Prayers dramatic transformation

I have found myself going back and meditating on some oldies, but goodies. I say oldies because these are passages that began a good work in me in my twenties. I have known their work for thirty something years in my life. Like old friends, God will bring them to mind when I need the sword of the spirit to cut through a situation better described as emotion. 

I turned 59 this year. This stage brings on a whole new level of surprise awakened through the physical and emotional changes in womanhood. I keep getting surprised by how intensely my body and emotion can respond to a circumstance. Wozer! I am learning so much more about grace for women in this season. 

The other day Greg and I had a moment only as couples can have a moment. Lol. Well, honestly there was nothing funny about it. He said something. I said something. He said something and then swoosh... there it was. A level of intensity only fit for the front lines. 

As I am losing all reference to sanity or even modeling Christianity, God gave me these two verses. 

I stopped. I inhaled. I exhaled. I prayed. I prayed for him. I prayed for me. I repented for him. I repented for me. I gave God everything right down to calling out of us generational sin that effects communication and all of humanity. My prayer was as intense as the fire in me. 

When I was done my joy returned. My love overflowed. My heart towards Greg was restored. Y'all all of this happened in a span of maybe 3 to 5 minutes. Okay, maybe as much as 8 or 10 based on the distance Greg drove the car.

Why do I share this? It may seem so shameful to some, but here is the deal. I saw God radically change me when I was out of control because I had spent significant time through the years layering the Word of God in my heart. I have seen the power of calling on God in my time of need. I know the joy of His salvation helping me to do hard things. He has helped me before and He will help me again. None of us are perfect. We all fall short of His glory and grace. It is why Jesus came for goodness sake! 

I am not proud of the beginning of those 3 to 5 minutes, but I sure am thankful for the ending of the 8 to 10 minutes. I was transformed by the renewing of my mind. I chose to stop. I chose to pray. I chose to believe there can be a better way. I had faith God can do a good work in me and that He is faithful to complete it.

I am thankful I have a man that loves me despite of me and loves me because I am me. And I do the sane for him.

Maybe, just maybe you might identify with this type of moment. Maybe, just maybe you might need to remember who you are and what you are supposed to do as a child of God just like me. 

Pause. Pray. Give your urgent requests to God in the moment. You might be surprised by joy as He shows you, you can do hard things! 

It is important to be in the Word, to be with Jesus, so we can be trasnformed! 

Shalom, shalom, y'all!

God is "gospeling" me

"This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God's righteousness--a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living faith" ( Romans 1:17/TPT).

Oh boy!  Wow!  That verse made me chuckle this morning. In an instant, my mind covered three different moments.  

"Gospel"... most dont know what that means, yet in two different situations this week I heard it used over and over in settings where the simpler phrase of "good news" of Jesus is a better choice. I realized this is something God has revealed to me over time and experience. At first, I needed to hear the word "gospel" so I could learn what it means then I had to learn to share it simply so others could understand. Understanding provides stability. 

Then God flashed through my mind how just this week He was "gospeling" me. You know one of those moments when you are processing something and you need to be reminded of the "good news" of Jesus. In the moment, I had a choice to make. Do I allow the revelation of the truth that Jesus is "good news" even in this?  Or do do I allow unbelief, fear, frustrations, or anger to get in the way of the greater revelation?  Well, I could list a thousand things that could get in the way.

So, I paused and prayed seeking the greater revelation of God's righteousness. Greater revelation of truth provides stability.

I admit this was so much harder when I was younger. The older I get the more I celebrate that the "gospel" unveils continous revelation of God's righteousness.  I simply need to ask to join Him. It doesn't matter what is brought before in story, request, or even my own inadequacies. I can and will rest in His continual revelation of righteousness through the "good news" of Jesus. Recognizing the "good news" of Jesus is embracing truth. Truth sets us free. It provides stability that brings peace. 

So, I am okay when God is "gospeling" me. 

Father, help us to live by the power of faith. We welcome You "gospeling" us with reminders of the good news of Jesus so greater revelation of righteousness can be made known in us and through us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Art calms my heart

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

When I served as the Dean of Women at Grace University, God used art to help calm my nervous system from all the stress. I learned the power of using art that has no goal except "to be" to bring a calm to my mind. 

I realize you will not see it, but each of these are actually prayers where I used the process to pray through circumstances, feelings, frustrations, and emotions. Once I have spoken them out, I will begin praying characters traits of God and principles of truth from the Word of God over the circumstances, feelings, frustrations, and emotions. 

It has never ceased to amaze me how this prayer process calms me. The cool part is that science is starting to show the truth of this artistic practice through imaging. This process will bypass the critical mind and move into discovery and creativity. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 (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.”

Go ahead and try it. 

You might find you like it.

Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”