Warm and cuddly when we are young
Should be our provider and protector
Stands up for us over the course of our lives
Builds us up when life beats us down
Surrounds us with love and guidance
If we are daughters teaches us how to be God-fearing women
Teaches us how to mother our children
Is our example of how to be a grandmother and elder of the family
Leaves a legacy of motherhood and a footprint of love for years to come
A few weeks ago, I posted about prayer and how it’s a spiritual weapon. Another important weapon we need to have in our toolbox is faith. Faith includes hoping and trusting God will do what He promises in the midst of the waiting.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). In this scripture the writer illustrates that faith is hoping and believing for what you cannot see and that has yet to be revealed or seen. With this in mind faith is trust in God. Many of us know God has promised things to us. The absence of what He promised makes us waver in trusting that the promise will fulfill itself and come to pass.
Ultimately this process is what matures our faith. There is nothing mystical about faith, but there is the need to read God’s word. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17) That is the foundation of faith. When you read God’s word your faith matures. We see so many people in God’s word who believed and God worked through their faith or belief.
God’s word has been the foundation of faith since the Old Testament. In Hebrews, chapter 11 we are given a look back into how many like Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah kept the faith (Hebrews 11: 4-11). They trusted the promises God made to them.
Some might ask the question does one have more faith than others? Has God given some people more access to trusting God and having faith?
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not think of yourself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).” God has given us everything we need to have faith and trust in God. It is up to us to use the faith God has instilled in us.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Faith and trust go hand in hand. It is hard to master faith as troubles come and we question and begin to lose trust in God. Trust is often lost as we face losses and hard times. The derailment of life and often being caught off guard by unfortunate circumstances are hard. It is hard for most of us.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well. But Jesus turned around and when He saw her He said “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:20-22).
This woman had endured a sickness for twelve years that no natural medicine could cure. She was tired of going through the sickness. She must have heard about Jesus and what He could do. She pressed her way to Jesus. He says in this scripture that it was her faith that made her well. Yes, there are some things that are not going away in our lives. We see that with Paul who had a thorn to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7). But there are certain things that God does want to heal, but our lack of faith hinders the healing from taking place. Deliverance is often found through believing things can and will change.
She had suffered for twelve years. I have battled mental health issues for eighteen years. Do I believe my mental health issues can one day be gone? Yes. I also understand that even if it remained God will help me to live with the issues I have.
God said to me years ago, “Even if your illness remains it won’t stop the call on your life. I can use you no matter what”. I share this because some people need to know that God can use us no matter what.
I have suffered battling mental health challenges. Even with these challenges, God has used me. I saw him help me believe that I can do things many said I would not do. It is my faith that pushes me to believe that despite my illness God allows me to do the impossible. He has pushed me to a higher depth of faith. I have said things God would do in my life even if people doubted me. Though they doubted, I was sold out that I would reach whatever God put in my path.
Faith is about believing despite what some may say is impossible or don’t understand. As this woman pressed through the crowd for her deliverance some people could have seen it as strange or weird. She pressed because she was sold out that she was going to be healed. This is the power of faith.
Ultimately, faith is powerful.🙏🏾💜💞
We all come to a point in life where we feel bruised by the struggles of our past. It can make us feel overwhelmed and stuck. We can feel like we are too broken or damaged to ever be whole. The healing process can seem impossible.
I must admit that the struggles of my past often have a hold on me. It’s like fighting to shed skin or an open wound that just won’t heal. As I blog week after week it helps me just as much as I hope it helps my readers. The truth is God is always refining us. He works on us through the pains of life.
There are some other truths about the things in life that bruise or hurt us. You can’t always spend life wondering how you could have made different choices. There is no fixing the past.
Starting over can seem impossible, but it’s a part of life. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is like a rat running on a wheel going nowhere. Our failures don’t define us they mature us if we let them.
It may feel like, life has been so hard, but you should not accept the state you are in. Though you may feel that way, it is not true. I lost a lot a few years ago. If I had thought that was it for me, you would not be reading my blog. You have to keep working on yourself. Never give up. When you think it’s over God has a way of turning things around.
Life can hurt but you get stronger in the push and pull of life. Remember to keep God at the center of your life no matter what is going on. I am sure Jesus knew it would be the greatest pain to endure the cross. Despite the pain and bruises, He knew it was a part of the call on His life.
The things we go through are a part of our journey and the call on our lives. We all have our crosses to bear but just like Jesus, we are not bound by them. We will rise with all power.
There was a time when taking my life seemed like the answer to the pain I felt. I am so glad today I lived to let someone know the bruises of life hurt, but God redeems. It still gets hard. Life doesn’t stop.
There were even times when I thought my dreams were washed up. God showed me I will use what you have left (2 Kings 4:1-7). He said when you feel like it’s over that’s when I use you to do my best work.
The bruises of life can seem like they are wounds that won’t heal, but with time they do. God is an ever-present help and He does not need you to have it all together (Psalm 46:1).
Remember the bruises of life do heal. 💜🙏🏾
The brokenness some of us feel from the tragedies of life can feel like an elephant sitting on our chest. We can find ourselves wondering if we will ever heal. Healing is not something that happens overnight. It takes years of working to be free from so many broken areas.
Some people believe they will just snap out of the hurt. The reality is that it takes time. It can take years to fully heal. You really have to work on yourself. One part of the healing process is recognizing that there are areas of brokenness in your life.
Brokenness is not a bad thing or something to be ashamed of. We all get broken by life. We all have been broken in some area or another. Some of us live our lives not healing. We are often are so broken that we self-sabotage the things in our lives that matter.
We may hurt the very people that want to love us. We also can be in survival mode all the time. Sometimes we have walls built up around us and live in fear of being hurt again.
You can begin your healing process in therapy. Counseling is one way to uncover the areas that need healing. Finding the right therapist can be a challenge but once you have found your match it can be a blessing.
Healing with people who have had similar experiences is also healthy. You can find these groups in your community.
If you have had issues with domestic violence, for example, you can reach out to a local agency and see if they offer a support group. Sometimes healing can be easier when you realize you are not alone in your hurt.
It is also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Some of us can find support groups in our local church. I always believe the church is a spiritual hospital and often helps a lot of us get through life.
When you are hurt and need to heal, try not to make decisions based on brokenness. We have all done it. I have not arrived but I strive to be better one day at a time.
Healing from brokenness is not an easy feat. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to heal and not remain stuck. As life takes its course we can easily find ourselves broken and struggling to heal. No one is exempt from these struggles. Over time healing does happen.
You need a safe space to heal. You need people in your life that do not continue to keep you bound. Freedom is found in God. No matter what Jesus’ Resurrection is liberty and freedom from anything we face. Brokenness does not have to remain a constant reminder of the pain we felt from being hurt.
Live to heal, one day and step at a time.
When the storms of life are raging God prevails
When all hope seems to be falling away God prevails
When death takes those we love and grief sets in God prevails
When our hearts are broken from the losses we face God prevails
When we try to make sense of the troubles of our past God comforts and prevails
When we look up and wonder where He is in all of our troubles He shows Himself and He prevails
The list could go on
The truth of it all is that no matter what we face God prevails
I’ve been trying to get my finances in a better place and the program that I started recommended an accountability partner. I was given a list and one of my requirements for the partner was that we pray for each other. It seemed like a simple request to me, but not to the other person. It made me wonder how far the world is away from one of the most significant spiritual weapons.
I don’t care how hard we try one day prayer will be the only thing that can get you through a hard time. You may not be praying because you felt it wasn’t a necessity. When life gets hard enough you will request it to get through the rough patch.
How often do we watch our favorite thrillers, action flicks, or romance movies or shows, and as the story unfolds and trouble happens here comes the scene of them in over their heads. We know the scene; they stumble into a church and it’s the pastor they are in need of. Though these are actors. There are many people who abandon the idea of God, prayer, fasting, faith and believing altogether. The truth is that we all need a prayer life.
My mother taught me about prayer at age five, but that was not just for me, it was for anyone that comes into my life. God also lays people on my heart to pray for. I know prayer is the medicine that opens the door to healing, faith, forgiveness, and a relationship with God.
I remember I didn’t mind praying for myself, but I was so puffed up and hurt that I thought others did not deserve my prayer. I thought they ought to know prayer is important and if they don’t pray for themselves that is their problem.
There is no selfishness with God and though we have our ways of being full of ourselves it is a hindrance to us. You can’t do life alone. God sent a storm my way that changed my attitude. I’m always willing to pray for others now. It’s one of my duties of service as a believer. My godmother has taught me that prayer is the passage to overcoming the challenges we face in life.
Prayer is one of our spiritual weapons. I have faced many storms like all of us. I’ve tried to master the way I fight through every storm, but it doesn’t take away the pain and hurt of the storm. I pray, cry, believe it will get better, learn to trust God, and fast as needed. Through praying, fasting, trusting, crying, and believing; God gets me through. Some of the things I face, the enemy is doing, sometimes it’s my poor choices, and other times there is an area God recognizes I need to shed off or grow in.
There has never been a greater time for prayer in this world than now. Life keeps showing the world that none of us are exempt from going through. No matter how rich, fancy clothes, fame, etc; you will go through. It is a part of life.
Sometimes the struggles of life bring us closer to God. Other times some of us are driven away from God. Many of us needed God more and sought God more during the pandemic. This is exactly what I feel God needed from many of us.
Prayer is a necessity for me. It seemed like something to have in my back pocket years ago. Now it is the center of everything. I pray every chance I get. It doesn’t mean I am special. It means I have learned that it is important to me and I don’t compromise about it.
I can’t make anyone else understand its importance the way I see it. I can try and share my view on it. Sharing in the hopes of encouraging someone else to seek to gain a prayer life that supports the issues they face in life.
Prayer is our spiritual weapon. It allows God to work in our lives. It keeps us grounded. Prayer changes the things we go through. There are times when God’s purpose and will is far greater than the prayer we prayed. This does not change prayer’s significance, but God’s will is so much higher than ours. In those times we must accept God’s will and not allow it to throw us off course.
Prayer is our anchor. Allow it to keep you grounded. It is our spiritual weapon.
God prevails when we give the troubles of this world to Him. It is hard to master. We all want to control more than we actually are capable of. The hardest part in hard times is letting go and letting God do His best work.
God understands that in life there are losses no matter how hard we try to perfect our lives. There are no troubles too hard for God though in our limited abilities we may feel crushed.
I learned recently that being still and letting God work is best at times. We often make a mess of things when we try to do it our way. Being disobedient to God can bring negative consequences.
“Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)”. In this scripture God is saying He is able. He illustrates for us to trust Him. He wants us to be still and allow God to work in our lives. Being still can mean doing nothing even in troubling times. When we give things to God we have to leave it there.
The scripture goes on to say that God will be exalted above the heathen and in the Earth. God is higher than any of the troubles we face. There is nothing God can’t help us overcome.
Our God is able to move mountains out of our lives. Keep pressing there is greater on the other side.
The troubles of life hurt
The decisions we make don’t always work
Depending on God is the source of our strength
When life seems unbearable pull from God’s fortress
Life hurts sometimes
No matter what life brings press through the rain
Work with God to get through the pain
The etched memory of our past hurts but trouble doesn’t last
Our eternal resting place is worth more than issues of our past
No matter what with God all things are possible to work
Even though life hurts
We often pray for better and wish for better, but our pressing should include a strong foundation in a relationship with God. We should also be concerned about our eternal resting place. It is important to know that there is a place far greater than the troubles we face day to day.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward and to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14)”.
Paul teaches us that as anointed as he was, he had not arrived. Though Paul had not arrived he kept on pressing. Paul endured a lot. Before his encounter with God he persecuted Christians. He also went on a journey during his encounter with God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9) These things did not stop Him from striving to do what God called him to do. He was preparing to be with God eternally.
Pressing higher and seeking God’s purpose can be hard. God orders our steps when we seek Him and allow Him to work in our lives. There is more to life than what we want. What God wants for us is more important.
Life throws many curves and road blocks. It can feel like we will never reach what we know God has called us to. We can began to feel we are too broken to do what God is asking of us. When we look at Paul we are looking at an anointed man who faced many moments of brokenness and hardships. Eventhough this is true he continued to teach and write God’s word for who he was called to.
Pressing through life is a challenge for all of us. Life does not stop for anyone. No matter how much money you have or how spiritual you might be hard times will come. As things happen to us we can begin to feel like pressing through life is worthless.
Paul did not allow his past or his current situation to determine his walk with God. No matter what we go through we must keep our eyes on God. Paul was not saying pressing was easy. He was saying he pressed no matter the circumstances.
No matter the struggle press toward the higher mark God is calling you to. God has greater on the other side.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
How many conditions have you put on the way you love others? Well with God there are no conditions or limits to how He loves. He shows no respect of persons (Romans 2:11). We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). There is no partiality with God (Acts 10:34).
The next question is how do we measure up to loving that way? The truth of the matter is we can’t. We are covered in flesh and it is a constant battle of offenses that often separate us from those we really love.
Though we should love unconditionally most of us struggle to do so. There is refuge in trying to love with godly love and understanding you won’t do it with perfection.
There will be times when those we care about make it easy to love them. There will be other times when the person we are trying to love, we fight to love them. What do we do in those times? We trust God to give us the strength to love them as best we can.
Jesus never came to condemn the world. His ministry was for the lost, spiritually bound, and those who felt separated from God (John 3:17). As we try to love others with godly love we must remember we are limited. Sometimes it can be a fight to love those who are broken.
The love that Jesus showed on calvary we can never measure up to. All we can do is strive to give a piece of that to our friends, loved ones, and surprisingly even our enemies.
The way we love is founded in our relationship with God. We must understand that as we get closer to God loving others with godly love is strengthened.
Godly love is love that gives space for God to use us to be a light to others. No matter the offenses as believers we are the example of how to love with godly love. Yes, it is hard, but loving with godly love grows as we grow and mature in Christ.
Give yourself grace, you will not be perfect in it, but strive to love with godly love.❤💖💞
Resilient Inspired Spiritual Excellence R.I.S.E. 