Tossed About
**Disagreements and stress are going to happen in any relationship. http://thelife.com/study/lovebusters.html?section=angry_outbursts&ft=BSG-OS
by Gail Rogers
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man (or woman) should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does ?
(James 1:5-8)
Tracy believed God could answer prayer. Some days her faith was strong and she believed God would give her the wisdom she needed. Other days she just didn’t believe He would and her faith wavered. She knew many of her Christian friends rode this same roller coaster of believing God one day and doubting the next. Was it just part of the normal Christian life? Tracy read a verse in the Bible that gave her new understanding. She realized God was telling her this did not need to be the pattern of her life. Listen to what God says:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man (or woman) should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does ? (James 1:5-8)
Tracy realized instability had been a characteristic in her life lately. She was bouncing around in her decisions as if tossed by the wind. She hadn’t realized it was a result of simply not believing God would generously give her the wisdom she needed.
It’s not hard to fall into doubting, especially if God seems to have you in His waiting room. Yet unbelief will result in that feeling of being tossed about on the sea, directionless and unstable. If your trust in God’s ability to give you the wisdom is wavering, then take action. You can move from being “double minded ? to walking in faith. God will help you.
Admit you find it hard to believe God will give you the wisdom you need.
1. Ask Him to forgive when you doubt.
2. Ask Him to increase your faith.
3. Ask Him afresh to generously give you the wisdom you need.
4. Deal with doubting thoughts the moment they enter your mind. Capture them and ask God for renewed faith. (2 Cor. 10:5)
5. God desires to walk with us and help us every step of our journey. As we depend on Him to steady us in our faith He will keep us steady in all we do. Lean hard on Him today and look for the wisdom He will send through His Word, through other people and through unexpected understanding. Expect to receive the wisdom He so generously offers.
~Father God, thank you that You understand my faith wavers at times. Thank you for the wisdom You offer me generously. Help me today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to put aside my unbelief. Help me to find my stability in unwavering faith, believing You will guide me with Your divine wisdom every step of my way. Increase my faith today. I ask this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
Questions to ponder: Why does instability characterize our lives so frequently? What is the secret to a living a life of unwavering faith?
About the Author
This article was written by Gail Rodgers. You can read more about this author by clicking this link: http://www.talk.thelife.com/gail-rodgers/
43 Responses to “Tossed About”
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My problem is not God—it’s the sin in me!!I find myself angry, sad, disrespectful to my husband who may have the beginings of Alzheimer’s. I pray every day that I will become more like Christ and that the Holy Spirit will help me to have a servant’s heart. the anguish of the sin is almost harder to bear than the sadness I feel about gradually losing my husband. Yes,I do believe that He forgives my sins and that guilt is Satan’s ploy to get me to fail in my faith.
I find comfort in His unfailing love. Please pray for me that my love will grow stronger and my self-centeredness will fade away.
Not only does our God give wisdom but His timing is perfect!!! My husband and I are faced with a difficult life situation with family that has been estranged. Just yesterday we prayed for the strength to take one day at a time as we look to His wisdom for our decisions. I am grateful for today’s devotional. I’m going to print it out and keep it where we will see and be reminded throughout the day.
Thank You Jesus.
I think we are often so unstable in our faith because we rely so much on our feelings. When we allow our up and down emotions to get in the way of the reality of our faith, it makes us question and doubt and feel confused. I was reminded in church this past Sunday to not let our feelings get in the way of our faith, but to focus on the facts of who God is and who we are as His children, those are things that never waver. I know I need to be reminded of this often!
Twice I have gone through periods of major change in my life. Each time my faith had strengthened. Each time I started to lose my connection with God after questioning my circumstances/His Will.
Both times I was separated from my husband, and growing. The first time (12 years ago), my faith was stronger, and I had established myself in several “home” groups and had built new and strong relationships with women. Then I had to go to work, and the hours of the job cut me off from almost all of my newly built spiritual supports. I couldn’t believe that God would want me to so abruptly lose the new and healthy support systems I been given, just for the sake of making money.
I started to question God, became resentful, and my relationship with Him began to deteriorate. I have never had as strong a connection with Him since then.
The second time of change, beginning 1 1/2 years ago, had my husband and I separated again. Direction (“wisdom”) to have nothing to do with my husband seemed to–over and over again–be coming from God, and then after a while–though not a whole lot had changed for the better–the opposite message began to come into my life–largely through my husband, but also through my church leadership.
