Have you ever felt helpless?
Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines "helpless" as: (adj.) 1. not
protected: not able to defend oneself; 2. unable to do something to make a
situation, task, etc. better or easier; 3. not able to be controlled. Have you
ever felt like this? Have you ever felt defenseless, exposed, or even
vulnerable in situations? I know I have and especially if you have been
watching the news unfortunately, I am sure you can sympathize with these
aforementioned emotions. Now, have you ever felt
hopeless? Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines "hopeless" as: (adj.)
1. having no expectation of good or success; not susceptible to remedy or a
cure; incapable of redemption or improvement; 2. having no ground for hope;
incapable of solution, management, or accomplishment. Have you ever felt this
way? Have you ever felt desperate as if you would implore extreme
measures in an attempt to escape your current situation? Have you ever felt
that a positive outcome of your situation seems nearly impossible?
Unfortunately, I feel as though we have all felt this way in some form or
another. I have often felt a sense of
helplessness in situations that I've encountered in life. When I was younger I
would often feel helpless when one of my siblings would get in trouble by my
mom. I would just sit there like, "I wish there was something I could
do." In situations where I would get into trouble at school (mainly
because I just talked sooooo much - I still do and it has proven to be an
asset) I would feel helpless knowing what my mother, as the disciplinarian
would do. The worst was not being able to go outside because I could literally
hear all of my friends playing by the window. It was in those moments that I
prayed the hardest because although I knew that I couldn't do anything to stop
my mom from disciplining me, I knew in my heart that God would send someone to
my rescue. Most of the time it was my dad! For some reason, on the days where I
got in trouble the most my dad always came by to check up on me. And I just
knew it was God! I would whip out the letter from the teacher (usually it was
like a pink slip that had to be signed) in front of my parents and my mom would
get so upset. I now know that she was just trying to prepare me, correct my behavior,
and mold me to understand the importance of authority. Well when God did send
my father over in my helpless times, he would always interject and give me a
lecture, make me write a sorry letter (which conflicted with my pride), and
then make me give him like a mini speech as to why I shouldn't talk during
class, talk back, or talk without raising my hand first. I hated all of this
but it was better than hearing the sounds of my friends laughing and playing
without me. So yes I always felt helpless when I got into trouble at school (as
all kids with hardworking parents who just simply, "Don't play
that!") but I never really felt hopeless. I was always hopeful that God
would send someone or something to interject. And in times when it wasn't my
father who stopped by I would pray for distractions. Lord knows that when my
mom got on the phone with my aunts I could ask her anything.
There are very few times in
my life where I felt hopeless. I've always been a very hopeful person. I like
to think that I can change the world and make it a better place. I attribute my
hopefulness to my hope in God. Psalm 25:5 states, "Guide me in your truth
and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day
long." God has given me so much hope because he has brought me through
countless situations. My hopefulness in God also makes me very bold in my
reactions to trials and tribulations. According to 2 Corinthians 3:12,
"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." I no longer
cower away from situations that I feel are intimidating or far greater than I
am. Instead I embrace the challenge because although the obstacles seem greater
than me, they are never greater than my God. Not only has God created us and
has directed our problems, but we have to also understand that he has also
created the solution. In other words, sin is the problem but Jesus and the Holy
Spirit will forever remain the solution. I read an article online that told the
story of a professor at this college (I believe it was California) who was an
atheist and his teachings reflected his personal beliefs. He challenged
everyone who claimed to have believed in Christ. He would end his last class of
the semester off by stating that if God existed he could stop a single piece of
chalk from dropping and hitting the floor. No one ever challenged him and every
year the chalk would drop into a million tiny pieces. By the end of each
semester his personal logic placed so much fear into the hearts of believers
that everyone would leave questioning the existence of God. That was until one
year one student was bold enough and stood up and said that he still believed
in God. When the professor went to drop the piece of chalk on the floor the
chalk slid down the professor's pant leg, rolled onto his shoe, and landed on
the ground...unbroken. I tell this story to say God is STILL God! Is your faith
in God so fragile that it can be easily broken? Do you know how easy it is for
chalk to break? It is friable rock that breaks under mechanical stress. Do you
break easily under stress and/or other pressure? If you do then your faith in
God can be shattered at any moment. Your faith shouldn't even be tied to
people. Why? Because what faith or hope could be tied to individuals who sin?
