Building Again

"BUILDING AGAIN"

Posted from Wednesday Morning Worship & Word dated 4/3/2013

Most of us are used to an exegesis of the biblical text or rather a critical explanation or interpretation but today I shall not do that.  I am simply going to use the text, comparing it to us and life - providing real life, tangible and relevant word that will leave each of us pondering this thing - this word entitled "Building Again".

It is my prayer that this word is food for your mind, body, spirit and soul.  I pray that it nourishes you.  I pray that it improves you and for some it may release you into a new place.  It may clarify somethings, taking away distortions, faulty thinking or misunderstandings.  I pray you open and avail yourself to a new era, a new way, a new fire, a new breath, a new life and certainly, a new foundation.

"The greatest good you can do for an other is not 

just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own"

~ Benjamin Disraeli

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:    EZRA 3:11-12 NIV

"With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.

Do you understand the nature and importance of foundation?

Definition of foundation: (noun)

• the basis or ground work of anything 
• the basis for something physical or mental
• the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests
• the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like
  (Partly or wholly below the surface of the ground)
• the act of founding, setting up, establishing

The foundation is also known as the root, reason, ground work, base, infrastructure, nuts and bolts and/or support

You know, when something like a building has been built on faulty grounds, it may not topple quickly/immediately but it is certain to cave in/give way and/or crumble at some point.  Even if the foundation is strong, over time it may grow weak.  Today, I would like for each of us to consider ourselves buildings and also builders.  

However, the only way we will successfully master building another building is to check the foundation that we stand on.  And if we see damage in the foundation, if there are cracks in the infrastructure we must decide whether the damages are mendable or be wise enough, intelligent enough and even courageous enough to bring in the wrecking crew.  

Allow them to totally tear us down and then allow ourselves to trust the Master builder to align our foundation, to fortify our core, to smooth rough surfaces, to totally redesign us, building a more solid and aesthetically resolute building.

This  is our job as Kingdom dwellers:  to build and be built - to be rebuilt and to rebuild.  This is what we do with the church - more specifically, the body of Christ.  We build those who are weary, those who are broken, those who are lost, those who go astray, those seeking redemption and restoration, those falling apart, those crumbling, those with cracks, those burnt out and yes, even us.

Rejoice in the initial formatting and planning of your building! Rejoice in the manufacturing and construction of your building! And yes, even rejoice in the collapse of your building, knowing God himself is the Master builder, always ready to repair and rebuild. No matter what state you are in, God is more than capable of restoring you to a state better than you were previously. Be open to the continuous process of building. Certify and approve the Master Builders presence by simply saying, "God Almighty, the one who alone is the solid rock, it is well. I receive you now and always. Build me AGAIN"

Focus on God

Focus on God

God wants us to reduce – get back to the basics, simplicity.

Some of us think we need to do a whole lot but the word of God contains specifics about His expectations for and of us.

This may sound redundant. It may not be exciting or charged with emotions but truth is; my life is predicated on my obedience.  Not only to be transparent but to speak the less favorable messages as well as to provide reminders that we each have been called to a place to hear God for ourselves. 

We have been called to choose obedience to the Lord, to a place of repentance and right living, to a place of self-awareness and to know our identity as God’s children.

We have been called to a place of true worship, to tear down altars, called away from idolatry. We have been called to care for the orphans and widows. We have been called to be concerned about our brothers and sisters as keepers.

We have been called to be available month pieces for the Lord.  We have been called to a place of life.  We have been called to a place of growth and maturity.  We have been called to believe God – trust Him and not be weary in well doing nor anxious for anything.  We have been called to forgive and to love.

We are the examples of Christ in the earth.  We ought walk in the fruits of the spirit and keep it simple: “Focus on God and what pleases Him”

Matthew 6:33 NLT

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,

and he will give you everything you need

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

PRAYER :

Most Holy God, humbly I ask You to renew my mind, grant me the consistency necessary to live a life full of devotion, peace, joy, kindness, fortitude, grace, faith, integrity, generosity, passion, balance and discipline to live uninhibited for your glory as I utilize every gift in me and in this life to show love to my brothers and sisters. Help  me to turn off the noise in this  life and to learn to simply sit at your feet. Fill me up with goodness, I pray in Jesus name, Amen

Death Bed

Death Bed

By Titus Broom

 

There once was a man that lay breathing heavily on his deathbed.  Friends and family had already been by to say their finale goodbyes, so the man requested to spend his final minutes alone in prayer. The family and friends respecting his request stepped out into the hall closing the door behind them.