I have been questioning the matter ever since, sometimes thinking one way, and at other times, the other. Regardless of the questioning, my husband and I are now in the process of moving into a new place together.
Still, with the change of direction, my relationship with God has been strained.
As with the work situation the last time, I now can’t imagine that God would change His Will for me so dramatically, especially when neither my husband nor I have changed all that much (although, I can say he has changed for the better more than I have). This has affected my “connection” with God.
I hope that going with the change is going to turn out to be the right thing, but believe me, I do doubt–especially when I still get an occasional message to “get out” from, i.e., a Christian woman involved with a well respected family ministry.
The point of all of this is that I never thought of these verses as having anything to do with asking for wisdom. I thought it was about asking for anything, and I always saw the description of the doubting person as being a description of myself, but that was as far as I have taken it.
I never saw it as telling me that if I doubt His guidance, it’s going to become harder and harder to hear it and to know what it is–but I can say from experience that in these two situations in my life that is exactly what has happened.
Now I have to face the risk (if I ask God)of hearing from God, once again, that I have to get away from my husband (and grow up on my own, too)–after I have re-invested in this marriage once more.
Am I deeply committed to it? No. Because I question the “guidance” to reconcile . Do I want to leave it? Not anymore. Do I like the pain that, even now, I feel when he says and does certain things? No. Am I “double-minded” about this marriage? Yes. Do I get blown around like a wave? Not as much as I did a few months ago, but I still do. I still “guard my heart” with him.
I am afraid to ask God for wisdom on this matter because I am afraid I am going to hear “get out” from Him again.
I never really thought that there was anything unusual about the waivering of faith because it happens to everyone from time to time. The idea of continuing to believe the wisdom/direction I have gotten from God regardless of the evidence around me is pretty foreign to me.
It is, however, what I was doing before I started to experience the changes in guidance that came from the church and my husband (I was “walking out on faith”). The fact that I “gave up” on what I was being directed to do prior to that still bothers me.
I must admit, that even apart from the marriage situation, I routinely change my mind, my plans, etc., at least 20 times a day, always looking for a “better plan,” a “better way to do ____.” I also, then (partly because of the time I spend trying out different ideas) find myself “flexing my schedule” to accommodate what couldn’t get done earlier, or before the day is out.
I am grateful for a new perspective on today’s verses.
As things are right now, my husband and I have been moving for the last week and half, and have mainly been doing it alone. I feel hurt because friends we have had for years, and who have counseled me (and my husband, but less often) to get out of our marriage, are not helping us move. I know that they are either trying to make a point, or simply not willing to “condone” or contribute to something that they believe is wrong, and for that, I can’t fault them. They are doing what they believe is right. But I must say, feel judged by them, too.
Why does instability characterise my life so often? Fear. Also self-seeking. Also not having a strong personal connection with God. Disobedience? Not liking to discipline myself. Getting bored with routines (sometimes).
What is the secret to living a life of unwaivering faith? I honestly don’t know. I’m beginning to get a sense that faith is something different than I have thought it to be in the past.
I have always been an “idea person,” (I love, and “get,” Ravi Zacharias’ teaching, for instance)and have always been weak on “action.”
What I have found many times is that what doing something “looks like” in my mind, and what it actually turns out to be when I do it are two almost entirely different things. It’s as if “thinking about” and “doing” require entirely different kinds of thought processes.
“Connecting the dots” between knowledge and action has always been a challenge to me.
Maybe the same thing (seeing a difference between)faith as I have thought it and faith as something I do goes is beginnning to happen with me. Maybe I’m beginning to be shown that what I have thought faith is, and faith as it is carried out, is actually different than I’ve thought.
I am looking forward to what others have to say on this devotional. Also, it looks like yesterday’s devotional might help answer some of my questions (this moving has kept me from “keeping up” the last few days.
I’ve just proof-read this and I see that I have jumped around alot, again. I apologize for that, but I’m running out of time and can’t spend any more time on fixing it.
Thank you again, ladies! God bless you all!
Dianne:
I am praying for you.I know this is going to sound so wierd, but in order for me to learn to trust my husband (or anyone for that matter) I had to by pass them and just trust God. I had to know God know God knew what was going on in my life and marriage.In other words I didn’t fell I could trust my husband or people but I did trust God. He’s guiding my life , right? so I have to know God would not lead me to be hurt physically or mentally again. I had to pretend that everything I said, felt or done was for God as if he is in that person , so instead of seeing that person I looked for God in them. Which in a sence I was doing it for God. I know satan can’t read my thoughts, but he can hear my words, so I was very careful how I spoke to my husband, so satan couldn’t enter the conversation.to me faith is..
