This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion was about developing an intimate friendship with God. Our friendship with God is the most important one we can develop, and being called a friend of God is an amazing thing! But friendships take time and energy. You can’t call yourself a friend of God if you don’t spend time with Him, just like you can’t call yourself someone’s friend just because you know them.
I put so much energy into trying to be friends with everyone and helping them all that sometimes I forget that what I really need to be doing is developing the most important friendship I have. I feel like this next two months, in the middle of the crazy amount of things I need to get done, I need to really work on developing my friendship with God. I’ve been learning just how powerful prayer is and experiencing the wonders of God, but when that happens, sometimes we lose sight of what God intends for us: an intimate friendship with Him. Yes, He wanted me to experience these things I experienced this week (what friend doesn’t want their friend to experience wonderful things?), but He wants me to remember that my purpose is to grow closer to Him in friendship, as well as “spirituality.”
God is the best friend I could ever ask for. And He will never let me down!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Peace
Last night at prayer group, a lot of powerful things happened. Immediately after we began to pray, I could feel the Spirit, and out of nowhere, I had the strongest urgency to pray for the young man who abused me not long ago. So I cried out to God and held nothing in my prayers back. I mentally went through every room in his house and asked God to clean them out and get rid of the body. I prayed that someone would come into his life that he might really know God—not just say he does. After a lot of prayer, I felt a peace on the subject, although I still wonder where God is going to take that prayer and if I’m going to play some part in helping this man to Jesus.
After that I began to pour out my own problem: Where does God want me? I prayed for some kind of clear sign or road map, but God doesn’t work that way. After some time praying, I felt a peace and felt as if God was saying, “This is where I want you to be right now.” I opened my eyes and looked to the skies and saw one star shining bright in the sky. It was peaceful to me. God will lead me a little at a time and I will not lose my way, just like people long ago followed the stars so they wouldn’t get lost. They couldn’t always see far in front of them, but they knew they could find their way.
After that, my heart swelled with praise. I didn’t know how to express it right. I just asked God, “What do you want me to do right now?” and I could feel so strongly in my heart that He replied, “Run!” So I ran. I ran so fast, I spun in circles, and I couldn’t stop! I have never gone that fast. Afterwards Aaron even said for a minute he didn’t know if it was me, I was running so fast!
After running and praising God the entire time, I went a way away from the group and started softly singing praises to God. I felt at peace. Then I felt like God was calling me back to the group. Laura was on the ground praying and crying, and honestly, I had no idea what to do. I said, “God, I don’t know what words to say, but I know you want me to hug her and comfort her.” So I hugged her and held her while she prayed and cried. After she was done, we talked a little, then went for a little walk to talk some more.
When we got back, the rest of the group was done praying, and we started to talk with each other. Aaron and Laura separated from the group a little and started a long chat. Ray, David, Elizabeth and I were chatting and laughing and having fun. Then we noticed Laura praying over Aaron, and we all went to pray over him. While we were praying, I had my hand above his arm and I felt the same tingling feeling I felt when I started to pray that evening. I know the Spirit was there in a strong way during our prayers. I’m still learning and I have no idea what all of this means, but it means something.
The biggest feeling I walked away with that night was peace. God has given me a peace about all of these things in my life that used to worry me so much. I need to hold on to that peace, even as I am headed home soon.
Glory to God forever!
After that I began to pour out my own problem: Where does God want me? I prayed for some kind of clear sign or road map, but God doesn’t work that way. After some time praying, I felt a peace and felt as if God was saying, “This is where I want you to be right now.” I opened my eyes and looked to the skies and saw one star shining bright in the sky. It was peaceful to me. God will lead me a little at a time and I will not lose my way, just like people long ago followed the stars so they wouldn’t get lost. They couldn’t always see far in front of them, but they knew they could find their way.
After that, my heart swelled with praise. I didn’t know how to express it right. I just asked God, “What do you want me to do right now?” and I could feel so strongly in my heart that He replied, “Run!” So I ran. I ran so fast, I spun in circles, and I couldn’t stop! I have never gone that fast. Afterwards Aaron even said for a minute he didn’t know if it was me, I was running so fast!