 

The man began to grasp the rails of the bed as he pulled himself up and bowed his head. He spoke saying, “Lord I thank you for the life you have given me and all that you allowed me to do.”

 

Just then he heard a voice say yeah right, opening up his eyes the man saw, people he didn't recognize surrounding his bed. He asked, “Am I dead?” One of the individuals standing around said no, not yet. We just thought before you did die you needed to be confronted by all that will be dying with you.

 

The man looked at the faces around the bed in desperation saying I don't understand. One of the individuals standing at the foot of the bed said, “We represent all the wasted time, the words you did not say when you were supposed to, the books you did not write, the love you did not give, the dreams you did not fulfill, the ideas that never got off paper, the forgiveness you would not extend and the promises not kept.”

 

The man said but I did this and I did not have time to do that, and she wouldn't forgive me so I did not forgive her. Silence, one of the individuals yelled, while pointing a finger into the man’s face, we don't want to die, we want to live, yet we are doomed to be added to the library of endless potential found in cemetery's around the world. The faces of the individuals (potential) showed great anger and then suddenly they disappeared.

 

The man’s prayer changed from Lord thank you for this and thank you for that, into Lord, I'm so sorry for not using the life you gave me the way you wanted. Then the man and all his potential died.

 

Question who or what will be around your deathbed? What we do with our lives today, until that day, will determine who is there.  Trust me I know – I've been there twice.

 

Written by Titus Broom Inspired By a comment he heard Les Brown make. ©2009

 

 

Titus Broom lives in Charlotte, NC and is a Motivational Speaker, Writer and Poet

 

Connect with him via:

inspire1titus@facebook.com  

https://twitter.com/TitusBroom

www.linkedin.com/pub/titus-broom/21/985/74

 

 

Wednesday Morning Worship & Word

Greetings!

Welcome to a new beginning with Wednesday Morning Worship & Word

Charged to change and grow spiritually, a group of nine women came together for daily prayer commencing January 2011. After more than eighteen months of early morning prayer men from all over the country joined this group of praying women which grew from eight locals from Maryland to more than a hundred women from all over the country.  

December 5, 2012 concluded a two year prayer call that took place 7 days a week with participants from all over the USA such as; MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, NJ, NY, OR, WA, FL, AZ, LA, OK, CA, DE, WI as well as many other places. People even called in from Canada and Japan. These times of praying together, fellowship, worship, studying the word and reflecting on that word led to physical, emotional, mental healing, growth to the body of Christ as well as spiritual growth and increased faith.

 

God is not done and neither are we.  Feel free to join us weekly via conference call, every Wednesday morning for Worship & Word.

 

EVERY WEDNESDAY

TIME: 6AM EST

DIAL: 605.562.3000

CODE: 223212#

 

Email prayer request to: stacie.jwhitaker@gmail.com

Feel free to invite others to join the call

***This is an international call -- Eastern Standard Time

Crushed

Happy Sunday! May the peace of God flow to you today and always!

For the last five months I have been very quiet.  No blogs have been written. Books that were supposed to be on shelves were halted.  No projects progressed. Everything in my life was quiet.  This quiet space was not my typical "taking a moment to reflect" or "fasting, consecrating and praying". This was a forced quiet.

About eight months ago my world began to fall apart. I believe I was doing all that God wanted me to do. I was fasting, praying, studying, loving people from a pure place, being open and honest (in other words transparent), facilitating a 7 day a week morning prayer call with people from across the US, applying the word to my daily living, helping those without room and board secure a place to rest their heads - I was not only feeding people physically but I allowed God to use me as a vessel to feed and nourish the souls, minds and spirits of those wounded, weary, lost, broken, discouraged and so forth. 

