We will soon finish Anything by Jennie Allen
CLICK the 3 Horizontal Bars Above - Select: Anything February starts the very timely: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
0 Comments
Weeks ago we began a journey to gain a deeper understanding of how prayer works, and to practice tools that lead us into VICTORY over the enemy's plans. We know now how to pray with power and effectiveness!
Here are a few of my 'take-aways': In the Introduction Priscilla writes about the plots of the enemy that can exist in the background of our life. Is every challenge from the enemy? NO. But we cannot ignore that possibility because Jesus taught, 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." [emphasis mine] John 10.10a. Priscilla writes, "He [the enemy] want to see you passionless, powerless, and prayerless." p 14. So my number one take-away is: BE CONNECTED PASSIONATELY WITH GOD AND HIS WORD. REMEMBER TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN. REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR MYSELF, MY RELATIONSHIPS, AND FOR OTHERS. So how does that passionate connection and fervent prayer happen? In the chapter, Your Focus, Priscilla talks about the "full armor of God," Ephesians 6.14-17. "The needed weapons and protection for actively defeating the real enemy (vv. 14-17) --- the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of gospel peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation , and the sword of the spirit, better known as the Word of God." [emphasis mine] She writes: "Truth is God's standard. ... the benchmark of the Bible. Righteousness means right living --- the process by which we apply this truth to our lives... Peace is the deep, inner, eternal stability ... by virtue of relationship with Jesus... Faith is the application of what one believes... Salvation is both our eternal security ... as well as the full inheritance, [and finally] The Word of God is His present, relevant, personal Word for us today." What does all this mean? RELATIONSHIP with Jesus and the Word equips me with power to defeat the enemy's plots! The book then focuses on a number of areas in our life. Each chapter offers us the opportunity to look more closely at our circumstances, reactions, relationships, hopes and dreams, and to recognize flaws and areas where we might be vulnerable. There are chapters that were more relevant to me than others, perhaps it was the same for you... This book is a 'primer,' a beginning place for understanding the HUGE POWER within prayer... and how to get to that place where your prayers CAN EFFECT CHANGE ~ not just in your life, but in the lives of all those you love and pray for. You can leave your thoughts about the book or prayer by clicking the "Comments" button below. What did Fervent mean to you? 2 Comments “If I were your enemy, I’d work to create division between you and other Christians, between groups of Christians, anyone with the potential for uniting in a battle against me and my plans. I’d keep you operating individually, not seeing your need for the church…” There's very little more comforting or peaceful than a quiet puppy, warm and cozy in your lap or hand. It's a heart-warming feeling of peace. Our church can also be that same source of peace. God created Her to give peace, companionship, comfort, etc. But, have you ever witnessed a church split? That time when God’s children separate into camps, choosing up sides while digging in for the long haul. Each group convinced of their innocence believing the other is tearing God’s church apart. The situation has the potential to make mortal enemies of those who were brothers and sisters in Christ. Some important thoughts in this chapter:
"So starting today, we craft a prayer strategy with peace in mind, leading to peace of mind for ourselves and the ones we love." Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. Philippians 2.1-4 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ... having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~ Andi , "If I were your enemy, I'd use every opportunity to bring old wounds to mind, as well as the people, events and circumstances that caused them. I'd try to ensure that your heart was hardened with anger and bitterness..." In this chapter Priscilla shares an important story. It's a tale of misunderstanding, growing anger, all eventually ending in deeply-rooted bitterness and hurt. I've lived through it, that revolving doorway of hurt. Just like the revolving doors at the airport we have opportunities to simply walk out, but instead we continue going around in that circle. When remembering some of my most painful hurts it seemed that after a while what caused the misunderstanding didn't matter as much to me as the woundedness I blamed on someone else. But if we could see behind the scenes we'd realize that while we're going through all this suffering, the enemy is laughing! The enemy enjoys layering on injury and imagining - encouraging the creative 'blaming' on everyone but us to run wild! Soon a sad situation has become a mess. We're playing right into the enemy's hands. Holding a grudge? Feeling abused? Unforgiving? Convinced of the absolute worst we could 'imagine...?' Blaming others... We're headed straight into an attitude of bitterness and hurt... On page 161 Priscilla writes: "Prayer gets at the truth. The truth of what happened? Yes. If that's really what took place, then yes. The real facts and details don't change as you get real with God in prayer. But get ready for some other pieces of information to bubble up to the surface as well..." It's true that when we come to a place of wanting healing - God will help us. (But He never said it would be pretty.) You may see, as Priscilla did, as I did, your own complicity in the misunderstanding. You may see that your unforgiveness caused an escalation of the hurt you and another suffered. You may even see that your mistaken impressions fostered an attitude of false impressions that had nothing to do with the truth. Then, when God lays all the evidence on the table, you can pick up the pieces that are yours. You can ask for His forgiveness and watch those pieces vanish. You feel the freedom and peace of forgiveness and are able to then focus on forgiving. "If I were your enemy, I'd make everything seem urgent, as if it's all yours to handle. I'd bog down your calendar with so many expectations you couldn't tell the difference between what's important and what's not. Going and doing, guilty for never saying no, trying to control it all, but just being controlled by it all instead ..." I may have mentioned this quote before, but it's ingrained in my head because this has, at times, been MY life! “Hurry is not of the Devil; it is the Devil.” ~ Carl Jung. You may have had similar thoughts about scurrying here and there, never enough time, too much to do for one 24-hour period. Jung points out this is not just a condition of life today, it has a real source, an ill-intentioned power bent on draining our joy and hope by stacking up so much pressure in one day that it's impossible to win. I hesitate to say this (because eyes-roll), but it's really true: In order to squash the pressure of never having enough time WE MUST TAKE TIME! Here Priscilla takes up an old concept that's SO worth implementing. The tradition is called: the Sabbath. Sabbath is a day of rest. A stopping of the going. An end of pressure for one 24-hour period each week when you unwind, de-stress, rest and re-evaluate life, connect with loved ones, your goals, whatever may need your time. It's a period for family and self. Read. Hobby. Sleep. Whatever! It's ok. Priscilla writes: "Why does this concept of stopping, resting, shutting off, stepping away, pulling back, taking a deep breath--the biblical command of Sabbath--why is it so hard..." "Because to some degree, we're slaves just as they [the Israelites] were. The thought of deliberately choosing a time of rest ... around our full slate of activities feels almost unthinkable--because ... [we] still think the way a slave thinks..." OUCH! One final word from this chapter, "When our lives are packed to the brim with things that squeeze God to the periphery, its a sure sign we've replaced our devotion to God with a love for something else." I'm guilty. Are you? Time for Sabbath. Time for re-ordering priorities. Time to evaluate what really matters? Time to TAKE BACK CONTROL! |
About Me
I'm supposed to tell you a little about myself ~ So here we go: Archives
January 2017
Categories |