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I Can’t Adult Today

I can’t adult today. I simply can’t.

Every bit of noise was received like nails on a chalkboard.

Every whine from a child bought me that much closer to the edge.

Pregnancy and exhaustion have left me vulnerable to attack.  My defenses have been weakened.  And for a moment, instead of recognizing the situation for what it was, I succumbed and accepted the lie that I just can’t.  I was ready to give in, have a tantrum, pout and whine.  Seems like it didn’t even cross my mind to pray.

So I sent a prayer request to a friend; a friend who I don’t normally reach out to with such requests, a friend with whom I don’t normally disclose my personal battles.  But this day, I was prompted to reach out to this friend.  I’m so glad I did.

Her pray immediately redirected my focus.  Her words had me stand erect, at attention.

After her reply, I was taken aback by my initial response to the pressure. How did I not turn to prayer as my 1st defense?  Had I forgotten to pray when I feel defeated and ready to give up? Thank God for my friend’s power packed prayer as it redirected my focus and I could regain enough footing to stand.

 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

 

And while standing, I prayed, “Oh Lord, Deliver me from the evil one. Oh Lord, that you would keep me from evil.  Lord allow me to stand my ground as he tries to approach. Let me not rest in my own ability to defeat sin and temptation, but let me be reminded that it is with your authority and through your power that I can stand against the wiles of the enemy. Lord keep me safe from the temptations that can so easily ensnare.  Open my eyes to see my vulnerabilities and weaknesses.  Lord be the compound that fills the cracks and crevices. You are the chief cornerstone, my strong tower, my defense.”

So I walked into the next day, renewed. I walked in confident that the Lord would keep the evil one from me. [bctt tweet=”When we declare the truth of God’s word, we are given an IMMEDIATE opportunity to put it into practice.” username=”inspiredfully”]

Indeed the Lord is faithful to keep the evil one from us, but are we positioning ourselves to stay out of the evil one’s way?  When the Lord CLEARLY allows us to SEE the fowler’s snare, will we circumvent it or step right into it?

Well my day that started confident and strong got fractured.  First, I drove my truck into an under ground parking garage, only to remember after hearing this terrible scraping that I had my luggage rack on the top.  I proceeded to slowly exit the garage but the damage was already done.  The top was contorted and near ripped off.  Now I was late for picking my daughter up from a test.  As I was trying to figure out how to rectify the damaged rack, she was texting and calling.  And she, being a bit of a worrywart began to get anxious.  I told her what was going on and that I’d be right there.  She then proceeds to call and tell my husband about the luggage rack.

Great, let’s complicate it even more.

I couldn’t get the container to close and surely we couldn’t drive back on the highway with it flopping in the wind.  It had to be removed.  So get the picture: a VERY pregnant me, 2 weeks from due date, standing precariously on the running board, hanging onto the top railings trying to unscrew this huge rack….Ummm, yeah.

By God’s grace we successfully get the rack off.  People walking in the parking lot gave us curious glances.  But now, where oh where would we fit this monstrosity?  This thing weighs 35 lbs., is nearly 4 feet long and 3 feet wide.  The truck already has 6 occupants and a teeny tiny trunk….You get the picture. I was tempted to leave it right there in that parking lot.  After much maneuvering and seat changes, we were able to j-u-s-t fit it into the car.  Well on that ride home, the rack was blocking my rear view, and my gas light was on.  Would I step into the snare?  I precariously teetered by it, but God reassured me to maintain my composure and to praise Him.

As I was driving on the highway, I saw something black fly off my car?  What was that?  Did it really come off my car?  Was that a piece of the rack? Hey where’s my husband’s phone?  I had it, now it’s missing.  I remember having it

IN

MY

HAND

when I climbed up to get the rack off.  Did I? Did I leave it on the car?  Needless to say, that was probably the phone as my husband went to the location  on the highway  a short time after and recovered the case but not the phone.