Feeling
As
It
That
Happened
I have not mastered exercising unwaving faith myself yet. But thank God I’m not where I was either. But I ask God for whatever and then start praising him and thanking him for it. Basically fake it till you recieve it, even if you don’t ever recieve exactly what your asking God to do, your joyful and not wondering or worried about it.
You can’t have a bad day if your thinking your having a god day. I hope this makes sence t you, but that’s how I get through alot of storms, Just pretend that there not storms.Jesus slept through the storms I want to also.
Dearest Heavenly Father..Help me to be “still this day and realize that you are GOD” (paraphrasing Psalm 46:10)…..
Earthen challenges so hard right now..Please send the wisdom we all need today to make wise choices and listen for YOUR voice in our decisions..
This is a powerful devotional and, as always, timely. My prayers with all of you that posted today..And, I loved Jackie’s words of Wisdom about the Lord sleeping through the storms..My beloved sister gave me a beautiful likeness of HIM calming the storms..It lives in our family room now and is a great “reminder” and “comfort” each day.
And what a GREAT line, Jackie! “You can’t have a bad day, if you’re thinking you’re having a GOD day”! Am going to remind myself of that today as we work though some difficult challenges here!Gail’s wonderful prayer helped, too!!! Thank You and God Bless ALL posting today :)
Dearest Heavenly Father..Help me to be “still this day and realize that you are GOD” (paraphrasing Psalm 46:10)…..
Earthen challenges so hard right now..Please send the wisdom we all need today to make wise choices and listen for YOUR voice in our decisions..
This is a powerful devotional and, as always, timely. My prayers with all of you that posted today..And, I loved Jackie’s words of Wisdom about the Lord sleeping through the storms..My beloved sister gave me a beautiful likeness of HIM calming the storms..It lives in our family room now and is a great “reminder” and “comfort” each day.
And what a GREAT line, Jackie! “You can’t have a bad day, if you’re thinking you’re having a GOD day”! Am going to remind myself of that today as we work though some difficult challenges here! Gail’s wonderful prayer helped, too!!! Thank You and God Bless ALL posting today :)
Hi think that we are all tossed about so often becuase if we get to comfortable in our surroundings we become too laxed and most likely feel that we do not need to lean on God more and more.
I will tell you ladies it is exhausting at times trying to live out our christian life while here on earth. Yet the bible says we will have trials and tribulations……..
I must say each time i am tossed about in a storm that I do not think will ever end, by my surprise, a beautiful resting place comes just in the knick of time which allows me to finish up getting through the storm in a Gracious Way.
Only to prepare me for the next challenge that will be placed before me and so be it, i will then have to learn to lean on God yet just another time to see me through.
I have learned that the more in tune that I am in with the Holy Spirit whom resides within, the better off I am. It is so vital for us to become quiet in order to listen to what is being directed to us to do in any matter or situation..
I wish I could say I had a remedy for all of these highs and lows that we all go through but I do not the only thing that I can suggest is to Trust In Jesus Our Lord more and more and not lean on our own understanding.
Barbara C
Barbara C!!
Wonderful words of wisdom! The important thing in this earthen living? To recognize HIS Supremecy in our lives …and not “lean on our own understanding”! YOU are doing “Psalm 46″ in your life and that is evident from the great words you just shared! Amen and Amen!!!
Just sent the site below to a wonderful friend..And, felt very led of the Lord to share with sisters who may need it on here. There are beautiful prayers for all manner of things. Some days we all feel burdened in this human walk. Sometimes it blessed me to just go to this site and be blessed by the written prayers. Hope am doing the right thing to leave this. It helps! Someone who has posted this week may need it! It strengthens! God Bless:
http://www.alighthouse.com/healing.htm
Dianne, I can relate to what you are saying, living with a complicated unsaved husband, causes me to have many varied emotional thoughts (highs and lows). However, when I “bypass them”, for me that is my husband (and Jackie you said that so well) and just trust God, the storm is nothing, and I sleep through it. Many times I fall to my knees, ask for God’s wisdom in a situation with my husband, and totally trust Him. Many times I pray, “God I don’t know what to do with him, but you do”. I get up from my knees believing and knowing I have put him in the hands of almighty God that can do anything. Things always work out after I surrender him to God through prayer. I don’t preach to my husband or nag him. For the Bible says:”he will be won by my quiet and gentle ways.” When will that happen? I don’t know, for I am not God. What do I do in the meantime? I live my life out as I know God expects every Christian to do by being obedient to His instructions/promises from His word. I do not listen to the voices of others, just the voice of God.
