to wait and approach God, to accomplish Ephesians 3. We must take the time and discipline ourselves. God is always waiting for us.
You may want to search other books on prayer to help inspire you. I took a course called Prayer Life by T. W. Hunt. Then I guided my children through the course. http://www.lifeway.com
Are you content where God has placed you? I am talking about your physical address. This is one of the things that has caused me to struggle. In the past, I have allowed this to cause my heart to ache. I am ok with the location I am at, but I wanted more land. At one time, I allowed this to become sin. It was on my mind a lot. I will not admit if it sneaks back now and then.
I have been married twice. My first husband decided he did not want to be a father or a husband. A day after that there was no money for food or anything. He had the only car. I am not going to tell the story about my children and me. God took very good care of us. But I do not want to see my children, or any child hungry again. I thought of ways where that would never happen. Those thoughts would come and go.
There are two children’s homes within a few miles from me. These homes allowed me to express my love for children. There was one child that I will never forget. Her name was Tina. For ten years I was allowed to love her. I have not seen her now for about 45 plus years. I will always love her. I am so thankful that God allowed me to love her.
Every Christmas our church would list families that were not able to give their children a Christmas. The Lord would always touch my heart. He caused more love to grow. I always tried to choose the family with the most children. My children learned from this kind of love.
One of our television stations had a segment once a week with children that wanted to be adopted. The Lord told me no, but I still watched it, just in case He changed His mind. My mind still remembers one of the children that I wanted to love so much. She was 12 years old with red hair and freckles. My love for her did lead me to pray for her.
Another thing I love is animals. If I had a lot of land, I would go to every kill shelter around and rescue all that I could. My heart is really burdened for horses in kill pens.
Also, I wanted cabins, to help people when they needed a place to stay on my ranch. On this ranch. I could rent cabins out on weekends to help bring money into the ranch. But the one rent house we have can help.
God had been totally silent concerning a ranch. My one-sided communication with God felt like my words were landing on deaf ears. But I still talked to him. I ever thought out building requirements and so forth. One day I was talking to Him about cows and how beneficial they would be. God finally said something. He said, “Now Diana, do you really think you could have a cow killed?” I pondered for a moment and said, “No.” All these years, God had been listening to me carrying on and on. I have not talked about a ranch again, but it is still in my heart. I have never brought up the subject of cows.
So I said all of this to share how one can sin, by not being content. Even if it is for a noble cause, it can be a sin. There is nothing wrong with having dreams. Dreams can cause one to better themselves or improve your circumstances. Without dreams, we could not start a business.
Sometimes dreams are passed down to our children or others. Once I shared a building design with a stranger. Within a year he had accomplished what I shared. That accomplishment was beneficial to his family and the community. So ask God and sees what He says. Don’t let it consume you and become sin.
Dreams come from three sources. The first are dreams that come from you. Discuss them with God, before you venture in trying to make them come true without God.
Second, dreams can come from Satan., to keep us from advancing in what God wants us to do. Again, pray.
The third dream can come from God. He places them in your heart. We need to be sure that our dreams are owned by God. God is to be the source of all our fulfillment. Our thoughts and dreams are to be birth by the Lord. Because they are birth by God, you will have joy as you move forward. Beloved, pray. If your dreams are from the Lord, expect problems from Satan. Prayer is important because it invites God into your circumstances. Only He can fight this battle.
I have heard people say that they don’t need to pray. If God wants it to come about, He will cause it to happen. Prayer is vital in all that you do. How can God direct you if you do not call upon His name and you listen? Make God the owner of your dreams. Don’t let it consume you and your thinking. Open your heart to God and rely on Him.