Seems like after all that, I was lost again and circling precipitously near the snare.  My vision was blurry.  I remembered the snare was somewhere in my vicinity.  LORD I can’t see, please don’t let me step in the snare.

Feeling slightly defeated, but not completely without hope, I cried out to the Lord who is a very present help in times of trouble.  Erica Campbell sings a song called HELP.  And that was surely my cry.  I stood, crying out, “Abba, help. Keep me from the evil one. Abba, I’m feeling weak. I don’t want to give up. Turn my ‘I can’t into an ‘I Can.”

Friend, have you ever had days where you just feel like “I can’t?”

Well God says YES YOU CAN!

 

His grace will empower you.  And He will keep His hand upon you and keep you from the evil one.

Don’t be discouraged.

Don’t be dismayed.

God is a very present help and He says, “Yes, you can!”

Pray for me as I’m praying for you.

As always it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

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Don’t Lose Hope

Forever.

 

That’s how long it seems like I’ve been waiting.

 

Prayer. Supplication. Petition. Request. Beg. Plead. Negotiate. Pray some more.

 

God, I know you’re able.

 

God, I believe you’re willing.

 

God it’s been a long time. I’ve been diligent. I’ve been faithful. What I’m requesting is in alignment

with your will.

 

When will you answer my prayer?

 

Have you ever felt like this?

 

Have you made a request of the Lord and not had it answered?

 

You’ve waited patiently…One year. 3 years. 10 years and still no forward movement? In fact, you may feel that you’ve moved even farther away from seeing the prayer realized.

 

Let me encourage you friend to not give up on God. Keep believing.

 

Don’t lose hope!

 

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

 

I was ready to give up, to say forget it. Ready to sit down right with the end zone in sight and just hand over the game.

 

In the midst of a meltdown, my friend asked, “Don’t you see how close you are? Do you not see the end zone right in front of you?”

 

Yeah, I see it and I’m trying to keep the faith but my legs have given out and won’t carry me any farther. The lactic acid in my muscles has caused me to falter and my prayer has no push.

 

“That’s ok,” my friend says. She gives me permission to use a time out but encourages me to continue praying and believing in anticipation of the answered prayer.

 

Even when it seems you’ve been waiting forever…..keep the faith. I know you think it’s been a long time. I know you feel like its been forever. I know you want your miracle and you want it yesterday.

 

But what is man’s time to the Lord anyway?

 

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

 

Since my God is not slack concerning His promises, this is what I’m going to do while waiting. I invite you to join me.

 

PRAY

Yes, I will continue to pray. When I feel like I can’t pray anymore, I will call up the Word that’s been stored in the recesses of my heart. I will pray and give thanks for what HE has released that’s on its way. I will pray for those He will work through to bring the promise to pass. I will pray against any demonic activity trying to withhold, subdue or delay my answer. I will pray that my heart is ready to receive. Yes, I’ll keep praying and giving thanks.

 

 

PRAISE

Hallelujah, He is worthy to be praise! Regardless of how I FEEL about it, He is worthy. He is righteous. He is holy. He is loving. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is kind. He is a friend. So for this, for all He is, for all He does, for all He doesn’t do, He is worthy to be praised! My mouth is set. I gotta put praise on it!

 

 

PROFESS

I will profess that my God is great. I will profess that my God hears and answers prayers. I will profess the truth of His word. I will profess the promises He’s said are mine. I will profess the visions. I will profess that my God is able, willing and it’s only a matter of time….

 

Sitting…Waiting….Strategizing….Praying. [bctt tweet=”Its 4th & 10. I’m not going for the punt. I’m going to BELIEVE God.” username=”inspiredfully”] I’m going to go for it because He is faithful to deliver.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Photo Credit
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith

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Prayer: The Default Mode

When beginning a word a document, I defer to the settings already established. I rarely change the margins, spacing or font. I go right in and get to work! When I am confronted with any life situation or circumstance, I want my prayer life to mirror how I begin a document; I go in and get right to praying.

