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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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All The Times I Thought God Wasn’t There…

I went to Pink Impact @ Gateway Church along with some other amazing women of god this weekend. Let me tell you, Holy Spirit taught every single one of us something this past weekend. I have many moments to share but I want to share a vision God painted for me in worship.

He brought me to these very raw moments of hurt. The times I felt lonely and like no one cared. The moments where I felt no one listening. He brought me to moments where I was abused and confused. He brought me to these moments of sorrow where I was sobbing, broken, and where I felt alone. He took me there and showed me Jesus in the background, weeping. His face was in anguish. I saw in his hand a vile of tears. Each tear I dropped was placed in this bottle.

Jesus spoke to me & said, when you felt the loneliest, I was there.

When you weeped and no one saw or cared to understand your pain, I was weeping with you.

My Child, I feel what you feel. I hurt when you hurt. All those times you thought I wasn’t there. I was.

I know every single tear you have cried. I know every reason you have felt hurt. I am who I say I am. & You are who I say you are.

Do not compare me to your earthly father. This will trip you up. Remember when you called me Abba. Remember your first love for me. Remember my goodness. Remember who I am and who you are in me.

As the worship continued I began to weep and realize that I had it all wrong. The times I didn’t understand, the ones that were the most painful, he wasn’t only there….he was weeping with me.

Even if you have the best Dad in the world, understand NOTHING compares to your heavenly Father.

God not only knows what we are going through, he feels it too. He keeps every single tear we have cried in a bottle.

On the flip side, if he can cry when we cry.

He must rejoice when we rejoice. Abba is a good father.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.”-Psalm 56:8

“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.”-John 11:34‭-‬35 NIV

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”-Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”-Psalm 119:76 NIV

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When Life Gives You Lemons You Freakout or Frank

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I just had locked the door on my way out of the Airbnb I stayed at with my family in Houston. I was ready to travel back the 3 hours to Louisiana. I had already said goodbye to my family early that morning since they had a plane to catch to make their way back to Michigan. I walked down the stairs and tried to unlock the car but had to manually unlock it. (What a tragedy) kidding! I went to go start the car and soon realized that I had a dead battery in the midst of a gated community somewhere outside of Houston. My family was already in Dallas by now and not to mention my husband was in training and far away from Texas, WITHOUT a car. I was faced with a choice…

Do I panic? Or do I remind myself and declare that God already has a plan for this?

I chose to deny my flesh and go with God’s promises. My heavenly father already has a plan.

I saw a random guy pull in and began to slightly jog to ask for help. I asked for help and he said he couldn’t help me. Me being me, of course asked if it was okay if I knocked on other people’s doors and the guy proceeded to tell me he has lived there a year and didn’t talk to anyone. I thanked him anyways and he told me to look for maintenance and maybe he could help. I walked into the pool and saw a man and began to explain I needed a jump and soon realized he was not the most fluent in English. But he offered to help. I was like THANKYOU JESUS!

We walked over to the car and soon saw the dilemma besides NOT having jumper cables…My car was in a parking space with grass, Rhonda the Honda, another vehicle with an unknown owner, and grass again. So he told me to stay there so I stood there and just continued to pray. I told him that I trusted him and that he will work out everything for the good.

Soon, a white minivan, one EXACTLY my grandmother and grandfather handed down to me had pulled up with a guy inside who asked if I needed help. I told him that I had someone helping me and he was going to go see if he had jumper cables. He soon pulled out a bag with brand new bought jumper cables and told me to keep them. I asked him for his name so I could give them back. He persisted that I keep them but if I decided not to give them to the maintenance guy and his name was “Frank”. Frank proceeded to pull away as I thanked him and told me to “have a blessed day”.

I looked up in awe, holding onto the brand new jumper cables and thanked God. I knew “Frank” was a blessing only God could send at his impeccable timing.

I was overwhelmed with emotion and thankfulness that his love is always on time.

Soon the pool guy found the owner of the other car, pulled his car forward, gave me a jump, and I was on my way back home to Louisiana.

I had two options here that I would like to call, Freakout or Frank.

I could’ve freaked out and worried for no reason. I was stuck 3 hours away from home with no one I knew or trusted to help. No jumper cables. & it seemed to be circumstance after circumstance.

Or instead of reacting in my flesh and acting on feelings, I could hold onto biblical truth and trust that Abba is an amazing father and he will take care of his daughter.

In this moment even a week before this, I would’ve reacted in my feelings. I would’ve panicked…(& probably cried, let’s be real). But instead Holy Spirit spoke to me and reminded me of a scripture I hold onto so dearly…

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”-Romans 8:28

So the next time you are going through something remember you have a choice: Freakout or Frank. You can choose to react in the way your flesh wants you to, in your emotions. Or you can remember who your father is and choose to believe that he will always keep his promises.

He is faithful.

He will never leave nor forsake you.

&

His love is always on time.