I know each situation is different and I don’t have an answer for everyone. However, I shared from my heart today, and hope it helps someone out there. I have just shared what has worked for me in the past 38 years (35 of those being a Christian).
Keep reading these devotions, let the wisdom of them penetrate your heart, and BELIEVE. He loves each of us so much and wants to give us the desires of our hearts.
Psalms 37;4: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Trust Him, and you find Him delightful. Blessings to all!
Let me clarify my statement above when I SAID: I don’t listen to the voices of others. I am referring to those voices that tell me to give up on my husband, because those voices are not from God. I receive encouragement from others not to give up all the time… and I consider those voices from God. Thanks to all of you for YOUR daily words of wisdom, prayers, and encouragement. I believe God is using you to play a part in my husband’s final destination which will be heaven.
Dearest Diane, jackie and June L, reading your messages today brought tears to my eyes as they so aptly describe what i have been feeling and going through. It really felt like God was talking to me, consoling me and giving me some answers to the numerous questions in my head.
Diane, i feel for you. i have been on this emotional roller coaster for a while now, and i have often found myself wondering if i should hold on or let go. (Think some of my previous messages can attest to that). The temptation to let go is often HUGE, especially when you feel so hurt and are in so much pain that you feel like you cannot carry on, and you are asking yourself ‘is it worth it?’. BUT there is a still small voice in me that keeps saying WAIT, hang on a while more, it is not time yet. I too receive advise from well-meaning friends that perhaps it is time to start thinking for myself, that i am worth so much more than to be stuck with this man, and that i should start thinking about ME and what I want. They think that i am crazy to keep holding on. They feel that my husband wouldn’t know what he has lost till he has lost it. That i have been too kind and therefore being taken advantage of. While it all seems to make sense practically and logically, and felt really good for the ego, it just didn’t feel right. I am not perfect. I make mistakes too and i need to own up to my faults. So i have been holding on to my so called ‘craziness’, but at the same time pouring out my hurts and feelings here and to our loving Lord, and allowing God to change me. I have also limited the number of people that i talk to. There are only a handful who understand, encourage and support my decision to hold on, trust that God has a good plan for me, my husband and our marriage, and DO TO GIVE UP. If i give up now, i have no one to blame but myself for the failure. Hold on to what you believe in, even if the whole world thinks you are crazy. Find friends who understand and whom you don’t have to justify yourself to and always remember God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.’
Allow me to share something from Joyce Meyer:
“God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and a specific way and perfect time to bring it to pass. Much of our frustration and misery comes from either not believing that fact, or believing it but being determined to do things our own way and in our own time, determined to exalt our own will and timing above God’s.
According to Isaiah 55:8, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. We want what feels good right now, but God has something far greater in mind.
We are constantly trying to figure out something we do not understand or trying to make something happen now that is not happening yet. It seems as if we are always trying, but believers are supposed to believe! “Why, God, why?” and “When, God, when?” can be two statements that keep us frustrated and prevent us from enjoying peace. Many times we do not understand what God is doing. But that is what trust is all about. Let God be God in your life. Give Him the reins. He knows what He is doing.
Trust yourself and everything to God Who judges fairly and deals righteously. Deposit yourself in His hands and watch what He can do!”
Hold on to faith dear Diane. HE is fighting for you and holds you in the palm of HIS hand. Waver no more and you will find peace and strength. It is NOT easy, because the devil will keep wanting to steal that peace. I too have not mastered unwavering and I have to consciously remind myself now, everyday, to believe, trust and hope. You can do it too!!! (((Diane)))
jackie.. what a beautiful and amazing testimony you gave today!!! i too have to learn to trust again and you are right that ‘in order for me to learn to trust my husband (or anyone for that matter) I have to by pass them and just trust God’. So so true! And i too want to learn to sleep through the storms. Have been having lots of trouble sleeping.