 

Instead of focusing on what’s not right about the situation or person, how I could change or fix it or complain about it, just get RIGHT to praying. And while that is my frequent mode of operating, it isn’t quite my DEFAULT mode yet, but I’m working on it.

 

The Lord crashed this into my consciousness the other day, as I was texting a friend about what someone had done to me. As the chain of texts grew in length, the Lord gentle whispered, “Have you talked to ME about the situation yet?”

 

Ah, I hadn’t. So it made me aware that my mode was to sort through my feelings then pray. That’s when the Lord said to me, Prayer: The Default Mode. I’ve heard my Pastor John K. Jenkins say many times, “You turn to other before you turn to God.” And when he says that, I nod my head in agreement, “Mmm-Hmm they sure do. Running to complain to someone else. Talk to God first”, is what I utter under my breath about THOSE people.

 

Well excuse me Miss; you would be one of those people too. Oh no, not Tyra. Well sorry to burst your bubble Little Miss, but yes, that would be you. No you don’t usually call to talk to someone about it but you do engage in dialogue in your head on how you’ll fix the person, what you’ll say to him or her and how you’ll say it. All before talking to God first.

 

But I’m recalibrating. I’m tweaking the settings. Now it will look like:

 

Prayer: The Default Mode

 

So how does one make prayer the default mode?

 

[bctt tweet=”Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2″]

 

By praying: praying in faith, praying with a clean heart, praying in alignment with His will, praying with thanksgiving and praying without ceasing.

 

Like Nike says, Just Do It!

 

For those who are recently establishing a consistent prayer life, there are recommended models of prayer to help get you into the habit and routine of praying. Years ago I was in a ministry meeting and we were told to pair up and pray. Well the person I was next to was uncomfortable with praying especially aloud as she had come from a Catholic background. So let’s take some of the mysticism out of prayer and make it accessible to all.

 

Jesus himself provides a perfect model of prayer in The Lord’s Prayer

 

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

 

Here are two similar models.

 

PRAY

Praise

Repent

Ask

Yield

 

ACTS

Acknowledge

Confess

Thank

Supplication (ask for what is needed)

 

For those with a vibrant, fervent prayer life, keep the fire burning. Are you writing down your prayers? Are you recording the testimonies of answered prayers? Do you have a prayer partner? Are you praying without ceasing?

 

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

 

And what I’m personally working on here lately is making my prayer more specific. For example a daily prayer of mine for my children is that they will continue to grow in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and with man. Ok great, praying the scriptures over my children. But what does that look like real time? How can I make that even more specific? My specific prayer last week was, “Lord, I thank you for my first born. You’ve given her a spirit of discernment. Let her couple that with the wealth of information she easily retains and empower her to apply it as wisdom when in situations with her friends as school. Let her be a leader among her peers leading them in paths of righteousness for your namesake. Let her find favor among the teachers and administrators to be selected for special projects, tasks and programs in which she can shine bright for you. Thank you for ordering her steps as she walks out your plans for her future and hope.”

 

I also pray all throughout the day. It begins from the moment I awake. Every morning I awake with a song on my heart. I sing the song in my head, and then I pray specifically related to whatever the song was talking about. Then I read my morning devotions and pray and listen for what they Lord has to communicate with me that morning. Then as I’m driving I continue to pray. Mid-morning prayers, lunchtime prayers, homework time prayers (thank you Jesus for modeling patience) and evening prayers. Then one of my most special times of prayer, shower time prayers. The Lord just really seems to show up in the shower.

 

Indeed, praying without ceasing.

 

And they include all types of prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving, petition, supplication, intercession, pleas, repentance and more.

 

Two excellent new resources out now on prayer are:

 

The Battle Plan for Prayer

Fervent

 

[bctt tweet=”As automatic as breathing is how I want my prayer life to be. To flow effortlessly from my heart to His.”]

 

As you draw near to Him in prayer, He’ll continue to draw nearer to you.

 

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

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Happy to connect with others sharing the Good News Grace&Truth #DanceWithJesus

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Back To School Prayer

Supplies?

 

Check.

 

back to school backpacks

 

 

back to school lunch bags

Uniforms?

 

Check.

back to school uniforms

Haircuts and hair dos?

 

Check.

 

From the looks of things four of my five children are ready to begin another successful school year. But temporal things aside, I don’t know if my mama heart is ready to release them back to school. Each year I feel like I’m sending my precious little flock into a den of wolves. Coming out from under my safety and protection, I willingly hand them over to be influenced by peers, taught by people who may not share my values and exposed to all manner of who knows what. Oh, my mama heart is rent in two. To be in the world but not of it is difficult enough for the mature believer, but how is a child to navigate this treacherous terrain? Even if your children aren’t leaving your covering for school, they are growing and maturing each day and will one day leave the nest.

 

Mamas let us cover them in prayer. Let us hedge them in. Let us instill His Word in their hearts that they may not sin against Him. Let us dwell with them in the shelter of the Most High. And let us stand on God’s promises regarding our children. Sit with your babies and prayer this back to school prayer with them.

 

Mama’s babies:



I love you so much. Oh how I thank God, Most High for trusting me enough to be your mother. We serve a God who is all knowing, all-powerful and all loving. He loves you and I with an everlasting love. God’s plans for you are for good, not evil to give you a future and a hope. The steps of a good man are ordered and I’m delighted to witness you taking steps toward your purpose each and every day. You will not walk in the path of evil but you will walk in paths of righteousness for His namesake. And when you do that, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. You will be mindful of what you allow your eyes to see and your ears to hear. You will grow in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and with man.

 

God has given you a brilliant mind. Use it to its maximum potential. Take firm hold of instruction but above that get wisdom, as it’s the principal thing. You are an obedient child who has great respect for those in authority. You will be quick to listen and slow to speak. When necessary you will calmly make a wise appeal if you disagree, standing up for righteousness sake. You are the salt and light of the earth. Let your light shine bright so that your teachers and classmates feel and see Jesus’ love in you. Don’t hide your love for Jesus. Let it show through your gratefulness, your kindness, your joy, and your self-control. While there may be many distractions at school, focus your attention on what is right, true, honorable and praiseworthy. You will not seek to fit in but will recognize you’ve been set apart by God. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. God has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Continue to love God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your strength. I am blessed because of you. The world is blessed because of you. You are blessed TO BE a blessing to others. I give thanks in advance for your amazing 2016-2017 school year.

 

(For my non-parent readers, you can pray this with a relative, God-child, neighbor, etc. Hey you can even pray it over yourself)

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News #WordsWithWinter, Purposeful Faith, #LifeGivingLinkup, Grace & Truth, Dance With Jesus

 

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Engaged In Spiritual Battle

I am weary. I am weak. I am worn. But I stand.

 

Having done all to stand, I still stand. It seems as if I’ve been in an ongoing spiritual battle. Perhaps the battle has been underway for a very long time. Perhaps I’m just coming to the realization of what’s been going on. I thank the Lord that He has given me greater sensitivity, “eye to see” and “ears to hear” what He is doing in the earth. The rate at which he’s been revealing has been accelerated and I stand in awe that He longs to show me great and mighty things. Though being a recipient of these revealed mysteries has not been without a fight.

 

At every turn it seems as if plans have been thwarted, dreams have been obliterated, and relationships fractured. But God…I stand on his word and I stand on His promise that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. They may form, and they may even try to take root, but they will not prosper.

 

My General, my Commander is Jehovah Sabaoth, The Lord of Hosts. He is the head and has all sovereignty in heaven and on earth. And He goes before me in battle. Radiant in all His glory He leads us into battle.

 

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—

he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:10

 

What He’s shown me is He is simply looking for you! Yes you. His eyes are looking on the earth for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Friend as we worship, we fall in line, right behind Jehovah Sabaoth. He is flanked by angels and believers of times past. His army is ever growing. And while it appears that the enemy has an even larger army with more powerful weaponry, He wants you to open your spiritual eyes so that you can SEE.