No matter what I did or did not do, the time came when I felt crushed by my circumstances and forgotten by my God.  There was an unsettling deep within; a force that came and a weight that fell in my home, on my children, my finances, my relationship, my mind, my body and my spirit.  I was extremely restless. Devoid of focus, insomnia settled in. Peace searched for me as I longed for it, but peace I could not find. 

I felt like a hypocrite – one who knew the word and shared that word but seemingly placed that same fruitful word on a shelf as if it did not apply to me at that moment.  I tried holding fast to what I knew but I could not. 

This time was like none I have ever experienced. Seems the only way I can truly describe these last eight months is to say that it was like a combination of my past life experiences coming together, happening at once.  Having my mother, father and step-dad die at the same time, while I sat nursing my son who was gravely ill as an infant, caring for my daughter who was recovering from heart surgery, going through divorce while pregnant and so ill that doctors had no faith of whether I would make it through pregnancy, let alone make it to see another day...I was on my death bed -- One can only imagine the stress and fear to have this combination of things happening all at once.

Now I do not want to mislead - these things did not happen all at once but the last eight months has been LIKE having all these events that have happened in my life, happen all at once.

With severe depression taking over, my eating and sleeping regiments were off.  Electric waves began shooting through my head.  The pressure made my eyes feel like they were being squeezed out of my head.  Back aches, neck aches and constant headaches consumed me.  Then I began going through an extreme hormonal imbalance causing other issues that left me drained.

I had to do something my pride despises; I actually had to ask for help. I had to allow myself this time to be vulnerable, to trust other people, to let down my guard so that I could be treated, taken care of and healed.  What I learned AGAIN, and even more so, learned to apply is that I am not an island unto myself.

Over the last eight months I have prayed, cried, screamed, slept, wallowed, hurt deep, lost something’s and some people, acquired new friends and relationships, my family developed an even stronger bond and I have learned that I am not the savior but a human who has chosen to be a vessel by which God can operate and function through to impact other people’s lives.  I am not 100% but I woke up the last few days with my mind so fixed on God that I asked Him again, “Lord, what would you have me to do?”  The answer was nothing new, nothing super spiritual or strange.  It was a simple, “nothing” and you know what, I am okay with doing nothing right now. 

If I could encourage anyone feeling the pressures of life right now, if I could offer a word of advice it would be this: Just BE! Be love, be light, be joy-filled, be at peace, be kind, be gentle…simply BE!!!  Life will continue to have its challenges, trials, test, struggles and pains but we need to make up our minds that everything happening to us and around us is doing what it is supposed to.  So be content. Embrace every moment!

That is precisely what I have been doing – learning more and more to Embrace me…the good, the bad, the ups, the downs, the happy times and sad times, the people who come and the people who go.  All of these events and experiences that have happened over the last few months – forcing me to be quiet and listen to not only God’s authentic voice but the voice that lives deep inside of me has taught me to not take myself so seriously.  Enjoy every moment and continue on this journey of Embracing Me.

None of us are perfect and everyday in simply BEING we are BECOMING – so just BE – be grateful, be open, be responsive to that inner voice, be responsive to your bodies craving for peace, love, joy, happiness and especially the quiet moments. 

Oh, and by the way, God was never absent during this quiet time.  He was the constant when everything else was in disarray.  He was the soothing song in my spirit when I could not sing and did not want to talk.  He was the gentle warmth that wrapped me on lonely nights.  It was God who sent my living Angels to take me to doctors appointments, to pay bills for me, to cook food for me, to sit with me and cry with me, to speak a bold word of strength and encouragement, to drop by unannounced and force me to take a ride with them – God was there.  He was and still is my place of refuge, my rock, my safe place – As I did nothing but rest in Him, God nursed me and continues to fortify me. 

When you feel crushed, just let God hold you!

“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. WE do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living.  We are persecuted, but God does not leave us.  We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 NCV

 

PRAYER:

Maker of the heavens and earth, today help me to embrace every moment with gladness, contentment and a deep sense of peace knowing you are here with me. Amen

Thankful for God's Love

Great day! I pray you are well. As you go throughout the day reflect on the goodness of our Great, Mighty, Majestic and Loving God with this praise from David in Psalm 145:

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.