June L.. you are SO right in saying not to listen to the voices of others, especially the ones who tell you to give up. It just makes life so much more complicated, confusing and unpleasant. I am not perfect and would definitely want other’s to not give up on me when i make mistakes. We need to learn to be more forgiving, and to treat each other with gentleness and mercy, not simply justice. It doesn’t matter what others have done to you, it’s how you respond to them that will make all the difference. It’s the narrow path to take, and often it can hurt so much. Man is naturally selfish and proud. Selfishness and pride can kill! May we all learn to walk in humility and love.
Here’s another beautiful quote from Joyce Meyer “To be able to love people when they are unlovely, you must learn to RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE when you have acted unlovely.”
Sorry, i meant to say DO NOT GIVE UP!!! must be sleepy..
Eve, Thank you for your truths today and for those beautiful quotes from Joyce Meyer and God’s word. Unbelief is the problem in trusting God… as the author of this devotion mentions. To believe is a choice we make (a recent topic on this devotion). God will increase our faith (unbelief) when we ask Him to do so. Ladies, we have so much to gain when we trust Him, and everything to lose when we don’t. May His blessings bring you much joy today precious Eve. You are loved!!
Fran, thank you for your beautiful words and prayers I have read here in the last few days. I know you and your precious husband are going through tough times, yet you allow the Lord to use you to minister here, and you do it so well. Praying that heaven opens up as many blessings are lavished on you and your husband today. You are loved!!
Dianne, I am praying God’s wisdom for you in the days ahead. With His guidance, you will make the right choices. Remember to pray, pouring your heart out to Him, believe in receiving His help and you will soon be typing out praises here, like many others do!. You are loved!!
Dear June L and Eve,
Thank you both, so much, for the wisdom you shared on here for Dianne..You are both going through so much of your own, but the Lord used you mightily to help her…and HE’ll bless YOU for the words I just read! The devil is the author of confusion and he does bring many voices, but because of all the prayers, Dianne will be led to discernment in all these matters and we all love her and will lift her before the throneroom believing for her!! Your references to Joyce Meyer are good, too! She was a bestseller when I worked in Christian Bookstore..and there’s a reason for that..she explains things so well! She wrote a good one about emotions and feelings and so many other good subjects! Men came in and bought her books, too!
God Bless us all and am believing for a GREAT day in the Lord today! When the devil tries to “toss and turn”, he will be defeated..We are listening for the ONLY Voice..Our Lord’s… HE is with us (Emmanuel)!!!!
I know God will see me through all things but it so hard some times to trust i really need help in this area.
Dear Sharon, i have been there, and it is still a conscious effort for me to ‘Let go and let God’. It is really difficult especially when you are looking all around and no help or comfort seems to be coming your way and you just feel all alone in a very crowded world. A friend once told me, that’s why it’s called faith. Faith is the believe in something for which we have no concrete proof. We need to stand firm and when we do, God always comes through. Hang in there. You can do it! HUGS! Trust in His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling. (Isaiah 40:31)
Eve, a great comment and a true statement about faith:
Hebrews 11:1 says:
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Faith is what we draw from as we wait.
Eve, Jackie, Dianne…I have prayed for your husbands. God will answer. I have prayed that the scales be removed from their eyes (and I pray this prayer for my husband almost every day) that they will see God’s truth in everything. You know He removed the scales frpm Paul’s eyes as he was walking down the Damascus road. Paul at that time was killing Christians. We know if He opened His eyes He can do the same for our husbands. Praise Him!!
Dear June L, Eve and Jackie…
It is the most wonderful, uplifting thing to see how you are holding each other up in sharing and prayers. This blesses us all to see “fellowship” at work!
June L., loved your strong point about Paul!!! And you are RIGHT! If our great Father in Heaven could bring him to a Damascus Road..There’s hope for all! God bless you for your strong walk with the Lord and amazing WORD down in you! The reference to “scales removed from their eyes” STRONG! Amen!!
All you dear ladies are lifted this very moment! (((((((Hugs)))))))
Dianne!
Meant to include you in above comment! “Be of Good Cheer” al you dear ladies..God is still on HIS Throne. HE “sees” your pain and trials and WILL help! Love to ALL of you and believing with and for you!!!
Thank you Fran, and I think we might live close to each other, as I think Dr Paul Walker’s church is about a 40 minute drive from me. I have been to his church before…years ago. Maybe we can meet sometimes.