Your faith and hopefulness should be tied to God! As 1 Peter 1:3 states,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great
mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish,
spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith
are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to
be revealed in the last time." No matter the situation or what it “looks”
like, God is STILL God!
Understanding helplessness means
to also understand, as Christian put in the blog last year, "Understanding
where my (human) strength ends, and where God's strength begins." There
are immeasurable instances where I feel helpless because I know that living in
this life full of sin that my abilities and strengths are limited. I can't do
everything that I want to do; I am only allowed to do the things that God
allows me to do. I can't wake up every morning due to my own merits; God has to
grant me the grace to do that. I can't bust open doors of opportunities in my life;
God has to grant me the favor to do that. I can't move spiritual mountains by myself;
God has to equip me with the strength to do that. I am human, I am sinful, and
I am limited. And because I am limited I am smart enough to recognize that my
help comes from God. When someone finds it in their heart to bless me even when
I don't vocalize my need for a blessing, I understand that God is the one
who laid it on their hearts to bless me. God helped me. We see and are
recipients of God's help in so many instances. I remember a Bible study maybe 6
or so months ago. One of the questions was "Can we help God?"
Immediately, I was like what? How can we help God? He doesn't need our help!!!
That was until I listened to other responses of the members of the group. So
can we help God? Well yea. We can help God get the gospel to everyone. We can
help God spread his love. We can even help restore hope to all of those who
seem to have lost it. So yes, maybe we can help God. Maybe even God depends on
us, but he is NEVER dependent on us. I say this because we are fully dependent on
God. I can depend on my future spouse to pay the bills, however if he can't
then I know I'll make a way to do so. But to be fully dependent on him? No. I
feel as though our relationship with God works the same way. God depends on us
to fulfill our purpose, walk in our purpose, and live a life according to
his purpose, and so forth. However, if I slip up and choose to live a life
contrary to that purpose, God can find someone else to do it. He is dependent
on us to do what he called us to do because he has given us the power of
choice, but in the same breath he also has the choice to bestow grace, mercy,
favor, or even chastise us for our choices. We are so dependent on God, and as
with any relationship, he depends on us to do our part. Hebrews 4:16 states,
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need." So when you become
discouraged or think your situation seems impossible understand that God can
pick up right where you left off if you need him to. Psalms 124:7 states,
"Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved,
but abides forever." Just remember, you're never too helpless to pray. PRAYER ALWAYS HELPS.
Bridging the gap between
feeling helpless and still remaining hopeful, takes prayer. We have pray when
we feel helpless and hopeless. With all that has been going on in the news (I
would suggest that you start reading Revelations) I have felt so helpless!!!
Uggh! I know that I am limited in my own abilities, but my hopefulness in God
and his promises has never wavered. Even at times where I am so distraught at
the direction that this world seems to be going in and can't find the words to
say, I still fall on my knees and cry out to God anyway. Romans 8:26-27
states, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know
what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind
of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the
will of God." God knows my heart and he knows what I need! And even times
when I'm tempted to react in a manner that does not reflect the LOVE of Christ,
I too pray. I pray because I need HELP! I pray because I have HOPE! According
to 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not
common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your
ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that
you may be able to endure it." I am solely dependent on God! What he has
done for me no man can. What he has given me no man can take away. What he will
bless me with no man can block. He is my HELP and for that I am HOPEFUL. And
even when I am not hopeful, God is STILL God:
Psalms 46:10 “He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalms 46:11 “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalms 100:10 “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Isaiah 2:11 “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”
Isaiah 2:17 “The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”
Isaiah 37:20 “Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God."
Prayer: Dear God, I come
before you to cry out for my sisters and brothers who are so distracted by the
work of Satan that they find it hard to see the victory of you Lord. I pray
that you bridge the gap between hopelessness and hopefulness -- a bridge that
understands that you are here to help in our time of need. I pray with
everything in me, that you restoreHOPE into humanity; HOPE that is solely
vested in the existence and the power of you. Restore our hearts with the love
of you as it can conquer all things. Renew our minds with the peace that you
give. Restore our spirits with the breath of life that you have so selflessly
given to all of us. Allow our eyes to remain fixed on you that we will not
become distracted from our purpose and what you have called out to you. Make us
selfless and so full of everything that you are. Let your power, your spirit,
your grace, your mercy, and the existence of your miracles resonate in our
hearts and minds so that we will renew the HOPE that you have given us day
after day. We love you and we thank you for what you have done, what you're
doing right now, and what you're going to do, because you are STILL God. Amen.