They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.

 

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

 

 

PRAYER:

Lord, I simply honor and bless You for being who You are! Thank You for Your great love towards me. Thank You for keeping, shielding and protecting me. Thank You for knowing exactly what I need and when. Thank You for affording me the opportunity to be reconciled into right relationship with You. Lord You alone are worthy of ALL praise. Humbly I submit these prayers of gratitude, through Christ Jesus, Amen

 

 

911...It's an emergency

 

I have been holding on to this post since September 11, 2012 and even before then but today, I sit reminiscing about 9-11-01...not merely the destruction, death and fragmented nations...I see it as a 911 call in the Spirit REALM! It remains our reminder as believers that we are called to a higher standard...called to impact the atmosphere and stop running scared from the enemy but to strategically and purposefully go at the enemy offensively utilizing every tool and weapon we have been given by God. We need to come together as ONE collective voice...as ONE collective body of believers!

SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR WARRIORS TO RISE:
 

 

I stand in agreement with you that we are strategically waging a war to take back our families, our communities, our churches, our children, our minds, our land, our finances, our territory, our nation! We are blessed, girded with the full armor of God. I pray you enjoyed a powerfully, passionate day filled with God's purpose as you answer the 911 call of the weak, wounded and weary, knowing that with God all things are possible.  

PRAYER:
Lord God, El Roi (God who sees me and cares for me), maker of heavens and the earth, hear the prayers of your child.  I stand submitted and committed to Your will.  I ask that You O'Lord stand against the enemy of my soul, contending with those things that seek to destroy me.  Lord I pray for constant reminders that You alone are Sovereign.  Help me to trust You.  Provide the necessary armor for me to be fully equipped to stand against the fiery darts of the evil one.  Help me to remain unafraid as You fight and win every battle, making me continuously a victorious and mighty conqueror.  Lord, I bless You and honor You for the gift of life. Walk with me and guide my every footstep.  Be my strength, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen

 

Total Adoration...

Allowing the Spirit of God to move...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURES:

 

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth.

~ Psalm 96:9 NIV

 

 

Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!

Bring your offering and come into his presence.

Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.

~ 1 Chronicles 16:29

 

 

PRAYER:

 

O Lord, my God, You alone are worthy of praise.

Receive our worship full and free.

May the intent of our hearts be pure as we come into Your Holy presence. 

Change us in this moment as we honor Your name and You alone!

 In Christ name Amen

My Letter To My Daddy (Poem)

Daddy,

 

You left me before I was six. My heart was torn but my mind fixed. Fixed on memories I gained. At times these same memories drive me insane but I cherish every moment...remembering your special touch.  How I wish that you were here for I miss you very much.  I smile, laugh and cry at the same time, often considering what could be.  Then reminded by God Himself, there's no need for misery. 

 

Though you will never walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, I'm honored to say you are my dad always and forever.  Time nor distance, life nor death will change that fact. So humbled with tears and now an open mind, I make a pact with self to live knowing I'm still your special girl and with that thought I can face the world.

 

Daddy, my heart and love can not be measured across time nor space.  Now I stand confident in a peaceful place.  I allow God to securely wrap His loving arms around me.  Reminded of the scripture that says, "When mother and father forsake me"...

 

See, God is the Father of all.  He's stood mighty and tall loving me even more than I could ever imagine. Giving me even more than my mind can receive and I am open to allow Him to do all I need to mend my heart from my early years of losing you.

 

No, I may not be able to have you physically present but I am grateful to have ever had you.  To know that I carry a mighty force embedded in my DNA...that DNA reminds me of my two great Father's

 

1. The Father of ALL life, God and how He majestically orchestrates life in and through every creation

 

AND

 

2. YOU, my biological Dad, Edward L. Whitaker, for without you having been, there could be no me.

 

Dad, with tears but without fears, disappointment and doubt, I recognize you will always be present so I thank God for allowing me to remember today, which would have been your fifty-eighth (58) birthday. I know I am still Daddy's little girl and I am grateful to the Lord God, strong and mighty for Him being my ultimate Father but it does not mean that I don't miss you, love you, weep for you, yearn for you because I do. 