I have been wanting my husband to walk that road to Damascus for years, and decided to start praying about the scales since the road is so far away. He is slowly coming around…and seemed very remorseful, about not being a good husband, recently, before, and after open heart surgery. He also made comments about how he didn’t know how I had put up with him all these years…which I explained was completely with the Lord’s resources: love and forgiveness. It seemed to go in one ear and out the other, but only God knows what is happening to His heart.
I also recently felt led to ask him why he didn’t believe, and explained why I do…, even though I have done this many times before. He said he didn’t know and refused to talk about it anymore. But, someday he will.
Thanks again, your comments are so refreshing, encouraging, and make me smile!
June L…
I live in Cobb County for almost 40 years now! Dr. Walker is Pastor Emeritus now..but am SOOOOO glad you heard his wise teaching! He is a great man of GOD! If the devotional staff can give you my email (it has Agape in it!)..Would gladly exchange with you! You are special and enjoy your wisdom!
Am praying about your husband and our other friends on here, too. And, very clearly, the LORD showed me something last night and today..Sometimes? “We” are too close to them, but HE has the perfect one to rope him into the kingdom! That great old man of GOD, C.M. Ward once said before leaving for Paradise that there’s a Smorgasbord from the Lord with someone or something for each Precious Soul HE will call! It is so important to just be a “quiet witness” before them. My beloved husband did that for me! He set an example..We both came to the Lord around the same time? But HE became LORD of our lives at different “timings”..We all look on the “outward”, but HE looks on the “inward”, as you know! HE is working on your husband..and these other dear ladies who have husbands “coming to the full relationship with HIM”..day-by-day. Sometimes? The change is so subtle we can’t “detect” it..Nevertheless, HE IS fast at work!!! Today? I pray for a “teachable spirit” for those am asking Him to touch in a special way! And you know what? I bet someone did that for me :)
God Bless you, dear one, YOUR walk cheers us all…Pull back from this “Let Go and Let God” HE WILL DO IT!!! Had to do that with several of my close ones! It works! I am living proof of that. God changed and continues to change me! I learned about “Let Go and Let God” in Alanon and Open AA meetings when my loved ones were searching for their sobriety. They had Victory!!! But another Victory happend in their daughter/sister!..God touched and changed ME!!!! Much Love and you are in my prayers!
for eve,
thank you so much for your note. i just again said to God that i am turning every thing over to Him my health money worries all of it i know He will help me in His time
sharon
Dear Fran, I will check on that exchange of emails. I was right as I have lived in Fayette County for 33 years now. I
know Dr Walker is a great spiritual man and am tempted to do one of his studies at Billy Graham’s “The Cove” soon. I went there for the 1st time with a friend last fall and did a study under Anne Graham Lotz. It was my 1st trip to the Cove, and will definitely go back. I don’t know if I ever mentioned or not but I was watching and listening to Billy Graham on TV in 1972 when I did as he said and asked Jesus into my heart. Talk about change. It was powerful immediately, and still changing with much more to come.
My son lives in Cobb county and we visit there a lot. Lord willing we will probably meet one day in person. We meet here everyday, and am so grateful for all your encouragement,words of wisdom, and especially your prayers.
(((HUG)))
thanks to all who post here
sharon
Father God, I feel led to lift up someone you love, Sharonb,to you in prayer. None of us know the extent of her health and money problems but you do. They might be deeper than any place we have ever been, but it doesn’t matter because you know and your word tells us “nothing is impossible for you.”
Lord, I claim Psalms 34:17 for Sharonb: “The righteous cry, and the Lord HEARETH, and deliverth them out of ALL their troubles”. Amen.
Precious Sharon, ALL means your health and money problems, and any other problems you might have.Praying you will feel the joy of His presence in a new way in the days ahead. Bless you! (((HUG)))
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
PRAISE HIM!!
June L,
Thank you for your kind words and you are an encouragement to me, also, and many others on here! Hope we do get to exchange and God Willing maybe we will see one another one day. Maybe we’ll get to go to Christmas program or something at Mt. Paran (Central). Am not familiar with “the Cove”, but hope you do get to go again. Am glad Dr. Walker’s work part of it..And Billy Graham’s group sure spirit-filled..That daughter you mentioned has written some wonderful books just like her parents! God bless you, dear one, and keep walking your wonderful, caring walk!
In “agreement” with your beautiful prayer for sharonb, too! We had a “Philippians 4:19″ moment here today, too..And dear sharonb? HE IS faithful and “Jehoveh Jireh”…”Be of Good Cheer” and like June wrote you. Matthew 19:26 powerful!!!!
“HE is working on your husband..and these other dear ladies who have husbands “coming to the full relationship with HIM”..day-by-day. ”
Thank you for quote. I forget that he can be “in process,” of “coming to the full relationship.”
This is a comforting reminder for me on a day when I am questioning my husband’s motives rather than accepting that he is just tired from moving. Just because he isn’t very talkative, and is a little bit testy doesn’t necessarily mean he is giving up his relationship with Jesus!
This is MY thinking possibly going askew. In any case, I can CHOOSE to let it go. I could be the “crabby” one, too, after all.
Thanks Fran, and all the rest of you wonderful ladies! You are blessings in my life :-}.
sharonb, you are most welcomed. i do hope you are feeling better. I can only encourage you with words and virtual hugs, but i also do know that these words and hugs can make all the difference. The Lord has said ‘Fear not, I am with you’. (((((sharon)))))
A Salvadoran clergyman once said: “We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development… We cannot do everything, and there’s a sense of liberation in that.” This attitude helps us to do the things we can, and to leave an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest! We are all ‘in-process’, and in the ‘process’, we all have a choice how to live (and love), we can choose to live (and love) well. :)
FranD, JuneL, jackie and all the beautiful ladies here.. you continue to bless me with your words and prayers. Thank you all so much. You are all truly wonderful gifts from God. You are all in my prayers too. Have a beautiful weekend!
eve
thank you for your replay i like joyce meyer very much i thank you for the lovely prayer it is wonderful to read all that the laidies write on this site i will pray for you all
sharon
lune L
i just now got a chance to check my email and i was so glad to see you prayer for me.i have many health problems the biggest one right now is i need back surgerynand can not get because i keep having asthma problems. the money problems come in part because my husband is disabled and on ss. he is only 49 years old and has been on disability for nine years so between the two of us it is hard. i trust in God and know He will see us through this trial. i am greatfuf to all of you and you are in my prayers everyday.
God bless
sharon
For SharonB
“Dear Heavenly Father..bless SharonB and her husband this day..We call on Jeremiah 33:3 and call out to YOU for them. You’ve done miracles here for us..and you don’t “play favorites”..what you’ve done for fran and george you will do for SharonB and others! There’s no distance in prayer, Father, and we are believing in Philippians 4:19 in their circumstances..June L had it right! You are the GREAT Lord of the Impossible..and NOTHING TOO HARD FOR YOU (Jeremiah 32:17)…Rain down blessings on Sharon and her husband this day that are so plentiful they will have trouble containing them all…Ephesians 3:20…We ask all these things in YOUR Powerful name, JESUS and we praise and thank you in advance, Father, before we can “see” (Romans 4:17)…Amen, Amen and AMEN!!! Hallelujah for deliverence in these circumstances!!!!
Dear Sharon..Stay close to His Words and pray the Promises each day..The powerful words He said when HE walked in human form…cast the devil out … “IT IS WRITTEN”…Nothing sends the dark one fleeing quicker!
With you in Heart, Spirit and Belief..And it is soooo true that “where two or more are gathered”..HE is amongst us! Many that read your sharing today are praying!!! xoxo
fran
thank you so much for the wonderful words of comfort. i am also praying for all of you that God will bless you all heal and watch over you all. i thank you so much for all your prayers and I thank God for all of you
God bless
sharon
Sharonb
You are very dear..and HE has every hair on your head (and your husband’s!) numbered..That comforting thought from the Psalms gets us through a lot here, too! Remember that beautiful Larnelle Harris duet with Sandy Patti? “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”? When the going gets tough? I remind myself of that!! If he cares for those tiny birds..think of us His Children!!! Am lifting you this very moment, and know it is hard, but your sincereity shines through!! HE sees that, too, and will help!!! (((((((Sharonb)))))))
Thank you sweet Sharon for your kind words, and your prayers. We all need those prayers. I do believe your asthma problem will go away, so that they will be able to do back surgery, and your financial problems will be better because prayers have been lifted up by many to the one “who is able’”
Psalm 34:19
“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all…”
1 Tim. 2:1
“I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgivivg be made for everyone.”
James 5:16
“…the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
I am facing surgery myself on August 29th. I have known this for several months now, but was not going to mention until around that time. I will remind you all about 1 week before. But, just in case some of you prayer warriors are going to be out of town, note your calendar NOW. I will tell you more at that time.