After running and praising God the entire time, I went a way away from the group and started softly singing praises to God. I felt at peace. Then I felt like God was calling me back to the group. Laura was on the ground praying and crying, and honestly, I had no idea what to do. I said, “God, I don’t know what words to say, but I know you want me to hug her and comfort her.” So I hugged her and held her while she prayed and cried. After she was done, we talked a little, then went for a little walk to talk some more.
When we got back, the rest of the group was done praying, and we started to talk with each other. Aaron and Laura separated from the group a little and started a long chat. Ray, David, Elizabeth and I were chatting and laughing and having fun. Then we noticed Laura praying over Aaron, and we all went to pray over him. While we were praying, I had my hand above his arm and I felt the same tingling feeling I felt when I started to pray that evening. I know the Spirit was there in a strong way during our prayers. I’m still learning and I have no idea what all of this means, but it means something.
The biggest feeling I walked away with that night was peace. God has given me a peace about all of these things in my life that used to worry me so much. I need to hold on to that peace, even as I am headed home soon.
Glory to God forever!
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 29)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion was talking about how God closes and opens doors for us. We need to trust that He will close the doors that need to be closed and open the doors that need to stay open. This is a big thing for me, because last night I was praying that I would know what God’s plan for me is, but I came away with just a peace for where I’m at. God doesn’t want me to know where I’m going or what I’m doing until I pass through that door.
I worry so much that I will make the wrong choice in college or go the wrong direction, but after I felt that burning in my chest while talking to the teacher at the college about my choice in major, I knew that was God saying, “You’re where you’re meant to be.” I just need to feel that one step at a time to know that I am in the center of God’s will.
God will lead me step by step; I don’t need to worry about that. What I need to do is learn how to be content with only knowing part of the plan.
Today’s devotion was talking about how God closes and opens doors for us. We need to trust that He will close the doors that need to be closed and open the doors that need to stay open. This is a big thing for me, because last night I was praying that I would know what God’s plan for me is, but I came away with just a peace for where I’m at. God doesn’t want me to know where I’m going or what I’m doing until I pass through that door.
I worry so much that I will make the wrong choice in college or go the wrong direction, but after I felt that burning in my chest while talking to the teacher at the college about my choice in major, I knew that was God saying, “You’re where you’re meant to be.” I just need to feel that one step at a time to know that I am in the center of God’s will.
God will lead me step by step; I don’t need to worry about that. What I need to do is learn how to be content with only knowing part of the plan.
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 28)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion is about how when we listen for God to speak to us, we shouldn’t limit Him by saying, “I will only let Him speak to me through the Bible, and not dreams or friends.” We need to learn to listen for God in a lot of things. He is constantly speaking to us, and we just need to hear Him.
God has been working on me about that. I often think that because I have so many dreams, God can’t speak to me through them. But sometimes certain dreams stick with me more and often times it’s something God wants me to keep in mind or discover.
For me, God usually speaks through situations or things I see. I’ve gotten so used to that kind of communication that perhaps I look for that more than anything. I’m getting closer to where I should be, but I’m still not there.
Today’s devotion is about how when we listen for God to speak to us, we shouldn’t limit Him by saying, “I will only let Him speak to me through the Bible, and not dreams or friends.” We need to learn to listen for God in a lot of things. He is constantly speaking to us, and we just need to hear Him.
God has been working on me about that. I often think that because I have so many dreams, God can’t speak to me through them. But sometimes certain dreams stick with me more and often times it’s something God wants me to keep in mind or discover.
For me, God usually speaks through situations or things I see. I’ve gotten so used to that kind of communication that perhaps I look for that more than anything. I’m getting closer to where I should be, but I’m still not there.
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 27)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today Meyer writes that we need to pray boldly for the things we need. We need to pray expecting results and having faith that God will give us what we need, instead of praying and just hoping God will answer our prayers.