 

People always say that there is nothing like a Mother's love and though this is true, I would like to SCREAM to the world that there is nothing like a Daddy's love, one that is real, true, pure, authentic...

 

You were my superhero...my superman...

 

I try to hold on to what I remember...your scent, your voice, your smile, your hugs but Daddy, today, I am remembering one of the last things I said to you and your reply.  I asked if you were going to die and you responded by telling me no and to go back downstairs with my Mom.  I told you I loved you and you replied with the same love.  I can still see you sitting in your bedroom window with the blood stained rag in your hand from your nose bleed.

 

I shake my head wondering what possessed me to ask if you were going to die.  For so many years I was angry with you for dying and I was upset with myself, believing that I was somehow responsible for your death. For ten almost eleven years I was furious with you but I'm not mad anymore Daddy. I searched everywhere looking for you.  I went from boy to man, from girl to woman.  I needed your embrace, your guidance, your protection, your support, your provision...I needed all that you could give but you were nowhere to be found.

 

Once pregnant with your oldest grand daughter I told myself that I had to forgive you so that I could share you with her through my memories...and although things were never perfect, Daddy, I loved you perfectly then and I love you perfectly now!

 

Loving and missing you deeply today,

 

Your Little Girl,

Stacie

 

 

Word for today: VICTORY

One word for today:

VICTORY

1 Samuel 17:26, 32, 45-47 & 50-51 NIV

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

 

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.  David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

DAVID’S VICTORY:

David spoke to the giant (his problem) telling it of his intentions, what he would do to dismantle, tear down, kill and bring it to destruction the giant (his issues).  He was fearless because he knew whose strength he was going in (the strength of the Lord strong and mighty).  David was fully equipped and knew what tools were necessary for him to win.  Even before entering the fight David believed in a favorable outcome knowing he would and could win and thus he did precisely what he spoke.  He did not waver but remained steadfast.

As long as we understand whose strength we walk in and what power is at work within us, as long as we are fearless, knowing the fear of the Lord is our strength, as long as we know we are equipped with the proper tools, we, much like David can, will and shall win.  We must speak the outcomes we desire and watch victory prevail.

MAKE THIS DECLARATION TODAY:

I AM VICTORIOUS!

I HAVE THE VICTORY!

I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!!!

PRAYER
Lord, give us the strategic gear, plan and words to defeat our enemies knowing that we are not going in our own power but it is Your strength that helps us win.  Remind us with every step we take today that we are victorious, in Jesus name I pray, Amen

Two sides of self...

During our daily prayer calls we discuss being naked and transparent so that we can get to a place of total freedom being TRULY delivered from strongholds, wrong thinking, false sense of self, generational curses, soul ties and the like. 

Everyday I rise open to whatever God wants to do in my life and even when I don't want to be honest I have to be. Searching the two sides of self fairs as essential.

When I do not desire to talk about my dirty places or the pain I am in I still have to do it.  Why? Because I want complete and total freedom.  I seek deliverance for myself and my family just as I seek the same for each of you and your families. In order to acquire that freedom I must be willing to see and know myself totally...even the dark places.

Everyday the mirror reflects opposing sides of the two sides of self.  It seems I am up one day and down the next.  I feel like a champion one day and less than a conqueror the next. 

I smile through pain and my tears are my prayers.  I am not a quitter but I quit at least five times a day.  I lay down to rest and my sleep is broken.  I wonder who really cares...thinking, all I do is care for others but whose care is authentic for me?  Then I begin wondering if I should stop caring...asking myself if anyone will even notice.  I feel like such a small piece in this hugely baked pie called life.  I ask myself what's worth living for and if what I do matters. 

I look at my family and wonder when things will change.  I look at the wars, rapes, abuses, over filled jails, prostitution, broken families, drug addicts, thugs, pimps, down low men, scheming gold digging females, churches, leadership, government and I wonder "will things ever change"?

