A Loving Reminder: Transformation

A Loving Reminder: 

They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:23-24 NIV)

My lovelies,  I'm always filled with hope when I read about Saul's personal encounter with God. God met Saul right where he was. God encountered Saul, a Pharisee in the midst of his journey of Christian persecution, revealing Himself, and bringing forth transformation. We later come to know this man as the disciple Paul, whom God used to bring life through the sharing of the Gospel, to the very same people he was trying to destroy.

If God can transform, Saul, a persecutor of the Christian church, and use him for His glory, I imagine what more God can do in my life. But more so I think about what He can do for our unsaved loved ones. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne, praising You for You are the Great I AM, the God Almighty, Creator of All. I thank You for meeting us exactly where we are. You come to us in our deepest pits and You reveal yourself to us. Who can remain the same after having a personal encounter with You.  Thank you for the continual transformation that takes place in our lives, so we become more like You.  Father, create in us a clean heart, renewing a right spirit within us, and sustaining us, as is written in Psalm 51. 

Father I stand on behalf of our loved ones, placing them at your feet asking that You reveal yourself to them. Asking that You meet them exactly where they are, wherever that may be, giving them that personal encounter like that, that you gave Saul on the road to Damascus. Confronting them, and removing all doubt that You are who You say you are. 

Thank you for the hope that Your Word brings us. Nothing is impossible for You. Thank you Father, for all you have done and for all that we have yet to see you do. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen. 

A Loving Reminder: Bridegroom

I will betroth you to me forever;

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 

I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. Hosea 2:19 - 20

My Lovelies, I love meditating on the names of God. One of my favorite names is Bridegroom. Often I like to envision The Lord stretching His hand out to me saying:

"Ali I am your Bridegroom, I have betrothal you. I have paid the price for your life. Ultimately I AM the one who full fills your need for intimacy. I AM the one who draws you out of isolation and loneliness by uniting myself to you."

What a beautiful thought, to know that we are God's Beloved, that we are his Bride. 

I wait eagerly for the day that God will rejoice over me as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5)

Father, I come boldly, but humbly with praises from within the deepest part of my soul thanking you for your unfailing love. Your word says that You will betroth me to you forever. That you will betroth me in love, compassion, and faithfulness. Thank you for your perfect love. There is no love like yours. I pray on behalf of myself and my lovelies that when we forget that we are loved that You remind us of your promises to us. That you remind us that we are your beloved and that you delight in us, and that you rejoice in singing over us. (Zephaniah 3:17)  May we keep our lamps full with oil as we await the arrival of you, our Bridegroom. In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.

My Beloved by Kari Jobe

http://youtu.be/2H9delPTKbI

A Loving Reminder: Because I Love You

A Loving Reminder: 

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:1-2, 4, 10, 11, 13 NIV)

My, Lovelies, this past weekend, I was reminded of God's wonderful love for me, of His love for us.  How great it is to remember that: 

He has ransomed me. (Isaiah 43:1) 

He has called me by name. (Isaiah 43:1)

I am His. (Isaiah 43:1)

He walks with me through high waters. (Isaiah 43:2)

He walks with me through the fire. (Isaiah 43:2)

I am precious to Him. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am honored. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am loved. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am a witness. (Isaiah 43:10)

I am chosen. (Isaiah 43:10)

Apart from God there is no other. (Isaiah 43:11)

Nothing and no one can take me away from His hands (Isaiah 43:13)

God is so personal.  My favorite part of these verses is 'because I love you'.  Because I love you, says The Lord. Re-read the list of reminders again slowly, meditating on each one. Think about what each one means to you. 

Father, I come boldly before your throne full of praise and just grateful. 

You are perfect love. 

Thank you for the ransom you've paid. 

Thank you for calling me by name.

Thank you for reminding me that I am yours.

Thank you for walking with me through my trials and pains.

Thank you for reminding me that I am honored, precious, and loved. 

Like you there is no other. I pray on behalf of my lovelies, that they are daily reminded of your unfailing love. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: True Worship

A Loving Reminder:
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3 NIV) 

My lovelies, when I reconciled with The Lord, I thought I knew what true worship meant. I thought that singing along with every song in church and attending every Sunday church service meant I was worshipping God.  

As the years went by, and God started to deal with me, in bringing forth transformation He started stripping things away. He has required me to surrender it all. Myself, my family, my time, my dreams, my hopes, all I aspired to be. I have struggled and still battle with things God ask of me.  I may not completely understand all He requires of me or even agree with them, but I will put all my trust in Him, and continue to offer my praises onto him. 

It is great to praise God when your prayers are answered. But how much more is your worship worth when you can still praise God in the midst of physical pain, in the midst of emotional pain, in the midst of loss, in the midst of trouble. 

