I've felt a strong urge to write for a while, but finding the time has been hard for me. I have a tendency to do really well with spending time in the word and worship then slowly let life get in the way. The Lord is teaching me about both balance and effort this season. I'll share a vision on the effort part in a moment. Balancing time in the word, worship, fellowship, with family, as a wife, as a masters student, working, giving dogs attention, and clearing out my house has been difficult. I found myself stressed and slipping back into a negative mindset.
You'd think with what I preach, I'd know better than to get sucked in to a negative thought pattern believing the random lies the enemy was whispering in my ear but no..I still fall for it at times. That's when I get out of balance. When the enemy comes whispering in my ear about shortcomings, insecurities or things I need to take care of, and I let my mind roll these things around like that row of crushed seashells, being churned in the waves as the ocean tide comes in and out. Constant movement and activity but never really going anywhere. In reality, it does no good. The next thing I know, hours have gone by and I've done nothing productive but sit and think about all the things. When it really comes down to it, in a million years, will any of those things matter? No. So why let them steal time out of my day that I could spend focusing on what will?
We all have an expiration date. It's what happens after that date that counts. If your neighbors house was on fire would you not want them pulled out of that fire? As Christians, why are we so comfortable walking past people every day that may or may not burn for eternity? We can't be complacent in our comfort zones. We can't let our guard down. Spiritual warfare is warfare for a reason. The enemy looks for weakness and exploits it. Sometimes we need more deliverance and sometimes we need more discipline. Balance requires discipline. Effort requires discipline.
Toward the beginning of this year I had been ministering a lot and not balancing out enough time with the kids. Then a season has come where I've focused so much on my family, my new job, school and settling into a new routine that I've felt that I've gotten distant from spending enough time with the Lord. We attended a meeting at a house church last night that reminded me why I do what I am called to do. It brought a conviction for being in a place where I really have hidden behind my comfort and not stepped out when He had nudged me, on more than one occasion. I was loving my comfort more than I was loving my neighbors.
It's easier to run to the store and get in and out quick than it is to take the effort and ask that man with crutches over there if you can pray for him. When did I tie the Lord's hands by walking right past someone the Lord wanted to heal, to deliver or to remind them of His love for them? How many people fail to know that the Lord sees them, loves them and desires a covenant relationship with them because I put my head down and keep walking? How many people remain bound in church because we don't minister deliverance? How many people live as Christians and never hear the word repent? We have work to do.
During worship yesterday the Lord showed me a large door. There was nothing around, just clouds, sky, and this probably 50 foot tall wooden door. It was curved at the top and came to a slight point, it was thick, heavy and had one round door knob with no lock. I saw a young woman standing in front of that door. Then the Lord put on my heart that so many of us have no idea what we are standing in front of. We feel so intimidated by the size and strength it will take to change something or get something moving that we never even try. We stop, we freeze, we think about what it would be like to walk through the door, to be on the other side, and we waste so much time thinking about things but we never even reach for the handle to see if it's unlocked.
The Lord took me to 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but it was God that gave the increase. The Lord reminded me that God giving the increase was because of the planting and the watering that was already done. If we do not plant and water, He can't bring the increase. Christianity isn't living your best life, it's sacrificing your comfort for the lives of those around you. It's stepping out in faith and knowing that the Lord will use you because you stepped out. I saw the vision of the girl again and this time her hand reached out toward the door. In the moment she leaned forward and began to reach toward the door knob the door cracked open. Our effort brings the increase. These signs shall follow those that believe. Don’t tie the Lords hands because you think He won’t use you. Don’t shrink back. If I never encountered the love of Jesus and the freedom of deliverance where would I be? This is why I minister deliverance. This is why I pray for healing. To Glorify the Lord and share what He has done for me. Share what He’s done for you. You have no idea the number of lives that can be transformed just by you sharing your testimony. Stop holding back. They’re on fire and they don’t even know it.
Revelation 3:8 - I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalms 24:7 - Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Isaiah 22:22 - And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
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