I strive to be kind even when others are not so kind to me.  I get angry but work diligently to think good thoughts for it is NOT my desire to act as others do, viciously tearing one another down.  Although, I must admit, I am just as much capable of destructive behaviors and violence as the next person.

However, just because I yearn to do right does not mean my thoughts always reflect what I desire in my heart...but still everyday I choose! Choosing is also exploring two sides of self.  My heart speaks and seeks life, love and peace but my mind says kill...it says "its okay to take revenge" although I know the word specifically tells me that vengeance belongs to God.

Sometimes I want to take matters into my own hands...I want to take my life into my own hands but then I have those scriptures that have been placed in my Spiritual treasure chest to remind me to:

Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding ~ Proverbs 3:5

And still other scriptures that tell me that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13

Why then do I feel like I am being conquered and overcome by the world? Why can't I just quit? I have to will myself to choose to die to the one side of self that is destructive and negative.

Then I hear whispers in my Spirit  telling me to remember:
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; remembering that He shall bring forth those things that He has spoken to me regarding my life. ~ Psalm 37:5

I remind myself to:

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:14

I tell myself:
The joy of the Lord is my strength ~ Nehemiah 8:10

In essence, I tell myself, both sides of self, each day to stand down in the flesh and stand up in the Spirit...letting the Spirit of God rise in me that His glory may be revealed.  I have to know who I am, where I came from, what's in me and what's in my family bloodline so I can understand where I am going, how I have come to be as I am and what God desires to remove as well as build.

So, I stand encouraging you to ask the tough questions hidden within the deepest places of your hearts.  Look at both sides of yourself...the good and the not so good.  Look at what is at peace and where you feel tormented.  Do not be afraid to look at the Man/Woman in the mirror and get naked so God can begin to unearth all that is within...molding you into His desired thought of who He created you to be.  Do not grow weary or fear the pain of the pruning process but instead, trust in the Lord!
 

 

SPEAK THESE SCRIPTURES OUT LOUD OVER YOUR LIFE:

“Every word of God is pure:
he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

~ Proverbs 30:5

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my God, my strength,

in whom I will trust; my buckler,
and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

~ Psalm 18:2
 

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; 

and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

~ Nahum 1:7
 

“As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is tried:

he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.”

~ 2 Samuel 22:31

 

 "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear what flesh can do unto me"

~ Psalm 56:3 , 4
 

 

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 
whose mind is stayed on thee:

because he trusteth in thee.”

~ Isaiah 26:3

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,

because we trust in the living God,

who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

~ 1 Timothy 4:10

PRAYER:
Holy and Loving God, thank You for Your grace and mercy.  Lord, I pray for every eye that reads this post that you will prick their hearts to be open to coming clean about the dark places within.  Lord I pray that we as individuals, families, communities and nations would come to a place of openness, being ready to acknowledge our issues, faults, flaws, problems and frustrations so that You God may not only reveal Your glory but help us to see the error of our ways. 

We know that You have redeemed our ancestors and Lord we seek for You to redeem us as Your beloved, chosen people.  Lord I pray that we stop running and hiding like Jonah did.  I pray that we will sit still long enough for you not only to heal and restore at the surface but at the core of who we are.  I pray Lord God that as the freedom You desire for us is availed to us that we would turn and share with others that they too may come to the place of total liberation in their minds, bodies and spirits. 

I plead the blood of Jesus over every eye asking you to protect ear gates, eye gates,  mouth gates and sexual gates from this moment forward. I ask Lord that You gird each person and their families with the full armor; helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, sword of the spirit which is Your word God, gird their waist with Your truth and shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

I rebuke nagging and tormenting spirits that remind us of the old us.  I pray that those spirits are freed and released from their assignment and can by no means further impact the eyes of the one who reads this post or their household, in the name of Jesus.  I pray Lord that You send those spirits to the place where You see fit and that they not return. 

I pray that you fortify our hearts individually and collectively and that we become a people of greater conviction and commitment for Your word as well as a people of deep compassion.  I release the two sides of self of each person reading this post into Your hands Lord for You to have Your way doing what You see fit.  Break us to build us, In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen