There has never been a moment that I have regretted giving my life to Jesus.
NEVER.
I have lost friends, family has become distant, strangers have insulted me, and even those in the house of faith there are those who do not understand me.
No matter the circumstance, words that were spoken to me, some words that were never spoken at all (silence never explained), God has given me his heavenly peace.
Worldly insults may build. But, I am wrapped in Abba’s heavenly love.
Even if you are surrounded right now with what seems like darkness, the Lord is a light for you.
Even if everyone has left you, your heavenly father never will.
He hears your cry for help and is responding.
He knowns the tears you’ve cried, he has kept them in a bottle for the day of his judgment.
He wants to exchange what you’ve been feeling from all the rejection for his complete and total acceptance.
There is nothing like the Love of God.
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Go talk to them, Holy Spirit speaks to you in the middle of the grocery store. Pray for ______, he tugs on your heart yet again. Go speak this to the congregation. Send this song to ________. There are so many times where God pulls on our heart to do something. Holy Spirit in a gentle whisper speaks to us to do things unexpectedly and spontaneously. He tells us to do things out of the normal, where if we hesitate the enemy tries to sneak in seeds of doubt that was ever Holy Spirit in the first place.
There are a couple things that I have learned throughout these gentle nudges from Holy Spirit. One being, not everyone responds the way you would hope. There are times of rejection where the people God told you to pray for, the things he told you to, are not recipocated by the person on the recieving end. But, that is okay. God never tells you to be obedient to something that does not have eternal value. Oftentimes, people aren’t recipocal because they aren’t ready for what God has to say. Jesus was rejected plenty when we look throughout scripture. Yet, that did not stop him from doing the will of the Father. It does not matter what people do in response, what matters is that God called you to do it. There have been times where God has told me to pray over someone and they said no. But, I responded in love letting them know that God see’s them and knows what they need. By the end of service, she grabbed my hand sobbing and gave her life to Jesus. We do not know the reasons people may not respond how would like them too, but being obedient to what he has spoken to us is so important.
Another thing I have learned about the nudges from Holy Spirit, is to not doubt them. It is okay if things seem out of the ordinary. For instance, sending a song to someone you have not talked to in years. Yet, they come back knowing that it was in God’s timing. Never fail to be obedient because of what it seems like. God’s thoughts are so much higher than ours. He does things in unexpected and heavenly ways. He speaks through us, never miss the chance to be a vessel to bring someone closer to him!
Which leads me to this… Do not miss out on these nudges because of fear. Who cares what other people think!? Each gentle whisper from God is making an eternal difference. Even if you cannot see it now, there will be a day where you will. Fear often likes to creep in to distract us and keep us from doing exactly what God has called us to do in that moment.
I believe it is the little things, such as praying for the random lady at the grocery store or sales clerk, calling someone in the middle of the night, sending a text to let someone know that you are praying for them, and speaking a word that does not make sense to you but God knows, is what makes a huge difference in the heavenly kingdom. God uses us in these moments to show that he is who he says he is, his omnipresence, and his love for us. It’s an opportunity to bring people closer to God and his purposes for them and honestly in my experience, it blesses me just as much as them to be a vessel. It does not matter how people react to what God calls you to do, all that matters is that you are obedient to what he tells you to do, no matter how crazy it seems. Be bold and undeniably fearless all for his purposes.
“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.” -Luke 16:10-12 CSB
“The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.” -Proverbs 28:1 NKJV
‘Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”-Hebrews 13:1-2 NKJV
Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship. Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose. Acts 16:25-26 TPT
There are three things I briefly want to touch on in these 2 verses.
One being, there were people surrounding Paul & Silas who were listening to their prayers and praises to God.
The second thing is that even in the midst of being “chained down” and imprisoned, they still praised God for how good he is.
The third being, because of the power of their praise and prayer, it set other people who were bound down free. Their praise shook the very foundation where they were held captive and bound down.
In conclusion, the very words we speak to the father and the praises that come put of our mouth are powerful and yes, people are listening. They may not say they are, but people’s true desire in their heart is the love of Jesus. No matter the circumstance, even if we feel bound, we should be inclined to have communion with Abba and praise him. He never changes and his love endures. Therefore, our praise should be endless too. Our praise can be the very thing that not only sets us free but shakes the foundations of hell (prison one is entrapped in) and sets other people free around us too.
At first glance, you see that Paul and Silas prayer & praise set them free. Yet, in reality, it shook the foundation that kept them and others captive. Their prayer and praise broke the chains that bound them down and set them free into what God had called them to do.
My encouragment to you this morning is, in every circumstance pray and praise. God hears every word you speak and your praise to the father loosens things that have tried to keep you bound! Not only that, but people are watching. Do not be a people pleaser, but a God pleaser. My prayer is that our prayer and praise is so contagious is free’s others just as Paul and Silas.
The words you speak, the prayers you give unto the father, and the praise you bring are all contagious and have the power to shake the foundations of hell. God has given you to the power to praise and pray in every circumstance. Even when you are not sure what to say, the spirit will speak for you. When you feel weary, he will give you strength. When you feel bound, he sets you free. When you feel like you are just surviving, he brings you to a place of living abundantly!
There is nothing he won’t do for us.
In every circumstance pray and praise. You never know what new freedom is awaiting you or the freedom it may bring to who you are surrounded by. There is nothing God won’t do. Hell cannot stand a chance. The victory is already won. For the power, the glory, are yours Lord forever and ever. Amen!
Scripture for Meditation & Application
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1 NKJV
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Psalms 47:1 NKJV
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
When you are following the will of God and driving towards the divine purpose God has called over you life, there are several tactics that the enemy will use to derail you from that path. The enemy does not want you to follow God’s plan for your life. He wants you as far away from God’s perfect plan as possible. From my experience, the biggest tools he as he has used is discouragement, shame, and fear. He has used people to tell me I am “not good enough”, “making the wrong decision”, and “it will never happen”. He has planted lies in my mind that I am too young, not equipped, and that the decisions I am making are irrational and wrong. Throwing shame and fear like sour patch kids, when really it is the poison that distracts and stalls us from moving forward. God does not ask for your resume or references, he asks for your yes. He asks for an open and teachable heart that willing to be obedient.
Instead of paying attention to what people have to say and the lies the enemy likes to try to plant, why don’t we focus on the ultimate truth? God’s Word. We need to feed our minds and hearts with the truth. Meditate on what God’s says and who he is, who we are through him. Yielding to the Spirit through God’s word is what allows us to not only know God and be in his presence, but allows him to work on our heart in the process. As he works on our hearts we are put in the direct line of the will of God. Listening to what he has to say, absorbing his love, faithfulness, grace, and mercy like a sponge, and becoming more like him.
When you are following God’s perfect plan for your life, of course the enemy wants to stop you. God is using you as a vessel to bring people to him. You are bringing people pure love, peace, hope, and faith. He is using you to set people free from what once tied them down. Later, he will use them to bring them the same love, peace, hope, and faith. His love never stops and it never runs dry.
The next time the enemy tries to discourage you from God’s beautiful plan for your life, tell him who your Papa is and who you are through him. The authority and inheritance you have through Jesus is like no other. Pay more attention to what God says verses what the world says. People may not understand, there may even be things you do not understand. However, the world doesn’t need to understand. You don’t need to see, walk by faith.
“They will fight you, but they will fail.
For I am with you, and I will take care of you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!””-Jeremiah 1:19 NLT
“You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me,O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!”-Psalm 139:16-18 NLT
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”-Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT
Sometimes, we are faced with circumstances or situations and are first initial reaction is in our flesh instead of in the spirit. We hope to one day immediately line up our thoughts with biblical truth and not react with emotion. However, we need to keep in mind we are a work in progress. We will continually grow and we will have growing pains. It is okay to ask God to help you with your unbelief. It is okay to call on Jesus’ name to increase your faith. Not acknowledging that we need God for everything, including hope, faith, and to fully believe and trust in his promises makes us become reliant on ourself instead in one accord with God. Two examples in scripture really stand out to me when it comes to this:
In Luke 17 Jesus is talking about temptations of sin and how they are going to come if someone sins over and over against you, we are called to repent and forgive them. Then in verse 5-6 the apostles and Lord have this conversation:
“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”-Luke 17:5-6 ESV
The apostles ask God to increase their faith and he responds with how powerful even the faith the size of a mustard seed is. If you don’t know how big a mustard seed is go look!
The second example is in Mark 9. This is where a father is asking Jesus to cast out a spirit from his son.
“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!””-Mark 9:23-24 NKJV
Here we see another example of someone crying out to help their unbelief or lack of faith. So if it is in the word, why are we so hesitant to call out when we need a little help with our unbelief or lack of faith? When I got news from the doctor a couple weeks ago, my mind didn’t immediately go to healing even though I have been healed before. My thoughts went worldly. As they went worldly I realized that I had some unbelief in my heart and called out upon God to help me.
He has been faithful to show me the promises that I need to hold onto. God’s word is full of promises and he cannot lie. God waits to hear from you the things you need. He is a good father and wants to bless you and help you in times of trouble. We just simply need to ask.
Is there something in your life that is causing a lack of faith or you are struggling with some unbelief? It is okay, the apostles, the father, and I did too. Call upon the Lord and he restore your faith, strength, and give you a new found hope in his promises.