She goes on to write that we are not righteous because of the things we do right, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. A lot of times, we don’t feel worthy of the things we ask God for, so we don’t really expect Him to answer our prayers. Up until Thursday, that was me. I didn’t feel like I was good enough to approach God with the things I needed. I felt impure because of both my sins and the things that happened to me last year.
But God makes us clean, and we are His sons and daughters. We can approach Him with our needs (and wants) and expect to get answers from Him. It’s not because of what we do or have done, but because of what He has done on the cross!
O praise Him!
Today Meyer writes that we need to pray boldly for the things we need. We need to pray expecting results and having faith that God will give us what we need, instead of praying and just hoping God will answer our prayers.
She goes on to write that we are not righteous because of the things we do right, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. A lot of times, we don’t feel worthy of the things we ask God for, so we don’t really expect Him to answer our prayers. Up until Thursday, that was me. I didn’t feel like I was good enough to approach God with the things I needed. I felt impure because of both my sins and the things that happened to me last year.
But God makes us clean, and we are His sons and daughters. We can approach Him with our needs (and wants) and expect to get answers from Him. It’s not because of what we do or have done, but because of what He has done on the cross!
O praise Him!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 26)
This blog is about today’s devotion from the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion was about the Holy Spirit as our comforter. When we go to other people for comfort when we should be seeking comfort from God, we will always be disappointed. But when we seek God and His Spirit for our comfort, we will never be disappointed!
I learned this the other night at the prayer group. Not only does the Holy Spirit comfort me, but the Holy Spirit heals me of the wounds I have from the things of my past. I’m free from those now! They are gone. The hurt is gone. The constant reminders in every day life that I used to have are GONE!
O praise Him!
Today’s devotion was about the Holy Spirit as our comforter. When we go to other people for comfort when we should be seeking comfort from God, we will always be disappointed. But when we seek God and His Spirit for our comfort, we will never be disappointed!
I learned this the other night at the prayer group. Not only does the Holy Spirit comfort me, but the Holy Spirit heals me of the wounds I have from the things of my past. I’m free from those now! They are gone. The hurt is gone. The constant reminders in every day life that I used to have are GONE!
O praise Him!
A Healing and a Change
Last night at the prayer group, Aaron prayed for healing in my legs, and his dad felt like God was asking him to pray for healing for me as well. Aaron said that when he touched my knees and prayed to God to heal them, he could feel that they were healed.
My faith has grown and I have asked God to take away the unbelief. He has healed me, and there has not been pain ever since last night, at least not in my legs, which were giving me so much trouble.
And I noticed when I look in the mirror, my eyes have changed color. My eyes are lighter now. The darkness that was inside of me is no longer there. God has healed my spirit and part of my body. I know He will heal the rest in His own time.
The thing that I was told would never heal is gone. Everyone said that a piece of my rape/sexual assault would always stick with me, but since last night, it’s no longer a part of me. I feel so amazing. When it was brought up with Aaron today, I didn’t stare into space and darken like I did only two days ago. I talked about it almost as if it was something that happened in a story we both read. I am a testimony to the great healing God can bring to someone who has gone through even this.
O praise Him!
My faith has grown and I have asked God to take away the unbelief. He has healed me, and there has not been pain ever since last night, at least not in my legs, which were giving me so much trouble.
And I noticed when I look in the mirror, my eyes have changed color. My eyes are lighter now. The darkness that was inside of me is no longer there. God has healed my spirit and part of my body. I know He will heal the rest in His own time.
The thing that I was told would never heal is gone. Everyone said that a piece of my rape/sexual assault would always stick with me, but since last night, it’s no longer a part of me. I feel so amazing. When it was brought up with Aaron today, I didn’t stare into space and darken like I did only two days ago. I talked about it almost as if it was something that happened in a story we both read. I am a testimony to the great healing God can bring to someone who has gone through even this.
O praise Him!
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 25)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
In today’s devotion, Meyer writes about closing our mouths and calming our minds to hear from God. Sometimes I worry so much about how to solve a problem that I don’t slow down long enough to hear from God on what I should do. I like to believe I’m getting better about it, but there’s always room for improvement.
Days when I’m thinking about so little are when God speaks to me the loudest, much like the other day by the creek. I had cleared my mind and was ready to listen to God, and He did not disappoint. Any time that we clear our minds and ask to hear from Him, we will. We just need to be ready to listen.
In today’s devotion, Meyer writes about closing our mouths and calming our minds to hear from God. Sometimes I worry so much about how to solve a problem that I don’t slow down long enough to hear from God on what I should do. I like to believe I’m getting better about it, but there’s always room for improvement.
Days when I’m thinking about so little are when God speaks to me the loudest, much like the other day by the creek. I had cleared my mind and was ready to listen to God, and He did not disappoint. Any time that we clear our minds and ask to hear from Him, we will. We just need to be ready to listen.
The White Rose - My Experience at Prayer Group
I went to a prayer group tonight with Aaron. Heather was there as well, and I met three others. We met up at the chapel, and then we started to walk to find a place to pray. The more we walked, the more the pain in my body grew. I could feel Satan and his demons didn’t want me to be there. As we started to share, then pray, I felt more and more pain. I felt not just the physical pain, but some of the emotional pain as well: the feeling that I am not worthy, that I am not pure.
As we shared stories of things God had done this week, this guy said that he’s been really worried about things and that he knows he needs to just trust God each step of the way. This brought back the verse God showed me yesterday: “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24) I shared this with him, and he smiled so big. Everyone knew it was God who put that verse in my path yesterday to give to this boy today.
After everyone shared their stories, we began to pray. The pain in my body was overwhelming. The reminders of my sins and the things done to me—the violations of my purity—were strong. Satan wanted to hold me back. But then someone (I think it was Laura) stepped forward and put their hand on me and started to pray over me. In no time, everyone was praying over me and I was weeping. Whenever someone mentioned purity and how God makes me pure, I cried harder and harder. Eventually I couldn’t take it and I fell to my knees. Everyone continued to pray over me. Those who had just met me said things that only God could have told them, and I felt surrounded by God.
Then Aaron told me that God gave him a vision about me. What he wrote on the paper I now have in front of me is this: “Beforehand, while getting ready, I received a mental image of us praying over Faith. The word “lamp stand” came to me, along with the Book of Daniel. This then led me to Revelation with the 7 churches, or the 7 lamp stands. Faith, you ARE the Church! You are His BELOVED! (see Deut. Verse that I got you!).
The Laura spoke, and mentioned a white rose. I nearly cried; white roses are my favorite because they represent purity—purity that I long for again. What she wrote on the paper is this: “God gave me a picture of you as a white rose. He sees you as white, pure and cleansed by His blood. And the rose is also beautiful which He also sees you as. He created you beautifully, never forget that! Love!
I have struggled with feeling like God has really cleansed me of the things done to me and the things I have done, and so now with these visions that people have received, I know that I am pure! God has made me pure! I am His beloved! And I know that God is planning to use me to be His church and to do great things throughout the world. I know He wants me to start right here in Mount Vernon. I must tell everyone I can about these great things God has been doing in my life!
Then Aaron’s dad had to give me a ride home. Within minutes of me getting in the car, he told me that around 9:40 PM he felt that God was putting it on his heart to pray for me (this was around the same time everyone else was praying for me). This just confirmed even further that God was really at work tonight and that the spirits that mean to harm me and tell me I’m not worth it are WRONG. THEY HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!
Then after I got to my grandma’s apartment, I had a bite to eat then went into her closet (the only place I could turn on the light and read). I looked at my shirts and was trying to decide what to wear. I saw my green shirt that my aunt gave me, and took a closer look. I had never looked especially close to the shirt, but now I see it clearly: The word “Faith” is across the top. There is a white rose with wings behind it. And below are the words “Trust You.” This was just one more thing that just made this night perfect and I know that it is God working with the things that surround me to make this happen.
I will sleep in the peace of the Holy Spirit tonight. God is so great!!
As we shared stories of things God had done this week, this guy said that he’s been really worried about things and that he knows he needs to just trust God each step of the way. This brought back the verse God showed me yesterday: “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24) I shared this with him, and he smiled so big. Everyone knew it was God who put that verse in my path yesterday to give to this boy today.
After everyone shared their stories, we began to pray. The pain in my body was overwhelming. The reminders of my sins and the things done to me—the violations of my purity—were strong. Satan wanted to hold me back. But then someone (I think it was Laura) stepped forward and put their hand on me and started to pray over me. In no time, everyone was praying over me and I was weeping. Whenever someone mentioned purity and how God makes me pure, I cried harder and harder. Eventually I couldn’t take it and I fell to my knees. Everyone continued to pray over me. Those who had just met me said things that only God could have told them, and I felt surrounded by God.
Then Aaron told me that God gave him a vision about me. What he wrote on the paper I now have in front of me is this: “Beforehand, while getting ready, I received a mental image of us praying over Faith. The word “lamp stand” came to me, along with the Book of Daniel. This then led me to Revelation with the 7 churches, or the 7 lamp stands. Faith, you ARE the Church! You are His BELOVED! (see Deut. Verse that I got you!).
The Laura spoke, and mentioned a white rose. I nearly cried; white roses are my favorite because they represent purity—purity that I long for again. What she wrote on the paper is this: “God gave me a picture of you as a white rose. He sees you as white, pure and cleansed by His blood. And the rose is also beautiful which He also sees you as. He created you beautifully, never forget that! Love!
I have struggled with feeling like God has really cleansed me of the things done to me and the things I have done, and so now with these visions that people have received, I know that I am pure! God has made me pure! I am His beloved! And I know that God is planning to use me to be His church and to do great things throughout the world. I know He wants me to start right here in Mount Vernon. I must tell everyone I can about these great things God has been doing in my life!
Then Aaron’s dad had to give me a ride home. Within minutes of me getting in the car, he told me that around 9:40 PM he felt that God was putting it on his heart to pray for me (this was around the same time everyone else was praying for me). This just confirmed even further that God was really at work tonight and that the spirits that mean to harm me and tell me I’m not worth it are WRONG. THEY HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!
Then after I got to my grandma’s apartment, I had a bite to eat then went into her closet (the only place I could turn on the light and read). I looked at my shirts and was trying to decide what to wear. I saw my green shirt that my aunt gave me, and took a closer look. I had never looked especially close to the shirt, but now I see it clearly: The word “Faith” is across the top. There is a white rose with wings behind it. And below are the words “Trust You.” This was just one more thing that just made this night perfect and I know that it is God working with the things that surround me to make this happen.
I will sleep in the peace of the Holy Spirit tonight. God is so great!!
Hearing from God Each Morning (June 24)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion talks about listening to the Holy Spirit to grow as close as we want with God. Our relationship with God is not limited by God, but by our own minds. If we open our minds and let Him in, we can be as close to Him as we want.
I’ve been learning about that a lot lately. I feel like I have tried to limit God to what is comfortable and what is more legalistic. Lately I’ve been breaking free from the legalistic Christianity and learning about who God is. I have been seeking Him, and He does not disappoint. I have found His voice loud and clear in the Bible as well as in things I go through (just look at my last couple of blogs!).
There is no limit to how close we can get to God. And I intend in getting as close as I can to Him.
Today’s devotion talks about listening to the Holy Spirit to grow as close as we want with God. Our relationship with God is not limited by God, but by our own minds. If we open our minds and let Him in, we can be as close to Him as we want.
I’ve been learning about that a lot lately. I feel like I have tried to limit God to what is comfortable and what is more legalistic. Lately I’ve been breaking free from the legalistic Christianity and learning about who God is. I have been seeking Him, and He does not disappoint. I have found His voice loud and clear in the Bible as well as in things I go through (just look at my last couple of blogs!).
There is no limit to how close we can get to God. And I intend in getting as close as I can to Him.
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