Relative to the expensive perfume that Mary poured on the feet of Jesus, my worship to God is expensive, it's cost is measured in my submission to His Will. 

I worship because, I trust that He is the One True and Living God. I trust that He is my Kinsmen Redeemer, and I belong to Him. No matter the circumstances that surround me in the moment, worshipping Him is where I find my peace and my joy, even more so in my moments where I find myself in an emotional hole. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly pouring my praise and worship onto you like the bottle of Mary's expensive perfume. You and only you know the cost of my worship. I pray that the fragrance of my worship reaches you in the heavens. We look at the exterior but you look at the heart, you know what We have had to surrender, and the things we have yet to submit to you. Father I pray that you lead those who find themselves in any situation into an experience of true worship. That even in moments when they don't feel like worshipping because the weight is so heavy, that you strengthen them to lift up their hands in praise. Father I pray that they receive the healing, the joy and the peace that comes from true worship.  Let our praise, and worship along with our prayers be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence, as it says in Psalm 141:2. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen.

Alabaster Box by Cece Winans

http://youtu.be/4Ls8ZfeBmHA

A Loving Reminder: The Intercessor

A Loving Reminder: 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

Lovelies, sometimes there are moments where we find ourselves to be in such pain be it emotional or physical, be it for yourself or for a loved one, that you find it difficult to utter words into a prayer. 

I recall one time during an alter call being led by the spirit to pray for a sister I love dearly, whom I know was struggling. She was not at the alter for prayer, she was simply standing alone in the front row, and with the intentions of praying for her to encourage her, I gravitated towards her, but I could not utter a word I just groaned. God is amazing! The alter call was not in any way related to her struggle but she was certainly in need of prayer. The beauty of this all is that not a single word would came out my mouth, but I knew in my heart that God understood the groans. The Spirit stepped in immediately and interceded on her behalf according to God's will instead of me praying from my heart what I thought my sister needed.

 

Father, thank You for your word says that in our weakness your spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. What a beautiful thought that in the very midst of our darkness You are there interceding for us. You know our needs better than we know them ourselves. I come on behalf of myself and your lovelies, asking that you reveal yourself to us in each of our situations, whatever they may be. Father that You search and know our hearts when we come to you so broken that we have no words to piece together into a prayer. Cover us from the crown of our heads to our toes, rushing to us and interceding for us according to Your Will over our lives. Your word says that you never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for your unfailing love.

Thank you for being our provider in time of need.

Thank you for being our Intercessor, our one and only true mediator.

In your precious, name I pray this Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: A Thorn

A Loving Reminder:

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Lovelies, most times we go about our daily lives forgetting that we are always in the presence of God. We seek God the most during times of affliction. Like Paul's thorn, I have an emotional struggle, that is a bit like a 'thorn in my flesh'.  What it is exactly, is not important.  I believe a thorn can be anything, from remaining on a dead end job, a loss, loneliness, dissatisfaction, grief, an illness, a disability, etc. What is important is that mine serves as a reminder of the need of Christ in my life. I believe, God has allowed this struggle in my life because it keeps me at his feet. It keeps me humble, it keeps me in prayer, it keeps me seeking more of him. His grace is sufficient for me.

Father, I come before your throne as bold and humble, praying as King David in Psalm 119 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (verses 67, 71, 73, 75-77) Father, I lift up any lovely that is in need of your grace, that if they are in the midst of affliction that they know that all they need is to seek you, for in our weakness your power is made strong. Forgive us for the times we go astray. I thank you for the mercy and the grace that you shed on us daily.  In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: Always With You

A Loving Reminder: 

.....And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

What a beautiful sentiment. I love knowing that I am never alone. That in All things and at All times the Lord is with me. That when Im at my lowest He is there. That when I'm full of joy He is there. 

When I step out my home He kisses me with the sun, showers me with rain drops of love, and serenades me with the wind. He not only dwells in me but I find Him in all things He created.

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne. Thanking you for your unfailing love. Not only do You dwell in me but You surround me. Psalm 84:11 says that You are our sun and our shield. Thank You for shining down on us with your glory and thank you for shielding us with your grace. Father, I lift up every lovely who reads this, that if they are in need of Your touch that You meet them exactly where they are, kissing them with your rays of sunshine, showering them with your raindrops of love. Reminding them that You are with them. Let them hear You in the winds that blow, in the trees that sway and in the birds that sing. Jeremiah 29:13 says that if we seek You wholeheartedly we will find You. Soften the hearts that need to be soften again and give them spiritual eyes to see You in All things, so as they go along their days they are reminded that You are indeed present. Thank you Father for never leaving us. Even when we walk away, You are with us always to the end of age, relentlessly pursuing us. In Your precious name I pray, Jesus, Amen