Category: Gentleness

I am tired of being the strong one…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Matthew 11:27-29 New Century Version (NCV)

“My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son, except the Father. And no one knows the Father, except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to tell.

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.

Reflection:

I have always been the responsible one. I am the oldest child in my family, was one of the older children in my grade….not to mention I have the propensity to like things in order as much as possible. As are result, people tended to look to me when things were falling apart. Given that I have the gifting of exhortation, I sincerely love listening and helping in any way that I can. However, I found out later on in life that sort of approach leaves one very tired. Not tired of helping people, but tired of the constant drawing of one’s spirit.

My time with the Lord is very precious to me. I am always filled up and recharged for the day ahead. However at times I feel like people seek me out because they feel like I have this special line to God. Those are the times I feel like I am not doing enough for the Kingdom of God.  Then the Holy Spirit reminds me that it is not job to receive blessings for other people, just to pray for them and have faith that God will be faithful to His Word. Blessings are for the individual to receive and unwrap from the Lord. In our message scripture this week Jesus emphasizes that we should give our burdens to Him. I don’t have to be the strong one, I just have to be faithful to my calling in Christ and in that I will doing my part for my Kingdom.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • What issue(s)/situation(s) are you taking ownership of today? Is it your own or a loved one?
  • Meditate on the below scripture.
  • Release the ownership to the resolution of that issue(s)/ situation(s) to the Lord.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

– 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Jack of all trades, master of none

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 New King James Version (NKJV)

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Reflection:

Being a mom that works outside the home, I feel like I have failed or “struck out” by eight in the morning most days. Some may think that is early, but on some days it could be even earlier.  For everyone to be on-time, we all have to be out of the house by 6:45am.  With a husband and three kids, getting everyone out of the house, with everything they need, and on-time is just short of a miracle each day.   At any given time, we as mothers are constantly wearing a lot of hats.  A “small” miracle, like getting to work on-time, sadly I don’t thank the Lord enough for.

Expecting to be the best in every area of your life is not realistic, especially when there are forces working against you in the spiritual realm that pick at your Christian walk every day. If some of us listened to what we said to ourselves it is no wonder we may live a defeated lifestyle that is a poor witness to God’s goodness.  Do you really have to do all those things you are doing on a daily basis or are you running on auto pilot?

The sooner we identify the things that the Lord would have us do for Him, the less strike outs we will have and the better witness we will be for the people around us.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your note book:

  • Write down all the activities that you do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
  • Under each item list the pros and cons of each task
  • For the items that have the most cons or giving you the most stress give it God in prayer and act on what He tells you to do.
  • Saints, we should be doing this at least quarterly through the course of a year. Remember our most precious gift that the Lord has given us other than Jesus is time, it is priceless. The only way to experience true wealth is to spend it wisely.

Stagnant Water

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

John 7:38 New King James Version (NKJV)

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Isaiah 22:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

‘They will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quantity, from the cups to all the pitchers.

Reflection:

The Lord created us to be vessels of His Word. At the same time, God also gave us free will.  We are responsible for what we fill our hearts with.  Imagine yourself like a pitcher (Isaiah 22:24), filled to the brim. What is the next step – to be poured out? For us, Believers, that should be a daily event.  During your quiet time with the Lord every morning, you get filled up with living water (John 7:38).  Over the course of the day, this water is poured out over the people you come in contact with.   If you need a “fill up”, the Holy Spirit is right there to assist with any challenge that may come along.  Now that’s how it should work….spoiler alert….I am about to step on some toes.  Like the manna the Lord provided to the Israelites in the desert, water that is poured out into your heart, if not poured out in some ways becomes stagnant water.  Mosquitoes are a byproduct of stagnant water….in this case negative people/situations, bitterness, disease, etc.   If you ask Him, the Lord is willing and able to clean out your vessel (heart) and fill you back up again.  So if you go to church on Sunday and throw your Bible in the back seat of the car until the following service….your heart could possibly be saturated in some stagnant water.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your note book.

If you feel stagnant in your prayer life or in life in general, ask the Lord to reveal to you if you have a clog (a stronghold) or disobedience in an area in your life.

  • Make of list of items or situations that come to mind.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you unclog your heart and allow for the living water to flow forth once again.
  • Moving forward you should always be mindful of the possible gradual accumulation of sediment in your heart.