We are in the season called Purim on the Hebrew calendar. This is a time to remember the story in the book of Esther (in the Holy Bible) of how an enemy of God sought to oppress God's people and to wipe them off the face of the earth. It was at this time that God raised up a woman, her name was Esther, to step in and bring an end to the evil plan. God would use Esther's voice and her actions, walked out in humility, to influence the King of that nation, helping him to see and understand the plan of the enemy.
Part and parcel to any relationship is communication - sending and receiving, talking and listening. Our relationships with God are no different. It's of no debate that God wants to hear our voices. But Jesus revealed that God also wants us to hear His. "My sheep hear My voice," He assured (John 10:27, ESV). Unless you live on a farm, most today are far removed from what it actually means for sheep to know their master's voice. In a recent online Bible study on Hearing God, I played a short video clip that profoundly illustrates what happens.
Every person wants to change something about themselves but few have any idea how to do that. In my case, I weighed 430 pounds and wanted to lose weight. When I finally got to the point that I surrendered this issue to God, I knew I couldn't go on another diet. Diets had never worked for me because I always went back to the way I had eaten before and gained the weight back. God revealed to me through several different sources that I needed a forever lifestyle change. However, in order to change anything about myself, I realized I had to learn how to change the habits that had gotten me into the mess I was in.
Isn't it amazing to know that we are not cookie-cutter Christians? Each of us is a rare individual and one-of-a-kind in God's eyes! We are all unique! Deliciously so! "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one's work" (1 Cor. 3:9-13, NASB).
Recently, as I was waking up, a dream slipped into the bedroom and curiously awakened me. In this dream, I was standing in a bathroom with several inches of water. As I looked down, I was barefoot. I then woke up wondering what that was about. I wanted to call someone for an interpretation, but it was too early. A little later, brushing my teeth, the interpretation came. The bathroom prophetically represents a place of cleansing; my bare feet gave away the interpretation
The Bible is full of reassurances, promises and encouragements. One of my favorites is God's invitation for us to cast our problems on Him, for He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). How amazing it is that our Almighty God has the capacity and concern for all our burdens. To be clear, 1 Peter 5:7 does not tell us to cast some or many of our burdens upon the Lord. The Lord invites us to cast all our cares on Him. All is a very big word. Though only one syllable of three letters, it has no limits in its scope and no cutoff points in its application. All includes the great and the small, the major and the minor adversities we face.
I can honestly say that the Holy Spirit is my best friend. I ask, and He answers. I rely on Him to teach, guide, correct and convict me. But it hasn't always been this way. My friendship with the Holy Spirit began after my husband, Ron, and I experienced a long, intense year of spiritual warfare several years ago. At the time, we were completely unfamiliar with spiritual warfare, and all we could do was rely on the Holy Spirit. After that season of unprecedented spiritual attack, we relocated our family to our hometown in Michigan. I spent my time adjusting our kids to their new home and schools and focused on being a mom and wife.
A few months ago, I preached at a church in Michigan called New Life Christian Fellowship. At the conclusion of the service, while I was praying for the congregation, the Lord showed me that someone was struggling with a strong addiction. I shared this with the people and invited the unidentified person to reach out to Jesus for help. Immediately, a young man made his way to the front. He was already crying and he knelt near the stage without any prompting. My friend Cliff quickly got up and knelt beside the man to pray with him.
Do you believe in the goodness of God during trials and circumstances? That's the question in every test and trial you go through. If you can maintain ascension in the middle of your crisis, you will maintain the attitude God wants you to have while going through the temporary trials and circumstances of earth. That's what I mean by entering a portal of prosperity and peace. It is a place where we know His goodness resides and we operate in that faith daily. We must know that He is bringing us to a place of greater good during the trial.
God has such great things in store for us as His own sons and daughters. He wants us to know His faithfulness, His goodness and that His promises are true. God is always looking for faith. He is looking for those who are not settling for less but are always drawing near to Him no matter what is going on. If you feel like you are in a wilderness, just know that God has plans to bring you out. Also realize that your wilderness is not the promised land that God has for you. Don't grow accustomed to it because He has far more in store for your life!
