Tag: fruit of the spirit

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Shaking The Foundation of Hell

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

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Giving This Holiday Season

After I wrote an apology about not posting for a while, Holy Spirit laid something on my heart!

  • “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”-Acts 20:35 NLT
    • “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”-Luke 6:32‭-‬35 ESV

I began reflecting on Christmas a little more than usual this year. I am newly married and now living across the country from my family due to my husband being apart of the military. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I would much rather have family time than presents. (Presence instead of presents) See what I did there! Haha! As my walk with God has grown, I’ve really realized it is much more rewarding to give than to recieve. I used to have the mindset of expecting people to treat me nice, I’m a nice person so why shouldn’t I be treated nice? However, loving on that person who is having a bad day, even though they’re taking their bad day out on you, is the best thing you can do.

People continually search for love. They’re searching for Christ’s character in you. The most important time to give, is when you feel like you can’t. If we do our part, God will bless it! Even if we don’t recieve our blessing here, we know God has stored it up in heaven. Lend people things, money, ect. without expecting it back in return. (Completely contradicts the world’s standards, I know…) Be kind, show love, because it’s what we are called to do as Children of God!

How will you give a little extra this holiday season? Don’t let giving be only something you do around Christmas!

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Identified By Our Actions

Hey everyone,

Sorry it has been such a long time since I have wrote last, but, I was getting married and moving across the United States to Louisiana with my Husband!

This is very brief, but here’s what I have been reflecting on the past couple days…

I really have been stuck in Matthew 7 lately and today this real stuck out to me:

“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:17-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have been looking at myself and realizing how I am a walking billboard for Christ. It recently hit me, with moving to a foreign place, that when people see me, what kind of fruit am I bearing? When an unbeliever looks at me, do they see me or do they see Christ’s character?

I began to look back at all the wedding planning and How stress slowly crept in towards the end. The stress began to overwhelm me and I wasn’t reflecting Christ’s character. However, when Brad and I had our ceremony, many people came up to us afterwards and told us how anointed it was. (It was such a beautiful thing to hear on our wedding day. The biggest blessing is to know that Abbas presence was apparent even to those who don’t know him.)

So how much fruit are you bearing? When unbelievers look at you do they see Christ’s character or you?

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭GALATIANS‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭AMP‬‬

For me, I need to be constant even through trials. What kind of fruit are you bearing in stressful, uncomfortable, and emotionally strenuous situations you may encounter?

It is a big responsibility to be a follower of Christ. No one said it was easy. However, I know that as long as my roots are founded in him and I ask, he will give me all the wisdom and strength and tools I need to reflect his character.