Isn't it amazing to know that we are not cookie-cutter Christians? Each of us is a rare individual and one-of-a-kind in God's eyes! We are all unique! Deliciously so! "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one's work" (1 Cor. 3:9-13, NASB).
Recently, as I was waking up, a dream slipped into the bedroom and curiously awakened me. In this dream, I was standing in a bathroom with several inches of water. As I looked down, I was barefoot. I then woke up wondering what that was about. I wanted to call someone for an interpretation, but it was too early. A little later, brushing my teeth, the interpretation came. The bathroom prophetically represents a place of cleansing; my bare feet gave away the interpretation
The Bible is full of reassurances, promises and encouragements. One of my favorites is God's invitation for us to cast our problems on Him, for He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). How amazing it is that our Almighty God has the capacity and concern for all our burdens. To be clear, 1 Peter 5:7 does not tell us to cast some or many of our burdens upon the Lord. The Lord invites us to cast all our cares on Him. All is a very big word. Though only one syllable of three letters, it has no limits in its scope and no cutoff points in its application. All includes the great and the small, the major and the minor adversities we face.
I can honestly say that the Holy Spirit is my best friend. I ask, and He answers. I rely on Him to teach, guide, correct and convict me. But it hasn't always been this way. My friendship with the Holy Spirit began after my husband, Ron, and I experienced a long, intense year of spiritual warfare several years ago. At the time, we were completely unfamiliar with spiritual warfare, and all we could do was rely on the Holy Spirit. After that season of unprecedented spiritual attack, we relocated our family to our hometown in Michigan. I spent my time adjusting our kids to their new home and schools and focused on being a mom and wife.
A few months ago, I preached at a church in Michigan called New Life Christian Fellowship. At the conclusion of the service, while I was praying for the congregation, the Lord showed me that someone was struggling with a strong addiction. I shared this with the people and invited the unidentified person to reach out to Jesus for help. Immediately, a young man made his way to the front. He was already crying and he knelt near the stage without any prompting. My friend Cliff quickly got up and knelt beside the man to pray with him.
Do you believe in the goodness of God during trials and circumstances? That's the question in every test and trial you go through. If you can maintain ascension in the middle of your crisis, you will maintain the attitude God wants you to have while going through the temporary trials and circumstances of earth. That's what I mean by entering a portal of prosperity and peace. It is a place where we know His goodness resides and we operate in that faith daily. We must know that He is bringing us to a place of greater good during the trial.
God has such great things in store for us as His own sons and daughters. He wants us to know His faithfulness, His goodness and that His promises are true. God is always looking for faith. He is looking for those who are not settling for less but are always drawing near to Him no matter what is going on. If you feel like you are in a wilderness, just know that God has plans to bring you out. Also realize that your wilderness is not the promised land that God has for you. Don't grow accustomed to it because He has far more in store for your life!
The Lord is starting this month to release new assignments and instructions that will unfold more over the next few months. Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV Be prepared to write down what the Lord is speaking to you. Watch for dreams and visions to increase. Get ready to hear the Lord more clearly along with wisdom and practical strategies on how to respond.
There is a story in the book of 2 Chronicles chapter 20 about the King of Judah named King Jehoshaphat. He received a report that the Moabites, the Ammorites and the Meunites had joined forces to attack and wage war against him. Jehoshaphat was shaken. As he and the people of Judah and Jerusalem came before the Lord, he said to the Lord, "Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you." He reminded the Lord how He drove out the inhabitants of the land before his people Israel.
...Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! Psalm 100:4 AMPC Being thankful is important, and God's Word is filled with instructions and reminders to give thanks and be thankful. The words thanks and thanksgiving appear in approximately 100 Bible verses, and we're told to give thanks 73 times. Anything the Holy Spirit repeats that often must be important to my life and yours. Our gratitude belongs first to God, because without Him, we would have nothing. God is good.
Follow Up