Heather Williams - "God is Still God"
NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED, GOD IS STILL GOD: JAMERA
Yet true godliness with contentment is
itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing
with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we
leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing,
let us be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Satan tries to ruin our contentment by
convincing us that we are wasting our time doing what we should be doing, and should instead devote our time to something else. He packages this message and
delivers it to you wrapped in a pretty bow, causing it to pervade your mind to
the point where you just KNOW that the grass is most certainly greener on the
other side. Adam and Eve had the perfect life. They were living in a place of
abundance and contentment where they walked with the lord in the cool of the day
(Genesis 3:8), yet they allowed the Devil to steal their contentment from them,
thinking that the one thing they weren’t allowed to do would be their
fulfillment.
The enemy comes to steal, kill and
destroy, while Jesus comes to give us an abundant, satisfying, full life (John
10:10). When you hear the words STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY what do you think of?
I think of complete annihilation, dropping an atomic bomb and ending
everything, slaughtering. The movie Gladiator comes to mind, when the main
character Maximus went back home only to see that his family members has all
been killed. Their lives had been stolen (and his as he once knew it). His home
and land destroyed.
The Devil wants to devastate our lives so that we are
irreparable, to the point where we can never find our way back to the Savior
(Jesus Christ), and every time we give him a foothold, he takes full advantage
and busts the door wide open. He is the epitome of the saying, “Give him and
inch and he’ll take a mile.” This is why if we allow him to step in and
entertain the thoughts that he places in our mind, we will be deceived. He’ll
have you convinced that you are not content, but that once you achieve __________
(you fill in the blank) you will be. Of course, with that mindset, that time
will never come.
I recently experienced something like
this. Just a couple weeks ago I moved from an apartment with one roommate into
a townhouse with two. While in my apartment previously, I kept finding myself
saying things like, “I’ll be sooo happy when we move!” And we ended up finding
a place that is pretty much perfect, but hours after moving I found myself
feeling…empty. People around me kept saying things like “OMG you kitchen is
amazing!” “You have a garage!” “You have your own bathroom!” “Aren’t you
happy?!” But really I wasn’t, because immediately after moving I found myself
in my whirlwind I-have-to-make-everything-perfect mode. In reality, it is
nearly impossible to unpack, purchase needed items, and coordinate and set up décor
in just days, but I allowed the Devil to convince me that I would not be happy
with my pretty amazing new home until everything was exactly in the state I
desire—like something out of a catalog.
I found myself working to unpack for
hours in between work and other events, constantly thinking ugh should I skip church to unpack??, constantly
tired, surfing websites like Crate and Barrel (knowing I can’t afford much
there!), World Market, Wayfair, and Kirkland (which I adore and highly recommend!),
and worrying about how I was going to pay for all of the things that I somehow
convinced myself I needed. I had allowed the enemy to steal my joy in such a
way that having the new place I desired was no longer enough. Having my roommates,
friends and family move my belongings into the house FOR ME while I was away
for the weekend was not enough. Having a walk-in closet was not enough. Having
people give us so many of the things we actually needed not enough. Instead of
focusing on the many blessings, all I focused on was the anxiety and the lump
in the pit of my stomach that I felt every time I walked into the house (better
yet, way before I even walked through the door) and set my glassy-eyed gaze on
the huge mess.
One day I played back conversations in
my head, answering questions from friends and family members asking excitedly
about my new place to which I always started off by responding with a tragic
groan, then proceeding to explain to them how stressful the whole process was. I
was convinced that was a normal response. Who was I?? All the while, I couldn’t
understand how my roommates were so cavalier about everything! While I was
inwardly freaking out about where I would store the blender OR how many books I
should put on each shelf of my bookcase OR who would pay for the $700 dining
room set that I really wanted so I could entertain all of my very potential
guests OR when I would be able to comfortably get dressed in the morning with
access to every single article of clothing, accessory, hair care product, and
toiletry item I own, something said REST
MY CHILD.
I heard those words repeatedly in my
head until I did it. I closed the browser where I was scouring Pier 1, took my
hand off the mouse and shut down my laptop. Instead I picked up my pink Bible which
I hadn’t read all week and turned to Colossians 3 which says “since you have
been raised to a new life in Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in a place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the
things of heaven, not the things of earth…Christ is all that matters and he
lives in us all.” Immediately my mind felt at peace and my soul at rest.
I’ve said all of this to remind you
(and me) that you are not perfect, as hard as you scratch and claw and beat at
perfection. You are made perfect THROUGH CHRIST. Allow yourself to be content
where you are so that Jesus can rule your thoughts rather than your next “get
rich quick” scheme, your student loan payments, your future husband/wife or
your next hairstyle.
Feelings of stress and worry are
something that I personally wrestle with each and every day. I don’t know if it’s
just my personality or human nature, but I know that someone reading this is
dealing with it as well, so as God said to me, I say to you: REST MY CHILD.
Take a minute and breathe. Pray this prayer with me and allow the Lord to calm
your ever-plotting mind. Then read His word, workout, or call an encouraging
friend or family member. Remember not to worry and to “be satisfied with what
you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon
you” (Hebrews 13:5).
PRAYER:
Lord, I apologize for
giving Satan a foothold into my heart and allowing him to convince me that I
cannot be content in this very moment. Thank you for showing up and showing me
that heavenly things matter most, not earthly things. Thank you for giving me
all that I do have and helping me not to focus on what I do not have. Thank you
for leading me beside the still waters and for restoring my soul. Thank you for
quieting the voice within me that says that I always have to worry. YOU are my
hope and my salvation, so I put my trust in you, believing that you alone are
my contentment and my portion forever. I thank you God because I still don't have it all together, but I ain't worried! Please give me the strength to let go of
all anxiety and continue walk in freedom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Don't worry, just smile! Like Blogger, Steven said last week, we are royalty! Someone out there wishes they were you :) --JAEL
As we come closer to the wonderful Christmas Day, I encourage everyone to think about the meaning of Christmas. Why is that we celebrate Christmas? What happened on this day? I know that sometimes we can get so wrapped up in getting gifts and worrying about the gift aspect when in reality we all have the best gift that we can celebrate!! Matthew 11:23 says "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
Son of God, Jesus, is Emmanuel. Emmanuel means God with us. If Jesus came to Earth to save us and live within all of us with His Spirit, then God is with us. We have this gift of having the royalty running through our veins. We are kings, queens and conquerors. For myself, there are times when I do walk as not a conqueror. I will doubt what God has given me or doubt the placements or positions that He has given me. I doubt sometimes the gift God has placed in myself. But since God lives with us and we are royalty, then we have to live our lives as royalty. We have to walk and talk as royalty. Acts 1:8 says that "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."When God's Spirit comes upon us, we receive power. When God is living in us, anything is possible. When God is with us, we can reach our full potential. Romans 8:37 says "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!!! We are ROYALTY!!! Ladies, you are queens. Men, you are kings. We have to walk and act as kings and queens. We have power and authority and gifts that God has blessed all of us. I encourage you throughout the whole year and not just a particular time to embrace your kingship. Embrace your royalty with humility. There is no need to walk in depression or with our heads down and there is no need to walk with a cocky mindset. We have to walk with the mindset of purpose, strength and humility. Love this song!! It reminds me all the time that there is purpose and that there is royalty running through our veins. Let's embrace it!!
Be blessed my fellow kings and queens!! God Bless, Steven Gable "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
If you can find one person in the world that enjoys taking tests please let me know, I won't to meet that person so I know who to call when I'm being tested lol.
But, all jokes aside, this test of my faith was the worse I ever taken and I failed miserably.
My faith in God for my future was being tried.
It's so easy to say in the good times, when everything is going right, that you have faith in God.
How about those times when things just don't make sense and you can't see where you are going or when everything just looks simply impossible.
Do you still have that unwavering faith that you told yourself you would always have even in the good and bad times?
Or did that faith dwindle into nasty little ANTS.
In church this past Sunday my pastor said that ANTS stands for activated negative thoughts.
These little nasty thoughts literally shutdown the brain to a point where you are no longer walking in the purpose that God has for you.
I can undoubtedly attest to this during my test of faith.
It was during that test that I either had the option to
A. listen to these ANTs that consisted of thoughts like you will never become anything, your future is bleak
B. Listen to that inner voice, the Holy Spirit reminding me of the plans that God has for me and all the things that God told me to do and the gifts and talents he has given me and all the blessings he bestowed upon me that are too many to count
Of course the correct answer would be B. But what did I pick, A of course!
The more I dwelt on those nasty little ANTs the more I became frustrated, emotional, and hopeless.
The bible tells us to dwell on good things. It says,
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition
Even though I initially failed this test of my faith, God intervened just like the loving Father that he is and began to remind me of just how blessed I am and how blessed my future will be because of Him.
I began to dwell on those thoughts and as soon as I did that all the ANTs were gone.
Not having faith, being anxious about your future, stressing over situations, moodiness, and being emotional is not of God.
And honestly it sucks being in that state. You can't enjoy the life that God intended for you to the fullest.
He is a God of peace, wisdom, love, power, provision, meekness, etc. Whatever you need it's all in God.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I learn things
and take things without contemplating about them. Concerning God, I often heard
the verse and said within sermons “Live by faith” or “Go by faith”.
Recently, I had to breakdown my life and see, was I
living by faith.
According to Hebrews 11,
11 Now
faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
To
put it plainly, it says in Mark:
He
that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
When
we begin to pray, it takes faith. Praying to a God that you cannot see, takes
faith. Praying to a God you cannot touch takes faith.
When
we read the bible and apply it to our lives, it takes faith. When we thank God and acknowledge God
it takes faith.
When we
believe that God sent Jesus to die for our sins, thereby allowing us to be
forgiven every time we ask, regardless of what we’ve done it TAKES FAITH!!!
The bible
says that God is pleased by faith and that without it God can’t be pleased.
When you decide to do something for God it pleases him. But, sometimes we may
ask ourselves, well how do I know it is pleasing???
As
you continue in faith God will RESPOND TO YOU!!! God will RESPOND TO YOU!!!
Being
a Christian and having a relationship with God, is a two way relationship.
Problem with us sometimes is we expect God to do it our way. God can reach us
in so many ways. Even when we decide to close off our ears, due to pride, self-pity
or any excuse.
Last
year, I was in a trial and my faith was being shaken. I wavered in faith week
after week. My pastor preached a series on Jesus Strong that whole month. After,
each Sunday I was encouraged but the week would tax my faith and I always arrive
next Sunday needing more encouragement. One week I was invited to a Thursday
service and the sermon was “Jesus Strong”. After, hearing the same content
again that night it was clear to me what God needed from me.
That night
is an example of a response. The thing about God’s response is that, the
objective is to reach you. How God reaches me, may not be how God reaches you.
One thing I do know is that when we seek God by faith, he will RESPOND!!
The question
is will we respond to God? Respond how, when we arise, by faith thank him for a
new day.
Facing
a strenuous situation, or in a fiery trial, thank God for a new hope. Bible
says to glorify God, meaning thank God for his mercy, call him great for his
handiwork the earth but more importantly you.
Someone
may say how I can respond when I can’t feel him near and he hasn’t responded in
a while.
Today your
response will cause God to respond!!!
Hosea
2: 20-21
I will betroth you in[g]
faithfulness,
and you will acknowledge the Lord.
21 “In that day I will respond,”
declares the Lord—
At some point in our lives we will all go through some trial
or tribulation. No it isn’t fun and a lot of times you may feel as if it isn’t
even fair. It may last 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 years who knows. When these tough
times arise, how do you react? Do you cower down and give in accepting defeat
or do you stand firm knowing God is with you? As the saying goes “Tough times
don’t last, tough people do”. There is no tougher man than he who trust in the
Lord wholeheartedly.
Many times when problems arise we feel overwhelmed. When
things seem out of control and we cant seem to get a grasp of it we must
understand that God has a hold of it. It is never out of his control. Our first
reaction when a storm brews shouldn’t be to worry or be afraid but to PRAY. We cannot get to caught up in the situation that we forget to allow God to lead. Pray to be emotionally stable so you don’t allow emotion to get the best of
you. Pray to be courageous so fear doesn’t over come you. Pray to fully TRUST
in the Lord knowing he will make a way, he will guide you through. Stand firm.
“47 As for everyone who comes to me and
hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.48 They are like a man building a house, who
dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent
struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49 But the one who hears my words and does not put
them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a
foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its
destruction was complete.”Luke 6:47-49
Today, I watched an amazing video of fathers in prison participating in a father daughter dance. These men had made wrong decisions which unfortunately kept them from their loved ones. Despite the mistakes their father's had made the girls were extremely happy to be able to spend time with their dads. The video reminded me that in life we all make mistakes and are in need of forgiveness and a second chance.
Thankfully, God is always willing to forgive and give us a second chance no matter what we have done. Psalms 103 states:
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
God is merciful to us and willing to forgive us for our sins. As willing as he is to forgive us we should be willing to forgive others. T.D. Jakes preached an awesome messaging saying that as Jesus hung on the cross he was impaled to the point where his organs were coming out of his body and he still forgave the people who had wronged him. If Christ forgave those who had nailed him to a cross, beat him, and had his guts coming out of his body we should be able to forgive those who wrong us.
Our God is a God of second chances. He is ready and willing to forgive your of anything you may have done and he asks that you forgive others. Remember to be merciful just as Christ is merciful!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight " Proverbs 3:5-6.
As children of God we should always trust him in all situations, especially in the difficult times. The bible shows us that when we trust in the Lord we will overcome our obstacles. Take Peter for instance, he began to walk on water when Jesus called him. Later on, he started to fear when he saw the wind and he started to sink. So you see, no matter where life take us we should not fear. Instead, we should put our faith in our Lord and he will always lead us to the right path.
What
is addiction? Did you know that not every person who identifies with an
addiction does not automatically classify himself or herself as
someone/something bad (i.e. drug addiction)? According to medicalnewstoday.com,
"People with an addiction do not have control
over what they are doing, taking or using...addiction may refer to a substance
dependence (e.g. drug addiction) or behavioral addiction (e.g.
gambling addiction)." Those who suffer from addictions cannot cope unless
they satisfy their addiction. Today, I happily am addicted to prayer!!! I guess
I never really thought in depth about the power of prayer until I had to fall
on my face before God because I needed a prayer to be answered; rather a
miracle to be answered! And for me, my addiction to prayer is bigger than the
high I get when my prayers are answered…I thoroughly enjoy the relationship
that I have with Christ that continues to blossom every time I go before him in
prayer. I just love him!
Characteristics of Addiction:
1.The Person
Becomes Obsessed (Constantly Thinks of) the Activity, Object, or Substance.
Although the Bible warns against obsessions, I personally
believe that there is never too much prayer just as there is never too much
communication with God. As my struggles increase, my blessings grow, and my
vision expands, so does my prayer life. Prayer for me is essential to my
relationship with Christ because it is truly bigger than religion. Prayer
is the bridge between my worries and peace. There are so many things that I
have prayed for that God has answered that the thought of it becomes
overwhelming. Even when I am so unfaithful to God, he is ALWAYS faithful to me.
That kind of loyalty is extinct in human flesh. So yes, I am obsessed
with prayer. When I'm happy I pray because I'm thankful. When I'm sad I pray
because I just need to lay my burdens down at the feet of God. In his hopeless
world I have so many midnight hours when I need to feel that comfort from my
Heavenly Father. Only he can ease most fears that I harbor in my heart.
Whenever something comes up my first thought is to "pray about it."
I'm obsessed with prayer because when I do bow my head, that instant peace that
I receive is indescrible.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1Thessalonians 5:17
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.” Esphesians 6:18
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
2.The Person
Will Compulsively Engage in the Activity (Do it Over and Over Again).
Talk about compulsion! Prayer is a part of my daily life. I hate
to categorize it as routine, but actually pouring my heart out to God becomes
second nature to me (not babbling, but sincere prayers before God). I say this because even when I am too selfish to see God's
mercy in my life, I can see his grace working with others. I can take every
single blogger for example and just highlight minimal portions of their
testimonies just to broadcast the power of prayer!
-Steven:
he has the job of his dream and although he faced rejection and moments where
he felt like it was s setback, God was preparing him for a mighty comeback! I'm
so proud of him! Not only that, but ever since he was young he never was ashamed of his love for Christ which is something that I have always admired.
-Jael:
she graduated and immediately started working at her "dream job"
(although that may have changed now) that pays her loans!! First, not only is
this rare, but she is making a difference in the world. And just as God has
answered other prayers in her life he'll answer new ones. It's amazing to watch
her growth in God's presence.
-Brittney:
she is a married woman!!! Feels weird saying, but it's true. I've known her
forever and I've admired her growth as well. In conversations when I've felt
helpless she has always reminded me of the power of prayer even if she doesn't
realize it. You can literally pray about any and everything. She has constantly
reminded me to pray about my future husband because God does honor that. Now,
she's married to the man that she prayed about and luckily for him...I approve!
It's amazing to watch love and marriage blossom just as Christ intended.
-Ron:
what can I say? This is a man of many talents who never hesitates to give God
the glory (except when we're playing games because he's extremely competitive).
But other than that, I admire his humility that he still exhibits even in the
face of adversity. I have watched him come to Christ and basically allow God to
use all of his talents. He's a leader and he's a married man...both of which I
feel can be attributed to the power of prayer.
-Christian:
there's so much to say about Bishop Spriggs! I have watched him develop in his
gift. There was a time where Christian NEVER spoke, he sat in the back of
church, never really got involved in anything, and today he is the complete
opposite. Not only has he embraced his gift with spiritual maturity, but he has
allowed himself to be used wholly by God. Not only that, but he is a prayer
warrior! There was a time where he was out of school and without a car and now
he is an "A" student with a brand new car. And lastly, he is the
young adult leader at our church who talks to everyone now and sits on the
front row. None of this would have occurred without prayer in the midst.
-Hannah:
she is the ultimate go-getter! She always has words of encouragement and makes
herself readily available to pray for others. She went to school and is working
somewhere she absolutely loves! One thing I truly admire is that prior to
landing her dream job, she wouldn't settle for anything less than what she
wanted. So although the road that lied ahead seemed cloudy, her faith didn't
waiver in my eyes. And even after some hiccups with her current job, she
continues to remain at "peace not in pieces" about any situation that
comes her way.
So
even when I'm too self-absorbed and negative to see how instrumental prayer has
been in my life, I am forever encouraged because I can see the power of prayer
performing miracles in the lives of those I surround myself with. And as with any addiction, I consider these aforementioned individuals a part of my prayer circle/team, kind of like my support group. I know that I can go to them to pray for my behalf and vice versa. There's something so comforting in knowing that I can talk about my problems, answered prayers, and unanswered prayers with individuals who understand my walk with Christ.
“Now when Daniel learned that the
decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows
opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed,
giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers
and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all
the Lord's people.” Ephesians 6:18
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord
Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for
you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20
3.Upon
Cessation of the Activity, Withdrawal Symptoms Often Occur.
I didn’t realize how important prayer was in my life until I
tried to go without praying. Have you ever tried to take life into your own hands?
I really don’t know how people live life without knowing Christ. Like what kind
of life is that? But then again, I can’t really have an opinion as to that kind
of lifestyle because their (those who go without knowing Christ) life is the
same as mine when I go without praying. Life is so rough when we don’t pray. We
subject ourselves to worry, stress, and other destructive characteristics.If you know me then you know I’m almost
always stressing over school and my future. It’s pretty annoying because how
many times does God have to prove himself to me before I trust him
wholeheartedly? I remember specifically I was having a hard time in school
after my father passed and it was really getting to me. My cousin texted me saying
that she missed me and hadn’t seen me in awhile and blatantly asked me what was
wrong. I didn’t know how she even knew, but because I felt so defeated my pride
escaped me and I told her about my difficulties. She replied and told me that
God has it covered like always. I’m not sure why but when she told me all of
this I was beginning to feel whole again. It was in that moment that I realized
that I was too busy worry that I had forgot to pray. That happens to all of us.
How many times do we stress over the dumbest (and yes they’re dumb because they’re
minimal problems) things and forget to pray to God? That’s like stressing over
taking an exam yet we forget to bring a utensil. It defeats the purpose of
taking the exam if you cannot even write down the answers. Not doing so is an
automatic failure. Life without prayer is an automatic failure as well.
Additionally, I remember I was at a conference and I was so overwhelmed
with worry that I couldn’t even understand why I was crying so much! That night
my aunt texted me asking about the conference and after our conversation she
reminded me that we find rest in God. So many times we focus on our problems so
hard that we miss the simple answers. Have you ever gotten an easy question on
an exam wrong? Like when you go over it you’ll a little upset because the
answer was basically given to you? Once again that’s how life is without
prayer. It’s not rocket science! God is the answer! You need answers? Talk to
him. Do you need to connect to him? Kneel before him in prayer! When we refuse
to pay attention to the signs before us, life becomes far more difficult than
it has to be and before you know it you’re sitting back living a life full of
regret. Life is far too short to live with regrets and God is far too
accessible to skip over prayer and try to live a life without him. To further understand
what happens when we do not pray or “inquire of God,” I suggest that you read
Joshua 9:1-15.
”Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm
62:5
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the
LORD.” Psalm 27:14
“But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted
will never perish.” Psalm 9:18
“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put
my hope.” Psalm 130:5
4.The Person
Does Not Appear To Have Control As To When, How Long, Or How Much He Or She
Will Continue The Behavior (Loss of Control).
You ever enjoy something so much that you fail to realize how
much time has passed? I’m always like that with Law & Order: SVU marathons
or the ID channel (Investigation Discovery). I get so into it and before I know
it half of my day has been wasted. I am also like that with prayer sometimes.
There was literally times when I don’t even realize how long I am praying
because I am so connected to God. It becomes a daily conversation for me. And
although I don’t really like talking on the phone, that doesn’t stop me for
being on the phone for hours. On the train in the mornings I’m usually praying
the entire way. When I wake I’m praying to myself until I’m on my way out the
door. Days when I fast while at work I’ll pray the entire day just to get the
strength to continue to fast because my flesh can be so weak.
Other than praying during the day, there was times when I’m in
desperate need and I’ll pray over the course of months if not years. We never
even realize how much we’ve prayed until someone brings it to our attention. I
remember in my junior year in high school I was preparing for college and I was
so overwhelmed. I had everything that made me a competitive prospect for
college: I had the grades, I had the extracurricular activities, I had the
letters of recommendation, and so forth. I just didn’t have the financial means
to attend, but I knew that from the time I was a child. And anyone who knew
Jamera knew how much she wanted to go to Princeton! That was my dream school! I
even got an interview for Princeton and when I received my rejection letter I
was so heartbroken because my interviewer eventually reached out to me and told
me how much he loved me as a student, but recognized that Princeton would not
be a good fit for me because I would have to compromise my extracurricular activities
for my studies. To him I seemed so passionate about other things that I did
outside of school and basically a lot of that would have to be put on the
backburner in order to excel. Either way, I thought he was insane and I just didn’t
understand because I worked so hard for those grades so that I could attend Princeton
only to get rejected. Not long after my rejection letter from Princeton, I remember
I received a letter in the mail from the State of New Jersey stating that I
would be eligible to attend a community college for 2 years and then transfer
to a New Jersey university free of charge. My mom was soooo excited that she
was like yes you’ll do that! No offense to anyone who attends community college
but I told her I wasn’t doingthat
because the whole purpose of me working so hard was so that I didn’t have to
attend community college. I was slightly annoyed by everyone who suggested that
I should do that. Well not long after I received that letter I received multiple
acceptance letters from universities that I had applied to. I cried even harder
after I got those letters because it reminded me of Princeton. All of them were
offering me scholarships to attend, but Rutgers was offering the most money
(basically a free-ride). My family was so excited and once again I grew more
annoyed because that wasn’t my plan that was my backup.
About a week later I went to church and because I was so “depressed”
because I didn’t get into Princeton, I went to the altar and cried my heart out
to God. I was literally on the floor sobbing to God because I felt like my
prayers went unanswered. I remember Sis. Cindy (this amazing soul in our church
who now resides with the Lord) came and got me off of the floor and started to
pray with me. She rocked me, she prayed over me, she consoled me, and she mended
my broken-heart with a message from God. She told me: “God already took care of
it, it’s done.” I never once told her what I was praying about but she allowed
God to use her. That week I remember coming home and checking the mail and
there was this big envelope addressed to me from this scholarship that I had
applied to about 8 or 9 months prior. I had completely forgotten about it! When
I opened it, it basically said that I was going to go to my school of choice
(schools that had accepted me) for free!!! All covered by Bill Gates! I
remember falling to my knees and thanking God and crying of course! In that
instant everything came back to me and everything made sense. From the time I
was a junior, to now, being a senior in high school standing in my driveway,
God had answered my prayer! My prayer was never for me to get accepted into
Princeton like I thought it was. For about a year and some months, I had been
praying that God would make a way for me to go to school for free and he did
just that! Sis. Cindy was right—he had it covered! Talk about being elated! I
was just so overwhelmed because I didn’t even realize that God was listening,
but more importantly, I didn’t even realize how long I had been praying. I
doubt there was ever a day I skipped a prayer because I was so desperate and
God was just guiding me along the way the entire time.
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Joshua
15:16
"Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask
any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14
"Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need." Hebrews 4:16
"And this is the confidence that we
have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of him." 1 John 5:14-15
Continue to pray...God is ALWAYS listening. If you need prayer, please write it in the "Prayer Request" tab.