God bless you all!!
June L
Believing for you and have been praying since you mentioned your circumstance! The powerful testimony that you left at the current devotional page today..about your precious eyes and restored vision, amazing and encouraging!!! Something Mother Teresa said once has resonated in my spirit and applies to this surgery date and all other circumstances in all the special requests on this blog..”God is already in our tomorrow”!! Amen and AMEN!
for juneL
i willbe very much in prayer for your sugery to be sucessuful and that God will heal you thank you all for this site it is so uplifting.
sharon
Sharonb, and Fran D thank you so much for your encouraging words and prayers. I will go ahead and tell you a little more about my surgery. It is a bladder tack, and hysterectomy…and I know: a common surgery, but still I can’t help but be a little anxious. Any time they put me to sleep and are going to cut on me I get anxious. Fran, what you quoted from Mother Teresa is what I have been feeling the last few weeks. “God is already in our tomorrows”…sooooooooooo true. My primary doctor told me over a year ago that my bladder had dropped and I needed to see a Urologist. Afraid of, and not wanting surgery, I put it off. After all one of my sisters has had a bladder tack 3 times and it didn’t work. Then in February the doctor told me my uterus had dropped and was in the severe stage. Of course, I realized something severe was wrong…if any of you know what a prolapsed uterus in the severe stage is: you will know what I am talking about. Yet, I am in very little pain, and the closer I get to my surgery date, the more at peace I feel. Praise God for these encouraging devotions and uplifting comments from all of you. They are from God and have given me much peace.
And Ladies, please take care of your body, and listen to your doctor. I believe if I had gone last year I would have been able to avoid this hysterectomy. And then I had to put the surgery off in the spring because of my husband’s open heart surgery May 2nd. He is doing great now, and I can’t wait for him to get to play nurse for me, like I did for him.
Both my Urologist, and my Gynecologist are telling me the pelvic wall has collapsed because of hard labor 30 years ago when they used forceps. So, I couldn’t have done anything about that, but I could have sought treatment of the first early signs of a prolapsed bladder years back, and I didn’t. Yet, God was in charge then, and He is now, and that is what matters. PRAISE HIM!!
For Dear June L!
Have August 29th written down and praying already..but we will pray even more right near the date! Thought that wonderful Mother Teresa thought would cheer! Any time surgery involved, we all get anxious..But, in your case!!! Angels will be all around and you will come through this thing like Gold!! (I have your same trouble, but surgery isn’t an option here..But, somehow, the Lord keeps me! It is a daily miracle!). You are a dear and caring voice here on the blog..and soooooo many prayers will be lifted, yours will be an amazing recovery time, too! God Bless you, dear June L!! (((((((June L)))))))
Thank you Fran.
The same God that brought me through eye surgery will be with me during my next surgery. My first cornea transplant was in 1978 at Emory, and I had a brilliant Christian surgeon. He would say to me “I am just the surgeon, God does the healing…keep on praying.” I knew that anyway, but to have your doctor say that was awesome. God put me there…because I had no clue when I first went to Emory who I would see. My church family and close Christian friends were praying for me, and it meant so much. I still attend the same church, and some of those same people will be praying for me this time. This time I chose my doctors, after much prayer, and they are Christians. I don’t think I would be anxious at all but I have heard of quite a few simple surgeries going wrong lately. This is the devil wanting me to doubt.
But, I am drawing strength from prayers, my knowledge of the Lord, his promises, His uncondtional love, and these devotions and comments… which are also the Lord. PRAISE HIM!!
Anne Graham Lotz mentioned last November, at the Cove, that her mother was so weak but was drawing strength from the way she had lived her life for the Lord.
Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
I feel your prayers…the peace is here. Thank you, and I truly praise God for you. May His many blessings bring you much joy today!!!!
Thanks to all you precious ladies that encourage and uplift me with your words of wisdom, and prayers daily. It means
so much. Blessings!!
Psalms 18:32 “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”
For June L:
Your powerful testimony above will bless many facing similar things! Thank you so much for sharing. Your will be an “anointed” surgery on August 29th and your very surgical team will have prayed! Hallelujah!! Have a Blessed Day!!!
for june L
i have been where you are now same problems. i will be much in prayer for you and i am sure God will see you through and everything will go fine. so glad that your husband is doing ok i will keep him in my prayers to
Bless you both
sharon