 

So he answered, “Do not fear,

for those who are with us are

more than those who are with

them.” And Elisha prayed, and

said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes

that he may see.” Then the Lord

opened the eyes of the young man,

and he saw. And behold, the mountain

was full of horses and chariots of fire

all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:16-17

 

And how do you open your spiritual eyes to see this reality, His reality? Through worship.

 

Thank you God for opening my eyes to see so that I do not have to fear. Friend, neither do you have to fear. Just be strong and courageous.

 

In the midst of battle last week, I called a friend to pray. Having other strong believers to unite with in prayer is crucial. And while we were connected physically on the phone, we were both filled with an immense awareness of the mighty moves that were taking place as our spirits connected. My friend told me to “Stand and Watch. Stand and Watch”. And just today, another friend, without prior knowledge of last week’s conversation sent me precisely the word applicable to my current situation. Which also happened to be a RIGHT ON TIME word for a different friend with whom I had been praying just earlier in the day. You see, this is how God operates. We are all spirits and when we worship him in spirit and in truth, His truth resonates through the body of believers and we see the TRUE CHURCH! A united body of believers not only connected within a physical church but whose spirit are available and united to carry out kingdom activity in the spirit realm.

 

Standing, watching, fully engaged in battle. Shoulders almost unable to bear the weight, calf muscles feel like they’re on fire but I stand.

 

Now then, stand still and watch

this great thing the LORD

is going to do right before your eyes.

1 Samuel 12:16

 

But you will not even need to fight.

Take your positions; then stand still

and watch the LORD’s victory. He is

with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out

against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

2 Chronicles 20:17

 

While I stand having done all to stand, I am still weary. Donning each piece of my spiritual armor is taxing.   The armor is extremely heavy. I feel like my spiritual legs resemble my natural legs after doing 50 straight squats. I’m sweaty and quite frankly maybe even a little smelly but…

 

I’m STILL STANDING!

 

I’ve been listening to Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear” for weeks now. You can read more about that and what to do when under attack by clicking here. It is because of my worship that I’m still standing. It is because of my worship that I can SEE Jehovah Sabaoth right before my eyes. It is because of my worship that I can patiently wait.

 

And while I stand and wait and worship, God is faithful to continue ministering to me. He gave me a new song this week that continues to minister hope and love and peace.

When you are open, God can and will use different medium to minister his grace and truth to your spirit. It may be a song, a line of scripture, a word from a Pastor, or even a blog post. And for me right now the message continues to be to stand and my song, Jonathan Butler’s “I Stand On Your Word”, confirms it.

 

So friend, I invite you to join me in prayer. We must be ever so sensitive as to what is happening in the spirit realm so we can move and act accordingly. While I am engaged in spiritual battle, I stand. In standing we are not just passively waiting, our spiritual muscles are engaged and we worship.

 

Eternal God, Most Gracious and Holy Father, you alone are the only wise God. It is to you we look for direction. You are all knowing and all powerful. And right in the midst of holding the universe together, you are concerned about us. You see us, you know us and you love us and for that we just say thank you. We thank you for purifying our hearts and making us new. Jehovah Sabaoth, the enemy has been relentless in his attacks against us but we thank you that you’ve given your angels charge over us and they bear us up. We thank you that you deliver us from the evil one’s snare. By the authority given to us we cancel every plot or scheme devised to bring us harm. We cast the imps of division, strife, rebellion, fear, anxiety, depression, and confusion back into the pit of hell. You O God are our refuge; our fortress and a very present help in the time of trouble. Out of your immense love for us, you will deliver us, honor us and satisfy us with long life and for that we say thank you. With the fruit of our lips we say thank you. We lift holy hands and say thank you. You are worthy to be praised! Amen.

 

Still Standing!

 

Inspired Fully

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

Delighted to connect with others encouraging the Body of Christ @ Purposeful Faith, Life Giving Linkup, Grace and Truth , Dance With Jesus

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